US5255174A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Regulated bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter which maintains a continuous input current during step-up conversion
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
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Filing: 1991-10-18
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Granted: 1993-10-19
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Expires: 2011-10-18
Abstract
Abstract A pulse-width modulated, bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter having a regulated output, and capable of converting between a high-potential direct current voltage and a low-potential direct current voltage. The converter's magnetic components, as well as several of its semiconductor rectifiers, perform dual functions (one in the step-up mode, and another in the step-down mode), which serves to minimize the total component count, and allows the converter to be both compact and lightweight. Additionally, as the converter maintains a continuous input current during voltage step-up conversion, the generation of signals which might cause electromagnetic interference is reduced.
Inventors
- 👤 Muthu K. Murugan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:22
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/22; H02M3/24; H02M3/28; H02M3/325; H02M3/335; H02M3/33569; H02M3/33576; H02M3/33584
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
550 words
A bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter, which comprises: a boost sub-circuit having a positive input/output terminal and a negative input/output terminal; a bridge sub-circuit having a positive input/output terminal and a negative input/output terminal, said negative input/output terminal being coupled to the negative input/output terminal of the boost sub-circuit; a transformer having a primary and a secondary winding, said primary winding having a first terminal and a second terminal, said secondary winding having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a center-tap terminal; a first filter capacitor coupling the positive and negative input/output terminals of said boost sub-circuit; an inductor coupling the positive input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit with the center-tap terminal of said transformer; a first switching means interposed between the first terminal of said secondary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit; a first rectifying means interposed between the first terminal of said secondary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit to the first terminal of said secondary winding; a second switching means interposed between the second terminal of said secondary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit; a second rectifying means interposed between the second terminal of said secondary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit to the second terminal of said secondary winding; a third switching means interposed between the second terminal of said primary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a third rectifying means interposed between the second terminal of said primary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit to the second terminal of said primary winding; a fourth switching means interposed between the second terminal of said primary winding and the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a fourth rectifying means interposed between the second terminal of said primary winding and the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the second terminal of said primary winding to the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a fifth switching means interposed between the first terminal of said primary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a fifth rectifying means interposed between the first terminal of said primary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit to the first terminal of said primary winding; a sixth switching means interposed between the first terminal of said primary winding and the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a sixth rectifying means interposed between the first terminal of said primary winding and the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the first terminal of said primary winding to the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a second filter capacitor coupling the positive and negative input/output terminals of said bridge sub-circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
550 words
A bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter, which comprises: a boost sub-circuit having a positive input/output terminal and a negative input/output terminal; a bridge sub-circuit having a positive input/output terminal and a negative input/output terminal, said negative input/output terminal being coupled to the negative input/output terminal of the boost sub-circuit; a transformer having a primary and a secondary winding, said primary winding having a first terminal and a second terminal, said secondary winding having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a center-tap terminal; a first filter capacitor coupling the positive and negative input/output terminals of said boost sub-circuit; an inductor coupling the positive input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit with the center-tap terminal of said transformer; a first switching means interposed between the first terminal of said secondary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit; a first rectifying means interposed between the first terminal of said secondary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit to the first terminal of said secondary winding; a second switching means interposed between the second terminal of said secondary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit; a second rectifying means interposed between the second terminal of said secondary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit to the second terminal of said secondary winding; a third switching means interposed between the second terminal of said primary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a third rectifying means interposed between the second terminal of said primary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit to the second terminal of said primary winding; a fourth switching means interposed between the second terminal of said primary winding and the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a fourth rectifying means interposed between the second terminal of said primary winding and the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the second terminal of said primary winding to the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a fifth switching means interposed between the first terminal of said primary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a fifth rectifying means interposed between the first terminal of said primary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit to the first terminal of said primary winding; a sixth switching means interposed between the first terminal of said primary winding and the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a sixth rectifying means interposed between the first terminal of said primary winding and the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the first terminal of said primary winding to the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a second filter capacitor coupling the positive and negative input/output terminals of said bridge sub-circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third fourth, fifth and sixth switching means are metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third fourth, fifth and sixth switching means are metal oxide semiconductor controlled thyristors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
