# US 6,201,719 B1 · Controller for power supply and method of operation thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,201,719 B1 - Document ID: US6201719B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/469,693 - Filed: 1999-12-22 - Granted: 2001-03-13 - Earliest claimed: 1999-12-22 - Assignees: Lucent Technologies Inc. - Inventors: Jin He; Mark E. Jacobs - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6201719B1 ## CPC - H02M 7/5387: in a bridge configuration - H02M 7/53878: {by time shifting switching signals of one diagonal pair of the bridge with respect to the other diagonal pair} - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) ## Abstract A controller for a full bridge power converter having controllable switches, a method of operating the controller and a power supply employing the controller or the method. In one embodiment, the controller includes (1) a signal generator circuit designed to drive the controllable switches in a phase-shifted mode and (2) a switching network, coupled to the signal generator circuit, adapted to enable the signal generator circuit to operate the converter in an alternative one of (2a) the phase-shifted mode, wherein the controllable switches in each of first and second legs of the converter are complementarily switched, the signal generator circuit capable of adjusting a relative phase between the first and second legs and (2b) a normal mode, wherein diagonal pairs of the controllable switches are switched substantially simultaneously and at a substantially full duty cycle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 For use with a full bridge power converter having controllable switches, a controller, comprising: a signal generator circuit having outputs and designed to drive said controllable switches in a phase-shifted mode; and a switching network, coupled to said signal generator circuit, adapted to enable said signal generator circuit to operate said converter in an alternative one of: said phase-shifted mode, wherein said switching network is configured to couple each of said outputs to a corresponding one of said controllable switches, said controllable switches in each of first and second legs of said converter being complementarily switched, said signal generator circuit capable of adjusting a relative phase between said first and second legs; and a normal mode, wherein said switching network is configured to couple only one pair of said outputs to said controllable switches, diagonal pairs of said controllable switches being switched substantially simultaneously and at a substantially full duty cycle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said signal generator circuit is embodied in an integrated circuit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said outputs are pulse-width modulated outputs employable to drive respective ones of said controllable switches. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said switching network comprises at least one bi-directional switch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said converter is operated in said phase-shifted mode during start-up. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said converter is operated in said phase-shifted mode during a fault condition. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The controller as recited in claim 1 further comprising at least one gate drive transformer coupled between said signal generator circuit and one of said controllable switches. ### Claim 8 For use with a full bridge power converter having controllable switches, a method of controlling said controllable switches, comprising: employing a signal generator circuit having outputs and designed to drive said controllable switches in a phase-shifted mode; and enabling said signal generator circuit to operate said converter in an alternative one of: said phase-shifted mode, wherein each of said outputs are coupled to a corresponding one of said controllable switches, said controllable switches in each of first and second legs of said converter being complementarily switched, said signal generator circuit capable of adjusting a relative phase between said first and second legs; and a normal mode, wherein only one pair of said outputs is coupled to said controllable switches, diagonal pairs of said controllable switches being switched substantially simultaneously and at a substantially full duty cycle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said signal generator circuit is embodied in an integrated circuit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said outputs are pulse-width modulated outputs employable to drive respective ones of said controllable switches. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said enabling is performed by switching network comprising at least one bi-directional switch. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said converter is operated in said phase-shifted mode during start-up. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said converter is operated in said phase-shifted mode during a fault condition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising coupling at least one gate drive transformer between said signal generator circuit and one of said controllable switches. ### Claim 15 A power supply, comprising: a full bridge inverter having controllable switches; an isolation transformer having a primary winding coupled to said full bridge inverter; a rectifier coupled to a secondary winding of said isolation transformer; and a controller, including: a signal generator circuit having outputs and designed to drive said controllable switches in a phase-shifted mode, and a switching network, coupled to said signal generator circuit, adapted to enable said signal generator circuit to operate said inverter in an alternative one of: said phase-shifted mode, wherein said switching network is configured to couple each of said outputs to a corresponding one of said controllable switches, said controllable switches in each of first and second legs of said inverter being complementarily switched, said signal generator circuit capable of adjusting a relative phase between said first and second legs, and a normal mode, wherein said switching network is configured to couple only one pair of said outputs to said controllable switches, diagonal pairs of said controllable switches being switched substantially simultaneously and at a substantially full duty cycle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The power supply as recited in claim 15 wherein said signal generator circuit is embodied in an integrated circuit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The power supply as recited in claim 15 wherein said outputs are pulse-width modulated outputs employable to drive respective ones of said controllable switches. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The power supply as recited in claim 15 wherein said switching network comprises at least one bi-directional switch. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The power supply as recited in claim 15 wherein said inverter is operated in said phase-shifted mode during start-up. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The power supply as recited in claim 15 wherein said inverter is operated in said phase-shifted mode during a fault condition. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The power supply as recited in claim 15 wherein said controller further comprises at least one gate drive transformer coupled between said signal generator circuit and one of said controllable switches.