Variable input control for improving switched power supplies
A power converter and a method of operation thereof is disclosed including an input, an output, a sensor unit, a switched power converter, and a processor module. The power converter may convert an input power into an output power. The power converter may sense real-time measurements of the input power and the output power to determine a real-time calculated efficiency. The power converter may chop the input power into sized and positioned portions of the input power based on a plurality of determined operating parameters. The power converter may determine the operating parameters based on the real-time calculated efficiency and on a plurality of other operating factors/conditions.
1. A power converter comprising:
an input configured to receive an alternating current (AC) input power waveform from an input power source;
a switched power converter configured to:
harvest power from one or more portions of a first half-wave of the AC input power waveform; and
harvest power from one or more portions of a second half-wave of the AC input power waveform;
wherein at least one location of at least one of the one or more portions of the first half-wave is different than at least one location of at least one of the one or more portions of the second half-wave; and
an output stage configured to:
receive the harvested power; and
convert the harvested power into a converted power.
2. The power converter of claim 1 , further comprising:
an energy storage device configured to store the converted power.
3. The power converter of claim 1 , further comprising:
a processing module configured to:
select the locations of the one or more portions of the first half-wave;
select the locations of the one or more portions of the second half-wave; and
send control signals to the switched power converter based on the selected locations of the one or more portions of the first half-wave and based on the selected locations of the one or more portions of the second half-wave.
4. The power converter of claim 3 , wherein the processing module is further configured to:
determine one or more settings for the output stage; and
send one or more control signals to the output stage based on the determined one or more settings.
5. The power converter of claim 3 , wherein each of the locations of the portions includes a position and a width, and wherein the processing module is further configured to:
select a width of a portion of the first half-wave; and
select a width of a portion of the second half-wave, such that the width of the portion of the second half-wave is wider than the width of the portion of the first half-wave.
6. The power converter of claim 3 , wherein the processing module is further configured to:
select a different number of portions of the first half-wave than number of portions of the second half-wave.
7. The power converter of claim 3 , wherein the processing module is further configured to:
select a location of a first portion of the one or more portions of the first half-wave; and
select a location of a second portion of the one or more portions of the first half-wave;
wherein the locations of the first portion and the second portion are such that a gap exists between the first portion and the second portion in which no other portion exists.
8. The power converter of claim 7 , wherein the processing module is further configured to:
adjust the locations of the first portion and the second portion such that corresponding portions of the second half-wave are a different distance apart than in the first half-wave.
9. The power converter of claim 7 , wherein the processing module is further configured to:
adjust a width of a first portion of the one or more portions of the first half-wave such that a width of a corresponding portion of the second half-wave is different than in the first half-wave.
10. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the switched power converter is further configured to:
harvest power from a plurality of consecutive half-waves of the AC input power waveform such that different portions of the power are harvested from each half-wave of the plurality of consecutive half-waves of the AC input power waveform.
11. A method for converting power in a power converter, the method comprising:
receiving an alternating current (AC) input power waveform from an input power source;
harvesting power from one or more portions of a first half-wave of the AC input power waveform;
harvesting power from one or more portions of a second half-wave of the AC input power waveform; and
converting the harvested power into a converted power;
wherein at least one location of at least one of the one or more portions of the first half-wave is different than at least one location of at least one of the one or more portions of the second half-wave.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
storing the converted power in an energy storage device.
13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
selecting the locations of the one or more portions of the first half-wave;
selecting the locations of the one or more portions of the second half-wave; and
sending control signals to control the harvesting based on the selected locations of the one or more portions of the first half-wave and based on the selected locations of the one or more portions of the second half-wave.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
determining one or more settings for an output stage; and
sending one or more control signals to the output stage based on the determined one or more settings.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein each of the locations of the portions includes a position and a width, the method further comprising:
selecting a width of a portion of the first half-wave; and
selecting a width of a portion of the second half-wave, such that the width of the portion of the second half-wave is wider than the width of the portion of the first half-wave.
16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
selecting a different number of portions of the first half-wave than number of portions of the second half-wave.
17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
selecting a location of a first portion of the one or more portions of the first half-wave; and
selecting a location of a second portion of the one or more portions of the first half-wave;
wherein the locations of the first portion and the second portion are such that a gap exists between the first portion and the second portion in which no other portion exists.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
adjusting the locations of the first portion and the second portion such that corresponding portions of the second half-wave are a different distance apart than in the first half-wave.
19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
adjusting a width of a first portion of the one or more portions of the first half-wave such that a width of a corresponding portion of the second half-wave is different than in the first half-wave.
20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
harvesting power from a plurality of consecutive half-waves of the AC input power waveform such that different portions of the power are harvested from each half-wave of the plurality of consecutive half-waves of the AC input power waveform.