US4796173A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low input voltage resonant power converter with high-voltage A.C. link
Assignee: NORTH AMERICAN POWER SUPPLIES Inc A CORP OF
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Filing: 1988-02-01
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Granted: 1989-01-03
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Expires: 2008-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A high-frequency resonant power converter transforms a relatively low D.C. input voltage to a relatively high A.C. link voltage to drive a resonant circuit. The high A.C. voltage appearing across a resonance circuit high-voltage capacitor is then transformed down to a relatively low value and rectified to obtain a desired relatively low D.C. output voltage. Use of a high A.C. link voltage eliminates low voltage operation of the resonance circuit, which would require very large resonant capacitors having high current ratings. Composite magnetic structures which combine a resonant inductor and a transformer are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Steigerwald
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:21
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/22; H02M3/24; H02M3/28; H02M3/325; H02M3/335; H02M3/337; H02M3/3376; H02M3/3378; H02M1/00; H02M1/0064; H02M1/0083; H02M1/009; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B70/00; Y02B70/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A power converter for providing at least one regulated D.C. output potential responsive to a D.C. input potential, comprising: output section means for providing the at least one D.C. output potential responsive to a first A.C. potential; input section means for transforming the D.C. input potential to a second A.C. voltage, having an amplitude which is greater than the amplitude of the D.C. input potential; means for monitoring a selected one of the at least one D.C. output potential to provide a driving signal to said input section means with a value of a selected parameter which causes the second A.C. potential to change to maintain the at least one D.C. output potential substantially at a selected regulated value; and A.C. link section means receiving the second A.C. potential from the input section means for providing to the output section means the first A.C. signal with a magnitude greater than the selected value of the at least one D.C. output potential and also responsive to variation of said selected parameter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A power converter for providing at least one regulated D.C. output potential responsive to a D.C. input potential, comprising: output section means for providing the at least one D.C. output potential responsive to a first A.C. potential; input section means for transforming the D.C. input potential to a second A.C. voltage, having an amplitude which is greater than the amplitude of the D.C. input potential; means for monitoring a selected one of the at least one D.C. output potential to provide a driving signal to said input section means with a value of a selected parameter which causes the second A.C. potential to change to maintain the at least one D.C. output potential substantially at a selected regulated value; and A.C. link section means receiving the second A.C. potential from the input section means for providing to the output section means the first A.C. signal with a magnitude greater than the selected value of the at least one D.C. output potential and also responsive to variation of said selected parameter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The power converter of claim 1, wherein the second A.C. potential magnitude is greater than the input D.C. potential by a factor of at least three.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The power converter of claim 2, wherein the ratio of the magnitudes of the second A.C. and input D.C. potentials is about five.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The power converter of claim 2, wherein the ratio of the magnitudes of the first A.C. and output D.C. potentials is about ten.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The power converter of claim 2, wherein the selected parameter of the monitoring means is the variable frequency of the driving signal; and said link section means comprises a resonant circuit having a fixed resonant frequency.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The power converter of claim 5, wherein the resonant circuit Q is selected to cause the first A.C. potential to be of magnitude greater than the magnitude of the second A.C. potential.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The power converter of claim 6, wherein the resonant circuit is a series-parallel resonant circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
The power converter of claim 7, wherein said resonant circuit includes: a common node; an input node receiving the second A.C. potential thereat, with respect to the common node; an output node at which said first A.C. potential appears, with respect to the common node; a first capacitor; an inductance in electrical series connection with said first capacitor between said input and output nodes; and a second capacitor effectively in electrical parallel connection between said output and common nodes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The power converter of claim 8, wherein said output section means includes: an output transformer having a first winding receiving the first A.C. potential, and a secondary winding; and means for converting an A.C. potential across a selected portion of the output transformer secondary winding to the D.C. output potential.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The power converter of claim 9, wherein the transformer is a step-down transformer, providing the A.C. potential across the secondary winding selected portion with a magnitude less than the magnitude of the first A.C. potential across the primary winding.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The power converter of claim 9, wherein the transformer has a leakage inductance selected to provide the inductance in electrical series connection with the first capacitor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
The power converter of claim 11, wherein the input transformer has a magnetic structure comprising: a first member having at least the first winding positioned thereabout between opposite member ends; a second member having at least the second winding positioned thereabout between opposite member ends; and an outer shell magnetically linked to the ends of both members and sufficiently enclosing both members and all of the windings to provide the selected value of leakage inductance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The power converter of claim 9, wherein the second capacitor is physically connected across at least a portion of the secondary winding.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The power converter of claim 8, wherein said input section means includes: inverter means for converting the D.C. input potential to an oscillatory signal; and an input step-up transformer having a first winding receiving the oscillatory signal, and a secondary winding across which said second A.C. potential appears.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The power converter of claim 14, wherein said input transformer has a ratio of first winding turns to second winding turns greater than three.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The power converter of claim 15, wherein the first winding is a center-tapped winding and the input transformer has about a 5:1 ratio of second winding turns to turns in each half of the first winding.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The power converter of claim 14, wherein the input transformer has a leakage inductance selected to provide the inductance in electrical series connection with the first capacitor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
75 words
The power converter of claim 17, wherein the input transformer has a magnetic structure comprising: a first member having at least the first winding positioned thereabout between opposite member ends; a second member having at least the second winding positioned thereabout between opposite member ends; and an outer shell magnetically linked to the ends of both members and sufficiently enclosing both members and all of the windings to provide the selected value of leakage inductance.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-01-03 | 1992-07-04 | 1993-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-01-03 | 1996-07-04 | 1997-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-01-03 | 2000-07-04 | 2001-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |