Drive circuit for power switches of a zero-voltage switching power converter

Claim 2

A bridge type power converter in which conduction/non-conduction transitions of its power switching transistors occur at zero voltage, comprising: an input circuit for accepting a source of energy; first and second power switching transistors connected in a series circuit and the series circuit connected in shunt with the input circuit; a power transformer having a primary winding connected to a common node joining the first and second power switching transistors, and a secondary winding; a rectifier circuit connected to the secondary winding for rectifying the voltage output of the secondary winding; an output circuit for coupling the rectified voltage of the rectifier circuit to a load to be energized; wherein the improvement comprises control circuitry for periodically controlling alternate conductive intervals of the first and second power switching transistors such that a dead time permitting zero volt turn-on of the first and second power switching transistors exists between the alternate conducting intervals and the first conducting interval of the first power switching transistor is substantially less in duration than the second conducting interval of the second power switching transistor with the dead time being at least an order of magnitude less than the first conducting interval and the combined duration of the first and second conductive intervals and the dead time equaling the periodic interval.

Claim 3

A bridge type power converter in which conduction/non-conduction transitions of its power switching transistors occur at zero voltage, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the improvement further comprises: the control circuitry further including; error signal circuitry for generating an error signal representative of a deviation of a voltage at the output circuit from some preset regulated value, pulse circuitry responsive to the error signal to generate a pulse signal of controlled duration substantially less than a one half fraction of a switching period of the bridge type power converter and representative of the error signal, drive circuitry for applying oppositely phased drive signals to the first and second power switching transistors including, a pulse transformer with a primary winding connected to receive the pulse signal and first and second secondary windings oriented in polarity to produce opposite phases of signals applied to the primary winding, and first and second drive transmission circuits for coupling the first and second secondary windings of the pulse transformer to the first and second power switching transistors with each transmission drive circuit including resistance capacitance timing circuitry for insuring controlled rise times for pulse outputs of the first and second primary windings.

Claim 4

A bridge type power converter in which conduction/non-conduction transitions of its power switching transistors occur at zero voltage, as claimed in claim 2, Wherein the improvement further comprises: the pulse circuitry includes, a comparator having a first input connected to receive the error signal and a second input, a ramp generator for generating a sawtooth ramp voltage waveform connected to the second input, and a dc blocking capacitor interconnecting an output of the comparator to the primary winding of the pulse transformer.

Claim 5

A bridge type power converter in which conduction/non-conduction transitions of its power switching transistors occur at zero voltage, as claimed in claim 3, wherein the improvement further comprises: a storage capacitor coupling the primary winding of the power transformer to the input and a series connection of the primary winding of the power transformer and the storage capacitor shunting the second power switching transistor and being operative for storing the average voltage of the voltage level of the common node.

Claim 6

A bridge type power converter in which conduction/non-conduction transitions of its power switching transistors occur at zero voltage, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the improvement further comprises: bypass circuitry for enabling drive signals to bypass a resistance of the restance capacitance timing circuit during turn-off of the first and second power switching transistors.

Claim 7

A bridge type power converter in which conduction/non-conduction transitions of its power switching transistors occur at zero voltage, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the improvement further comprises: the first and second power switching transistors being FET power switching transistors.

Claim 8

A bridge type power converter, comprising: an input for accepting a DC voltage; an output for providing a regulated DC voltage; power circuitry coupling the input to the output; including: first and second power switches connected across the DC voltage of the input; a power transformer having a primary winding connected across the second power switch; control circuitry for driving the first and second power switches alternatively conductive so that the first power switch is conductive for an interval substantially shorter then the second power switch is conductive in each cycle of operation.

Claim 9

A bridge type power converter, comprising: an input for accepting a DC voltage; an output for providing a regulated DC voltage; power circuitry coupling the input to the output; including: first and second power switches connected across the DC voltage of the input; a power transformer having a primary winding connected across the second power switch; control circuitry for driving the first and second power switches alternatively conductive so that the first power switch is conductive for an interval substantially shorter then the second power switch is conductive in each cycle of operation.

