SINGLE INDUCTOR POWER CONVERTER SYSTEM AND METHODS
Methods, systems, and devices are described for a non-isolated dc-dc power converter that uses a single magnetic element and provides both a positive and a negative voltage output. The magnetic element, such as an inductor, is coupled with two or more switching modules that electrically switch the inductor to and from a voltage source, an inductor terminal, and/or a load. By electrically connecting and electrically isolating different components at various times, separate positive and negative voltage outputs are provided using the single inductor element. Switching may be controlled by a controller module, and a magnitude of the dc output voltage may be selected based on two or more resistors coupled with the controller module.
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This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/370,444 entitled “AUTO-OPTIMIZATION CIRCUITS AND METHODS FOR CYCLICAL ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS,” filed on Aug. 3, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. This application is also related to: U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed on even date herewith, entitled “AUTO-ADJUSTMENT CIRCUITS AND METHODS FOR CYCLICAL ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS,” and referenced as Attorney Docket No. P026.01 (77702.0066); and U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed on even date herewith, entitled “GATE DRIVER POWER AND CONTROL SIGNAL TRANSMISSION CIRCUITS AND METHODS,” and referenced as Attorney Docket No. P026.02 (77702.0070), and the entire disclosure of each is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
BACKGROUNDThe present disclosure is directed to circuits and methods for providing dc power to two or more loads, and more specifically to circuits and methods for providing both positive and negative voltage outputs utilizing one inductor in the voltage converter.
Non-isolated dc-dc converters enable efficient designs for various applications. Such dc-dc converters receive an input voltage from an input power supply, and provide a power output at a voltage level that is different than the voltage of the input power supply. In cases where the output voltage is higher than the input voltage, capacitors and one or more inductors may be utilized to provide additional voltage, commonly employing one or more switches that switch various components within the dc-dc converter that result in energy being stored in the inductor(s) and/or capacitor(s).
Such dc-dc converters may be advantageously implemented in a number of different applications. For example, non-isolated dc-dc power converters may provide relatively high peak current demands and low noise margins for applications servicing high-performance semiconductor devices. By placing individual de sources near their point of use, voltage drops may be reduced, noise sensitivity may be reduced, and EMI emission issues may be reduced. Furthermore, placing individual dc sources near their point of use may provide for efficient regulation of voltage output under dynamic load conditions. Such non-isolated dc-dc converters may be used in various applications, such as providing power for semiconductor devices such as processors, memory, FPGAs, DSPs and ASICs, as well as standard digital and analog integrated circuits. Such non-isolated dc-dc converters commonly provide output power within a set voltage range to an output.
SUMMARYMethods, systems, and devices are described for a non-isolated dc-dc power converter that uses a single magnetic element and provides both a positive and a negative voltage output. The magnetic element, such as an inductor, is coupled with two or more switching modules that electrically switch the inductor to and from a voltage source, an inductor terminal, and/or a load. By electrically connecting and electrically isolating different components at various times, separate positive and negative voltage outputs are provided using the single inductor element. Switching may be controlled by a controller module, and a magnitude of the dc output voltage may be selected based on two or more resistors coupled with the controller module.
In one embodiment, a power converter apparatus is provided. The power converter apparatus comprises a power source, a first switching module coupled with the power source, and an inductor having a first connection terminal and a second connection terminal, the first connection terminal coupled with the first switching module. The apparatus includes a first output terminal coupled with a first load. A second switching module is coupled with the first switching module and the first connection terminal of the inductor. A second output terminal is coupled with a second load. A control module is coupled with the first and second switching modules. The control module is configured to: switch the first switching module to electrically couple the first connection terminal of the inductor with the power source and thereby supply a positive voltage with the first output terminal; switch the first switching module to electrically isolate the power source from the first connection terminal of the inductor; and switch, while the power source is electrically isolated from the first connection terminal, the second switching module to electrically couple the first connection terminal of the inductor with the second output terminal and thereby supply a negative voltage to the second output terminal.
In another embodiment, a method is disclosed for providing power to a first and a second output load. The method comprises electrically coupling a first inductor connection terminal with a power source, electrically coupling the first output load with a second inductor connection terminal, and electrically isolating the second output load from the first inductor connection terminal while the first inductor connection terminal is electrically coupled with the power source. After electrically coupling the first inductor connection terminal with the power source, the method provides for electrically isolating the first inductor connection terminal from the power source and electrically coupling the first inductor connection terminal with the second output load.
A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be realized by reference to the following drawings. In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.
This description provides examples, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention. Rather, the ensuing description will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing embodiments of the invention. Various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements.
