U.S. patent application number 15/878483 was filed with the patent office on 2018-10-18 for flyback power converter circuit with active clamping and zero voltage switching and conversion control circuit thereof.
The applicant listed for this patent is RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Wei-Hsu Chang, Kun-Yu Lin, Tzu-Chen Lin, Ta-Yung Yang.
Application Number | 20180301974 15/878483 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62639923 |
Filed Date | 2018-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180301974 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Kun-Yu ; et
al. |
October 18, 2018 |
FLYBACK POWER CONVERTER CIRCUIT WITH ACTIVE CLAMPING AND ZERO
VOLTAGE SWITCHING AND CONVERSION CONTROL CIRCUIT THEREOF
Abstract
A flyback power converter circuit includes: a transformer,
including a primary winding coupled to an input power and a
secondary winding coupled to an output node; a primary side switch
coupled to the primary winding for switching the input power to
generate an output power on the output node through the secondary
winding; a clamping circuit including an auxiliary switch and an
auxiliary capacitor which are connected in series to form an
auxiliary branch which is connected with the primary winding in
parallel; and a conversion control circuit adjusting an auxiliary
dead time according to a primary side switch related signal and a
switching voltage related signal such that the primary side switch
is zero voltage switching at a time point when the primary side
switch is turned ON.
Inventors: |
Lin; Kun-Yu; (Pingtung,
TW) ; Lin; Tzu-Chen; (Changhua, TW) ; Chang;
Wei-Hsu; (Hsinchu, TW) ; Yang; Ta-Yung;
(Taoyuan, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION |
Zhubei City |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
62639923 |
Appl. No.: |
15/878483 |
Filed: |
January 24, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62486764 |
Apr 18, 2017 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02M 1/38 20130101; H02M
2001/0058 20130101; H02M 1/083 20130101; H02M 3/33569 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H02M 1/08 20060101
H02M001/08; H02M 3/335 20060101 H02M003/335 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 20, 2017 |
TW |
106124274 |
Claims
1. A flyback power converter circuit, comprising: a transformer,
which includes a primary side winding electrically coupled to an
input power and a secondary side winding coupled to an output node,
wherein the input power includes an input voltage; a primary side
switch, coupled to the primary side winding, and is configured to
operably switch the primary side winding to convert the input power
such that the secondary side winding generates an output power on
the output node, wherein the output power includes an output
voltage; a clamping circuit, including: an auxiliary switch; and an
auxiliary capacitor, coupled to the auxiliary switch in series to
form an auxiliary branch which is coupled with the primary side
winding in parallel; and a conversion control circuit, including:
an auxiliary switch control circuit, configured to operably
generate an auxiliary switch control signal to control the
auxiliary switch; and an adjusting circuit, configured to operably
adjust an auxiliary dead time, such that a voltage difference
between a current inflow terminal and a current outflow terminal of
the primary side switch is substantially zero at a time point when
the primary side switch is turned ON, whereby zero voltage
switching is achieved; wherein the auxiliary dead time is a time
period starting from when the auxiliary switch is turned OFF till
when the primary side switch is turned ON for the next time,
wherein both the auxiliary switch and the primary side switch are
OFF during the auxiliary dead time.
2. The flyback power converter circuit of claim 1, wherein the
adjusting circuit generates an adjusting signal according to a
primary side switch related signal and a zero voltage signal to
adjust the auxiliary dead time, such that the primary side switch
is zero voltage switching at the time point when the primary side
switch is turned ON; wherein the primary side switch related signal
relates to a primary side switch control signal which controls the
primary side switch; wherein the zero voltage signal is configured
to represent a zero crossing time point which indicates a time
point when the voltage difference between the current inflow
terminal and the current outflow terminal of the primary side
switch is reaching or crossing zero.
3. The flyback power converter circuit of claim 2, wherein the
conversion control circuit further includes a zero voltage signal
generator circuit configured to operably determine the zero
crossing time point according to a switching voltage related signal
and generate the zero voltage signal to represent the zero crossing
time point; wherein the switching voltage related signal relates to
the voltage difference between the current inflow terminal and the
current outflow terminal of the primary side switch.