Claim 10

A bridge type power converter as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: the control circuitry including error signal circuitry for generating an error signal representative of a deviation of the DC voltage at the output from some preset regulated value, pulse circuitry responsive to the error signal to generate a pulse signal of controlled duration substantially less than a one half fraction of a switching period of the bridge type power converter and representative of the error signal, drive circuitry for applying oppositely phased drive signals to the first and second power switches including, a pulse transformer with a primary winding connected to receive the pulse signal and first and second secondary windings oriented in polarity to produce opposite phases of signals applied to the primary winding, and first and second drive transmission circuits for coupling the first and second secondary windings of the pulse transformer to the first and second power switches with each transmission drive circuit including resistance capacitance timing circuitry for insuring controlled rise times for pulse outputs of the first and second primary windings.

Claim 11

A bridge type power converter as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: the pulse circuitry includes, a comparator having a first input connected to receive the error signal and a second input, a ramp generator for generating a sawtooth ramp voltage waveform connected to the second input, and a dc blocking capacitor interconnecting an output of the comparator to the primary winding of the pulse transformer.

Claim 12

A bridge type power converter as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: a storage capacitor coupling the primary winding of the power transformer to the input and a series connection of the primary winding of the power transformer and the storage capacitor shunting the second power switch and being operative for storing the average voltage of the voltage level of the common node.

Claim 13

A bridge type power converter in which conduction/non-conduction transitions of its power switching transistors occur at zero voltage, comprising: an input circuit for accepting a source of energy; first and second power switching transistors connected in series circuit and the series circuit connected in shunt with the input circuit; a power transformer having a primary winding connected to a common node joining the first and second power switching transistors, and a secondary winding; a storage capacitor coupling the primary winding of the power transformer to the input and a series connection of the primary winding of the power transformer and the storage capacitor shunting the second power switching transistor and being operative for storing the average voltage of the voltage level of the common node; a rectifier circuit connected to the secondary winding for rectifying the voltage output of the secondary winding; an output circuit for coupling the rectified voltage of the rectifier circuit to a load to be energized; control circuitry for periodically controlling alternate conductive intervals of the first and second power switching transistors such that a dead time permitting zero volt turn-on of the first and second power switching transistors exists between the alternate conducting intervals, including; error signal circuitry for generating an error signal representative of a deviation of a voltage at the output circuit from some preset regulated value, pulse circuitry responsive to the error signal to generate a pulse signal of controlled duration substantially less than a one half fraction of a switching period of the bridge type power converter and representative of the error signal, drive circuitry for applying oppositely phased drive signals to the first and second power switching transistors including, a pulse transformer with a primary winding connected to receive the pulse signal and first and second secondary windings oriented in polarity to produce opposite phases of signals applied to the primary winding, and first and second drive transmission circuits for coupling the first and second secondary windings of the pulse transformer to the first and second power switching transistors with each transmission drive circuit including resistance capacitance timing circuitry for insuring controlled rise times for pulse outputs of the first and second primary windings, and the first conducting interval of the first power switching transistor being substantially less in duration than the second conducting interval of the second power switching transistor, with the dead time being at least an order of magnitude less than the first conducting interval and the combined duration of the first and second conductive intervals and the dead time equaling the periodic interval.

Claim 14

A bridge type power converter in which conduction/non-conduction transitions of its power switching transistors occur at zero voltage, comprising: an input circuit for accepting a source of energy; first and second power switching transistors connected in series circuit and the series circuit connected in shunt with the input circuit; a power transformer having a primary winding connected to a common node joining the first and second power switching transistors, and a secondary winding; a storage capacitor coupling the primary winding of the power transformer to the input and a series connection of the primary winding of the power transformer and the storage capacitor shunting the second power switching transistor and being operative for storing the average voltage of the voltage level of the common node; a rectifier circuit connected to the secondary winding for rectifying the voltage output of the secondary winding; an output circuit for coupling the rectified voltage of the rectifier circuit to a load to be energized; control circuitry for periodically controlling alternate conductive intervals of the first and second power switching transistors such that a dead time permitting zero volt turn-on of the first and second power switching transistors exists between the alternate conducting intervals, including; error signal circuitry for generating an error signal representative of a deviation of a voltage at the output circuit from some preset regulated value, pulse circuitry responsive to the error signal to generate a pulse signal of controlled duration substantially less than a one half fraction of a switching period of the bridge type power converter and representative of the error signal, drive circuitry for applying oppositely phased drive signals to the first and second power switching transistors including, a pulse transformer with a primary winding connected to receive the pulse signal and first and second secondary windings oriented in polarity to produce opposite phases of signals applied to the primary winding, and first and second drive transmission circuits for coupling the first and second secondary windings of the pulse transformer to the first and second power switching transistors with each transmission drive circuit including resistance capacitance timing circuitry for insuring controlled rise times for pulse outputs of the first and second primary windings, and the first conducting interval of the first power switching transistor being substantially less in duration than the second conducting interval of the second power switching transistor, with the dead time being at least an order of magnitude less than the first conducting interval and the combined duration of the first and second conductive intervals and the dead time equaling the periodic interval.

Claim 15

A bridge type power converter in which conduction/non-conduction transitions of its power switching transistors occur at zero voltage, as claimed in claim 11, comprising: the pulse circuitry includes, a comparator having a first input connected to receive the error signal and a second input, a ramp generator for generating a sawtooth ramp voltage waveform connected to the second input, and a dc blocking capacitor interconnecting an output of the comparator to the primary winding of the pulse transformer.

Claim 16

A bridge type power converter, comprising: an input for accepting a DC voltage; an output for providing a regulated DC voltage; power circuitry coupling the input to the output; including: first and second power switches connected across the DC voltage of the input; a power transformer having a primary winding connected across the second power switch; a storage capacitor coupling the primary winding of the power transformer to the input and a series connection of the primary winding of the power transformer and the storage capacitor shunting the second power switch and being operative for storing the average voltage of the voltage level of the common node. control circuitry for driving the first and second power switches alternatively conductive so that the first power switch is conductive for an interval substantially shorter then the second power switch in each cycle of operation, the control circuitry including; error signal circuitry for generating an error signal representative of a deviation of the DC voltage at the output from some preset regulated value, pulse circuitry responsive to the error signal to generate a pulse signal of controlled duration substantially less than a one half fraction of a switching period of the bridge type power converter and representative of the error signal, drive circuitry for applying oppositely phased drive signals to the first and second power switches including, a pulse transformer with a primary winding connected to receive the pulse signal and first and second secondary windings oriented in polarity to produce opposite phases of signals applied to the primary winding, and first and second drive transmission circuits for coupling the first and second secondary windings of the pulse transformer to the first and second power switches with each transmission drive circuit including resistance capacitance timing circuitry for insuring controlled rise times for pulse outputs of the first and second primary windings.

Claim 17

A bridge type power converter, comprising: an input for accepting a DC voltage; an output for providing a regulated DC voltage; power circuitry coupling the input to the output; including: first and second power switches connected across the DC voltage of the input; a power transformer having a primary winding connected across the second power switch; a storage capacitor coupling the primary winding of the power transformer to the input and a series connection of the primary winding of the power transformer and the storage capacitor shunting the second power switch and being operative for storing the average voltage of the voltage level of the common node. control circuitry for driving the first and second power switches alternatively conductive so that the first power switch is conductive for an interval substantially shorter then the second power switch in each cycle of operation, the control circuitry including; error signal circuitry for generating an error signal representative of a deviation of the DC voltage at the output from some preset regulated value, pulse circuitry responsive to the error signal to generate a pulse signal of controlled duration substantially less than a one half fraction of a switching period of the bridge type power converter and representative of the error signal, drive circuitry for applying oppositely phased drive signals to the first and second power switches including, a pulse transformer with a primary winding connected to receive the pulse signal and first and second secondary windings oriented in polarity to produce opposite phases of signals applied to the primary winding, and first and second drive transmission circuits for coupling the first and second secondary windings of the pulse transformer to the first and second power switches with each transmission drive circuit including resistance capacitance timing circuitry for insuring controlled rise times for pulse outputs of the first and second primary windings.

Claim 18

A bridge type power converter as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: the pulse circuitry includes, a comparator having a first input connected to receive the error signal and a second input, a ramp generator for generating a sawtooth ramp voltage waveform connected to the second input, and a dc blocking capacitor interconnecting an output of the comparator to the primary winding of the pulse transformer.