622 words
A bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter, which comprises: a boost sub-circuit having a positive input/output terminal and a negative input/output terminal; a bridge sub-circuit having a positive input/output terminal and a negative input/output terminal, said negative input/output terminal being coupled to the negative input/output terminal of the boost sub-circuit; a transformer having a primary and a secondary winding, said primary winding having a first terminal and a second terminal, said secondary winding having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a center-tap terminal; a first filter capacitor coupling the positive and negative input/output terminals of said boost sub-circuit; an inductor coupling the positive input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit with the center-tap terminal of said transformer; a first bipolar transistor, the collector of which is coupled to the first terminal of said secondary winding, and the emitter of which is coupled to the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit; a first rectifying means interposed between the first terminal of said secondary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit to the first terminal of said secondary winding; a second bipolar transistor, the collector of which is coupled to the second terminal of said secondary winding, and the emitter of which is coupled to the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit; a second rectifying means interposed between the second terminal of said secondary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit to the second terminal of said secondary winding; a third bipolar transistor, the collector of which is coupled to the second terminal of said primary winding, and the emitter of which is coupled to the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a third rectifying means interposed between the second terminal of said primary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit to the second terminal of said primary winding; a fourth bipolar transistor, the emitter of which is coupled to the second terminal of said primary winding, and the collector of which is coupled to the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a fourth rectifying means interposed between the second terminal of said primary winding and the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the second terminal of said primary winding to the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a fifth bipolar transistor, the collector of which is coupled to the first terminal of said primary winding, and the emitter of which is coupled to the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a fifth rectifying means interposed between the first terminal of said primary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit to the first terminal of said primary winding; a sixth bipolar transistor, the emitter of which is coupled to the first terminal of said primary winding, and the collector of which is coupled to the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a sixth rectifying means interposed between the first terminal of said primary winding and the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the first terminal of said primary winding to the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a second filter capacitor coupling the positive and negative input/output terminals of said bridge sub-circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
622 words
A bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter, which comprises: a boost sub-circuit having a positive input/output terminal and a negative input/output terminal; a bridge sub-circuit having a positive input/output terminal and a negative input/output terminal, said negative input/output terminal being coupled to the negative input/output terminal of the boost sub-circuit; a transformer having a primary and a secondary winding, said primary winding having a first terminal and a second terminal, said secondary winding having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a center-tap terminal; a first filter capacitor coupling the positive and negative input/output terminals of said boost sub-circuit; an inductor coupling the positive input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit with the center-tap terminal of said transformer; a first bipolar transistor, the collector of which is coupled to the first terminal of said secondary winding, and the emitter of which is coupled to the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit; a first rectifying means interposed between the first terminal of said secondary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit to the first terminal of said secondary winding; a second bipolar transistor, the collector of which is coupled to the second terminal of said secondary winding, and the emitter of which is coupled to the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit; a second rectifying means interposed between the second terminal of said secondary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit to the second terminal of said secondary winding; a third bipolar transistor, the collector of which is coupled to the second terminal of said primary winding, and the emitter of which is coupled to the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a third rectifying means interposed between the second terminal of said primary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit to the second terminal of said primary winding; a fourth bipolar transistor, the emitter of which is coupled to the second terminal of said primary winding, and the collector of which is coupled to the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a fourth rectifying means interposed between the second terminal of said primary winding and the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the second terminal of said primary winding to the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a fifth bipolar transistor, the collector of which is coupled to the first terminal of said primary winding, and the emitter of which is coupled to the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a fifth rectifying means interposed between the first terminal of said primary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit to the first terminal of said primary winding; a sixth bipolar transistor, the emitter of which is coupled to the first terminal of said primary winding, and the collector of which is coupled to the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a sixth rectifying means interposed between the first terminal of said primary winding and the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the first terminal of said primary winding to the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit; a second filter capacitor coupling the positive and negative input/output terminals of said bridge sub-circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter of claim 4, wherein the first, second, third fourth, fifth and sixth bipolar transistors are NPN transistors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter of claim 4, wherein the first, second, third fourth, fifth and sixth bipolar transistors are insulated gate bipolar transistors.
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) | 1996-10-18 | 1997-04-19 | 1997-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-10-18 | 2001-04-19 | 2001-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-10-18 | 2005-04-19 | 2005-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |