Power converter having magnetically coupled control

Power converter apparatus comprising

• a transformer having galvanically isolated windings defining a primary side and a secondary side of said power conversion apparatus,
• a switch for coupling power from a source on the primary side via the transformer to a load on the secondary side,
• a first circuit assembly having primary-side circuitry galvanically coupled to a port for connection to an input power source, said primary-side circuitry including a primary-side communicator for sending or receiving control information used in controlling operation of the power conversion apparatus,
• a second circuit assembly having secondary-side circuitry galvanically coupled to a port for connection to a load, said secondary-side circuitry including a secondary-side communicator for sending or receiving said control information,
• circuitry for passing said control information by modulating a carrier, and
• a circuit board,
• power conversion components being mounted on said circuit board,
• said first and second circuit assemblies being mounted on said circuit board,
• the first and second circuit assemblies being enclosed respectively in mechanically separate protective housings, galvanically isolated from one another, and configured to be placed in positions relative to one another to enable said primary-side and secondary-side communicators to cooperate to pass said control information,
• said primary-side communicator and said secondary-side communicator comprising windings,
• said control information being passed by electromagnetic coupling between said primary-side communicator and said secondary-side communicator,
• said protective housings comprising a dielectric encapsulant,
• the housings of the two assemblies meeting at respective mating surfaces and coupling occurring across the mating surfaces.

A power converter comprising

• a primary circuit assembly including a primary winding of a power conversion transformer, a switch for influencing the coupling of power from an input port of the primary assembly to the primary winding, and primary side control circuitry for opening and closing the switch,
• a secondary circuit assembly including a secondary winding of the power conversion transformer, and
• control circuitry for receiving control information useful in determining when to open and close the switch, said control circuitry including elements for passing said control information via a modulated carrier,
• the primary and secondary circuit assemblies being encapsulated as distinct components and held in proximity to one another to permit electromagnetic coupling between the primary and secondary windings of the power transformer via a permeable core, and to permit communication of the control information between the electromagnetically coupled secondary circuit assembly and the primary circuit assembly.

Power converter apparatus comprising

• a transformer having galvanically isolated windings defining a primary side and a secondary side of said power converter,
• a switch for coupling power from a source on the primary side via the transformer to a load on the secondary side,
• a primary-side circuit assembly galvanically coupled to a port for connection to an input power source, and having a primary-side winding formed on a printed circuit board,
• a secondary-side circuit assembly galvanically coupled to a port for connection to a load, and having a secondary-side winding formed on a second printed circuit board,
• the first and second circuit assemblies being separately encapsulated in mechanically separable housings having mating surfaces, the assemblies being galvanically isolated from one another, the housings being configured to be held together with the surfaces mating to enable said primary-side and secondary-side windings to electromagnetically couple and cooperate to pass said control information across the mating surfaces via a modulated carrier.