System and method for supplying a synchronous rectifier driver circuit
AssigneeNXP B.V.
InventorHans Halberstadt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for supplying a synchronous rectifier (SR) driver circuit and supply voltage generation circuits for a SR driver circuit are described. In one embodiment, a method for supplying a SR driver circuit involves receiving a converted voltage from a secondary winding of a transformer and generating a supply voltage for the SR driver circuit based on the converted voltage, where the supply voltage is higher than an output voltage of the transformer that is generated using the secondary winding. Other embodiments are also described.
Claims17
A method for supplying a synchronous rectifier (SR) driver circuit using a supply voltage generation circuit, the method comprising:
- receiving a converted voltage from a secondary winding of a transformer;
- and
- generating a supply voltage for the SR driver circuit to drive an SR switch that is connected to the secondary winding based on the converted voltage,
- wherein the supply voltage is higher than an output voltage of the transformer that is generated using the secondary winding,
- wherein generating the supply voltage comprises closing a first switch, which is external to the SR driver circuit and is connected to the SR driver circuit, during an interval in which an energy transfer from the secondary winding to the SR driver circuit takes place, and
- wherein generating the supply voltage for the SR driver circuit comprises generating the supply voltage for the SR driver circuit to drive the SR switch that is connected to the secondary winding based on the converted voltage without an additional secondary winding of the transformer;
- wherein the supply voltage generation circuit includes,
- the first switch connected to the secondary winding of the transformer and the SR driver circuit;
- a second switch having a terminal that is directly connected to the secondary winding of the transformer or a ground;
- and
- a voltage supply circuit connected to the first and second switches and the SR driver circuit and configured to generate the supply voltage.
A supply voltage generation circuit for a synchronous rectifier (SR) driver circuit, the supply voltage generation circuit comprising:
- a first switch connected to a secondary winding of a transformer and the SR driver circuit;
- a second switch having a terminal that is directly connected to the secondary winding of the transformer or a ground;
- and
- a voltage supply circuit connected to the first and second switches and the SR driver circuit and configured to generate a supply voltage for the SR driver circuit to drive an SR switch that is connected to the secondary winding based on a converted voltage from the secondary winding of the transformer without an additional secondary winding of the transformer,
- wherein the supply voltage is higher than an output voltage of the transformer that is generated using the secondary winding, and
- wherein the voltage supply circuit is configured to close the first switch, which is external to the SR driver circuit and is connected to the SR driver circuit, during an interval in which an energy transfer from the secondary winding to the SR driver circuit takes place.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.