4. The flyback power converter circuit of claim 2, wherein the
adjusting circuit adjusts the auxiliary dead time by the adjusting
signal, such that a primary side turning ON time point
substantially aligns the zero crossing time point, whereby the
primary side switch is zero voltage switching at the time point
when the primary side switch is turned ON, wherein the primary side
turning ON time point is a time point when the primary side switch
related signal indicates that the primary side switch is turned
ON.
5. The flyback power converter circuit of claim 2, wherein the
clamping circuit further includes a timing control circuit which is
configured to operably generate the primary side switch control
signal according to the auxiliary switch control signal and the
adjusting signal to control the primary side switch; wherein the
timing control circuit determines a dead time adjustment amount of
the auxiliary dead time according to the adjusting signal to adjust
the auxiliary dead time, and at the time point when the auxiliary
dead time ends, the primary side switch is controlled to turn ON by
the primary side switch control signal; wherein the adjusting
circuit generates the adjusting signal according to a phase
difference of the zero voltage signal and the primary side switch
related signal such that the primary side turning ON time point
substantially aligns the zero crossing time point.
6. The flyback power converter circuit of claim 5, wherein when the
phase difference indicates that the zero crossing time point is
later than the primary side turning ON time point, the auxiliary
dead time is lengthened, and when the phase difference indicates
that the zero crossing time point is earlier than the primary side
turning ON time point, the auxiliary dead time is shortened.
7. The flyback power converter circuit of claim 3, wherein the zero
voltage signal generator circuit includes: a sensing circuit,
configured to operably sense the switching voltage related signal
to generate a zero voltage sensing signal; and a comparison
circuit, configured to operably compare the zero voltage sensing
signal with a reference voltage to generate the zero voltage
signal.
8. The flyback power converter circuit of claim 5, wherein the
timing control circuit includes: a variable current source, whose
current is adjustable according to the adjusting signal; and an
integration capacitor, configured to determine the auxiliary dead
time according to the current of the variable current source.
9. The flyback power converter circuit of claim 4, wherein the
adjusting circuit includes a first state control circuit which
generates an increasing signal according to a level switching time
point of the zero voltage signal and a level switching time point
of the primary side switch related signal and a second state
control circuit which generates a decreasing signal according to
the level switching time point of the zero voltage signal and the
level switching time point of the primary side switch related
signal, wherein the adjusting signal includes the increasing signal
and the decreasing signal.
10. The flyback power converter circuit of claim 2, wherein the
flyback power converter circuit generates a primary side switch
driving signal according to the primary side switch control signal,
wherein the primary side switch driving signal is directly coupled
to a control terminal of the primary side switch to drive the
primary side switch, wherein: (1) the primary side switch related
signal is coupled to the primary side switch driving signal; or (2)
the primary side switch related signal is coupled to a delayed
control signal, wherein the conversion control circuit includes a
delay circuit which is configured to operably generate the delayed
control signal according to the primary side switch control signal,
wherein the delayed control signal is not the primary side switch
driving signal, and the delayed control signal is delayed by a
predetermined delay time in comparison to the primary side switch
control signal, such that the delayed control signal and the
primary side switch driving signal are substantially in-phase.
11. The flyback power converter circuit of claim 3, wherein the
primary side switch is coupled to the primary side winding on a
switching node which has a switching voltage, wherein the switching
voltage related signal is generated by one of the followings: (1)
that the switching voltage related signal is electrically connected
to the switching voltage; (2) that the flyback power converter
circuit further includes a sensing capacitor, and the conversion
control circuit further includes a bias circuit configured to
operably provide a DC bias on a bias node, wherein the sensing
capacitor is coupled between the bias node and the switching node
to generate the switching voltage related signal on the bias node;
or (3) that the transformer further includes an auxiliary winding
to generate the switching voltage related signal.
12. The flyback power converter circuit of claim 1, wherein the
auxiliary switch and the primary side switch do not switch
complementarily to each other.
