Abstract:
A control circuit operable to generate a control signal (D) to control the duty cycle of a switched mode power supply (100), The control circuit comprises an. input terminal (205) for receiving a signal indicative of an input voltage (V ln ) of the switched mode power supply (100), and a reference signal generator (210) operable to generate, in dependence upon the received signal, a reference signal (V R ) that is a function of the input voltage (V ln ). The control circuit further comprises an error signal generator (230) arranged to receive a signal indicative of an output voltage (V out ) of the switched mode power supply (100) and operable to generate an error signal (V E ) based on the reference signal (V R ) and based on the output voltage (V out ). The control circuit also includes a low pass filter (225) connected between the input terminal (205) and the error signal generator (230), in series with the reference signal generator (210), and a duty cycle control signal generator (250) operable to generate the control signal (D) to control the duty cycle of the switched mode power supply (100) in dependence upon the error signal (V E ).
Abstract:
A control circuit (200) generates a control signal (D) to control the duty cycle of a switched mode power supply (100) such that the magnetic flux density in the transformer is balanced, thereby preventing saturation of the transformer core. This permits the use of unsymmetrical duty cycles within the switch cycle resulting in an improved load transient response. The control circuit (200) comprises a flux density calculator (201) and a regulator (202). The flux density regulator receives a signal indicative of the input voltage of the switched mode power supply and a feedback signal comprising the generated control signal, and it generates therefrom an average flux density signal. The regulator receives the generated average flux density signal and a signal indicative of the output voltage of the switched mode power supply, and generates the control signal in dependence upon the average flux density signal, the reference flux density signal, the signal indicative of the output voltage and a reference voltage signal.
Abstract:
Embodiments provide a multi- layered printed circuit board, PCB, for providing first windings for a first side of a planar magnetic transformer and second windings for a second side of the planar magnetic transformer, the PCB comprising; a plurality of conductive layers configured to provide the first windings,- a plurality of conductive layers configured' to provide the second windings; and a plurality of layers of an isolation material; wherein, each layer of isolation material is arranged between two conductive layers so as to provide electrical isolation between said two conductive layers; and a group of two or more adjacent conductive layers are all conductive layers of the first windings and are all arranged between two conductive layers of the second windings, wherein the thickness of the isolation material between the group of adjacent conductive layers of the first windings is less than ^ the thickness of the isolation material between a conductive layer of the second windings and a conductive layer of the first windings. Advantageously, a PCB with a lower height than realisable with known fully interleaved planar magnetic transformer designs is provided. The reduced height improves the thermal conductivity of the PCB, the flux leakage is reduced and good magnetic coupling between the primary and secondary sides is maintained.
Abstract:
A switched mode power supply comprises a switched mode converter (12) and a controller for controlling the switched mode converter, wherein the switched mode converter is provided for converting an input voltage (V in ) to an output voltage (V out ) and includes, on a primary side, a primary winding (X 1 ) and a controllable switch based circuitry (31) connecting the input voltage over the primary winding; and, on a secondary side, a secondary winding (X 2 ) coupled to the primary winding, and a capacitive element (C) connected over the secondary winding, wherein the output voltage is obtained as the voltage over the capacitive element. The primary winding comprises a first winding portion (n p1 ) and at least one further winding portion (n p2 ); and the switch based circuitry comprises controllable switches (Q 11 , Q 41 , Q 12 , Q 42 , Q 21 , Q 31 ) capable of switching between a first operation state wherein the input voltage is connected only over the first winding portion and at least a second operation state wherein the input voltage is connected over the first and the at least one further winding portions, thereby enabling switching between two different transformer ratios (n 1 , n 2 ).
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a control circuit for a switched mode power supply (101), and to a related method for controlling the switching elements (201, 202) in a power train of a switched mode power supply. The control circuit comprises a mode controller (107) being configured to monitor the output current (lout) to determine whether the output current exceeds a current threshold. The mode controller is configured to control the switching controller (105) to generate the switch control signals such that, when the current exceeds the current threshold, the power train operates in a continuous conduction mode, and upon determining that the output current has fallen to or below the current threshold the operation of the power train is changed from the continuous conduction mode to a pulse skipping mode such that the pulse skipping mode is entered from the continuous conduction mode, wherein the pulse skipping mode involves determining the amount of energy stored in a secondary circuit (204) of the power train. The secondary circuit being operatively connected to the output terminal, and when the amount of energy stored in the secondary circuit has fallen to or below an energy threshold the mode controller instructs the switching controller to enable energy transfer from the primary circuit to the secondary circuit by means of the switch control signals, when the amount of energy stored in the secondary circuit exceeds said energy threshold the energy transfer from the primary circuit to the secondary circuit is disabled by means of the switch control signals.
Abstract:
A core for a planar magnetic component on a printed circuit board, the core comprising a first wing, a second wing, a centre pin and a base. The first wing, second wing and centre pin all protrude from the same face of the base. The base has a straight edge between a first end of the base and a second end of the base. The first wing has a straight edge and the first wing is arranged at the first end of the base with said straight edge of the first wing aligned along said straight edge of the base. The second wing has a straight edge and the second wing is arranged at the second end of the base with said straight edge of the second wing aligned along said straight edge of the base. The centre pin is positioned on said face of the base such that there is a gap on said face of the base between said straight edge of the base and the closest part of the centre pin to said straight edge of the base. Advantageously, the core may be positioned along a straight edge of a printed circuit board, PCB, and this allows the available space on the PCB to be used more efficiently and it is easier to connect a planar magnetic component using the core to other components. Applications include switch mode power supplies and any other devices that use planar magnetic components.
