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US 8,410,769 B2Granted
Power converter with controller operable in selected modes of operation
AssigneeEnpirion, Inc.
InventorsDouglas Dean Lopata, Ashraf W. Lotfi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power converter and method of controlling the same for selected modes of operation. In one embodiment, the power converter includes a first power switch coupled to a source of electrical power and a second power switch coupled to the first power switch and to an output terminal of the power converter. The power converter also includes a controller configured to control an operation of the first and second power switches during selected modes of operation.
Claims20
A controller for use with a circuit having first and second switches and configured to select a mode of operation, comprising:
- a pulse-width modulation mode of operation wherein said controller is configured to alternately enable conduction of said first and second switches with primary and complementary duty cycles, respectively, in response to an output characteristic of said circuit during a switching cycle;
- a light current mode of operation wherein said controller is configured to:
- alternately enable conduction of said first and second switches with said primary and complementary duty cycles, respectively, in response to said output characteristic of said circuit during said switching cycle, and
- control a level of current of said first switch when said alternately enabling conduction of said first and second switched is disabled;
- a recharge mode of operation wherein said controller is configured to:
- alternately enable conduction of said first and second switches with said primary and complementary duty cycles, respectively, in response to said output characteristic of said circuit during said switching cycle,
- enable conduction of said first switch with said primary duty cycle of said switching cycle up to an upper current threshold level and thereafter control said level of current of said first switch,
- enable conduction of said second switch with said complementary duty cycle of said switching cycle, and
- disable conduction of said second switch when a current associated with said second switch reaches a lower current threshold level;
- and
- a hybrid mode of operation wherein said controller is configured to:
- alternately enable conduction of said first and second switches with said primary and complementary duty cycles, respectively, in response to said output characteristic of said circuit during said switching cycle,
- enable conduction of said first switch with said primary duty cycle of said switching cycle until said output characteristic of said circuit exceeds an upper output characteristic threshold level and thereafter control said level of current of said first switch,
- enable conduction of said second switch with said complementary duty cycle of said switching cycle, and
- disable conduction of said second switch and terminate said switching cycle when said output characteristic crosses a lower output characteristic threshold level.
12 more elements
A method for use with a circuit having first and second switches and configured to select a mode of operation, comprising:
- a pulse-width modulation mode of operation comprising alternately enabling conduction of said first and second switches with primary and complementary duty cycles, respectively, in response to an output characteristic of said circuit during a switching cycle;
- a light current mode of operation, comprising:
- alternately enabling conduction of said first and second switches with said primary and complementary duty cycles, respectively, in response to said output characteristic of said circuit during said switching cycle, and
- controlling a level of current of said first switch when said alternately enabling conduction of said first and second switched is disabled;
- a recharge mode of operation, comprising:
- alternately enabling conduction of said first and second switches with said primary and complementary duty cycles, respectively, in response to said output characteristic of said circuit during said switching cycle,
- enabling conduction of said first switch with said primary duty cycle of said switching cycle up to an upper current threshold level and thereafter control said level of current of said first switch,
- enabling conduction of said second switch with said complementary duty cycle of said switching cycle, and
- disabling conduction of said second switch when a current associated with said second switch reaches a lower current threshold level;
- and
- a hybrid mode of operation, comprising:
- alternately enabling conduction of said first and second switches with said primary and complementary duty cycles, respectively, in response to said output characteristic of said circuit during said switching cycle,
- enabling conduction of said first switch with said primary duty cycle of said switching cycle until said output characteristic of said circuit exceeds an upper output characteristic threshold level and thereafter control said level of current of said first switch,
- enabling conduction of said second switch with said complementary duty cycle of said switching cycle, and
- disabling conduction of said second switch and terminate said switching cycle when said output characteristic crosses a lower output characteristic threshold level.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.