Claim 19

A bridge type power converter in which conduction/non-conduction transitions of its power switching transistors occur at zero voltage, comprising: an input circuit for accepting a source of energy; first and second power switching transistors connected in series circuit and the series circuit connected in shunt with the input circuit; a power transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, and including magnetizing energy and leakage inductance sufficient to insure zero voltage turn on transitions of the first and second power switching transistors, the primary winding being connected in shunt connection with one of the two series connected first and second power switching transistors; a rectifier circuit connected to the secondary winding for rectifying the voltage output of the secondary winding; an output circuit for coupling the rectified voltage of the rectifier circuit to a load to be energized; control circuitry for periodically controlling alternate conductive intervals of the first and second power switching transistors such that a dead time permitting zero volt turn-on of the first and second power switching transistors exists between the alternate conducting intervals and for for regulating a voltage of the output circuit by adjusting imbalances between the first and second conduction intervals while maintaining the dead time interval at an interval magnitude having an order of magnitude less than one of the alternative intervals; and the first conducting interval of the first power switching transistor being substantially less in duration than the second conducting interval of the second power switching transistor with the dead time being at least an order of magnitude less than the first conducting interval and the combined duration of the first and second conductive intervals and the dead time equaling the periodic interval.

Claim 20

A bridge type power converter in which conduction/non-conduction transitions of its power switching transistors occur at zero voltage, comprising: an input circuit for accepting a source of energy; first and second power switching transistors connected in series circuit and the series circuit connected in shunt with the input circuit; a power transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, and including magnetizing energy and leakage inductance sufficient to insure zero voltage turn on transitions of the first and second power switching transistors, the primary winding being connected in shunt connection with one of the two series connected first and second power switching transistors; a rectifier circuit connected to the secondary winding for rectifying the voltage output of the secondary winding; an output circuit for coupling the rectified voltage of the rectifier circuit to a load to be energized; control circuitry for periodically controlling alternate conductive intervals of the first and second power switching transistors such that a dead time permitting zero volt turn-on of the first and second power switching transistors exists between the alternate conducting intervals and for for regulating a voltage of the output circuit by adjusting imbalances between the first and second conduction intervals while maintaining the dead time interval at an interval magnitude having an order of magnitude less than one of the alternative intervals; and the first conducting interval of the first power switching transistor being substantially less in duration than the second conducting interval of the second power switching transistor with the dead time being at least an order of magnitude less than the first conducting interval and the combined duration of the first and second conductive intervals and the dead time equaling the periodic interval.

Claim 21

A bridge type power converter in which conduction/non-conduction transitions of its power switching transistors occur at zero voltage, comprising: an input circuit for accepting a source of energy; first and second power switching transistors connected in series circuit and the series circuit connected in shunt with the input circuit; a power transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, and including magnetizing energy and leakage inductance sufficient to insure zero voltage turn on transitions of the first and second power switching transistors, the primary winding being connected in shunt connection with one of the two series connected first and second power switching transistors; a rectifier circuit connected to the secondary winding for rectifying the voltage output of the secondary winding; an output circuit for coupling the rectified voltage of the rectifier circuit to a load to be energized; control circuitry for periodically controlling alternate conductive intervals of the first and second power switching transistors such that a dead time permitting zero volt turn-on of the first and second power switching transistors exists between the alternate conducting intervals; and the first conducting interval of the first power switching transistor being substantially less in duration than the second conducting interval of the second power switching transistor with the dead time being at least an order of magnitude less than the first conducting interval and the combined duration of the first and second conductive intervals and the dead time equaling the periodic interval.

Claim 22

A bridge type power converter in which conduction/non-conduction transitions of its power switching transistors occur at zero voltage, comprising: an input circuit for accepting a source of energy; first and second power switching transistors connected in series circuit and the series circuit connected in shunt with the input circuit; a power transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, and including magnetizing energy and leakage inductance sufficient to insure zero voltage turn on transitions of the first and second power switching transistors, the primary winding being connected in shunt connection with one of the two series connected first and second power switching transistors; a rectifier circuit connected to the secondary winding for rectifying the voltage output of the secondary winding; an output circuit for coupling the rectified voltage of the rectifier circuit to a load to be energized; control circuitry for periodically controlling alternate conductive intervals of the first and second power switching transistors such that a dead time permitting zero volt turn-on of the first and second power switching transistors exists between the alternate conducting intervals; and the first conducting interval of the first power switching transistor being substantially less in duration than the second conducting interval of the second power switching transistor with the dead time being at least an order of magnitude less than the first conducting interval and the combined duration of the first and second conductive intervals and the dead time equaling the periodic interval.

