IP Library Granted Patent US 8,259,471
Granted Patent B2
US 8,259,471 · App. 12/424,195 · Granted Sep 4, 2012

Converter that actuates a switch corresponding to a detected valley of a resonance waveform

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,259,471
App. No.
12/424,195
Granted
Sep 4, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A converter is provided including: a first switch; an energy transmitting element for converting input energy into output energy according to the switching of the first switch; and a switching controller for detecting a time when a voltage between a first terminal and a second terminal of the first switch reaches a valley of a resonance waveform, and actuating the first switch corresponding to one of the detected valleys of the resonance waveform. The switching controller includes: a valley detector for changing the state of the output signal whenever a voltage between a first terminal and a second terminal of the first switch reaches a valley of the resonance waveform; and a PWM controller for actuating the first switch corresponding to an output signal of the valley detector.

Claims (22)

1. A converter comprising:

a first switch;

an energy transmitting element for converting input energy into an output signal according to the switching of the first switch; and

a switching controller for detecting a time instant when a voltage between a first terminal and a second terminal of the first switch reaches a valley of a resonance waveform, and actuating the first switch corresponding to the valley of the resonance waveform, wherein the switching controller includes:

a valley detector for changing a state of the output signal in response to a control electrode voltage of a second switch having a terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first switch; and

a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller for actuating the first switch corresponding to a valley detector output signal of the valley detector.

2. The converter of claim 1 , wherein the PWM controller is configured to ignore the output signal of the valley detector input for a setting time, and to actuate the first switch when the output signal of the valley detector is changed from the low level to the high level after the setting time.

3. A converter, comprising:

a first switch;

an energy transmitting element for converting input energy into an output signal according to the switching of the first switch; and

a switching controller for detecting a time instant when a voltage between a first terminal and a second terminal of the first switch reaches a valley of a resonance waveform, and actuating the first switch corresponding to the valley of the resonance waveform, wherein the switching controller includes:

a valley detector for changing a state of the output signal in response to the voltage between the first terminal and the second terminal of the first switch reaching a valley of the resonance waveform, wherein the valley detector includes:

a Zener diode having a cathode coupled to a control electrode of the second switch and an anode coupled to a first power source for supplying a first voltage; and

a comparator for outputting a high level signal when a cathode terminal voltage of the Zener diode is greater than the first voltage; and

a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller for actuating the first switch corresponding to a valley detector output signal of the valley detector.

4. The converter of claim 3 , wherein the cathode terminal voltage of the Zener diode is changed from a negative level to a positive level when a voltage applied to a parasitic capacitor formed between the terminal and the control electrode of the second switch reaches the valley of the resonance waveform.

5. The converter of claim 4 , wherein a voltage applied to the parasitic capacitor of the second switch corresponds to a voltage between the first terminal and the second terminal of the first switch.

6. The converter of claim 3 , wherein the valley detector further includes a filter for low pass filtering a comparator output signal of the comparator, and outputting a resultant signal.

7. The converter of claim 3 , wherein:

the energy transmitting element comprises a transformer,

the first voltage is a ground voltage, and

the first terminal of the first switch is coupled to a primary coil of the transformer and the second terminal of the first switch is coupled to the first power source.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 04481, FRAME 0541 Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC; FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064072/0459 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 17, 2017
From: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC; FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044481/0541 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2017
From: FAIRCHILD KOREA SEMICONDUCTOR, LTD.
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 044361/0205 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2009
From: LI, SHANMEI; KIM, JIN-TAE; KOO, GWAN-BON; PARK, GYOUNG-SOO
To: FAIRCHILD KOREA SEMICONDUCTOR LTD.
Reel/Frame 022549/0645 →