Power converter module with an electromagnetically coupled...

Details Power converter module with an electromagnetically coupled... Power converter module with an electromagnetically coupled...

2003-03-24

2004-11-30

Nguyen, Matthew V. (Department: 2838)

Electricity: power supply or regulation systems

Output level responsive

Using a three or more terminal semiconductive device as the...

Reexamination Certificate

active

06825643

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a power converter module, more particularly to a power converter module with an electromagnetically coupled inductor for switch control of a rectifier.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a conventional power converter module
1
for DC-to-DC conversion is shown to include a wave generator
11
, a rectifier
13
, and a switch controller
12
. The wave generator
11
, such as a pulse width modulator (PWM), has an output terminal that provides a periodic control signal. The rectifier
13
, such as a step-down synchronous rectifier, includes first and second NMOS power switches
131
,
132
. The first power switch
131
has a first switch terminal coupled electrically to a voltage source (Vin), a second switch terminal, and a control terminal. The second power switch
132
has a first switch terminal coupled electrically to the second switch terminal of the first power switch
131
, a grounded second switch terminal, and a control terminal. The switch controller
12
is in the form of an integrated circuit that interconnects the output terminal of the wave generator
11
and the control terminals of the first and second power switches
131
,
132
. The switch controller
12
provides a first switch control signal
121
that corresponds to the periodic control signal from the wave generator
11
to the control terminal of the first power switch
131
, and further provides a second switch control signal
122
that is 180-degrees out of phase with respect to the first switch control signal
121
to the periodic control signal to the control terminal of the second power switch
132
such that the first and second power switches
131
,
132
are turned on and off alternately and periodically. The first and second switch control signals
121
,
122
have duty cycles that can be adjusted to produce a desired direct current (DC) voltage (Vout) at an output of the rectifier
13
. However, the switch controller
12
of the conventional power converter module
1
is a relatively expensive component having a driving capability that cannot be adjusted as desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a power converter module that includes a relatively low cost and simple switch controller so as to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.
According to the present invention, a power converter module comprises a wave generator, a rectifier, and a switch controller. The wave generator has an output terminal that provides a periodic control signal. The rectifier includes first and second power switches, and an LC circuit. The first power switch has a first switch terminal adapted to be coupled electrically to a voltage source, a second switch terminal, and a control terminal. The second power switch has a first switch terminal coupled electrically to the second switch terminal of the first powers witch, a grounded second switch terminal, and a control terminal. The LC circuit is coupled electrically to the second switch terminal of the first power switch and the first switch terminal of the second power switch. The LC circuit includes an inductor coil. The switch controller is coupled electrically to the wave generator and the control terminals of the first and second power switches. The switch controller provides a switch control signal corresponding to the periodic control signal to the control terminal of the first power switch such that the first power switch is turned on and off periodically. The switch controller includes a control coil coupled electromagnetically to the inductor coil. The control coil has a first coil terminal adapted to be coupled electrically to the voltage source, and a second coil terminal coupled electrically to the control terminal of the second power switch. The inductor coil induces a negative voltage onto the control coil to turnoff the second power switch when the first power switch is turned on. The control coil is adapted to couple the voltage source to the control terminal of the second power switch to turn on the second power switch when the first power switch is turned off.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4347474 (1982-08-01), Brooks et al.
patent: 5959442 (1999-09-01), Hallberg et al.
patent: 5982160 (1999-11-01), Walters et al.
patent: 6064187 (2000-05-01), Redl et al.
patent: 6525516 (2003-02-01), Schultz et al.
patent: 6580259 (2003-06-01), Liu et al.

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