13. A conversion control circuit, configured to operably control a
flyback power converter circuit which includes: a transformer,
which includes a primary side winding electrically coupled to an
input power and a secondary side winding coupled to an output node,
wherein the input power includes an input voltage; a primary side
switch, coupled to the primary side winding, and is configured to
operably switch the primary side winding to convert the input power
such that the secondary side winding generates an output power on
the output node, wherein the output power includes an output
voltage; a clamping circuit, including: an auxiliary switch; and an
auxiliary capacitor, coupled to the auxiliary switch in series to
form an auxiliary branch which is coupled with the primary side
winding in parallel; the conversion control circuit comprising: an
auxiliary switch control circuit, configured to operably generate
an auxiliary switch control signal to control the auxiliary switch;
and an adjusting circuit, configured to operably adjust an
auxiliary dead time, such that a voltage difference between a
current inflow terminal and a current outflow terminal of the
primary side switch is substantially zero at a time point when the
primary side switch is turned ON, whereby zero voltage switching is
achieved; wherein the auxiliary dead time is a time period starting
from when the auxiliary switch is turned OFF to when the primary
side switch is turned ON for the next time, wherein both the
auxiliary switch and the primary side switch are OFF during the
auxiliary dead time.
14. The conversion control circuit of claim 13, wherein the
adjusting circuit generates an adjusting signal according to a
primary side switch related signal and a zero voltage signal to
adjust the auxiliary dead time, such that the primary side switch
is zero voltage switching at the time point when the primary side
switch is turned ON; wherein the primary side switch related signal
relates to a primary side switch control signal which controls the
primary side switch; wherein the zero voltage signal is configured
to represent a zero crossing time point which indicates a time
point when the voltage difference between the current inflow
terminal and the current outflow terminal of the primary side
switch is reaching or crossing zero.
15. The conversion control circuit of claim 14, wherein the
conversion control circuit further includes a zero voltage signal
generator circuit configured to operably determine the zero
crossing time point according to a switching voltage related signal
and generate the zero voltage signal to represent the zero crossing
time point; wherein the switching voltage related signal relates to
the voltage difference between the current inflow terminal and the
current outflow terminal of the primary side switch.
16. The conversion control circuit of claim 14, wherein the
adjusting circuit adjusts the auxiliary dead time by the adjusting
signal, such that a primary side turning ON time point
substantially aligns the zero crossing time point, whereby the
primary side switch is zero voltage switching at the time point
when the primary side switch is turned ON, wherein the primary side
turning ON time point is a time point when the primary side switch
related signal indicates that the primary side switch is turned
ON.
17. The conversion control circuit of claim 14, wherein the
clamping circuit further includes a timing control circuit which is
configured to operably generate the primary side switch control
signal according to the auxiliary switch control signal and the
adjusting signal to control the primary side switch; wherein the
timing control circuit determines a dead time adjustment amount of
the auxiliary dead time according to the adjusting signal to adjust
the auxiliary dead time, and at the time point when the auxiliary
dead time ends, the primary side switch is controlled to turn ON by
the primary side switch control signal; wherein the adjusting
circuit generates the adjusting signal according to a phase
difference of the zero voltage signal and the primary side switch
related signal such that the primary side turning ON time point
substantially aligns the zero crossing time point.
18. The conversion control circuit of claim 15, wherein when the
phase difference indicates that the zero crossing time point is
later than the primary side turning ON time point, the auxiliary
dead time is lengthened, and when the phase difference indicates
that the zero crossing time point is earlier than the primary side
turning ON time point, the auxiliary dead time is shortened.
19. The conversion control circuit of claim 15, wherein the zero
voltage signal generator circuit includes: a sensing circuit,
configured to operably sense the switching voltage related signal
to generate a zero voltage sensing signal; and a comparison
circuit, configured to operably compare the zero voltage sensing
signal with a reference voltage to generate the zero voltage
signal.
20. The conversion control circuit of claim 17, wherein the timing
control circuit includes: a variable current source, whose current
is adjustable according to the adjusting signal; and an integration
capacitor, configured to determine the auxiliary dead time
according to the current of the variable current source.