Thus, various embodiments may omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. For instance, it should be appreciated that the methods may be performed in an order different than that described, and that various steps may be added, omitted or combined. Also, aspects and elements described with respect to certain embodiments may be combined in various other embodiments. It should also be appreciated that the following systems, methods, devices, and software may individually or collectively be components of a larger system, wherein other procedures may take precedence over or otherwise modify their application.
Methods, systems, and devices are described for a non-isolated dc-dc power converter that uses a single magnetic element and provides both a positive and a negative voltage output. The magnetic element, such as an inductor, is coupled with two or more switching modules that electrically switch the inductor to and from a voltage source, an inductor terminal, and/or a load. By electrically connecting and electrically isolating different components at various times, separate positive and negative voltage outputs are provided using the single inductor element. Switching may be controlled by a controller module, and a magnitude of the dc output voltage may be selected based on two or more resistors coupled with the controller module.
The term “switch” or “switch element,” as used herein, refers to an electrical circuit element that may have two electrical states, one of which substantially blocks current flow through the element and the other of which allows current flow through the element substantially unimpeded. Such switches may include, for example, rectifier diodes, transistors, relays, and thyristors.
With reference to
During a second operating state the first switching module 120 electrically isolates the inductor 105 from the input voltage VIN, and the third switching module 130 electrically isolates the inductor from the second load 115 and second output capacitor 140. The second switching module 125, in this operating state, electrically couples the inductor 105 with ground connection 150. The switching modules 120, 125, and 130 may use bi-directional voltage blocking switches to electrically connect and electrically isolate various components. During the second operating state the inductor 105 current ramps down.
During a third operating state the third switching module 130 electrically couples the inductor 105 with the second load 115 and second output capacitor 140. The second switching module 125 is switched to electrically isolate the inductor 105 from ground connection 135. The first switching module 120, in this operating state, electrically isolates the inductor 105 from voltage source VIN. During this third operating state, inductor 105 provides current to the second load 115 and second output capacitor 140, which is a negative output voltage load.
The control module 145, in various embodiments, may control the switching of switching modules 120, 125, and 130 to maintain the voltage at the first load 110 and first output capacitor 135, and second load 115 and second output capacitor 140, at preset levels. In one embodiment, the output voltage at the first load 110 and first output capacitor 135 may be selected to be maintained at a voltage of between 2.3 Volts and 5.5 Volts, and the output voltage at the second load 115 and second output capacitor 140 may be selected to be maintained at a voltage of between −5.0 Volts to −15 Volts. The selection of the output voltages at the controller 130 may be preset or user selectable.
In the embodiments of
Similarly as described with respect to the circuit 100 of
During a second operating state, switching modules 120-a, 125-a, and 130-a are switched so as to be in the same state as they were in the first operating state. The fourth switching module 205 isolates the second input terminal of inductor 105-a from ground connection 215. The fifth switching module 210, in this second operating state, electrically couples the second input terminal of inductor 105-a with the first load 110-a and first output capacitor 135-a. During this second operating state, the inductor 105-a supplies a positive current to the first load 110-a.
During a third operating state, the first switching module 120-a is switched to electrical isolate the inductor 105-a from the input voltage VIN, the third switching module 130-a is switched to electrically isolate the first input terminal of inductor 105-a from the second load 115-a and second output capacitor 140-a, the fourth switching module 205 is switched to couple the second input terminal of inductor 105-a to ground connection 215, and the fifth switching module 210 is switched to electrically isolate the second input terminal of inductor 105-a from the first load 110-a and first output capacitor 135-a. The second switching module 125-a, in this operating state, electrically couples the inductor 105-a with ground connection 150-a. During the third operating state, the inductor 105-a current ramps down.
During a fourth operating state, the third switching module 130-a electrically couples the inductor 105-a with the second load 115-a and second output capacitor 140-a. The second switching module 125-a is switched to electrically isolate the inductor 105-a from ground connection 135-a. The first switching module 120-a, in this operating sate, electrically isolates the inductor 105-a from voltage source VIN. The fourth switching module 205 is switched to isolate the second input terminal of inductor 105-a from ground connection 215, and the fifth switching module 210 is switched to isolate the second input terminal of inductor 105-a from the first load 110-a and first output capacitor 135-a. During this fourth operating state, inductor 105-a provides current to the second load 115-a and second output capacitor 140-a, which is a negative output voltage load.
The control module 145-a, may control the switching of switching modules 120-a, 125-a, 130-a, 205, and 210 to maintain the voltage at the first load 110-a and first output capacitor 135-a, and the voltage at the second load 115-a and second output capacitor 140-a, at preset levels. In one embodiment, the output voltage at the first load 110-a and first output capacitor 135-a may be selected to be maintained at a voltage of between 2.3 Volts and 5.5 Volts, and the output voltage at the second load 115-a and second output capacitor 140-a may be selected to be maintained at a voltage of between −5.0 Volts to −15 Volts.
In other embodiments, the control module is set to provide output voltages at preset levels for each of the positive and negative outputs. The control module in some of these embodiments may receive a value of the voltage that is output at each of the positive and negative outputs and adjust the duty cycle for various of the switching modules to achieve the desired voltage outputs. For example, control module 145-a of
Thus, with reference to
As mentioned above, the control module controls the switching of the various switching modules that may be present in a non-isolated dc-dc voltage converter as described in various embodiments herein. The control modules that may be used in such applications may be preset with switching duty cycles for the switch modules of the voltage converter. In some embodiments, control modules may be programmed to generate positive and negative output voltages in the field through input or setting of one or more parameters. In one embodiment, illustrated in
In other embodiments, the control module may receive voltage level information related to the positive and negative outputs of the dc-dc voltage converter.
With reference now to
With reference now to
While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather, as exemplifications or embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example, there are a wide variety of circuits that can benefit from the general approach to power and control signal transmission across an electrical isolation element. Circuits similar to the circuits shown but with polarity of the input or output reversed from that illustrated in the figures shall be considered embodiments of the subject invention. Circuits similar to those shown, but having coupled magnetic circuit elements with more than two windings and circuits with more than one output shall be considered embodiments of the subject invention. In many of the circuits shown there are series connected networks. The order of placement of circuit elements in series connected networks is inconsequential in the illustrations shown so that series networks in the illustrated circuits with circuit elements reversed or placed in an entirely different order within series connected networks are equivalent to the circuits illustrated and shall be considered embodiments of the subject invention. Also, some of the embodiments illustrated show N channel MOSFET switches, but the operation revealed and the benefits achieved can also be realized in circuits that implement the switches using P channel MOSFETs, combinations of N channel and P channel MOSFETs, IGBTs, JFETs, bipolar transistors, junction rectifiers, or schottky rectifiers, which should be considered embodiments of the disclosure.
These components may, individually or collectively, be implemented with one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) adapted to perform some or all of the applicable functions in hardware. Alternatively, the functions may be performed by one or more other processing units (or cores), on one or more integrated circuits. In other embodiments, other types of integrated circuits may be used (e.g., Structured/Platform ASICs, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and other Semi-Custom ICs), which may be programmed in any manner known in the art. The functions of each unit may also be implemented, in whole or in part, with instructions embodied in a memory, formatted to be executed by one or more general or application-specific processors.
It should be noted that the methods, systems and devices discussed above are intended merely to be examples. It must be stressed that various embodiments may omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. For instance, it should be appreciated that, in alternative embodiments, the methods may be performed in an order different from that described, and that various steps may be added, omitted or combined. Also, features described with respect to certain embodiments may be combined in various other embodiments. Different aspects and elements of the embodiments may be combined in a similar manner. Also, it should be emphasized that technology evolves and, thus, many of the elements are exemplary in nature and should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the invention.
Specific details are given in the description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques have been shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments.
Also, it is noted that the embodiments may be described as a process which is depicted as a flow diagram or block diagram. Although each may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be rearranged. A process may have additional steps not included in the figure.
Having described several embodiments, it will be recognized by those of skill in the art that various modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the above elements may merely be a component of a larger system, wherein other rules may take precedence over or otherwise modify the application of the invention. Also, a number of steps may be undertaken before, during, or after the above elements are considered. Accordingly, the above description should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A power converter apparatus, comprising:
- a power source;
- a first switching module coupled with the power source;
- an inductor having a first connection terminal and a second connection terminal, the first connection terminal coupled with the first switching module;
- a first output terminal coupled with a first load;
- a second switching module coupled with the first switching module and the first connection terminal of the inductor;
- a second output terminal coupled with a second load; and
- a control module coupled with the first and second switching modules and configured to: switch the first switching module to electrically couple the first connection terminal of the inductor with the power source and supply a voltage of a first polarity at the first output terminal; switch the first switching module to electrically isolate the power source from the first connection terminal of the inductor; and switch, while the power source is electrically isolated from the first connection terminal, the second switching module so as to electrically couple the first connection terminal of the inductor with the second output terminal and thereby supply a voltage of a second polarity to the second output terminal.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module is further configured to switch the second switching module to electrically isolate the second output terminal from the first connection terminal of the inductor while the first connection terminal of the inductor is electrically coupled with the power source.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
- a third switching module coupled between the first input terminal of the inductor and a ground connection, and
- wherein the control module is further configured to switch the third switching module to electrically couple the first input terminal of the inductor with ground and switch the first and second switching modules to electrically isolate the first input terminal of the inductor from the power source and the second output terminal when the voltages at the first and second output terminals are at or near target values for the first and second output terminal voltages.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
- a first output capacitor coupled between the second connection terminal of the inductor and a ground connection; and
- a second output capacitor coupled between the second switching module and a ground connection.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
- a third switching module coupled between the second connection terminal of the inductor and the first output terminal; and
- wherein the control module is further configured to switch the third switching module to alternately electrically isolate or electrically couple the first output terminal and the second connection terminal of the inductor.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control module is further configured to:
- switch the third switching module to electrically isolate the first output terminal from the second connection terminal of the inductor;
- switch the second switching module to electrically couple the first connection terminal of the inductor with the second output terminal while the first output terminal is electrically isolated from the second connection terminal of the inductor; and
- switch the first switching module to electrically isolate the first connection terminal of the inductor from the power source while the power source is electrically isolated from the first connection terminal while the first output terminal is electrically isolated from the second connection terminal of the inductor and the first connection terminal of the inductor to the second output terminal.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module is coupled with two or more resistors, and the control module is configured to control the switching of the modules based on the value of the resistors.
8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the third switching module comprises a bi-directional voltage blocking switch.
9. A method for providing power to a first and a second output load, comprising:
- electrically coupling a first inductor connection terminal with a power source;
- electrically coupling the first output load with a second inductor connection terminal;
- electrically isolating the second output load from the first inductor connection terminal while the first inductor connection terminal is electrically coupled with the power source; and
- after electrically coupling the first inductor connection terminal with the power source, electrically isolating the first inductor connection terminal from the power source and electrically coupling the first inductor connection terminal with the second output load thereby providing power to the second output load.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
- after electrically isolating the first inductor connection terminal from the power source and electrically coupling the first inductor connection terminal with the second output load, electrically isolating the second output load from the first inductor connection terminal and electrically coupling the first inductor connection terminal with the power source.
11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
- after coupling the first inductor connection terminal with the power source and before electrically coupling the first inductor connection terminal with the second output load, electrically isolating the first inductor connection terminal from the power source and electrically coupling the first inductor connection terminal with a ground connection.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:
- after ramping down current in the inductor, electrically isolating the first inductor connection terminal from the ground connection and electrically coupling the first inductor connection terminal with the second output load.
13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
- after electrically coupling the first inductor connection terminal with the power source: electrically isolating the first inductor connection terminal from the power source, electrically isolating the second inductor connection terminal from the first output load, and electrically coupling the first inductor connection terminal with the second output load.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein timing of the electrically coupling and electrically isolating steps is determined based on input to a controller module.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the timing is determined based on values of two or more resistors coupled with the controller module.
16. An apparatus for providing power to a first and a second output load, comprising:
- means for electrically coupling a first inductor connection terminal with a power source;
- means for electrically coupling the first output load with a second inductor connection terminal;
- means for electrically isolating the second output load from the first inductor connection terminal while the first inductor connection terminal is electrically coupled with the power source; and
- means for electrically isolating the first inductor connection terminal from the power source and electrically coupling the first inductor connection terminal with the second output load after electrically coupling the first inductor connection terminal with the power source.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:
- means for electrically isolating the second output load from the first inductor connection terminal and electrically coupling the first inductor connection terminal with the power source after electrically isolating the first inductor connection terminal from the power source and electrically coupling the first inductor connection terminal with the second output load.
18. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:
- means for electrically isolating the first inductor connection terminal from the power source and electrically coupling the first inductor connection terminal with a ground connection to ramp down current in the inductor after coupling the first inductor connection terminal with the power source and before electrically coupling the first inductor connection terminal with the second output load.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:
- means for electrically isolating the first inductor connection terminal from the ground connection and electrically coupling the first inductor connection terminal with the second output load after ramping down current in the inductor.
20. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:
- controller means for controlling the timing of the electrically coupling and electrically isolating steps.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 3, 2011
Publication Date: Feb 9, 2012
Applicant: Microsemi Corporation (Irvine, CA)
Inventors: Charles Coleman (Fort Collins, CO), Ernest H. Wittenbreder, JR. (Flagstaff, AZ)
Application Number: 13/197,621
International Classification: G05F 3/02 (20060101);