Circuits and methods for increasing power factor of switch mode power supply

1. A switch mode power supply (SMPS) system, comprising:

a rectifying device configured for converting a periodically varying input AC (alternating current) voltage into a DC (direct current) voltage;

a transformer including a primary winding, a secondary winding, and an auxiliary winding, the primary winding being coupled to the rectifying device;

an input capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal coupled to the rectifying device and the primary winding of the transformer;

a first power switch coupled to the second terminal of the input capacitor and a primary side ground; and

a control circuit coupled to the first power switch and the input AC voltage, the control circuit being configured to control the first power switch based on a phase or amplitude of the input AC voltage, wherein the control circuit is configured to:

turn on the first power switch when the AC input voltage is near a zero crossing of its waveform to cause the input capacitor to discharge to the primary winding; and

turn off the first power switch to prevent the input capacitor from discharging when the input AC voltage is near a peak or a valley of its waveform;

whereby power is provided to the primary winding during a longer portion of the AC input voltage cycle, allowing the rectifier device to have a larger conduction angle to increase a power factor (PF).

2. The SMPS system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:

turn on the first power switch when an absolute magnitude of the AC input voltage is less than a reference voltage to cause the input capacitor to discharge to the primary winding; and

turn off the first switch when the absolute magnitude of the AC input voltage is greater than the reference voltage to prevent the input capacitor from discharging.

3. The SMPS system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first power switch comprises a diode coupled between the input capacitor and the primary side ground, whereby the diode is configured to provide a path for charging current.

4. The SMPS system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising first, second, and third resistors, wherein the first and the second resistors are coupled in series between two terminals of the input AC voltage, the third resistor couples a common node between the first and second resistors to a primary side ground, and the common node is coupled to a first input terminal of the controller for determining the phase and amplitude of the input AC voltage.

5. The SMPS system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a second capacitor between the output of the rectifying circuit and the primary ground for suppressing electromagnetic interference, the second capacitor being coupled to the input capacitor through a second diode that prevents the input capacitor from discharging into the second capacitor.

6. The SMPS system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a second power switch coupled between the primary winding and the control circuit, the control circuit being configured to control the on and off of the second power switch to maintain the output of the SMPS at a constant voltage or a constant current.

7. A controller for a switch mode power supply (SMPS) system, the SMPS system including:

a rectifying device, configured for converting a periodically varying input AC voltage into a single polarity DC voltage;

a transformer including a primary winding, a secondary winding, and an auxiliary winding, the primary winding being coupled to the rectifying device; and

an input capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal coupled to the rectifying device and the primary winding of the transformer;

wherein the controller comprises:

a first power switch for coupling to the second terminal of the input capacitor and a ground of the controller;

a detection circuit for coupling to the input AC voltage and the ground of the controller, the detection circuit configured for determining an amplitude or a phase of the input AC voltage; and

a control circuit coupled to the first power switch and configured to turn on and turn off the first power switch based on the amplitude or phase of the input AC voltage.

8. The controller as recited in claim 7 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:

turn on the first power switch when the AC input voltage is near a zero crossing to cause the input capacitor to discharge to the primary winding; and

turn off the first power switch to prevent the input capacitor from discharging when the input AC voltage is near a peak or a valley of its waveform.

9. The controller as recited in claim 7 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:

turn on the first power switch when an absolute magnitude of the AC input voltage is less than a reference voltage to cause the input capacitor to discharge to the primary winding; and

turn off the first power switch when the absolute magnitude of the AC input voltage is greater than the reference voltage to prevent the input capacitor from discharging.

10. The controller as recited in claim 7 , wherein the first power switch comprises a PMOS transistor with a source coupled to the primary side ground and a drain coupled to the input capacitor, the PMOS transistor further including a parasitic PN diode that provides a path for charging the input capacitor, wherein the first power switch is configured to discharge the input capacitor when the voltage between the gate and source of the PMOS transistor is smaller than its threshold voltage, and the first power switch is configured to prevent discharging the input capacitor when the voltage between the gate and source of the PMOS transistor is greater than its threshold voltage.

11. The controller as recited in claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to control the discharge of the input capacitor based on the phase or amplitude of the input AC current such that the input capacitor provides power to the primary winding near the zero crossing of the AC current to provide a constant current or constant voltage, wherein the controller is configured to prevent the input capacitor from discharging when the input AC current is near a peak or valley of its waveform to provide a large conduction angle in the rectifying circuit to improve the power factor.

12. The controller as recited in claim 10 , wherein the PMOS power switch and the control circuit reside in two separate packaged devices.

13. The controller as recited in claim 10 , wherein the PMOS power switch and the control circuit reside in a single packaged device.

14. The controller as recited in claim 7 , wherein the first power switch comprises a PNP transistor having an emitter coupled to ground, a collector coupled to the input capacitor, and a PN junction between the collector and emitter that provides a charging path.

15. The controller as recited in claim 7 , further comprising a second power switch coupled to the primary winding, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the on and off of the second power switch based on a feedback signal to maintain the output of the SMPS at a constant voltage or a constant current.

16. The controller as recited in claim 15 , wherein the second power switch comprises a high-voltage bipolar transistor or a high-voltage metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), the second power switch and the control circuit residing in two separate packaged devices.

17. The controller as recited in claim 15 , wherein the second power switch comprises a high-voltage bipolar transistor or a high-voltage metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), the second power switch and the control circuit residing in a single packaged device.

18. A method for increasing a power factor in a switch mode power supply (SMPS) system, the SMPS system including:

a rectifying device, configured for converting a periodically varying input AC voltage into a single polarity DC voltage;

a transformer including a primary winding, a secondary winding, and an auxiliary winding, the primary winding being coupled to the rectifying device; and

an input capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal coupled to the rectifying device and the primary winding of the transformer;

wherein the method comprises:

coupling a first power switch between the second terminal of the input capacitor and a ground;

determining an amplitude or a phase of the input AC voltage; and

turning on or turning off the first power switch based on the amplitude or phase of the input AC voltage.

19. The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein turning on and turning off the first power switch comprises:

turning on the first power switch when the AC input voltage is near a zero crossing to cause the input capacitor to discharge to the primary winding; and

turning off the first power switch to prevent the input capacitor from discharging when the input AC voltage is near a peak or a valley of its waveform.

20. The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein turning on and turning off the first power switch comprises:

turning on the first power switch when an absolute magnitude of the AC input voltage is less than a reference voltage to cause the input capacitor to discharge to the primary winding; and

turning off the first switch when the absolute magnitude of the AC input voltage is greater than the reference voltage to prevent the input capacitor from discharging.