21. The conversion control circuit of claim 16, wherein the the
adjusting circuit includes a first state control circuit which
generates an increasing signal according to a level switching time
point of the zero voltage signal and a level switching time point
of the primary side switch related signal and a second state
control circuit which generates a decreasing signal according to
the level switching time point of the zero voltage signal and the
level switching time point of the primary side switch related
signal, wherein the adjusting signal includes the increasing signal
and the decreasing signal.
22. The conversion control circuit of claim 14, wherein the flyback
power converter circuit generates a primary side switch driving
signal according to the primary side switch control signal, wherein
the primary side switch driving signal is directly coupled to a
control terminal of the primary side switch to drive the primary
side switch, wherein: (1) the primary side switch related signal is
coupled to the primary side switch driving signal; or (2) the
primary side switch related signal is coupled to a delayed control
signal, wherein the conversion control circuit includes a delay
circuit which is configured to operably generate the delayed
control signal according to the primary side switch control signal,
wherein the delayed control signal is not the primary side switch
driving signal, and the delayed control signal is delayed by a
predetermined delay time in comparison to the primary side switch
control signal, such that the delayed control signal and the
primary side switch driving signal are substantially in-phase.
23. The conversion control circuit of claim 15, wherein the primary
side switch is coupled to the primary side winding on a switching
node which includes a switching voltage, wherein the switching
voltage related signal is generated by one of the followings: (1)
that the switching voltage related signal is electrically connected
to the switching voltage; (2) that the flyback power converter
circuit further includes a sensing capacitor, and the conversion
control circuit further includes a bias circuit configured to
operably provide a DC bias on a bias node, wherein the sensing
capacitor is coupled between the bias node and the switching node
to generate the switching voltage related signal on the bias node;
or (3) that the transformer further includes an auxiliary winding
to generate the switching voltage related signal.
24. The conversion control circuit of claim 13, wherein the
auxiliary switch and the primary side switch do not switch
complementarily to each other.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE
[0001] The present invention claims priority to U.S. 62/486,764,
filed on Apr. 18, 2017 and TW 106124274, filed on Jul. 20,
2017.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a flyback power converter
circuit; particularly, it relates to a flyback power converter
circuit with active clamping and zero voltage switching. The
present invention also relates to a conversion control circuit for
use in the flyback power converter circuit.
Description of Related Art
[0003] FIG. 1 shows a prior art flyback power converter circuit
with active clamping (flyback power converter circuit 1). The
flyback power converter circuit 1 converts an input voltage to an
output voltage. The flyback power converter circuit 1 includes an
auxiliary switch S2 and an auxiliary capacitor Cr which form an
active clamping branch. The active clamping branch is ON when the
primary side switch S1 is OFF, such that the energy stored in the
parasitic leakage inductance Lr and the parasitic magnetizing
inductance Lm during the ON time of the primary side switch S1 can
be discharged and stored in the auxiliary capacitor Cr by this
branch. Besides, before the primary side switch S1 is turned ON,
the parasitic capacitor Coss of the primary side switch S1 can be
discharged by the energy stored in the auxiliary capacitor Cr, such
that the primary side switch S1 is zero voltage switching when it
is turned ON. In this prior art, the auxiliary switch S2 switches
complementarily with the primary side switch S1 as shown in FIG.
2A.
[0004] FIG. 2B shows schematic waveforms of another prior art
flyback power converter circuit with active clamping. This prior
art is similar to FIG. 1 but is different in that the ON time TON2
of the auxiliary switch S2 is a constant time period (constant ON
time).
[0005] The prior art circuits in FIGS. 1 and 2A-2B have a drawback
that the dead time Td between the ON time periods of the auxiliary
switch S2 and the primary side switch S1 is fixed length, and
therefore the time point when the primary side switch S1 is turned
ON may not be a right timing for zero voltage switching (i.e. the
time point when the parasitic capacitor Coss is just fully
discharged). The power loss may increase due to missing the right
timing.
