US5477132A — Multi-sectioned power converter having current-sh…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 183 words

An interleaved power converter system comprising: a power bus having a first node coupled to a source of power and a second node coupled to a load; and a plurality N of power converter slices connected in parallel with said power bus for providing current thereto, each of said slices providing approximately of a total amount of current flowing through said power bus, each of said slices comprising, at least one switch coupled to said power bus; an inductance having a first terminal coupled to said at least one switch and a second terminal coupled to said power bus; and control means having an output for controlling the opening and closing of said at least one switch to control an amount of current that flows through said inductance as a function of a difference between (a) a first signal that represents a magnitude of a voltage potential of said power bus and (b) a second signal that represents a combination of a magnitude of an average current flowing through said power bus and a magnitude of a peak current flowing through the inductance.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 183 words

An interleaved power converter system comprising: a power bus having a first node coupled to a source of power and a second node coupled to a load; and a plurality N of power converter slices connected in parallel with said power bus for providing current thereto, each of said slices providing approximately of a total amount of current flowing through said power bus, each of said slices comprising, at least one switch coupled to said power bus; an inductance having a first terminal coupled to said at least one switch and a second terminal coupled to said power bus; and control means having an output for controlling the opening and closing of said at least one switch to control an amount of current that flows through said inductance as a function of a difference between (a) a first signal that represents a magnitude of a voltage potential of said power bus and (b) a second signal that represents a combination of a magnitude of an average current flowing through said power bus and a magnitude of a peak current flowing through the inductance.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 75 words

An interleaved power converter system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said N slices is further comprised of: means for sensing the peak current flowing through said inductance for generating a peak current signal; and means for adding a predetermined percentage of the peak current signal to a signal representing the magnitude of the average current flowing through said power bus, said adding means having an output for providing said second signal.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 18 words

An interleaved power converter system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said predetermined percentage is approximately 5%.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 99 words

An interleaved power converter system comprising: a power bus having a battery coupled thereto; a plurality of inductors each of which is switchably coupled between a system ground and said power bus; and a plurality of control means individual ones of which control the switching of an individual one of said inductors as a function of (a) a magnitude of a voltage potential of said power bus; b) a magnitude of an average current flowing through said power bus; and (c) a signal that indicates a magnitude of a peak current flowing through the individual one of the inductors.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 99 words

An interleaved power converter system comprising: a power bus having a battery coupled thereto; a plurality of inductors each of which is switchably coupled between a system ground and said power bus; and a plurality of control means individual ones of which control the switching of an individual one of said inductors as a function of (a) a magnitude of a voltage potential of said power bus; b) a magnitude of an average current flowing through said power bus; and (c) a signal that indicates a magnitude of a peak current flowing through the individual one of the inductors.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 82 words

An interleaved power converter system as set forth in claim 4 wherein one end of each of said inductors is connected to said power bus, and further comprising, for each of said inductors, a boost switch coupled between a second end of said inductor and ground; and a buck switch coupled between said second end of said inductor and said power bus, wherein said control means operates said boost and buck switches so as to controllably open one and close the other.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 52 words

An interleaved power converter system as set forth in claim 5 and further comprising current sensing means coupled to each of said inductors for sensing a magnitude of the peak current flowing through the inductor, wherein said current sensing means includes a resistance that is coupled between said boost switch and ground.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 53 words

An interleaved power converter system as set forth in claim 4 and further comprising current sensing means coupled to each of said inductors for sensing a magnitude of the peak current flowing through the inductor, wherein the magnitude of a current flowing through the inductor is scaled in accordance with a predetermined percentage.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 64 words

An interleaved power converter system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said signal is generated by means for adding a first signal, that indicates a predetermined proportion of the total amount of current that said power converter system is supplying to said power bus, to a second signal, that indicates a predetermined fraction of the magnitude of the current flowing through the inductor.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 154 words

An interleaved power converter system comprising: a power bus having a battery coupled thereto; and a plurality of slices operating in a phased relationship with one another for causing said battery to source current to said power bus or to sink current from said power bus, each of said slices comprising, an inductor that is switchably coupled between a system ground and said power bus; and control means for controlling the switching of said inductor as a function of (a) a difference between a magnitude of a voltage potential of said power bus and a predetermined voltage potential magnitude; (b) a difference between a magnitude of a current flowing through said power bus and a predetermined current magnitude; and (c) a signal that indicates both of (i) a predetermined proportion of a total amount of current that said power converter system is supplying and, (ii) a magnitude of a current flowing through the inductor.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 154 words

