Control circuit and method for controlling a piezoelectric transformer

1. A control circuit comprising:

an inductor;

a measurement unit configured to measure an average current through the inductor; and

a control unit configured to:

apply a voltage with a periodic waveform to a piezoelectric transformer, wherein a period duration of the voltage is specified by a control frequency, and wherein applying the voltage with the periodic waveform comprises applying a voltage to the piezoelectric transformer with the control frequency, which is below an anti-resonance frequency of the piezoelectric transformer, and then incrementally reducing the control frequency until an average current intensity of a current flowing through the inductor exceeds a predetermined limit; and

adjust the control frequency of the applied voltage as a function of the average current intensity of the current flowing through the inductor as previously measured by the measurement unit.

2. The control circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the control frequency is set so that it lies between a resonance frequency and the anti-resonance frequency of the piezoelectric transformer.

3. The control circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to increase the control frequency when the average current intensity exceeds a first predetermined limit, and wherein the control unit is configured to reduce the control frequency when the average current intensity falls below a second predetermined limit.

4. The control circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to increase the control frequency when the average current intensity exceeds a predetermined target value, and wherein the control unit is configured to reduce the control frequency when the average current intensity falls below the predetermined target value.

5. The control circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the applied voltage has a semi-sinusoidal waveform.

6. The control circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the applied voltage has a sinusoidal waveform.

7. The control circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the measurement unit is connected in series with the inductor, and wherein the measurement unit comprises a shunt resistor, a Hall sensor or a current transformer.

8. The control circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a microcontroller.

9. The control circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a voltage controlled oscillator.

10. The control circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit has a switch, wherein the control unit is configured to activate the switch periodically, and wherein the control frequency is specified by a period duration of an activation of the switch.

11. The control circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit has a class E amplifier, and wherein the class E amplifier comprises a switch and the inductor.

12. A plasma generator comprising:

the control circuit according to claim 1 ; and

the piezoelectric transformer, wherein the piezoelectric transformer has two external electrodes, and wherein the control circuit is configured to apply a voltage between the external electrodes of the piezoelectric transformer.

13. A method for controlling a piezoelectric transformer, the method comprising:

applying, by a control circuit, a voltage with a periodic waveform to the piezoelectric transformer, wherein a period duration of the periodic waveform is specified by a control frequency, and wherein the control circuit comprises an inductor;

measuring, by a measurement unit, an average current intensity of a current flowing through the inductor; and

regulating, by the control circuit, the control frequency as a function of the measured average current intensity as previously measured by the measurement unit,

wherein applying the voltage with the periodic waveform comprises applying a voltage to the piezoelectric transformer with the control frequency, which is below an anti-resonance frequency of the piezoelectric transformer, and then incrementally reducing the control frequency until the average current intensity of the current flowing through the inductor exceeds a predetermined limit.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein regulating the control frequency comprises increasing the control frequency when the average current intensity exceeds a first predetermined limit and reducing the control frequency when the average current intensity falls below a second predetermined limit.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein regulating the control frequency comprises increasing the control frequency when the average current intensity exceeds a predetermined target value and reducing the control frequency when the average current intensity falls below the predetermined target value.

16. A control circuit comprising:

an inductor;

a measurement unit configured to measure an average current through the inductor; and

a control unit configured to:

apply a voltage with a periodic waveform to a piezoelectric transformer, wherein a period duration of the voltage is specified by a control frequency, and

adjust the control frequency of the applied voltage as a function of an average current intensity of a current flowing through the inductor as previously measured by the measurement unit,

wherein the control unit is configured to increase the control frequency when the average current intensity exceeds a first predetermined limit, and

wherein the control unit is configured to reduce the control frequency when the average current intensity falls below a second predetermined limit.

17. A control circuit comprising:

an inductor;

a measurement unit configured to measure an average current through the inductor; and

a control unit configured to:

apply a voltage with a periodic waveform to a piezoelectric transformer, wherein a period duration of the voltage is specified by a control frequency, and

adjust the control frequency of the applied voltage as a function of an average current intensity of a current flowing through the inductor as previously measured by the measurement unit,

wherein the control unit is configured to increase the control frequency when the average current intensity exceeds a predetermined target value, and

wherein the control unit is configured to reduce the control frequency when the average current intensity falls below the predetermined target value.