[0006] Compared to the prior art in FIGS. 1 and 2A-2B, the present
invention is advantageous in that the dead time Td between the ON
time periods of the auxiliary switch S2 and the primary side switch
S1 is adjustable to ensure that the primary side switch S1 switches
by zero voltage switching so that the power conversion efficiency
can be improved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] From one perspective, the present invention provides a
flyback power converter circuit, comprising: a transformer, which
includes a primary side winding electrically coupled to an input
power and a secondary side winding coupled to an output node,
wherein the input power includes an input voltage; a primary side
switch, coupled to the primary side winding, and is configured to
operably switch the primary side winding to convert the input power
such that the secondary side winding generates an output power on
the output node, wherein the output power includes an output
voltage; a clamping circuit, including: an auxiliary switch; and an
auxiliary capacitor, coupled to the auxiliary switch in series to
form an auxiliary branch which is coupled with the primary side
winding in parallel; and a conversion control circuit, including:
an auxiliary switch control circuit, configured to operably
generate an auxiliary switch control signal to control the
auxiliary switch; and an adjusting circuit, configured to operably
adjust an auxiliary dead time, such that a voltage difference
between a current inflow terminal and a current outflow terminal of
the primary side switch is substantially zero at a time point when
the primary side switch is turned ON, whereby zero voltage
switching is achieved; wherein the auxiliary dead time is a time
period starting from when the auxiliary switch is turned OFF till
when the primary side switch is turned ON for the next time,
wherein both the auxiliary switch and the primary side switch are
OFF during the auxiliary dead time.
[0008] In one embodiment, the adjusting circuit generates an
adjusting signal according to a primary side switch related signal
and a zero voltage signal to adjust the auxiliary dead time, such
that the primary side switch is zero voltage switching at the time
point when the primary side switch is turned ON; wherein the
primary side switch related signal relates to a primary side switch
control signal which controls the primary side switch; wherein the
zero voltage signal is configured to represent a zero crossing time
point which indicates a time point when the voltage difference
between the current inflow terminal and the current outflow
terminal of the primary side switch is reaching or crossing
zero.
[0009] In one embodiment, the conversion control circuit further
includes a zero voltage signal generator circuit configured to
operably determine the zero crossing time point according to a
switching voltage related signal and generate the zero voltage
signal to represent the zero crossing time point; wherein the
switching voltage related signal relates to the voltage difference
between the current inflow terminal and the current outflow
terminal of the primary side switch.
[0010] In one embodiment, the adjusting circuit adjusts the
auxiliary dead time by the adjusting signal, such that a primary
side turning ON time point substantially aligns the zero crossing
time point, whereby the primary side switch is zero voltage
switching when turning ON, wherein the primary side turning ON time
point is a time point when the primary side switch related signal
indicates that the primary side switch is turned ON.
[0011] In one embodiment, the clamping circuit further includes a
timing control circuit which is configured to operably generate the
primary side switch control signal according to the auxiliary
switch control signal and the adjusting signal to control the
primary side switch, wherein the timing control circuit determines
a dead time adjustment amount of the auxiliary dead time according
to the adjusting signal to adjust the auxiliary dead time, and at
the time point when the auxiliary dead time ends, the primary side
switch is controlled to turn ON by the primary side switch control
signal; wherein the adjusting circuit generates the adjusting
signal according to a phase difference of the zero voltage signal
and the primary side switch related signal such that the primary
side turning ON time point substantially aligns the zero crossing
time point.
[0012] In one embodiment, when the phase difference indicates that
the zero crossing time point is later than the primary side turning
ON time point, the auxiliary dead time is lengthened, and when the
phase difference indicates that the zero crossing time point is
earlier than the primary side turning ON time point, the auxiliary
dead time is shortened.
[0013] In one embodiment, the zero voltage signal generator circuit
includes: a sensing circuit, configured to operably sense the
switching voltage related signal to generate a zero voltage sensing
signal; and a comparison circuit, configured to operably compare
the zero voltage sensing signal with a reference voltage to
generate the zero voltage signal.
