Reverse energy transfer in zero-current switching power conversion
AssigneeVLT, Inc.
InventorsPatrizio Vinciarelli, Jay Prager
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A zero-current switching converter converts power from an input source for delivery to a load. In the converter, a switch opens and closes at times of essentially zero current to enable energy transfer back and forth between said input source and said converter. A controller is connected to control the switch to initiate, during a first portion of each of a succession of converter operating cycles, forward energy transfer from said input source; and in at least some of said converter operating cycles, also to initiate reverse energy transfer to said input source at times not contiguous with said first portion.
Claims6
A method for controlling the minimum operating frequency of a zero-current switching converter which transfers power from an input source for delivery to a time-varying load by opening and closing a switch at times of zero current flow, comprising
- in a first portion of each of a series of converter operating cycles, controlling said switch to initiate forward energy transfer from said input source, and
- in response to changes of said load, during each of some of the converter operating cycles and at times which are not contiguous with said first portion, controlling said switch to initiate reverse energy transfer to said input source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.