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US5736842A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Technique for reducing rectifier reverse-recovery-related losses in high-voltage high power converters

Assignee: Delta Electronics Inc
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Filing: 1996-07-11
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Granted: 1998-04-07
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Expires: 2016-07-11
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Abstract

Abstract A circuit technique that substantially reduces the boost-converter losses caused by the reverse-recovery characteristics of the rectifier is described. The losses are reduced by inserting an inductor in the series path of the boost switch and the rectifier to control the di/dt rate of the rectifier during its turn-off. The energy from the inductor after the boost switch turn-off is returned to the input or delivered to the output via an active snubber. The same technique can be extended to any member of the PWM-converter family.

Inventors

  • 👤 Milan M. Jovanovic

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 14:26
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M1/00; H02M1/32; H02M1/34; H02M3/00; H02M3/02; H02M3/04; H02M3/10; H02M3/145; H02M3/155; H02M3/156; H02M3/158; H02M3/22; H02M3/24; H02M3/28; H02M3/325; H02M3/335; H02M3/33569; H02M3/33576; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/08; H03K17/081; H03K17/0814; H03K17/08142; H02M1/342; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B70/00; Y02B70/10

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 168 words
A power converter for driving an output load, comprising: an input voltage source; an output filter capacitor coupled in parallel with said output load; a first inductor provided for storing energy from said input voltage source; a rectifier; a primary switch controlled by a first control signal, said primary switch coupling said energy from said input voltage source to said first inductor, when said primary switch is closed; and an active snubber, including a second inductor, a clamping capacitor and an auxiliary switch controlled by a second control signal, wherein when said auxiliary switch is closed, said second inductor and said clamping capacitor are coupled in series, and wherein when said primary switch is closed, said second inductor controls a rate of change of current in said rectifier and, when said primary switch is open, energy in said second input is transferred through said clamping capacitor to a reference voltage source, said first and second control signals closing said primary and auxiliary switches at mutually exclusive time intervals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 168 words
A power converter for driving an output load, comprising: an input voltage source; an output filter capacitor coupled in parallel with said output load; a first inductor provided for storing energy from said input voltage source; a rectifier; a primary switch controlled by a first control signal, said primary switch coupling said energy from said input voltage source to said first inductor, when said primary switch is closed; and an active snubber, including a second inductor, a clamping capacitor and an auxiliary switch controlled by a second control signal, wherein when said auxiliary switch is closed, said second inductor and said clamping capacitor are coupled in series, and wherein when said primary switch is closed, said second inductor controls a rate of change of current in said rectifier and, when said primary switch is open, energy in said second input is transferred through said clamping capacitor to a reference voltage source, said first and second control signals closing said primary and auxiliary switches at mutually exclusive time intervals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
A power converter as in claim 1, wherein said reference voltage source being said input voltage source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
A power converter as in claim 1, wherein said reference voltage source is the voltage across said output capacitor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
A power converter as in claim 1, wherein said reference voltage source is a ground reference voltage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
A power converter as in claim 1, further comprising a clamping diode for preventing resonance between a parasitic capacitor of said rectifier and said second inductor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
A power converter as in claim 1, wherein said converter is of a non-isolated type, said second inductor being connected in series with said primary switch, when said primary switch is closed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
A power converter as in claim 1, wherein said converter is of a non-isolated type, said second inductor being connected in series with said rectifier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 36 words
A power converter as in claim 1, wherein said first inductor comprises a transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil, said second inductor being provided in series with said primary coil of said transformer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 36 words
A power converter as in claim 1, wherein said first inductor comprises a transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil, said second inductor being provided in series with said secondary coil of said transformer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 14 words
A power converter as in claim 1, wherein said converter comprises a boost converter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 44 words
A power converter as in claim 10, wherein said boost converter comprises a rectifier coupled between said output filter capacitor and said first inductor, said second inductor being coupled in series with said first inductor and said primary switch when said switch is closed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 32 words
A power converter as in claim 10, wherein said boost converter comprises a rectifier coupled between said output filter capacitor, and a series connection of said second inductor and said first inductor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 24 words
A power converter as in claim 1, said active snubber further comprising a clamping diode for maintaining a minimum voltage across said clamping capacitor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 36 words
A power converter as in claim 1, further comprising a first diode and a second diode, said first and second diode being configured in an antiparallel fashion across said primary switch and said auxiliary switch respectively.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 41 words
A power converter as in claim 14, further comprising: a third diode connected in series with said auxiliary switch for blocking conduction of said second diode; and a fourth diode connected in parallel with said auxiliary switch and said third diode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 21 words
A power converter as in claim 1, wherein said first inductor and said second inductor being provided by a tapped inductor.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5432431A Cited
US5418704A Cited
US5477131A Cited
US5446366A Cited
US5486752A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-04-06 2001-10-06 2002-04-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-04-06 2005-10-06 2006-04-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-04-06 2009-10-06 2010-04-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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