Low-volume programmable-output PFC rectifier with dynamic efficiency and transient response optimization

1. A PFC rectifier with a programmable output voltage operable to reduce the size or volume of a converter in a downstream stage of the PFC rectifier, comprising:

a) a front converter incorporated in a front stage, and said front converter incorporating a non symmetric capacitive divider incorporating a top capacitor and a bottom capacitor, wherein:

i) the top capacitor is operable to store energy at a sufficiently high voltage to provide hold up time and increase a current slew rate during transients to provide a fast dynamic transient response; and

ii) the bottom capacitor is operable to dynamically adjust on-line power processing and regulate the efficiency of a downstream stage of the PFC rectifier; and

b) a buck converter incorporated in the downstream stage.

2. The PFC rectifier of claim 1 , wherein the non symmetric capacitive divider incorporates independently controllable tap voltages, such that the voltages are dynamically controllable.

3. The PFC rectifier of claim 1 , wherein the PFC rectifier incorporates a two-stage system having an on-line efficiency optimization and being operable to dynamically adjust downstream stage supply voltage.

4. The PFC rectifier of claim 1 , wherein the PFC rectifier incorporates a modified flyback design having a single secondary winding, and is operable to perform virtually independent regulation of diver voltages by way of charging one of the following: the bottom capacitor, or the top capacitor and the bottom capacitor.

5. The PFC rectifier of claim 1 , wherein the bottom capacitor is larger than the top capacitor and the top capacitor has a higher voltage.

6. The PFC rectifier of claim 1 , wherein voltage of the bottom capacitor is a centre tap voltage that is adaptively changed to perform on-line power processing efficiency optimization in accordance with conditions in a circuit of the PFC rectifier.

7. The PFC rectifier of claim 1 , wherein the front converter is a flyback converter operable in discontinuous conduction mode.

8. A method for controlling a programmable output voltage in a PFC rectifier that incorporates a converter in a downstream stage having a reduced size and volume, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a non symmetric capacitive divider in a front stage of the PFC rectifier, the divider having a top capacitor and a bottom capacitor;

b) operating the top capacitor to store energy at a sufficiently high voltage to provide hold up time and increase a current slew rate during transients to provide a fast dynamic transient response;

c) operating the bottom capacitor to dynamically adjust on-line power processing and regulate the efficiency of a downstream stage of the PFC rectifier;

d) operating the converter in the downstream stage; and

e) operating a controller to control the front stage and the downstream stage.

9. The method of claim 8 , incorporating the step of performing virtually independent regulation of divider voltages by: charging the bottom capacitor; or charging the top capacitor and the bottom capacitor.

10. The method of claim 8 , incorporating the step of improving transient response of the downstream stage by increasing a voltage applied at the input of the downstream stage to reduce an output capacitor value.

11. The method of claim 8 , incorporating the step of minimizing inductance of the downstream stage by regulating an input voltage introduced to the downstream stage, whereby a centre tap voltage is in the vicinity of an output voltage.

12. The method of claim 8 , incorporating the step of reducing switching losses of the converter by reducing switch voltage of the downstream converter.

13. The method of claim 8 , incorporating the step of the PFC rectifier providing a fast transient response while operating at or virtually at an optimized efficiency point.

14. A PFC rectifier system with a programmable output voltage operable to reduce the size or volume of a converter in the downstream stage of the PFC rectifier, comprising:

a) a flyback-buck two stage converter operable to achieve a combination of a front stage and a downstream stage;

b) an integrated controller operable to regulate the operation of the front stage and the downstream stage;

c) a non symmetric capacitive divider in the front stage, the divider having a top capacitor and a bottom capacitor, wherein:

i) the top capacitor is operable to store energy at a sufficiently high voltage to provide hold up time and increase a current slew rate during transients to provide a fast dynamic transient response; and

ii) the bottom capacitor is operable to dynamically adjust on-line power processing and regulate the efficiency of a downstream stage of the PFC rectifier.

15. The PFC rectifier system of claim 14 , wherein the front stage incorporates a modified flyback converter.

16. The PFC rectifier system of claim 14 , wherein the downstream stage incorporates a conventional buck converter with an extra switch.

17. The PFC rectifier system of claim 14 , wherein voltages of the bottom capacitor and top capacitor are independently regulated.

18. The PFC rectifier system of claim 14 , wherein the controller incorporates two interactive control loops, including:

a) a front-end regulation of the flyback converter operable to achieve virtually a unity factor and to regulate the average values of divider tap voltages based on information provided by an efficiency optimization block; and

b) a downstream regulation of the buck converter operable to achieve tight output voltage regulation and fast dynamic response.

19. The PFC rectifier system of coir 18 , wherein the buck controller applies a minimum deviation control process during transients to recover current in a single on-off switching cycle with minimum output voltage deviation.