Dual switcher flyback structure for LED driver

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9326336-B2
Application number	US-201414550919-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2014
Priority date	Feb 12, 2014
Publication date	Apr 26, 2016
Grant date	Apr 26, 2016

Abstract

Driver circuits to reduce or remove flicker of SSL devices are presented. A controller for a power converter which converts electrical power at an input voltage into electrical power at an output voltage is described. The controller is configured to determine whether the input voltage is greater or smaller than a pre-determined voltage threshold; to operate a first switcher stage to transfer electrical power from the input of the power converter to the output of the power converter, during a first time period when the input voltage is greater than the pre-determined voltage threshold; and to operate a second switcher stage to transfer electrical power from the reservoir capacitor to the output of the power converter, during a second time period when the input voltage is smaller than the pre-determined voltage threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A controller for controlling a power converter to convert electrical power at an input voltage into electrical power at an output voltage; wherein
the power converter comprises
a first switcher stage comprising a primary winding of a transformer which is arranged in series with a first power switch; wherein the first switcher stage is arranged in parallel to the input voltage at an input of the power converter;
a second switcher stage comprising an auxiliary winding of the transformer which is arranged in series with a second power switch;
wherein the second switcher stage is arranged in parallel to a reservoir capacitor; and
a secondary winding of the transformer which is arranged in parallel to the output voltage at an output of the power converter;

the controller is configured to
determine whether the input voltage is greater or smaller than a pre-determined voltage threshold;
operate the first switcher stage to transfer electrical power from the input of the power converter to the output of the power converter, during a first time period when the input voltage is greater than the pre-determined voltage threshold; and
operate the second switcher stage to transfer electrical power from the reservoir capacitor to the output of the power converter, during a second time period when the input voltage is smaller than the pre-determined voltage threshold.

2. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the first and second switcher stages such that during the first time period electrical power is transferred from the input of the power converter to the reservoir capacitor.

3. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the first and second switcher stages such that a variation of the output voltage is lower than a variation of the input voltage.

4. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to
commutate the first power switch between an on-state and an off-state during the first time period; and
commutate the second power switch between an on-state and an off-state during the second time period.

5. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to
maintain the first power switch in off-state during the second time period; and
maintain the second power switch in off-state during the first time period.

6. A driver circuit configured to convert electrical power at an input voltage into electrical power at an output voltage; wherein the driver circuit comprises
a first switcher stage comprising a primary winding of a transformer which is arranged in series with a first power switch; wherein the first switcher stage is arranged in parallel to the input voltage at an input of the driver circuit;
a second switcher stage comprising an auxiliary winding of the transformer which is arranged in series with a second power switch;
wherein the second switcher stage is arranged in parallel to a reservoir capacitor;
a secondary winding of the transformer which is arranged in parallel to the output voltage at an output of the driver circuit; and
controller configured to
determine whether the input voltage is greater or smaller than a predetermined voltage threshold;
operate the first switcher stage to transfer electrical power from the input of the driver circuit to the output of the driver circuit, during a first time period when the input voltage is greater than the predetermined voltage threshold; and
operate the second switcher staqe to transfer electrical power from the reservoir capacitor to the output of the driver circuit, during a second time period when the input voltage is smaller than the predetermined voltage threshold.

7. The driver circuit of claim 6 , wherein the reservoir capacitor is coupled to a supply voltage pin of the controller for supplying the controller with electrical power.

8. The driver circuit of claim 6 , wherein the input voltage is derived from an AC line voltage.

9. The driver circuit of claim 6 , further comprising decoupling means configured to decouple the first switcher stage from the input of the driver circuit during the second time period.

10. The driver circuit of claim 6 , further comprising voltage sensing means configured to provide an indication of the input voltage to a voltage sensing pin of the controller.

11. The driver circuit of claim 6 , wherein the first and the second power switches comprise metaloxide semiconductor transistors.

12. The driver circuit of claim 6 , wherein
the driver circuit is configured to convert a varying input voltage into a substantially constant output voltage for a solid state lighting, referred to as SSL, device; and
the substantially constant output voltage corresponds to an on-voltage of the SSL device.

13. A light bulb assembly comprising
an electrical connection module configured to electrically connect to a line voltage power supply, thereby providing an input voltage;
a driver circuit of claim 6 , configured to convert the input voltage into a drive signal for a solid state lighting, referred to as SSL, device; and
the SSL device configured to provide light in accordance to the drive signal.

14. A method controlling a power converter to convert electrical power at an input voltage into electrical power at an output voltage; wherein the power converter comprises a first switcher stage comprising a primary winding of a transformer which is arranged in series with a first power switch; wherein the first switcher stage is in parallel to the input voltage at an input of the power converter; a second switcher stage comprising an auxiliary winding of the transformer which is in series with a second power switch; wherein the second switcher stage is in parallel to a reservoir capacitor; and a secondary winding of the transformer which is in parallel to the output voltage at an output of the power converter; wherein the method comprises
determining whether the input voltage is greater or smaller than a pre-determined voltage threshold;
operating the first switcher stage to transfer electrical power from the input of the power converter to the output of the power converter, during a first time period when the input voltage is greater than the pre-determined voltage threshold; and
operating the second switcher stage to transfer electrical power from the reservoir capacitor to the output of the power converter, during a second time period when the input voltage is smaller than the pre-determined voltage threshold.

15. The method for controlling a power converter of claim 14 , wherein the controller operates the first and second switcher stages such that during the first time period electrical power is transferred from the input of the power converter to the reservoir capacitor.

16. The method for controlling a power converter of claim 14 , wherein the controller operates the first and second switcher stages such that a variation of the output voltage is lower than a variation of the input voltage.

17. The method for controlling a power converter of claim 14 , wherein the controller:
commutates the first power switch between an on-state and an off-state during the first time period; and
commutates the second power switch between an on-state and an off-state during the second time period.

18. The method for controlling a power converter of claim 14 , wherein the controller:
maintains the first power switch in off-state during the second time period; and
maintains the second power switch in off-state during the first time period.

Assignees

• Dialog Semiconductor Uk Ltd
• Dialog Semiconductor Uk Ltd

Inventors

• Knoedgen Horst
• Tyrrell Julian

Classifications

• H02M1/096

  the power supply of the control circuit being connected in parallel to the main switching element (H02M1/092 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02M3/33507

  with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters (H02M3/33561, H02M3/33569 take precedence) · CPC title

• H05B33/0815 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• Y02B20/346

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• H05B45/38 Primary

  using boost topology · CPC title