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US5742491A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power converter adaptively driven
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1995-08-09
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Granted: 1998-04-21
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Expires: 2015-08-09
Abstract
Abstract A drive circuit for a converter and a method of driving a converter. The converter includes an inverter and a synchronous rectifier. The drive circuit includes: (1) a modulation circuit for generating a drive waveform for controlling the inverter and the synchronous rectifier employing a negative feedback loop, (2) a modification circuit, coupled to the modulation circuit, for sensing an operating condition of the converter and shifting a portion of the drive waveform as a function of the operating condition, the modification circuit thereby creating a variable drive waveform from the drive waveform without employing negative feedback and (3) a transmission circuit, coupled to the modification circuit, for applying the variable drive waveform to the converter, thereby allowing a variable nonconcurrent change in state of the inverter and the synchronous rectifier according to the function of the operating condition.
Inventors
- 👤 Wayne C. Bowman
- 👤 Van A. Niemela
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:15
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/22; H02M3/24; H02M3/28; H02M3/325; H02M3/335; H02M3/33569; H02M3/33576; H02M3/33592; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B70/00; Y02B70/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A drive circuit for a converter, said converter including an inverter and a synchronous rectifier, said drive circuit comprising: a modulation circuit for generating a drive waveform for controlling said inverter and said synchronous rectifier employing a negative feedback loop; a modification circuit, coupled to said modulation circuit, for sensing an operating condition of said converter and shifting a portion of said drive waveform as a function of said operating condition, said modification circuit thereby creating a variable drive waveform from said drive waveform without employing negative feedback; and a transmission circuit, coupled to said modification circuit, for applying said variable drive waveform to said converter, thereby allowing a variable nonconcurrent change in state of said inverter and said synchronous rectifier according to said function of said operating condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A drive circuit for a converter, said converter including an inverter and a synchronous rectifier, said drive circuit comprising: a modulation circuit for generating a drive waveform for controlling said inverter and said synchronous rectifier employing a negative feedback loop; a modification circuit, coupled to said modulation circuit, for sensing an operating condition of said converter and shifting a portion of said drive waveform as a function of said operating condition, said modification circuit thereby creating a variable drive waveform from said drive waveform without employing negative feedback; and a transmission circuit, coupled to said modification circuit, for applying said variable drive waveform to said converter, thereby allowing a variable nonconcurrent change in state of said inverter and said synchronous rectifier according to said function of said operating condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The drive circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein said modification circuit delays said portion of said drive waveform to produce said variable drive waveform.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The drive circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein said operating condition is an output current level of said converter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The drive circuit as recited in claim 1 further comprising another transmission circuit and wherein said modification circuit creates a nonvariable drive waveform, said another transmission circuit applying said nonvariable drive waveform to said inverter and said transmission circuit applying said variable drive waveform to said synchronous rectifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The drive circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein said modification circuit comprises a plurality of delay circuits having different delays associated therewith and a delay selection circuit adapted to act on a selected one of said plurality of delay circuits to create said variable drive waveform.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The drive circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein said modification circuit increases a delay of said portion of said drive waveform as an output current level of said converter increases.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The drive circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein said drive waveform is adapted to cause a switching component within said synchronous rectifier to transition from a conducting to a nonconducting state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The drive circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein said function of said operating condition is discontinuous.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The drive circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein said converter comprises an isolation transformer coupled between said inverter and said synchronous rectifier, said converter being an isolated, buck-derived converter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The drive circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein said modification circuit comprises an RC circuit having a variable time constant associated therewith.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of driving a converter, said converter including an inverter and a synchronous rectifier, said method comprising the steps of: generating a drive waveform for controlling said inverter and said synchronous rectifier employing a negative feedback loop; sensing an operating condition of said converter and shifting a portion of said drive waveform as a function of said operating condition, thereby creating a variable drive waveform from said drive waveform without employing negative feedback; and applying said variable drive waveform to said converter, thereby allowing a variable nonconcurrent change in state of said inverter and said synchronous rectifier according to said function of said operating condition.