[0014] In one embodiment, the timing control circuit includes: a
variable current source, whose current is adjustable according to
the adjusting signal; and an integration capacitor, configured to
determine the auxiliary dead time according to the current of the
variable current source.
[0015] In one embodiment, the adjusting circuit includes a first
state control circuit which generates an increasing signal
according to a level switching time point of the zero voltage
signal and a level switching time point of the primary side switch
related signal and a second state control circuit which generates a
decreasing signal according to the level switching time point of
the zero voltage signal and the level switching time point of the
primary side switch related signal, wherein the adjusting signal
includes the increasing signal and the decreasing signal.
[0016] In one embodiment, the flyback power converter circuit
generates a primary side switch driving signal according to the
primary side switch control signal, wherein the primary side switch
driving signal is directly coupled to a control terminal of the
primary side switch to drive the primary side switch, wherein: (1)
the primary side switch related signal is coupled to the primary
side switch driving signal; or (2) the primary side switch related
signal is coupled to a delayed control signal, wherein the
conversion control circuit includes a delay circuit which is
configured to operably generate the delayed control signal
according to the primary side switch control signal, wherein the
delayed control signal is not the primary side switch driving
signal, and the delayed control signal is delayed by a
predetermined delay time in comparison to the primary side switch
control signal, such that the delayed control signal and the
primary side switch driving signal are substantially in-phase.
[0017] In one embodiment, the primary side switch is coupled to the
primary side winding on a switching node which includes a switching
voltage, wherein the switching voltage related signal is generated
by one of the followings: (1) that the switching voltage related
signal is electrically connected to the switching voltage; (2) that
the flyback power converter circuit further includes a sensing
capacitor, and the conversion control circuit further includes a
bias circuit configured to operably provide a DC bias on a bias
node, wherein the sensing capacitor is coupled between the bias
node and the switching node to generate the switching voltage
related signal on the bias node; or (3) that the transformer
further includes an auxiliary winding to generate the switching
voltage related signal.
[0018] In one embodiment, the auxiliary switch and the primary side
switch do not switch complementarily to each other.
[0019] From another perspective, the present invention provides a
conversion control circuit, configured to operably control a
flyback power converter circuit which includes: a transformer,
which includes a primary side winding electrically coupled to an
input power and a secondary side winding coupled to an output node,
wherein the input power includes an input voltage; a primary side
switch, coupled to the primary side winding, and is configured to
operably switch the primary side winding to convert the input power
such that the secondary side winding generates an output power on
the output node, wherein the output power includes an output
voltage; a clamping circuit, including: an auxiliary switch; and an
auxiliary capacitor, coupled to the auxiliary switch in series to
form an auxiliary branch which is coupled with the primary side
winding in parallel; the conversion control circuit comprising: an
auxiliary switch control circuit, configured to operably generate
an auxiliary switch control signal to control the auxiliary switch;
and an adjusting circuit, configured to operably adjust an
auxiliary dead time, such that a voltage difference between a
current inflow terminal and a current outflow terminal of the
primary side switch is substantially zero when turning ON, whereby
zero voltage switching is achieved; wherein the auxiliary dead time
is a time period starting from when the auxiliary switch is turned
OFF to when the primary side switch is turned ON for the next time,
wherein both the auxiliary switch and the primary side switch are
OFF during the auxiliary dead time.
[0020] The objectives, technical details, features, and effects of
the present invention will be better understood with regard to the
detailed description of the embodiments below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a prior art flyback
power converter circuit with active clamping.
[0022] FIG. 2A shows schematic waveforms of a prior art flyback
power converter circuit with active clamping.
[0023] FIG. 2B shows schematic waveforms of another prior art
flyback power converter circuit with active clamping.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the
flyback power converter circuit with active clamping and zero
voltage switching according to the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a specific embodiment of
the conversion control circuit of the flyback power converter
circuit with active clamping and zero voltage switching according
to the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of another specific
embodiment of the conversion control circuit of the flyback power
converter circuit with active clamping and zero voltage switching
according to the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of a specific embodiment of
the timing control circuit of the flyback power converter circuit
with active clamping and zero voltage switching according to the
present invention.