Claim 23

A bridge type power converter as claimed in claim 16, further comprising: the control circuitry being operative for regulating a voltage of the output circuit by adjusting an imbalance between the first and second conduction intervals.

Claim 24

A bridge type power converter, as claimed in claim 15 or 17, further comprising: the control circuitry further including; error signal circuitry for generating an error signal representative of a deviation of a voltage at the output circuit from some preset regulated value, pulse circuitry responsive to the error signal to generate a pulse signal of controlled duration substantially less than a one half fraction of a switching period of the bridge type power converter and representative of the error signal, drive circuitry for applying oppositely phased drive signals to the first and second power switching transistors including, a pulse transformer with a primary winding connected to receive the pulse signal and first and second secondary windings oriented in polarity to produce opposite phases of signals applied to the primary winding, and first and second drive transmission circuits for coupling the first and second secondary windings of the pulse transformer to the first and second power switching transistors with each transmission drive circuit including resistance capacitance timing circuitry for insuring controlled rise times for pulse outputs of the first and second primary windings; the control circuitry being operative for regulating a voltage of the output circuit by adjusting an imbalance between the first and second conduction intervals.

Claim 25

A bridge type power converter as claimed in claim 18, comprising: the control circuitry further including; error signal circuitry for generating an error signal representative of a deviation of a voltage at the output circuit from some preset regulated value, drive circuitry for applying oppositely phased drive signals to the first and second power switching transistors including, first and second drive transmission circuits for coupling the first and second secondary windings of the pulse transformer to the first and second power switching transistors with each transmission drive circuit including resistance capacitance timing circuitry for insuring controlled rise times for drive signals.

Claim 26

A bridge type power converter as claimed in claim 18, comprising: a comparator having a first input connected to receive the error signal and a second input, a ramp generator for generating a sawtooth ramp voltage waveform connected to the second input, and means for coupling oppositely polarized signals from the comparator to the first and second power switching transistors and provide isolation between the oppositely polarized signals.

Claim 27

A bridge type power converter as claimed in claim 20, comprising: a storage capacitor connected in series circuit with the primary winding and operative for storing the average voltage of a voltage level applied across the series circuit.

Claim 28

A bridge type power converter, comprising: an input for accepting a DC voltage; an output for providing a regulated DC voltage; power circuitry coupling the input to the output; including: first and second power switches connected across the DC voltage of the input; a power transformer having a primary winding connected in series circuit with a dc blocking capacitor and the series circuit being connected across one of the first and second second power switches; control circuitry operative for driving the first and second power switches alternatively conductive so that the first power switch is conductive for an interval substantially shorter then the second power switch in each cycle of operation, and regulating a voltage at the output by adjustment of an imbalance between intervals of conduction of the first and second power switches.

Claim 29

A bridge type power converter, comprising: an input for accepting a DC voltage; an output for providing a regulated DC voltage; power circuitry coupling the input to the output; including: first and second power switches connected across the DC voltage of the input; a power transformer having a primary winding connected in series circuit with a dc blocking capacitor and the series circuit being connected across one of the first and second second power switches; control circuitry operative for driving the first and second power switches alternatively conductive so that the first power switch is conductive for an interval substantially shorter then the second power switch in each cycle of operation, and regulating a voltage at the output by adjustment of an imbalance between intervals of conduction of the first and second power switches.

Claim 30

A bridge type power converter as claimed in claim 22, further comprising: the control circuitry including error signal circuitry for generating an error signal representative of a deviation of the DC voltage at the output from some preset regulated value, pulse circuitry responsive to the error signal to generate a pulse signal of controlled duration substantially less than a one half fraction of a switching period of the bridge type power converter and representative of the error signal, drive circuitry for applying oppositely phased drive signals to the first and second power switches.