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US 7,443,229 B1Granted
Active filtering
AssigneePicor Corporation
InventorsPatrizio Vinciarelli, Michael Briere, Jeffrey Gordon Dumas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques for adjusting the voltage across an active filter element include a controlled circuit element and a control circuit element adapted to control the voltage across the controlled circuit element to increase transient load response and to reduce power dissipation.
Claims38
An apparatus comprising:
- an input for receiving power from a power source;
- an output for supplying an output voltage and an output current to a load;
- a control circuit for controlling a headroom voltage defined as the voltage difference between the input and the output;
- and
- a controlled circuit element connected between said input and said output and configured to provide said output current;
- wherein the control circuit is coupled to said input and said output and configured to compare the headroom voltage to a reference signal and output a signal to the controlled circuit element to adjust the headroom voltage, wherein adjusting the headroom voltage comprises decreasing the headroom voltage in response to an increase in the output current.
3 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a power converter having a converter input for receiving power from a source and a converter output for supplying power to a load;
- an output circuit connected between the power converter output and the load, the output circuit having an input connected to receive a converter voltage from the converter output and an output for supplying an output voltage and an output current to the load;
- the output circuit including a controlled circuit element connected between said input and said output and configured to provide said output current and a control circuit for controlling a headroom voltage defined as the voltage difference between the input and the output;
- the output circuit being coupled to said input and said output and configured to compare the headroom voltage to a reference signal and output a signal to the controlled circuit element to adjust the headroom voltage in response to changes in the output current to reduce power dissipation in the output circuit and enhance a response of the power converter to rapid changes in the output current.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- providing an input for receiving power from a power source;
- providing an output for supplying an output voltage and an output current to a load;
- and
- controlling a headroom voltage defined as the voltage difference between the input and the output, wherein controlling the headroom voltage comprises comparing the headroom voltage to a reference signal using a control circuit coupled to the input and the output and controlling, based on the comparing, a controlled circuit element that is connected between the input and the output in order to adjust the headroom voltage, wherein adjusting the headroom voltage comprises decreasing the headroom voltage in response to an increase in the output current.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- receiving power from a power source at an input;
- supplying an output voltage and an output current at an output;
- and
- controlling a headroom voltage, where the headroom voltage is a difference in voltage between the input and the output, wherein controlling the headroom voltage comprises comparing the headroom voltage to a reference signal using a control circuit coupled to the input and the output and controlling based on the comparing, a controlled circuit element that is connected between the input and the output in order to adjust the headroom voltage wherein adjusting the headroom voltage comprises reducing the headroom voltage in response to an increase in the output current.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- providing a power converter for converting power from a power source for delivery to a load at a load voltage;
- providing a filter between the power converter and the load;
- controlling a headroom voltage across the filter, wherein controlling the headroom voltage comprises comparing the headroom voltage to a reference signal using a control circuit coupled to the input and the output and controlling, based on the comparing, a controlled circuit element in the filter to adjust the headroom voltage;
- monitoring an output current of the filter;
- adjusting the headroom voltage in response to changes in the output current to reduce power dissipation in the filter.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.