Abstract:
A control circuit (210) operable to control the switching of switching elements in a switched mode power supply (200). The control circuit (210) comprises a switching control signal generator (220) operable to generate control signals for switching the switching elements such that the switched mode power supply converts an input voltage (V in) to an output voltage (V out ). The control circuit (210) further comprises an operation mode setting module (260) which is operable to receive a signal (I) indicative of a current flowing to a load that is connected to an output of the switched mode power supply, and operable to cause the switching control signal generator (220) to generate the control signals so as to operate the switched mode power supply (200) in a continuous conduction mode or a pulse skipping mode in dependence upon the current. In the pulse skipping mode, the switching elements are turned OFF for at least one switching period of the switched mode power supply (200) but the switched mode power supply continues to supply power to the load. The operation mode setting module (260) is operable to monitor the signal (I) to determine whether the current exceeds a threshold, and is operable to control the switching control signal generator (220) to generate the control signals such that, when the current exceeds the threshold, the switched mode power supply (200) operates in the continuous conduction mode and, upon determining that the current has fallen to or below the threshold, operation of the switched mode power supply (200) is changed from the continuous conduction mode to the pulse skipping mode so that the pulse skipping mode is entered from the continuous conduction mode.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to methods, systems and a module for operating a power converter module (1), the power converter module (1) comprises a voltage source (2),a remote control terminal (3) configured to be connected to a voltage potential(4) for remote control of the power converter module (1). The power converter module further comprises an output terminal (5) for output of an output voltage,a voltage converter (6) operatively connected to said output terminal and to said remote control terminal. The voltage converter is configured to send an alarm signal,determine the voltage potential of the remote control terminal, and control the output voltage of the voltage converter at the output terminal of the power converter module based on the determined voltage potential of the remote control terminal. The power converter module further comprises an alarm branch (7) comprising a bias terminal (8) operatively connected to said voltage source (2), an alarm terminal (9) operatively connected to said voltage converter for receiving said alarm signal, and a control terminal (10) operatively connected to said remote control terminal. The alarm branch is configured to change the voltage potential of the remote control terminal by means of said voltage source in response to an alarm signal from the voltage converter when said remote control terminal is connected to a voltage potential, thereby causing the voltage converter to control the output voltage at the output terminal.
Abstract:
A switched mode power supply comprising a switched mode converter (12) and a controller (16) for controlling the switched mode converter, the switched mode converter being provided for converting an input voltage (V in ) to an output voltage (V out ) and including, on a primary side, a primary winding (X 1 ) and a controllable switch based circuitry (31) connecting the input voltage over the primary winding; and, on a secondary side, a secondary winding (X 2 ) coupled to the primary winding, and a capacitive element (C) connected over the secondary winding, wherein the output voltage is obtained as the voltage over the capacitive element: The primary winding comprises a first winding portion (n p1 ) and at least one further winding portion (n p2 ); and the switch based circuitry comprises controllable switches (Q 11 , Q 4 , Q 12 , Q 42 ,Q 2 , Q 31 ) (i) capable of controlling the duty cycle of the switched mode converter and (ii) capable of switching between a first operation state wherein the input voltage is connected only over the first winding portion and at least a second operation state wherein the input voltage is connected over the first and the at least one further winding portions, thereby enabling switching between two different transformer ratios (n 1 , n 2 ). The controller comprises a first control arrangement (51, 52) (i) connected to monitor the output voltage (V out ) of the switched mode converter and (ii) operatively connected to the controllable switches to control the controllable switches to switch to thereby control the duty cycle in response to the monitored output voltage and a reference voltage using PID feedback control; and a second control arrangement (16a) (i) connected to monitor the input voltage (V in ) of the switched mode converter and (ii) operatively connected to the controllable switches to control the controllable switches to switch between the first and the at least second operation states in response to the monitored input voltage.
Abstract:
A switched mode power supply comprises a switched mode converter (12) and a controller for controlling the switched mode converter, wherein the switched mode converter is provided for converting an input voltage (V in ) to an output voltage (V out ) and includes, on a primary side, a primary winding (X 1 ) and a controllable switch based circuitry (31) connecting the input voltage over the primary winding; and, on a secondary side, a secondary winding (X 2 ) coupled to the primary winding, and a capacitive element (C) connected over the secondary winding, wherein the output voltage is obtained as the voltage over the capacitive element. The primary winding comprises a first winding portion (n P1 ) and at least one further winding portion (np2); and the switch based circuitry comprises controllable switches (Q 11 , Q 41 , Q 12 , Q 42 , Q 21 , Q 31 ) capable of switching between a first operation state wherein the input voltage is connected only over the first winding portion and at least a second operation state wherein the input voltage is connected over the first and the at least one further winding portions, thereby enabling switching between two different transformer ratios (n 1 , n 2 ). The controller is (i) configured to monitor the output voltage of the switched mode converter and (ii) operatively connected to the controllable switches to control the controllable switches to switch between the first and the at least second operation states in response to the monitored output voltage.