IP Library Granted Patent US 7,911,813
Granted Patent B2
US 7,911,813 · App. 12/176,427 · Granted Mar 22, 2011

Offline synchronous rectifying circuit with sense transistor for resonant switching power converter

Assignee: System General Corp.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,911,813
App. No.
12/176,427
Granted
Mar 22, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A synchronous rectifying circuit of a resonant switching power converter is provided to improve the efficiency. The synchronous rectifying circuit includes a power transistor and a diode connected to a transformer and an output ground of the power converter for rectifying. A sense transistor is coupled to the power transistor for generating a mirror current correlated to a current of the power transistor. A controller generates a driving signal to control the power transistor in response to a switching-current signal. A current-sense device is coupled to the sense transistor for generating the switching-current signal in response to the mirror current. The controller enables the driving signal to turn on the power transistor once the diode is forwardly biased. The controller generates a reset signal to disable the driving signal and turn off the power transistor once the switching-current signal is lower than a threshold.

Claims (37)

1. A synchronous rectifying circuit for a resonant switching power converter, comprising:

a power transistor and a diode, coupled to a transformer and an output of said resonant switching power converter for rectifying;

a sense transistor, coupled to said power transistor for generating a mirror current correlated to a current of said power transistor;

a controller, generating a driving signal to control said power transistor in response to a switching-current signal; and

a current-sense device, coupled to said sense transistor for generating said switching-current signal in response to a switching current of said transformer, wherein said current-sense device is coupled to said sense transistor for generating said switching-current signal in accordance with said mirror current, said controller enables said driving signal to turn on said power transistor once said diode is forwardly biased, and said controller generates a reset signal to disable said driving signal and turn off said power transistor when said switching-current signal is lower than a threshold.

2. The synchronous rectifying circuit as claimed in claim 1 , said controller further comprising:

an inner-lock circuit, generating an inner-lock signal as said driving signal being enabled, wherein said driving signal is initiated and enabled once said inner-lock signal is disabled.

3. The synchronous rectifying circuit as claimed in claim 1 , said controller further comprising:

a maximum-on-time circuit, generating a maximum-on-time signal, wherein said maximum-on-time signal is used to turn off said power transistor for determining a value of a maximum on-time of said power transistor.

4. The synchronous rectifying circuit as claimed in claim 1 , said controller further comprising:

a latch circuit, generating said driving signal to control said power transistor; and

a plurality of comparators, setting or resetting said latch circuit, wherein said driving signal is enabled once said diode is forwardly biased, and said driving signal is disabled once said switching-current signal is lower than said threshold.

5. The synchronous rectifying circuit as claimed in claim 1 , said controller further comprising:

a phase-lock circuit, generating a phase-lock signal in response to said driving signal and said reset signal, wherein said phase-lock signal is used to turn off said power transistor when said switching-current signal is lower than said threshold.

6. A synchronous rectifying circuit of a power converter, comprising:

a power transistor and a diode, coupled to a transformer and an output of said power converter for rectifying;

a controller, having a phase-lock circuit for generating a driving signal to control said power transistor in response to a switching-current signal; and

a current-sense device, coupled to said power transistor for generating said switching-current signal in response to a switching current of said transformer, wherein said controller enables said driving signal to turn on said power transistor once said diode is forwardly biased, and said phase-lock circuit turns off said power transistor when said switching-current signal is lower than a threshold.

7. The synchronous rectifying circuit as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising:

a sense transistor, mirroring said power transistor for generating a mirror current correlated to a current of said power transistor, wherein said current-sense device is coupled to said sense transistor for generating said switching-current signal in accordance with said mirror current.

8. The synchronous rectifying circuit as claimed in claim 6 , said controller comprising:

an inner-lock circuit, generating an inner-lock signal as said driving signal being enabled, wherein said driving signal is initiated and enabled once said inner-lock signal is disabled.

9. The synchronous rectifying circuit as claimed in claim 6 , said controller further comprising:

a maximum-on-time circuit, generating a maximum-on-time signal, wherein said maximum-on-time signal is used to turn off said power transistor for determining a maximum on-time of said power transistor.

10. The synchronous rectifying circuit as claimed in claim 6 , said controller further comprising:

a latch circuit, generating said driving signal to control said power transistor;

a plurality of comparators, setting or resetting said latch circuit, wherein said driving signal is enabled once said diode is forwardly biased, and said driving signal is disabled once said switching-current signal is lower than said threshold.

11. A method of synchronously rectifying for a power converter, comprising:

generating a switching-current signal in response to a switching current of a transformer;

setting or resetting a latch in response to said switching-current signal; and

turning on/off a power transistor in accordance with a status of said latch, wherein said power transistor is coupled to said transformer and an output of said power converter for rectifying, said switching-current signal is generated in response to a mirror current of said power transistor, and said mirror current is correlated to said switching current of said transformer.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising:

generating an inner-lock signal as said driving signal being enabled, wherein said driving signal is initiated and enabled once said inner-lock signal is disabled.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising:

generating a maximum-on-time signal once said power transistor being turned on, wherein said maximum-on-time signal is used to turn off said power transistor for determining a maximum on-time of said power transistor.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

generating a reset signal to disable said power transistor once a level of said switching-current signal being lower than a threshold.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT RECORDED AT REEL 046410, FRAME 0933 Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC; FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064072/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 22, 2018
From: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046410/0933 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2017
From: FAIRCHILD (TAIWAN) CORPORATION (FORMERLY SYSTEM GENERAL CORPORATION)
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 042328/0318 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 2, 2016
From: SYSTEM GENERAL CORP.
To: FAIRCHILD (TAIWAN) CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038594/0168 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2008
From: YANG, TA-YUNG; CHAN, CHEN-HUI; WANG, CHOU-SHENG; HSIEH, SHIH-HUNG
To: SYSTEM GENERAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 021343/0337 →
Continuity (1)
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