Electric power conversion systems – Current conversion – Including d.c.-a.c.-d.c. converter
Utility Patent
1998-09-25
2001-01-02
Wong, Peter S. (Department: 2838)
Electric power conversion systems
Current conversion
Including d.c.-a.c.-d.c. converter
C363S017000
Utility Patent
active
06169667
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus to achieve a more efficient and cost-effective power system to supply electrical power to an electrical system. More particularly, it is concerned with a power system incorporating an improved power converter designed to share a common power input circuit while maintaining necessary isolation to achieve desired functionality in both a main output circuit and an auxiliary output circuit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Power systems used to supply electrical power to electrical devices and systems typically incorporate a power converter. As used herein the term “power converter” refers to the electrical apparatus or circuitry designed to connect a power source to an electrical device or system. A power converter typically converts input electrical power from a power source into the correct voltage and current to be used by the electrical system or device. The term “power system” will be used herein to refer generally to the combination of a power source and a power converter which together supply electrical power to an electrical system or device.
Many of today's electrical devices and systems require a main power system and an auxiliary power system. Typically, the main power system is used to supply electrical power sufficient to operate and perform the major functions of the electrical system or device, while the auxiliary power system is used to supply electrical power sufficient to operate and maintain auxiliary portions of the electrical system, such as the system's housekeeping functions. In a television set, for example, the main power system would be used to supply electrical power in order to turn on and operate the television screen, tuner, speakers, etc., while the auxiliary power system would be used to supply electrical power needed to maintain the television's settings stored in memory.
In electrical systems such as these, two power systems are required because of the differing power requirements of the auxiliary and main portions/functions of the electrical system or device. In particular, the electrical system's auxiliary functions generally require continuous power, i.e., the power to this portion of the electrical system should not be turned off. The electrical system's main/major functions, however, are typically switchable. As used herein the term “switchable” means it is designed to be turned on and off. As a result of these characteristics, two power systems are typically used so that one power system can be kept on in order to supply continuous electrical power to the electrical system's auxiliary functions (the auxiliary power system) while the other power system can be switched on and off to operate the electrical system's main functions (the main power system).
Although a single power system could be designed with sufficient power capacity to supply power to operate both the electrical systems main functions as well as the system's auxiliary functions, this would result in an undesirable and inconvenient system. In particular, if a single power system were used it would have to be kept on in order to supply continuous electrical power to the electrical system's auxiliary functions. But, this would necessarily preclude turning off the power supplied to the electrical system's main functions since both the auxiliary and main portions of the electrical system would be utilizing the same power system. It would clearly be undesirable to have to keep the entire electrical system on in order to maintain the system's auxiliary functions. For example, it would be inconvenient to be forced to keep a television on all of the time in order to maintain the television's date/time, preferred channels, and other housekeeping functions stored in memory.
In addition to convenience issues, however, such a single-power-system design would also be inefficient. As a result of the differing functions of the main and auxiliary portions of the electrical system, the main power system is generally required to provide a majority of the electrical power to the electrical system whereas the auxiliary power system provides a relatively small electrical power to the electrical system. Thus, having a switchable main power system is not only desirable from a convenience standpoint, but it also allows the main portion of the electrical system a to be turned off in order to conserve energy.
In sum, then, it is desirable to design a main power system such that it can be turned off when the main functions of the electrical device or system are not in use, and an auxiliary power system which is sufficiently isolated from the main power system such that when the main power system is turned off, the auxiliary power system will stay on. Although this could be accomplished by simply having two completely separate and independent power systems supplying the electrical system, this would be an expensive solution given the duplication of certain portions of the power systems. What is needed is a design scheme that provides a switchable main power system with an isolated auxiliary power system which will provide continuous power to the system's auxiliary functions whether the main power system is on or off, wherein the main and auxiliary power systems share as many components as possible to reduce cost, and wherein the electrical components used are cost-effective and efficient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To this end, in accordance with the present invention, there is described a method and apparatus that provides a power system having operating characteristics and functionality similar to, but without the associated costs of, an electrical system having two entirely separate power systems. More particularly, the present invention describes a power system having a power converter which shares a common input circuit while maintaining the necessary isolation and functionality of an auxiliary output circuit and a main output circuit.
The inventive electrical power converter of the present invention comprises: an input circuit adapted to receive electrical power from a power source; a main output circuit coupled to the input circuit and adapted to receive electrical power from the input circuit and to supply a main output power to an electrical system; an auxiliary output circuit coupled to the input circuit adapted to receive electrical power from the input circuit and to supply an auxiliary output power to an electrical system; a primary switching circuit connected to the input circuit operable in a first state to disconnect the input circuit such that the input circuit is prevented from supplying power to the main output circuit and the auxiliary output circuit, and operable in a second state to connect the input circuit such that the input circuit can supply power to the main output circuit and the auxiliary output circuit; a secondary switching circuit connected to the main output circuit operable in a first state to disconnect the main output circuit such that the main output circuit is prevented from supplying the main output power to an electrical system, and operable in a second state to connect the main output circuit such that the main output circuit can supply the main output power to an electrical system; and capacitance connected to the auxiliary output circuit which charges when the auxiliary output circuit receives power from the input circuit, and which discharges when the auxiliary output circuit is not receiving power from the input circuit thereby temporarily maintaining the auxiliary output power to an electrical system.
The inventive method of controlling an electrical power converter according to the present invention, comprises the steps of: a.) Providing a power converter comprising: an input circuit adapted to receive electrical power from a power source; a main output circuit coupled to the input circuit and adapted to receive electrical power from the input circuit and to supply a main output power to an electrical system; an auxiliary
Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Patel Rajnikant B.
Wong Peter S.
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