US 2020/0401173 A1Published application

Dual path and mode start-up circuit

AssigneeAppulse Power Inc.

InventorsArshan Naji, Aleksandar Radic

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Abstract

A dual path and mode start-up circuit includes a high-voltage start-up circuit, an auxiliary start-up circuit, a capacitor, and a sensing circuit. The high-voltage start-up circuit has high-voltage input and output voltage nodes and is configurable to be operated in a first or second mode of operation. The auxiliary start-up circuit has auxiliary input and output voltage nodes. The auxiliary output voltage node, the high-voltage output voltage node, and the capacitor arc in signal communication. The sensing circuit is configured to sense a voltage level at the capacitor and to configure the high-voltage start-up circuit to operate in the first mode of operation if the voltage level at the capacitor is less than a first threshold voltage level, and configure the high-voltage start-up circuit to operate in the second mode of operation if the voltage level at the capacitor is greater than a second threshold voltage level.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A dual path and mode start-up circuit comprising:

a high-voltage start-up circuit having a high-voltage input voltage node and a high-voltage output voltage node, the high-voltage start-up circuit being configurable to be operated in a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation;
an auxiliary start-up circuit having an auxiliary input voltage node and an auxiliary output voltage node, the auxiliary output voltage node being in signal communication with the high-voltage output voltage node;
a first capacitor in signal communication with the high-voltage output voltage node and the auxiliary output voltage node, the first capacitor being operable to be charged by a first output voltage from the high-voltage output voltage node and by a second output voltage from the auxiliary output voltage node;
and
a sensing circuit in signal communication with the first capacitor, wherein the sensing circuit is configured to sense a voltage level at the first capacitor and, in response, configure the high-voltage start-up circuit to operate in the first mode of operation if the voltage level at the first capacitor is less than a first threshold voltage level, the first capacitor being operable to be charged by the first output voltage from the high-voltage output voltage node when the high-voltage start-up circuit is in the first mode of operation, and configure the high-voltage start-up circuit to operate in the second mode of operation if the voltage level at the first capacitor is greater than a second threshold voltage level;
wherein:
the high-voltage start-up circuit generates the first output voltage having a first output voltage level when the high-voltage start-up circuit is configured to operate in the first mode of operation;
and
the high-voltage start-up circuit generates the first output voltage having a second output voltage level when the high-voltage start-up circuit is configured to operate in the second mode of operation.

6 more elements

A method for operating a dual path and mode start-up circuit having a high-voltage start-up circuit, an auxiliary start-up circuit, a sensing circuit, and a first capacitor, wherein the high-voltage start-up circuit is configured to operate in a first mode of operation and in a second mode of operation, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a high-voltage input at the high-voltage start-up circuit;
(b) producing, using the high-voltage input, a first output voltage having a first output voltage level at the high-voltage start-up circuit, when the high-voltage start-up circuit is operating in the first mode of operation;
(c) charging the first capacitor using the first output voltage to generate an auxiliary-voltage output;
(d) receiving, at the auxiliary start-up circuit, an auxiliary current from an auxiliary winding that is in signal communication with the auxiliary start-up circuit;
(e) producing a second output voltage at the auxiliary start-up circuit;
(f) charging the first capacitor using the produced second output voltage from the auxiliary start-up circuit;
(g) determining with the sensing circuit if the auxiliary-voltage output is less than a first threshold voltage level or if the auxiliary-voltage output is greater than a second threshold voltage level;
(h) configuring the high-voltage start-up circuit to the second mode of operation if the auxiliary-voltage output is greater than the second threshold voltage level;
(i) producing the first output voltage having a second output voltage level at the high-voltage start-up circuit when the high-voltage start-up circuit is in the second mode of operation, the second output voltage level having a voltage level that is lower than the first output voltage level of the first output voltage:
(j) configuring the high-voltage start-up circuit to the first mode of operation if the auxiliary-voltage output is less than the first threshold voltage level;
and
(k) repeating steps (a) through (j).

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/445,867Filed 19 Jun 2019
Published: 24 Dec 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

H02M 3/33507
Using semiconductor devices only: with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters
H02M 1/36
Details of apparatus for conversion: means for starting or stopping converters
H02M 3/33523
With automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters: with galvanic isolation between input and output of both the…
H02M 1/0006
Details of control, feedback or regulation circuits: arrangements for supplying an adequate voltage to the control circuit of converters

Family

US 11,159,088 B2Related patent
US 2020/0401173 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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