Power converter circuit with AC output and at least one transformer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9425622-B2
Application number	US-201313736796-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 8, 2013
Priority date	Jan 8, 2013
Publication date	Aug 23, 2016
Grant date	Aug 23, 2016

Abstract

A power converter circuit includes a synchronization circuit that is configured to generate at least one synchronization signal. A series circuit includes a number of converter units configured to output an output current. At least one of the converter units includes a transformer and is configured to generate an output current such that a frequency or a phase of the generated output current is dependent on the synchronization signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power converter circuit, comprising:
a synchronization circuit configured to generate at least one synchronization signal; and
a series circuit comprising a plurality of converter units configured to output an output current;
wherein a first converter unit of the plurality of converter units comprises a transformer and is configured to generate an output current such that a frequency or a phase of the generated output current is dependent on the synchronization signal.

2. The power converter circuit of claim 1 ,
wherein the power converter circuit is configured to receive an external voltage; and
wherein the synchronization circuit is configured to generate the synchronization signal based on a voltage level of the external voltage.

3. The power converter circuit of claim 2 , wherein the synchronization circuit is configured to generate the synchronization signal such that there is a phase difference between the external voltage and the synchronization signal.

4. The power converter circuit of claim 3 , wherein the phase difference is substantially equal to zero.

5. The power converter circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first converter unit comprises:
a first converter configured to receive a direct voltage and to output a direct voltage; and
a second converter configured to receive the direct voltage output by the first converter and to generate the output current.

6. The power converter circuit of claim 5 , wherein the first converter comprises a topology selected from the group consisting of:
a flyback converter topology;
a two-transistor forward (TTF) converter topology;
a phase-shift zero-voltage switching (PS ZVS) converter topology; and
an LLC converter topology.

7. The power converter circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first converter unit comprises a converter configured to receive a direct voltage and to output a rectified current based on the synchronization signal.

8. The power converter circuit of claim 7 , wherein the first converter unit further comprises an unfolding bridge configured to receive the rectified current and to generate the output current.

9. The power converter circuit of claim 7 , further comprising an unfolding bridge coupled to the series circuit.

10. The power converter circuit of claim 7 , wherein the converter comprises a topology selected from the group consisting of:
a flyback converter topology;
a two-transistor forward (TTF) converter topology;
a phase-shift zero-voltage switching (PS ZVS) converter topology; and
an LLC converter topology.

11. The power converter circuit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of converter units share one transformer.

12. A method, comprising:
generating a synchronization signal by a synchronization circuit;
outputting an output current by a series circuit that comprises a plurality of converter units, wherein one of the converter units comprises a transformer;
generating an output current by at least one of the plurality of converter units such that a frequency or a phase of the generated output current is dependent on the synchronization signal.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising receiving an external voltage, wherein the synchronization signal is generated based on a voltage level of the external voltage by the synchronization circuit.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the synchronization signal is generated such that there is a phase difference between the external voltage and the synchronization signal by the synchronization circuit.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the phase difference is substantially equal to zero.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving a direct voltage by a first converter in one of the converter units;
outputting a direct voltage by the first converter; and
receiving the direct voltage from the first converter by a second converter in one of the converter units and generating the output current by the second converter.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first converter comprises a topology selected from the group consisting of:
a flyback converter topology;
a two-transistor forward (TTF) converter topology;
a phase-shift zero-voltage switching (PS ZVS) converter topology; and
an LLC converter topology.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising receiving a direct voltage and outputting a rectified current based on the synchronization signal by a converter in one of the converter units.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising receiving the rectified current and generating the output current by an unfolding bridge.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the converter comprises a topology selected from the group consisting of:
a flyback converter topology;
a two-transistor forward (TTF) converter topology;
a phase-shift zero-voltage switching (PS ZVS) converter topology; and
an LLC converter topology.

21. The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of converter units share one transformer.

22. A power converter circuit, comprising:
means for generating at least one synchronization signal;
means for outputting an overall output current; and
means for outputting an output current such that at least one of a frequency and a phase of the output current is dependent on the synchronization signal, wherein the means for outputting the output current comprise a transformer.

Assignees

• Infineon Technologies Austria Ag

Inventors

• Deboy Gerald
• Tang Yi

Classifications

• H02M7/537

  using semiconductor devices only, e.g. single switched pulse inverters · CPC title

• H02M7/4807

  having a high frequency intermediate AC stage · CPC title

• H02J2101/25

  involving maximum power point tracking control for photovoltaic sources · CPC title

• H02J2101/24

  Photovoltaics · CPC title

• H02M7/48 Primary

  using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode · CPC title