Control of DC/DC converters having synchronous rectifiers
AssigneeBank of America, N.A.
InventorsJoshua H. Bretz, Abram P. Dancy, Leif E. LaWhite, Martin F. Schlecht
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A DC to DC power converter includes synchronous rectifiers which respond to a control waveform. Negative current from a load into the power converter is prevented by increasing the converter output voltage at a minimum current limit. The synchronous rectifiers may be held off in response to decision logic by activation of a hold-off circuit connected to a control terminal of a synchronous rectifier or of an ORing transistor at the converter output. When the synchronous rectifier is subsequently enabled, its control waveform may be increased slowly relative to the switching cycle.
Claims32
A DC to DC power converter comprising:
- a controlled rectifier in a power circuit;
- a connection impedance of passive impedance elements between a power circuit waveform and a control terminal of the controlled rectifier, the power circuit waveform causing the controlled rectifier to cyclically turn on and off;
- and
- hold-off circuitry that is activated to disable the controlled rectifier as the power circuit waveform is applied through the connection impedance.
A method of converting DC to DC power comprising:
- providing a connection impedance of passive impedance elements between a power circuit waveform and a control terminal of a controlled rectifier in the power circuit, the power circuit waveform causing the controlled rectifier to cyclically turn on and off;
- and
- activating hold-off circuitry to disable the controlled rectifier as the power circuit waveform is applied through the connection impedance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.