US6038147A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power supply employing circulating capacitor and method of operation thereof
Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH
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Filing: 1998-11-12
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Granted: 2000-03-14
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Expires: 2018-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A power supply and method of operation thereof. In one embodiment, the power supply includes: (1) a primary side power switch, (2) an isolation transformer having a primary winding coupled to the primary side power switch, the primary side power switch conducting intermittently to transfer current from an input of the power supply to the isolation transformer, (3) a secondary side power switch, coupled to a secondary winding of the isolation transformer, that is operable to conduct within a conduction period of the primary side power switch to transfer current from the isolation transformer to an output of the power supply, a portion of the current being contained within the power supply during a nonconduction period of the secondary side power switch and (4) a capacitor, coupled to the secondary side power switch, that, circulates the portion toward the output during the nonconduction period.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark E. Jacobs
- 👤 Yimin Jiang
- 👤 Hengchun Mao
- 👤 Vijayan J. Thottuvelil
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:04
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M7/00; H02M7/42; H02M7/44; H02M7/48; H02M7/4807; H02M3/00; H02M3/22; H02M3/24; H02M3/28; H02M3/325; H02M3/335; H02M3/33561
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A power supply, comprising: a primary side power switch; an isolation transformer having a primary winding coupled to said primary side power switch, said primary side power switch conducting intermittently to transfer current from an input of said power supply to said isolation transformer; a secondary side power switch, coupled to a secondary winding of said isolation transformer, that is operable to conduct within a conduction period of said primary side power switch to transfer current from said isolation transformer to an output of said power supply, a portion of said current being contained within said power supply during a nonconduction period of said secondary side power switch; and a capacitor, coupled to said secondary side power switch, that circulates said portion toward said output during said nonconduction period.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A power supply, comprising: a primary side power switch; an isolation transformer having a primary winding coupled to said primary side power switch, said primary side power switch conducting intermittently to transfer current from an input of said power supply to said isolation transformer; a secondary side power switch, coupled to a secondary winding of said isolation transformer, that is operable to conduct within a conduction period of said primary side power switch to transfer current from said isolation transformer to an output of said power supply, a portion of said current being contained within said power supply during a nonconduction period of said secondary side power switch; and a capacitor, coupled to said secondary side power switch, that circulates said portion toward said output during said nonconduction period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The power supply as recited in claim 1 further comprising an output capacitor coupled across said output.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The power supply as recited in claim 1 further comprising an inductor coupled to said output.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The power supply as recited in claim 1 further comprising a filter resistor coupled to said output.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The power supply as recited in claim 1 further comprising a resistor series-coupled to said secondary side power switch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The power supply as recited in claim 1 wherein said secondary side power switch is selected from the group consisting of: at least one metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET); and at least one insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The power supply as recited in claim 1 wherein said input is coupleable to a source of direct current (DC) power.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of operating a power supply having a primary side power switch and an isolation transformer having a primary winding coupled to said primary side power switch, said primary side power switch conducting intermittently to transfer current from an input of said power supply to said isolation transformer, said method comprising: causing a secondary side power switch coupled to a secondary winding of said isolation transformer to conduct within a conduction period of said primary side power switch to transfer current from said isolation transformer to an output of said power supply, a portion of said current being contained within said power supply during a nonconduction period of said secondary side power switch; and circulating said portion toward said output with a capacitor, coupled to said secondary side power switch, during said nonconduction period.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of operating a power supply having a primary side power switch and an isolation transformer having a primary winding coupled to said primary side power switch, said primary side power switch conducting intermittently to transfer current from an input of said power supply to said isolation transformer, said method comprising: causing a secondary side power switch coupled to a secondary winding of said isolation transformer to conduct within a conduction period of said primary side power switch to transfer current from said isolation transformer to an output of said power supply, a portion of said current being contained within said power supply during a nonconduction period of said secondary side power switch; and circulating said portion toward said output with a capacitor, coupled to said secondary side power switch, during said nonconduction period.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising filtering said current with an output capacitor coupled across said output.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising filtering said current with an inductor coupled to said output.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising filtering said current with a filter resistor coupled to said output.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising attenuating said current with a resistor series-coupled to said power switch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said secondary side power switch is selected from the group consisting of: at least one metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET); and at least one insulated gate bipolar junction transistor (IGBT).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said input is coupleable to a source of direct current (DC) power.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
160 words
A power supply, comprising: a DC--DC converter including: a primary inverter having a primary side power switch, an isolation transformer having a primary winding coupled to said primary side power switch and first and second secondary windings, said primary side power switch conducting intermittently to transfer current from an input of said DC--DC converter to said isolation transformer; and a rectifier, coupled to said first secondary winding; and a four-quadrant inverter, coupled to said second secondary winding, including: a secondary side power switch, coupled to said second secondary winding, that is operable to conduct within a conduction period of said primary side power switch to transfer current from said isolation transformer to an output of said power supply, a portion of said current being contained within said power supply during a nonconductor period of said secondary side power switch; and a capacitor, coupled to said secondary side power switch, that circulates said portion toward said output during said nonconduction period.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
160 words
A power supply, comprising: a DC--DC converter including: a primary inverter having a primary side power switch, an isolation transformer having a primary winding coupled to said primary side power switch and first and second secondary windings, said primary side power switch conducting intermittently to transfer current from an input of said DC--DC converter to said isolation transformer; and a rectifier, coupled to said first secondary winding; and a four-quadrant inverter, coupled to said second secondary winding, including: a secondary side power switch, coupled to said second secondary winding, that is operable to conduct within a conduction period of said primary side power switch to transfer current from said isolation transformer to an output of said power supply, a portion of said current being contained within said power supply during a nonconductor period of said secondary side power switch; and a capacitor, coupled to said secondary side power switch, that circulates said portion toward said output during said nonconduction period.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The power supply as recited in claim 15 wherein said four-quadrant inverter further includes an output filter, coupled to said capacitor, that filters said current for delivery to said output.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The power supply as recited in claim 16 wherein said output filter includes an element selected from the group consisting of: an output capacitor; an inductor; and a filter resistor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The power supply as recited in claim 15 wherein said four-quadrant inverter further includes a resistor series-coupled to said secondary side power switch.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The power supply as recited in claim 15 wherein said secondary side power switch is selected from the group consisting of: at least one metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), and at least one insulated gate bipolar junction transistor (IGBT).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The power supply as recited in claim 15 wherein said primary inverter is selected from the group consisting of: an asymmetrical half bridge, a half bridge, a full bridge, a forward, a flyback, a Sepic, and a Zeta.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The power supply as recited in claim 15 wherein said rectifier is selected from the group consisting of: a half wave rectifier, a full wave rectifier, a hybridge rectifier, a multiple transformer rectifier, and a flyback rectifier.
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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) | 2003-03-14 | 2003-09-13 | 2004-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-14 | 2007-09-13 | 2008-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-14 | 2011-09-13 | 2012-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |