Abstract: The present invention provides a configurable dc-dc power converter module and method of manufacture for such module. The power converter module comprises an isolated subassembly with a capacitor bank, control circuits and an isolated power train that converts an input voltage to an intermediate bus voltage. The power module further comprises multiple non-isolated power trains electrically coupled to the isolated subassembly that are powered by the intermediate bus voltage to produce output voltages. The number of output voltages is determined by the number of populated non-isolated power trains, which may include all of the non-isolated power trains in the power module or a subset thereof. In one embodiment of the invention the non-isolated power trains are located on a carrier PWB that is electrically coupled to the bus PWB.

Abstract: The present invention provides a configurable dc-dc power converter module and method of manufacture for such module. The power converter module comprises an isolated subassembly with a capacitor bank, control circuits and an isolated power train that converts an input voltage to an intermediate bus voltage. The power module further comprises multiple non-isolated power trains electrically coupled to the isolated subassembly that are powered by the intermediate bus voltage to produce output voltages. The number of output voltages is determined by the number of populated non-isolated power trains, which may include all of the non-isolated power trains in the power module or a subset thereof. In one embodiment of the invention the non-isolated power trains are located on a carrier PWB that is electrically coupled to the bus PWB.

Abstract: A local loop control system and method of operating the same for use with a power converter. The power converter includes a first output coupled to a first synchronous rectifier circuit and a second output coupled to a second synchronous rectifier circuit. The power converter employs a main controller configured to regulate a voltage proportional to a weighted sum of the first and go second outputs. In one embodiment, the local loop control system includes: (1) a first output controller configured to regulate a voltage at the first output and (2) a second output controller configured to regulate a voltage at the second output, one of the first and second output controllers configured to reduce a drive signal to a corresponding one of the first and second synchronous rectifier circuits when a corresponding voltage at one of the first and second outputs exceeds a voltage proportional to the weighted sum.

Abstract: A system and method for determining an output current of a power converter having an output capacitor and a component coupled thereto. In one embodiment, the system includes (1) an observer circuit, parallel-coupled to the output capacitor, that senses a voltage across the output capacitor and develops therefrom a capacitor signal representing a current through the output capacitor, (2) a sensor circuit, coupled to the component, that senses a characteristic of the component and develops therefrom a component signal representing a current through the component and (3) a summer circuit, coupled to the observer and sensor circuits, that derives an output signal representing the output current from the capacitor signal and the component signal.

Abstract: For use in a power system having a power train, a rectifier having an input and an output and a method of controlling the rectifier. The rectifier comprises: (1) switching circuitry coupled between the input and the output, the switching, circuitry adapted to operate in selected one of (a) a bidirectional mode of operation and (b) an unidirectional mode of operation to rectify substantially alternating current at the input to produce substantially direct current at the output; and (2) control circuitry coupled to a control input of the switching circuitry, the control circuitry capable of sensing a characteristic of the power system and transitioning the switching circuitry between the bidirectional mode and the unidirectional mode as a function of the characteristic thereby to prevent substantial reverse power flow through the rectifier.

Abstract: For use with a switched-mode power converter having a modulator that develops a drive signal for a power switch, a compensation circuit, a method of compensating for a change in an output characteristic of the converter and a converter employing the circuit or the method. In one embodiment the compensation circuit includes (1) a sensor that senses the output characteristic and (2) a filter, coupled to the sensor, that develops an intermediate signal representing a change in the output characteristic. The modulator adjusts a switching period of the drive signal as a function of the intermediate signal thereby to decrease a reaction delay of the converter.

Abstract: For use in a power system having a power train, a rectifier having an input and an output and a method of controlling the rectifier. The rectifier comprises: (1) switching circuitry coupled between the input and the output, the switching circuitry adapted to operate in selected one of (a) a bidirectional mode of operation and (b) an unidirectional mode of operation to rectify substantially alternating current at the input to produce substantially direct current at the output; and (2) control circuitry coupled to a control input of the switching circuitry, the control circuitry capable of sensing a characteristic of the power system and transitions the switching circuitry between the bidirectional mode and the unidirectional mode as a function of the characteristic thereby to prevent substantial reverse power flow through the rectifier.

Abstract: For use with a synchronous rectifier of a power converter, a self-synchronizing drive circuit and a method of driving the synchronous rectifier. In one embodiment, the circuit includes: (1) a drive winding, associated with an isolation transformer of the power converter and coupled to a rectifying switch in the synchronous rectifier, that provides a drive signal based on a voltage in the isolation transformer to a control terminal of the rectifying switch to charge the control terminal synchronously with the voltage, (2) a drive switch, interposed between the drive winding and the control terminal, that periodically resists creation of a negative potential on the control terminal and (3) a discharge device, coupled to the drive winding, that receives the drive signal and discharges the control terminal synchronously with the voltage.

Abstract: For use in a distributed power system having first and second power processing modules, a power processing module for, and method of synchronizing an operation of the second power processing module with the first power processing module and a power converter employing the power processing module or the method.

Abstract: A switched mode power converter includes a periodically switched power switch which is switched under the control of a multiple loop feedback controlling the power switch in order to supply a regulated output. The output voltage and power switch current are sensed. An error voltage is generated which is representative of the deviation of the output voltage from a regulated value. A voltage derived from the power switch current is limited in its low frequency response and is then combined with the error voltage. The low frequency response of the current loop gain is used to maintain an advantageously low output impedance for the power supply. This shaped loop gain response advantageously allows accurate adjustment of the current loop gain and reduces the system to a lower order while maintaining adequate loop stability.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter utilizes a tapped transformer secondary winding as a means of achieving output voltage ripple cancellation. This ripple cancellation occurs at a specified input voltage. It operates by fixing the location of a tap on the secondary winding of the power transformer so that the output voltage ripple cancellation occurs at the specified input voltage. It also minimizes the volt seconds that must be sustained by the output filter inductor over a specified range of input voltage for the converter.

Abstract: A voltage control circuit comprises a transformer (18) having primary (17) and secondary (20, 21) windings, an input coupled to said primary winding, first and second switch devices (11, 12) each coupled to said primary winding of the transformer, and a clamping capacitor (28) coupled to the transformer and at least one of the first and second switches. An output filter (25, 26) is coupled through a rectifier (23, 24) to the secondary winding of the transformer and an output is taken from the output filter. Means comprising a feedback circuit (13, 14, 15) coupled on one side to the output filter and on the other side to control terminals of the first and second switches cause the first and second switches to conduct current alternately. Operation of the circuit is stabilized by including an interconnection (29) of the clamping capacitor to the feedback circuit for generating a signal that modifies the energy applied by the feedback circuit to the control terminals of the first (11) and second (12) switches.

Abstract: A miniature current transformer is equipped with a primary winding insert formed as a stamped metal piece with elongate legs and a flange portion disposed at 90 degrees to the legs. The top of the flange is unobstructed by other structural details, and is wide enough to be gripped by vacuum pick-and-place equipment. At the same time the insert is electrically functional as the transformer's primary winding. The flange rests on surfaces formed in the transformer bobbin. The insert legs are mounted through passages n the bobbin leading out to the bobbin's bottom side. The legs are formed into gull-wing ends that have a dual role as lock tabs to secure the insert on the bobbin, and as the primary leads.