Quasiresonant boost power converter with bidirectional inductor current
AssigneeLucent Technologies Inc.
InventorJohn K. Moriarty, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A boost power converter for powering a load with an AC power source. The boost power converter has an energy storage device, a resonant circuit, a resonator switch circuit, a boost inductor circuit with a boost inductor, and a boost switch circuit. The resonator switch circuit alternately connects the resonant circuit to different sides of the energy storage device, where power from the energy storage device is transferred by the resonant circuit to the load. The boost switch circuit selectively connects the boost inductor to the resonator switch circuit, such that the boost inductor is charged in one of two different directions depending on the phase of the AC power source. The boost power converter is well-suited for ballast applications that drive a fluorescent lamp.
Claims20
A boost power converter for powering a load with an AC power source, comprising:
- (a) an energy storage device;
- (b) a resonant circuit;
- (c) a resonator switch circuit adapted to alternately connect the resonant circuit to different sides of the energy storage device, wherein power from the energy storage device is transferred by the resonant circuit to the load;
- (d) a boost inductor circuit;
- and
- (e) a boost switch circuit electrically coupled between the boost inductor circuit and the resonator switch circuit and adapted to selectively connect the boost inductor circuit to the resonator switch circuit, such that a boost inductor of the boost inductor circuit is charged in one of two different directions depending on the phase of the AC power source.
A method for powering a load with an AC power source, comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying the AC power source through a boost inductor;
- (b) selectively coupling the boost inductor to a resonator switch circuit with a boost switch circuit electrically coupled between the boost inductor and the resonator switch circuit to cause a bidirectional current through the boost inductor in phase with a voltage of the AC power source;
- (c) applying a boosted voltage from the boost inductor to an energy storage device;
- and
- (d) alternately applying energy from the energy storage device to a resonant circuit for powering the load.
A boost power converter for powering a load with an AC power source, comprising:
- (a) an energy storage device;
- (b) a resonant circuit;
- (c) a resonator switch circuit adapted to alternately connect the resonant circuit to different sides of the energy storage device, wherein power from the energy storage device is transferred by the resonant circuit to the load;
- (d) a boost inductor circuit;
- and
- (e) a boost switch circuit adapted to selectively connect the boost inductor circuit to the resonator switch circuit, such that a boost inductor of the boost inductor circuit is charged in one of two different directions depending on the phase of the AC power source, wherein:
- the resonant circuit comprises a resonant inductor and a resonant capacitor;
- the resonator switch circuit comprises a first switching device and a second switching device, each electrically coupled to the resonant circuit and configured for zero-voltage switching;
- the energy storage device comprises a capacitor electrically coupled to the first and second switching devices;
- the boost inductor is electrically coupled to the AC power source;
- the boost switch circuit comprises a third switching device electrically coupled between the boost inductor and the first and second switching devices;
- and
- the boost power converter operates in either a first operating mode or a second operating mode, depending on the phase of the AC power source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.