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of driving a converter, said converter including an inverter and a synchronous rectifier, said method comprising the steps of: generating a drive waveform for controlling said inverter and said synchronous rectifier employing a negative feedback loop; sensing an operating condition of said converter and shifting a portion of said drive waveform as a function of said operating condition, thereby creating a variable drive waveform from said drive waveform without employing negative feedback; and applying said variable drive waveform to said converter, thereby allowing a variable nonconcurrent change in state of said inverter and said synchronous rectifier according to said function of said operating condition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said step of sensing and shifting comprises the step of delaying said portion of said drive waveform to produce said variable drive waveform.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said operating condition is an output current level of said converter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said step of applying further comprises the steps of: applying a nonvariable drive waveform to said inverter; and applying said variable drive waveform to said synchronous rectifier.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said step of sensing and shifting comprises the step of acting on a selected one of a plurality of delay circuits to create said variable drive waveform.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said step of sensing and shifting comprises the step of increasing a delay of said portion of said drive waveform as an output current level of said converter increases.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said step of applying causes a switching component within said synchronous rectifier to transition from a conducting to a nonconducting state.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said function of said operating condition is discontinuous.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said converter comprises an isolation transformer coupled between said inverter and said synchronous rectifier, said converter being an isolated, buck-derived converter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said step of sensing and shifting is performed by a modification circuit including an RC circuit having a variable time constant associated therewith.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
166 words
A drive circuit for an isolated, buck-derived converter, said converter including an inverter, a synchronous rectifier and an isolation transformer coupled between said inverter and said synchronous rectifier, said drive circuit comprising: a modulation circuit for generating a drive waveform for controlling said inverter and said synchronous rectifier employing a negative feedback loop; a modification circuit, coupled to said modulation circuit, for sensing an output current level of said converter and delaying a portion of said drive waveform as a function of said output current level, said waveform modification circuit thereby creating a fixed and a variable drive waveform from said drive waveform without employing negative feedback; and a first and second transmission circuit, coupled to said modification circuit, for applying said fixed drive waveform to said inverter and said variable drive waveform to said synchronous rectifier, thereby allowing a variable change of state of said synchronous rectifier to lag a change of state of said inverter according to said function of said output current level.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
166 words
A drive circuit for an isolated, buck-derived converter, said converter including an inverter, a synchronous rectifier and an isolation transformer coupled between said inverter and said synchronous rectifier, said drive circuit comprising: a modulation circuit for generating a drive waveform for controlling said inverter and said synchronous rectifier employing a negative feedback loop; a modification circuit, coupled to said modulation circuit, for sensing an output current level of said converter and delaying a portion of said drive waveform as a function of said output current level, said waveform modification circuit thereby creating a fixed and a variable drive waveform from said drive waveform without employing negative feedback; and a first and second transmission circuit, coupled to said modification circuit, for applying said fixed drive waveform to said inverter and said variable drive waveform to said synchronous rectifier, thereby allowing a variable change of state of said synchronous rectifier to lag a change of state of said inverter according to said function of said output current level.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
The drive circuit as recited in claim 21 wherein said modification circuit comprises a plurality of delay circuits having different delays associated therewith and a delay selection circuit adapted to act on a selected one of said plurality of delay circuits to create said variable drive waveform.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The drive circuit as recited in claim 21 wherein said modification circuit increases a delay of said portion of said drive waveform as an output current level of said converter increases.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The drive circuit as recited in claim 21 wherein said drive waveform is adapted to cause a switching component within said synchronous rectifier to transition from a conducting to a nonconducting state.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The drive circuit as recited in claim 21 wherein said function of said operating condition is discontinuous.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The drive circuit as recited in claim 21 wherein said modification circuit comprises an RC circuit having a variable time constant associated therewith.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-04-20 | 2001-10-20 | 2002-04-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-20 | 2005-10-20 | 2006-04-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-20 | 2009-10-20 | 2010-04-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |