US 9,960,696 B2Granted

Switched-mode compound power converter with main and supplemental regulators

AssigneeCognilPower, LLC

InventorsThomas E. Lawson, William H. Morong

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Abstract

In certain embodiments, a compound power converter passes the majority of power from input to output through only a single stage of power conversion. At least one embodiment includes a main converter with an auxiliary output. The auxiliary output energizes an energy storage element that provides input power for a supplemental converter capable of supplying the main output. The supplemental converter improves regulation and can provide holdover power for Power Factor Correction (PFC) or Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) operation. In certain embodiments, the power converter has at least one multi-functional inductor that supports both main regulation and supplemental regulation in a time-multiplexed manner such that, during main regulation, input energy is transferred from the input node to the output node via the multi-functional inductor, and, during supplemental regulation, the stored energy is transferred from the at least one energy storage element to the output node via the multi-functional inductor.

Claims30

Dependent claims

An article of manufacture comprising a controller for a power converter for converting input power into regulated output power, the power converter comprising:

the controller;
an input node configured to receive the input power;
a first output node configured to provide the regulated output power;
a first inductive element;
a first supplemental energy storage element;
a first energy gating element configured to enable the first inductive element to be energized from the input node;
and
a supplemental regulator configured to enable energy to be transferred from the first supplemental energy storage element to the first output node, wherein the controller is configured to provide:
(A) an input-to-output power path in which energy flows from the input node to the first output node via the first inductive element;
(B) an input-to-storage power path in which energy flows from the input node to the first supplemental energy storage element via the first inductive element;
and
(C) a storage-to-output power path in which energy flows from the first supplemental energy storage element to the first output node via the supplemental regulator, wherein the controller is configured to actively control whether energy flows from the first inductive element to (i) the first output node or (ii) the first supplemental energy storage element.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/245,282Filed 24 Aug 2016 · continuation in part
Priority: 14 Nov 2011
Published: US 2016/0365794 A115 Dec 2016
Granted: 1 May 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

H02M 3/33561
Using semiconductor devices only: having more than one ouput with independent control
H02J 3/32
Arrangements for balancing of the load in networks by storage of energy: using batteries or super capacitors with converting means
H02M 1/4258
Arrangements for improving power factor of AC input: using a single converter stage both for correction of AC input power factor and generation of…
H02M 3/1584
Including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load: with a plurality of power processing stages connected in parallel

Family

Application61/559,397Us provisional application · filed 14 Nov 2011
PCT/US2012/064617Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 12 Nov 2012
Application14/711,869Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 14 May 2015
PCT/US2015/041681Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 23 Jul 2015
US 2016/0365794 A1Pre-grant publication · published 15 Dec 2016
US 9,455,643 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application14/347,722Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application62/029,663Us provisional application
US 2014/0232366 A1Published application
US 2015/0244283 A1Published application
US 9,036,376 B2Related patent
US 9,960,696 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.