IP Library Granted Patent US 12,418,237
Granted Patent B2
US 12,418,237 · App. 18/071,853 · Granted Sep 16, 2025

Power system with adaptive minimum frequency

Inventors: Jiangheng Lu (Livermore, CA); Siran Wang (Hangzhou, CN)
Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
H02M3/015H02M1/0058H02M3/01H02M3/33571
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,418,237
App. No.
18/071,853
Granted
Sep 16, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power system with adaptive minimum frequency is disclosed. The power system includes a resonant converter and a control circuit. Under the control of the control circuit, the resonant converter works with an adaptive minimum frequency. The value of the adaptive minimum frequency is preset and is selected by an equivalent resistance or an output voltage of the resonant converter.

Claims (35)

1. A power system, comprising:

a resonant converter, configured to convert an input voltage to an output voltage to power a load;

a control circuit, configured to provide a drive control signal for controlling the resonant converter working with a frequency having a minimum value varied based on the output voltage; and

wherein the control circuit comprises:

an output voltage detecting circuit, configured to provide a feedback voltage based on the output voltage;

a selecting signal generating circuit, configured to provide a selecting signal based on the feedback voltage; and

a minimum frequency selecting circuit, configured to provide a minimum frequency signal based on the selecting signal for determining the minimum value of the frequency of the resonant converter, wherein the minimum frequency signal associated with a lower frequency is provided when the selecting signal indicates the feedback voltage is larger than a voltage threshold, and the minimum frequency signal associated with a higher frequency is provided when the selecting signal indicates the feedback voltage is less than the voltage threshold.

2. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the output voltage detecting circuit comprises a transformer.

3. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the output voltage detecting circuit comprises an optocoupler.

4. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the minimum frequency selecting circuit comprises a look-up table providing the minimum frequency signal based on the selecting signal.

5. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit further comprises a current-frequency converting circuit, and wherein:

the minimum frequency selecting circuit comprises a resistor matrix with a resistance determined by the selecting signal, and

the current-frequency converting circuit provides the drive control signal with a minimum frequency determined by a current flowing through the resistor matrix.

6. A control circuit of a resonant converter, wherein the resonant converter provides an output voltage to power a load, comprising:

a minimum frequency circuit, configured to provide a minimum frequency signal based on the output voltage of the resonant converter;

a control unit, configured to provide a drive control signal for controlling the resonant converter working with a frequency having a minimum value determined by the minimum frequency signal; and wherein

the minimum frequency circuit comprises:

an output voltage detecting circuit, configured to provide a feedback voltage based on the output voltage;

a selecting signal generating circuit, configured to provide a selecting signal based on the feedback voltage; and

a minimum frequency selecting circuit, configured to provide the minimum frequency signal based on the selecting signal, wherein the minimum frequency signal determines a lower frequency when the selecting signal indicates the feedback voltage is larger than a voltage threshold, and the minimum frequency signal determines a higher frequency when the selecting signal indicates the feedback voltage is less than the voltage threshold.

7. The control circuit of claim 6 , wherein the minimum frequency selecting circuit comprises a look-up table providing the minimum frequency signal based on the selecting signal.

8. The control circuit of claim 6 , wherein the control unit comprises a current-frequency converting circuit, and wherein:

the minimum frequency selecting circuit comprises a resistor matrix with a resistance determined by the selecting signal, and

the current-frequency converting circuit provides the drive control signal with a minimum frequency determined by a current flowing through the resistor matrix.

9. A control circuit of a resonant converter, wherein the resonant converter provides an output voltage and an output current to power a load, comprising:

a minimum frequency circuit, configured to provide a minimum frequency signal based on the output voltage of the resonant converter; and

a control unit, configured to provide a drive control signal for controlling the resonant converter working with a frequency having a minimum value determined by the minimum frequency signal; and

wherein the minimum frequency circuit comprises:

an equivalent resistance detecting circuit, configured to provide an equivalent resistance signal based on the output voltage and the output current;

a selecting signal generating circuit, configured to provide a selecting signal by comparing the equivalent resistance signal with a resistance threshold signal; and

a minimum frequency selecting circuit, configured to provide the minimum frequency signal based on the selecting signal, wherein a first minimum frequency is determined by the minimum frequency signal when the selecting signal indicates the equivalent resistance signal is smaller than the resistance threshold signal, and a second minimum frequency is determined by the minimum frequency signal when the selecting signal indicates the equivalent resistance signal is larger than the resistance threshold signal, and the second minimum frequency is less than the first minimum frequency.

10. The control circuit of claim 9 , wherein the minimum frequency selecting circuit comprises a look-up table providing the minimum frequency signal based on the selecting signal.

11. The control circuit of claim 9 , wherein the control unit comprises a current-frequency converting circuit, and wherein:

the minimum frequency selecting circuit comprises a resistor matrix with a resistance determined by the selecting signal; and

the current-frequency converting circuit provides the drive control signal with a minimum frequency determined by a current flowing through the resistor matrix.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2022
From: LU, JIANGHENG; WANG, SIRAN
To: MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 061921/0305 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240178744A1 · May 30, 2024
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