An interleaved power converter system comprising: a power bus having a battery coupled thereto; and a plurality of slices operating in a phased relationship with one another for causing said battery to source current to said power bus or to sink current from said power bus, each of said slices comprising, an inductor that is switchably coupled between a system ground and said power bus; and control means for controlling the switching of said inductor as a function of (a) a difference between a magnitude of a voltage potential of said power bus and a predetermined voltage potential magnitude; (b) a difference between a magnitude of a current flowing through said power bus and a predetermined current magnitude; and (c) a signal that indicates both of (i) a predetermined proportion of a total amount of current that said power converter system is supplying and, (ii) a magnitude of a current flowing through the inductor.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 75 words

An interleaved power converter system as set forth in claim 9 wherein one end of said inductor is connected to said power bus, and further comprising, a boost switch coupled between a second end of said inductor and ground; and a buck switch coupled between said second end of said inductor and said power bus, wherein said control means operates said boost and buck switches so as to controllably open one and close the other.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 50 words

An interleaved power converter system as set forth in claim 10 and further comprising current sensing means coupled to said inductor for sensing a magnitude of a peak current flowing through the inductor, wherein said current sensing means includes a resistance that is coupled between said boost switch and ground.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 49 words

An interleaved power converter system as set forth in claim 10 and further comprising current sensing means coupled to said inductor for sensing a magnitude of a peak current flowing through the inductor, wherein said current sensing means includes a resistance that is coupled in series with said inductor.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 52 words

An interleaved power converter system as set forth in claim 9 and further comprising current sensing means coupled to said inductor for sensing a magnitude of a peak current flowing through said inductor, wherein the magnitude of the peak current flowing through said inductor is scaled in accordance with a predetermined percentage.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 61 words

An interleaved power converter system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said signal is generated by means for adding a first signal, that indicates the predetermined proportion of the total amount of current that said power converter system is supplying, to a second signal, that indicates a predetermined fraction of the magnitude of a peak current flowing through the inductor.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 170 words

A satellite comprising: a power bus having a battery coupled thereto; at least one solar array coupled to said power bus; and an interleaved bilateral power converter system comprised of a plurality of slices operating in a phased relationship with one another for causing said battery to source current to said power bus or to sink current from said power bus, each of said slices comprising, an inductor that is switchably coupled between a system ground and said power bus; and control means for controlling the switching of said inductor as a function of (a) a difference between a magnitude of a voltage potential of said power bus and a predetermined voltage potential magnitude; (b) a difference between a magnitude of an average current flowing through said power bus and a predetermined current magnitude; and (c) a signal that indicates both of (i) a predetermined proportion of a total amount of current that said power converter system supplying and, (ii) a magnitude of a peak current flowing through the inductor.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 170 words

A satellite comprising: a power bus having a battery coupled thereto; at least one solar array coupled to said power bus; and an interleaved bilateral power converter system comprised of a plurality of slices operating in a phased relationship with one another for causing said battery to source current to said power bus or to sink current from said power bus, each of said slices comprising, an inductor that is switchably coupled between a system ground and said power bus; and control means for controlling the switching of said inductor as a function of (a) a difference between a magnitude of a voltage potential of said power bus and a predetermined voltage potential magnitude; (b) a difference between a magnitude of an average current flowing through said power bus and a predetermined current magnitude; and (c) a signal that indicates both of (i) a predetermined proportion of a total amount of current that said power converter system supplying and, (ii) a magnitude of a peak current flowing through the inductor.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 72 words

A satellite as set forth in claim 15 wherein one end of said inductor is connected to said power bus, and further comprising a boost switch coupled between a second end of said inductor and ground; and a buck switch coupled between said second end of said inductor and said power bus, wherein said control means operates said boost and buck switches so as to controllably open one and close the other.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 47 words

A satellite as set forth in claim 16 and further comprising current sensing means coupled to said inductor for sensing a magnitude of the peak current flowing through the inductor, wherein said current sensing means includes a resistance that is coupled between said boost switch and ground.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 46 words

A satellite as set forth in claim 16 and further comprising current sensing means coupled to said inductor for sensing a magnitude of the peak current flowing through the inductor, wherein said current sensing means includes a resistance that is coupled in series with said inductor.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 49 words

A satellite as set forth in claim 15 and further comprising current sensing means coupled to said inductor for sensing a magnitude of the peak current flowing through said inductor, wherein the magnitude of the peak current flowing through said inductor is scaled in accordance with a predetermined percentage.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 58 words

A satellite as set forth in claim 15 wherein said signal is generated by means for adding a first signal, that indicates the predetermined proportion of the total amount of current that said power converter system is supplying, to a second signal, that indicates a predetermined fraction of the magnitude of the peak current flowing through the inductor.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1998-12-18	1999-06-19	1999-12-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2002-12-18	2003-06-19	2003-12-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2006-12-18	2007-06-19	2007-12-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Multi-sectioned power converter having current-sharing controller

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