DC-to-DC bidirectional voltage converters and current sensor

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the duration of the secondary period (T3) further comprises calculating the secondary period from a set of parameters including at least a parameter (Vin#, Vin) representative of the supply voltage (Vin), a parameter (Vout#, Vout) representative of the output voltage (Vout) of the converter, and a value (Vc) of a maximum current (Ioutmax) at the output of the converter.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2, wherein said parameter representative of the supply voltage is the supply voltage drawn at the converter input (Vin).

Claim 5

The method of claim 2, wherein said parameter representative of the output voltage of the converter is the voltage drawn at the output of the converter (Vout).

Claim 6

The method of claim 1, wherein: a first delay (T2') is interposed between the end of the primary period (T1) and the beginning of the secondary period (T3), the switching-on of the second switch (Ts) and the counting of the duration of the secondary period (T3) being triggered at the latest at the end of the first delay, a second delay (T4') is interposed between the end of the secondary period (T3) and the beginning of the primary period (T1), the switching-on of the first switch (Tp) being triggered at the latest at the end of said second delay.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5, wherein said delays (T2', T4') are predetermined and produced by delay circuits (74, 83).

Claim 8

The method of claim 5, wherein delays (T2', T4') are calculated from a set of parameters including the converter supply voltage (Vin), the converter output voltage (Vout), the value of the current (Ip2) flowing through the primary circuit at the end of the primary period (T1), and the duration (T3) of the secondary period.

Claim 9

A voltage converter (30, 40, 50, 60, 300) including: an inductive element (1, Lp, Ls) adapted to store energy in a magnetic form, a first chopping switch (Tp) and a first diode (Dp) in parallel, which form with the inductive element a primary circuit connected to a DC supply voltage source (Vin), at least a second chopping switch (Ts) and a second diode (Ds) in parallel, which form with the inductive element at least a secondary circuit supplying a load (Cout, Z) with a converter output voltage (Vout), a system (70, 80, 90) for controlling said switches to achieve operation cycles including a primary period (T1) for the flowing of a current (Ip) through said primary circuit, during which the first switch (Tp) is on and the second switch (Ts) is off, and a secondary period (T3) for the flowing of a current (Is) through the secondary circuit during which the second switch (Ts) is on and the first switch (Tp) is off, means (61, 62, 70, 71, 72, 91, 95) for switching on the first switch (Tp) upon reception of a signal (S, T4') to start-up the primary period (Ti), and for switching off the switch when the current (Ip) in the primary circuit is higher than a control signal (G(ε)) depending upon the difference (ε) between the converter output voltage (Vout) and a reference voltage (Vref), means (80, 81, 82, 85, 86, 87, 93, 97, 100, 102) for switching on the second switch (Ts) upon reception of a signal (S(T2'), Hs') to start-up the secondary period (T3), to calculate the duration of the secondary period (T3), to count said duration and to switch-off the secondary switch (Ts) when said duration is ended.

Claim 10

A voltage converter (30, 40, 50, 60, 300) including: an inductive element (1, Lp, Ls) adapted to store energy in a magnetic form, a first chopping switch (Tp) and a first diode (Dp) in parallel, which form with the inductive element a primary circuit connected to a DC supply voltage source (Vin), at least a second chopping switch (Ts) and a second diode (Ds) in parallel, which form with the inductive element at least a secondary circuit supplying a load (Cout, Z) with a converter output voltage (Vout), a system (70, 80, 90) for controlling said switches to achieve operation cycles including a primary period (T1) for the flowing of a current (Ip) through said primary circuit, during which the first switch (Tp) is on and the second switch (Ts) is off, and a secondary period (T3) for the flowing of a current (Is) through the secondary circuit during which the second switch (Ts) is on and the first switch (Tp) is off, means (61, 62, 70, 71, 72, 91, 95) for switching on the first switch (Tp) upon reception of a signal (S, T4') to start-up the primary period (Ti), and for switching off the switch when the current (Ip) in the primary circuit is higher than a control signal (G(ε)) depending upon the difference (ε) between the converter output voltage (Vout) and a reference voltage (Vref), means (80, 81, 82, 85, 86, 87, 93, 97, 100, 102) for switching on the second switch (Ts) upon reception of a signal (S(T2'), Hs') to start-up the secondary period (T3), to calculate the duration of the secondary period (T3), to count said duration and to switch-off the secondary switch (Ts) when said duration is ended.

Claim 11

The converter (60) of claim 8, further including: a first timer (74, 92, 96, 99, 103) for providing with a first delay (T2') said start-up signal (S(T2')) f the secondary period T3), from the end (ST1) of the primary period (T1), a second timer (83, 94, 98, 101, 104) for providing with a second delay (T4') said start-up signal (S(T4')) of the primary period (T1), from the end (S(T3)) of the secondary period (T3).

Claim 12

The converter of claim 9, wherein a smooth switching capacitor (Cp, Cs) is associated with each of said switches (Tp, Ts), and wherein said smooth switching capacitor (Cp, Cs) is connected in parallel across the inductive element (1, Lp, Ls), so as to form, with a spurious inductance (1p, ls) of the inductive element, a circuit loop having a reduced length in which is confined a spurious current (Iop, Ios).

Claim 13

The converter of claim 8, further comprising: a current sensor (62) for measuring the primary current (Ip), said sensor (62) including a transformer (620) having a primary winding (Wp) disposed in the primary circuit of the converter, a secondary winding (Ws) connected to a measurement resistor (r) through a switch (622), and a demagnetization inductance (621) that is active when said switch (622) is off, and means (826, 827, 828) for switching-on said switch (622) during said primary period (T1).

Claim 14

The converter of claim 8, wherein said inductive element is a single turn winding (L).

Claim 15

The converter of claim 8, wherein said inductive element is a transformer (1) including a primary winding (Lp) forming with the first switch (Tp) and the first diode (Dp) said primary circuit, and a secondary winding (Ls) forming with the second switch (Ts) and the second diode (Ds) said secondary circuit.

Claim 16

The voltage converter of claim 8, wherein the duration of the secondary period (T3) is calculated from a set of parameters including at least a parameter (Vin#, Vin) representative of the supply voltage (Vin), a parameter (Vout#, Vout) representative of the output voltage (Vout) of the converter, and a value (Vc) of a maximum current (Ioutmax) at the output of the converter.

Claim 17

The converter of claim 14, wherein said parameter representative of the supply voltage is the supply voltage drawn at the converter input (Vin).

Claim 18

The converter of claim 14, wherein said parameter representative of the output voltage of the converter is the voltage drawn at the output of the converter (Vout).

Claim 19

The converter of claim 9, wherein said delays (T2', T4') are predetermined and produced by delay circuits (74, 83).

Claim 20

The converter of claim 9, wherein said delays (T2', T4') are calculated from a set of parameters including the converter supply voltage (Vin), the converter output voltage (Vout), the value of the current (Ip2) flowing through the primary circuit at the end of the primary period (T1), and the duration (T3) of the secondary period.