Self-regulating class E resonant power converter maintaining operation in a minimal loss region
AssigneeIllinois Institute of Technology
InventorsPhilip R. Troyk, Martin A. K. Schwan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-regulating Class E/resonant power converter includes a power switching device which is gated on at each transition between negative and positive half cycles of the load current by drive signals generated by a drive circuit, the rate at which the drive signals are generated being controlled by a zero crossing detector which monitors the load current and adjusts the frequency of the drive signals in correspondence with changes in the time between successive negative-to-positive zero crossings of the load current such that the power switching device continues to be switched on at substantially zero voltge, zero slope conditions to maintain the power converter operating at the optimal Class E frequency.
Claims21
In a resonant power converter including controllable switching means having non-conducting and conducting states, drive means providing drive signals for causing said switching means to switch between its non-conducting and conducting states to supply direct current power to a load through a resonant load network, the improvement comprising:
- sensing means for sensing load current;
- and control means responsive to said sensing means for controlling said drive means to adjust the switching time for said switching means in correspondence with changes in a parameter of the load current to cause said switching means to switch between its non-conducting and conducting states only when the amplitude of the voltage across said switching means is minimal and the slope of the voltage waveform for said voltage is substantially zero to thereby maintain the resonant power converter operating in a minimal loss region.
In a resonant power converter including controllable switching means having non-conducting and conducting states, drive means providing drive signals for causing said switching means to switch between its non-conducting and conducting states to supply direct current power to a load through a resonant load network, the improvement comprising:
- sensing means for sensing load current;
- zero crossing detecting means responsive to said sensing means for detecting zero-crossings of the load current and producing control signals corresponding to zero crossings of the load current;
- said drive means being responsive to said control signals to cause said switching means to switch between its non-conducting and conducting states at zero crossings of the load current whereby the amplitude of the voltage across said switching means is minimal and the slope of the voltage waveform for said voltage is substantially zero when said switching means is switched from its non-conducting state to its conducting state.
In a Class E/resonant power converter including controllable switching means having non-conducting and conducting states, drive means providing drive signals for causing said switching means to switch between its nonconducting and conducting states to supply direct current power to a load through a resonant load network, the improvement comprising:
- sensing means for sensing load current;
- and control means responsive to said sensing means for controlling said drive means to adjust the switching time for said switching means in correspondence with changes in a parameter of the load current to cause said switching means to switch between its non-conducting and conducting states only when the amplitude of the voltage across said switching means is substantially zero and the slope of the voltage waveform for said voltage is substantially zero.
In a class E/resonant power converter including controllable switching means having non-conducting and conducting states, drive means providing drive signals for causing said switching means to switch between its nonconducting and conducting states to supply direct current power to a load through a resonant load network, the improvement comprising:
- sensing means for sensing load current;
- zero crossing detecting means responsive to said sensing means for detecting zero-crossings of the load current and producing control signals corresponding to zero crossings of the load current;
- said drive means being responsive to said control signals to cause said switching means to switch between its non-conducting and conducting states at zero crossings of the load current whereby the amplitude of the voltage across said switching means is substantially zero and the slope of the voltage waveform for said voltage is substantially zero when said switching means is switched from its non-conducting state to its conducting state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.