High efficiency bi-directional DC converter and control method thereof
AssigneeSilergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
InventorWei Chen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed herein are bi-directional DC converter circuits and control methods. In one embodiment, a method of controlling a bi-directional DC converter, can include: (i) detecting whether there is an input power supply at an input port, where the bi-directional DC converter comprises a single magnetic element; (ii) operating the bi-directional DC converter in a first operation mode to charge a battery when the input power supply is detected at the input port; (iii) operating the bi-directional DC converter in a second operation mode to transfer power from the battery to an output port for a load when the input power supply is not detected at the input port; and (iv) transferring power through the single magnetic element in both the first operation mode and the second operation mode.
Claims20
A method of controlling a bi-directional DC converter, the method comprising:
- a) detecting whether there is an input power supply at an input port, wherein said bi-directional DC converter comprises a single magnetic element;
- b) operating said bi-directional DC converter in a first operation mode to charge a battery when said input power supply is detected at said input port;
- c) operating said bi-directional DC converter in a second operation mode to transfer power from said battery to an output port for a load when said input power supply is not detected at said input port;
- d) transferring power through said single magnetic element in both said first operation mode and said second operation mode;
- e) comparing, by a first feedback circuit, a current feedback signal of said battery against a first reference voltage to generate a first error signal, comparing a voltage feedback signal of said battery against a second reference voltage to generate a second error signal, and generating a first feedback signal by selecting a lesser of said first and second error signals;
- f) comparing, by a second feedback circuit, an output voltage at said output port against a third reference voltage, and generating a second feedback signal;
- and
- g) providing, by a first selection circuit, one of said first and second feedback signals to a pulse-width modulation (PWM) control circuit that controls a charging current of said battery according to said first feedback signal, or said output voltage according to said second feedback signal.
A bi-directional DC converter, comprising:
- a) a single magnetic element through which power is configured to be transferred in both a first operation mode and a second operation mode;
- b) a detection circuit configured to determine whether there is an input power supply at an input port;
- c) said bi-directional DC converter being configured to operate in said first operation mode to charge a battery when said input power supply is detected at said input port, and to operate in said second operation mode to transfer power from said battery to an output port for a load when said input power supply is not detected at said input port;
- d) a first feedback circuit configured to compare a current feedback signal of said battery against a first reference voltage to generate a first error signal, to compare a voltage feedback signal of said battery against a second reference voltage to generate a second error signal, and to generate a first feedback signal by selecting a lesser of said first and second error signals;
- e) a second feedback circuit configured to compare an output voltage at said output port against a third reference voltage, and to generate a second feedback signal;
- and
- f) a first selection circuit configured to provide one of said first and second feedback signals to a pulse-width modulation (PWM) control circuit that is configured to control a charging current of said battery according to said first feedback signal, or said output voltage according to said second feedback signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.