Power factor correction control methods and apparatus

A power factor correction apparatus, comprising:

• at least one first switch:
• and
• at least one switch controller to control the at least one first switch based at least on a predetermined desired power to be provided to a load coupled to the power factor correction apparatus
• wherein the at least one switch controller is configured to process:
• a first signal representing an AC line voltage to which the power factor correction apparatus is coupled;
• a second signal representing an actual AC current drawn by the power factor correction apparatus;
• a third signal representing a DC voltage output by the power factor correction apparatus;
• and
• a fourth signal representing the predetermined desired power to be provided to the load,
• so as to generate a first switch control signal to control the at least one first switch;
• wherein the at least one switch controller includes a voltage feedback loop configured to determine a fifth signal representing an effective conductance for the power factor correction apparatus, based on the first signal, the third signal, and the fourth signal;
• wherein the voltage feedback loop is configured to determine a total anticipated power signal based on the third signal and the fourth signal;
• wherein the voltage feedback loop is configured to compare the third signal to a reference voltage to generate a voltage error signal, condition the voltage error signal via a low pass filter, and determine the total anticipated power signal based on the conditioned voltage error signal and the fourth signal;
• wherein the voltage feedback loop is configured to calculate the fifth signal representing the effective conductance based on the first signal and the total anticipated power signal;
• and
• wherein the at least one switch controller is configured to multiply the fifth signal and the first signal to generate a sixth signal representing a desired AC current to be drawn by the apparatus.

A power factor correction method, comprising an act of:

• A) controlling a current drawn from an AC power source based at least on a predetermined desired power to be provided to a load from the AC power source, so as to improve a power factor associated with the provision of actual power to the load,
• wherein the act A) comprises an act of:
• A1) processing:
• a first signal representing an AC line voltage associated with the AC power source;
• a second signal representing the current drawn from the AC power source;
• a third signal representing a DC voltage applied at least in part across the load;
• and
• a fourth signal representing the predetermined desired power to be provided to the load,
• so as to generate a first control signal to control the current drawn from the AC power source.

A power factor correction method, comprising an act of:

• A) controlling a current drawn from an AC power source based at least on a predetermined desired power to be provided to a load from the AC power source, so as to improve a power factor associated with the provision of actual power to the load,
• wherein the act A) comprises an act of A1) processing:
• a first signal representing an AC line voltage associated with the AC power source;
• a second signal representing the current drawn from the AC power source;
• a third signal representing a DC voltage applied at least in part across the load;
• and
• a fourth signal representing the predetermined desired power to be provided to the load,
• so as to generate a first control signal to control the current drawn from the AC power source;
• wherein the act A1) comprises an act of determining a fifth signal representing an effective conductance, based on the first signal, the third signal, and the fourth signal;
• wherein the act of determining a fifth signal comprises an act of determining a total anticipated power signal based on the third signal and the fourth signal;
• wherein the act of determining a total anticipated power signal comprises acts of:
• comparing the third signal to a reference voltage to generate a voltage error signal;
• conditioning the voltage error signal via a low pass filter;
• and
• determining the total anticipated power signal based on the conditioned voltage error signal and the fourth signal;
• wherein the act of determining the fifth signal comprises an act of calculating the fifth signal representing the effective conductance based on the first signal and the total anticipated power signal;
• and
• wherein the act A1) further comprises an act of multiplying the fifth signal and the first signal to generate a sixth signal representing a desired AC current to be drawn from the AC power source.

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one power factor correction switch;
• at least one power control switch;
• and
• at least one switch controller to control both the at least one power factor correction switch and the at least one power control switch based at least on a predetermined desired power to be provided to a load coupled to the apparatus,
• wherein the at least one switch controller is configured to process:
• a first signal representing an AC line voltage to which the apparatus is coupled;
• a second signal representing an actual AC current drawn by the apparatus;
• a third signal representing a DC voltage applied at least in part across the at least one power control switch;
• and
• a fourth signal representing the predetermined desired power to be provided to the load,
• so as to generate a power factor correction control signal to control the at least one power factor correction switch.