Programmable multiple output DC-DC isolated power supply

Details Programmable multiple output DC-DC isolated power supply Programmable multiple output DC-DC isolated power supply

2003-01-03

2004-08-03

Sterrett, Jeffrey (Department: 2838)

Electricity: power supply or regulation systems

Output level responsive

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

C323S267000, C323S272000, C323S283000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06771052

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to power supplies, and more particularly to a programmable multiple output DC-DC isolated power supply with programmable operating characteristics.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Today's electronic systems often require multiple voltages having varying turn-on and turn-off sequencing requirements. For example, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) from different manufacturers often require different voltage rails and currents, and different turn-on and turn-off sequencing.
These requirements are increasingly being met by the use of DC-DC converters that are mounted on the printed circuit boards. As a result of technological improvements in component design, DC-DC converters for on-board applications are becoming smaller and more powerful. For example, 50 A, 150 W ¼ bricks are now available where a few years ago, 25A was the maximum available for the ¼ brick package size. In this regard, increasing the package size to a ½ brick or a full brick allows a commensurate increase in the power that the DC-DC converter package can provide. A “brick” when used in the context of DC-DC converters means the package size of converter. For example, the industry standard package size and footprint of a ¼ brick is 1.45″×2.28″ by 0.5″.
These newer, higher power DC-DC converters can often be used to supply all the power requirements for some electronic devices. However, both the newer, higher power DC-DC converters as well as the older, lower power, DC-DC converters typically are designed to have set output voltages. In designing the power supply for a circuit board, a DC-DC converter is selected whose output voltage meets a voltage requirement for the circuit board. Appropriate circuitry is then provided to convert the output voltage of the DC-DC converter to other voltage requirements needed as well as provide the other operating characteristics of the power supply for the circuit board. In many electronic devices requiring multiple voltages, the voltages must be powered up in an appropriate sequence and powered down in an appropriate sequence. Alternatively, multiple DC-DC converters, or DC-DC converters having multiple outputs, are used having the requisite voltage outputs.
FIG. 1
illustrates diagrammatically the latter approach, which also requires appropriate circuitry to control the turn-on and turn-off sequences and other operating characteristics of the power supply.
Turning to
FIG. 1
, a prior art on-board (that is, for mounting on a printed circuit board) power supply
10
is shown. Power supply
10
illustratively provides four sources of power—a 3.3 VDC five amp power source, a 2.5 VDC twenty amp power source, a 1.8 VDC ten amp power source, and a 1.2 V ten amp power source. To do so, power supply
10
has a first DC-DC converter
12
that has a nominal output of 3.3 VDC at eight amps, a second DC-DC converter
14
that has a nominal output of 2.5 VDC at twenty-five amps, a third DC-DC converter
16
that has a nominal output of 1.8 VDC at twenty-five amps and a fourth DC-DC converter
18
that has a nominal output of 1.2 VDC at twenty-five amps. Each DC-DC converter
12
,
14
,
16
,
18
has a power input coupled to a source of DC power that can range from 35 VDC to 75 VDC. DC-DC converters
12
,
14
,
16
,
18
may illustratively be AV45C series DC-DC converters available from ASTEC Power of Andover, Mass. Each DC-DC converter
12
,
14
,
16
,
18
may also be coupled to power supply logic (not shown) that controls the turn-on and turn-off sequences of the power supplied by each DC-DC converter, synchronizes them, and the like.
A problem with the above described on-board power supplies is that during the design and development of a circuit board, the power requirements may change. For example, ASICS from different manufacturers often require different voltages and different turn-on and turn-off sequences of the voltages supplied by the power supply. Consequently, if design changes are made to the circuit board, such as changing an ASIC requirement or replacing an ASIC from one manufacturer with an ASIC from another manufacturer, this may require that the power supply for the circuit board be redesigned. This may require that the layout of the power supply on the circuit board be redone with the resultant time and expense of doing so. Moreover, if this redesign requires replacement of one or more of the DC-DC converters, such as would be the case if one or more of the voltage requirements change, then the stock of the original DC-DC converters on-hand would no longer be of use for that product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A multi-output DC-DC power supply has programmable operating characteristics that include at least one of voltage levels, mono-phase and multi-phase modes, turn-on and turn-off sequences, voltage tracking, switching frequencies and whether the switching frequencies are synchronized, and thresholds for protection modes and action-if-fault upon detection of a fault. The power supply has a DC-DC converter having an output coupled to a plurality of buck converters. Each buck converter has an output and a control input where the voltage at the output of the buck converter is determined by a duty cycle of at least one pulse width modulated signal provided at the control input of that buck converter. A programmable device has outputs coupled to the control inputs of the buck converters. The programmable device generates the pulse width modulated signals at its outputs for controlling the buck converters to provide voltages corresponding to voltages programmed in the programmable device. The programmable device is programmable to control the programmable operating characteristics.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.


REFERENCES:
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patent: 5959442 (1999-09-01), Hallberg et al.
patent: 6028397 (2000-02-01), Blankers
patent: 6031361 (2000-02-01), Burstein et al.
patent: 6204650 (2001-03-01), Shimamori
patent: 6563294 (2003-05-01), Duffy et al.
patent: 6593724 (2003-07-01), Chen
Astec, AV45C Quarter-brick Series Technical Reference Notes, 1.5V, 1.8V, 3.3V, 5V Single Output, 48V Input, 100W DC-DC Converter (Rev01), Jun. 21, 2002, pp. 1-25.
Astec Power—Andover, Technical Reference Notes (TRN), AK45C 100W Series, 36 Vdc to 75 Vdc Inputs, 100W, Jun. 1, 2000—Apr. 5, 2001, pp. 1-17.
Astec, Technical Reference Notes, ALQ15XX48X Series (Open Frame Dual Output Quarter Brick), Sep. 23, 2002—Revision A, pp. 1-18.
Greg Zvonar, Using microcontrollers in high-density switch-mode power supplies, Dec. 26, 2002, pp. 49-51.
International Rectifier, Synchronous Buck Multiphase Optimized BGA Power Block, Aug. 7, 2002, pp. 1-10.

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