[0028] FIG. 7 shows schematic waveforms corresponding to the
embodiments shown in FIGS. 3-5.
[0029] FIG. 8A shows a schematic diagram of another embodiment of
the flyback power converter circuit with active clamping and zero
voltage switching according to the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 8B shows a schematic diagram of another specific
embodiment of the flyback power converter circuit with active
clamping and zero voltage switching and the conversion control
circuit thereof according to the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 9A shows a schematic diagram of another embodiment of
the flyback power converter circuit with active clamping and zero
voltage switching according to the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 9B shows a schematic diagram of another specific
embodiment of the flyback power converter circuit with active
clamping and zero voltage switching and the conversion control
circuit thereof according to the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 9C shows a schematic diagram of another embodiment of
the flyback power converter circuit with active clamping and zero
voltage switching according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] The drawings as referred to throughout the description of
the present invention are for illustration only, to show the
interrelations between the circuits and the signal waveforms, but
not drawn according to actual scale.
[0035] FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of the flyback power converter
circuit with active clamping and zero voltage switching according
to the present invention (flyback power converter circuit 3). The
flyback power converter circuit 3 comprises a transformer 10, a
primary side switch S1, and a conversion control circuit 30. The
transformer 10 includes a primary side winding W1 which is
electrically coupled to an input power and a secondary side winding
W2 which is coupled to an output node OUT, wherein the input power
includes an input voltage V1. The primary side switch S1 is coupled
to the primary side winding W1, and is configured to operably
switch the primary side winding W1 to convert the input power such
that the secondary side winding W2 generates an output power on the
output node OUT, wherein the output power includes an output
voltage VO.
[0036] Still referring to FIG. 3, the clamping circuit 20 includes
an auxiliary switch S2 and an auxiliary capacitor Cr. The auxiliary
switch S2 is coupled to the auxiliary switch in series to form an
auxiliary branch which is coupled with the primary side winding W1
in parallel as shown in FIG. 3. The conversion control circuit 30
generates a primary side control signal S1C and an auxiliary
control signal S2C to control the primary side switch S1 and the
auxiliary switch S2 respectively to convert the input power to the
output power. The auxiliary switch S2 is ON for a period of time
within an OFF period of the primary side switch S1, such that the
energy stored in the parasitic leakage inductance Lr and/or the
parasitic magnetizing inductance Lm of the primary side winding W1
during the ON time of the primary side switch S1 can be discharged
and stored in the auxiliary capacitor Cr by this branch. Besides,
before the primary side switch S1 is turned ON, the parasitic
capacitor Coss of the primary side switch S1 can be discharged by
the energy stored in the auxiliary capacitor Cr, such that the
primary side switch S1 is zero voltage switching when turning
ON.
[0037] According to the present invention, the conversion control
circuit 30 adjusts an auxiliary dead time of the auxiliary switch
S2 according to a primary side switch related signal S1R and a
switching related signal LXR, such that a voltage difference (e.g.
VDS1 shown in FIG. 3) between a current inflow terminal (e.g. the
switching node LX shown in FIG. 3) and a current outflow terminal
(coupled to the primary side ground in this embodiment) of the
primary side switch S1 is substantially zero at the time point when
the primary side switch S1 is turned ON, whereby zero voltage
switching is achieved. The primary side switch related signal S1R
relates to the primary side switch control signal S1C. The
switching voltage related signal LXR relates to the voltage
difference between the current inflow terminal and the current
outflow terminal of the primary side switch S1. In one embodiment,
the switching voltage related signal LXR relates to a switching
voltage VLX on the switching node LX. The auxiliary dead time (TD
FIG. 7) refers to a time period starting from when the auxiliary
switch S2 is turned OFF till when the primary side switch S1 is
turned ON for the next time. The primary side switch related signal
S1R and the switching voltage related signal LXR may be embodied in
various methods which will be described in detail later. From one
perspective, any means for adjusting the auxiliary dead time so
that the primary side switch is zero voltage switching should be
considered within the scope of the present invention, as long as
the auxiliary dead time is adjusted for the purpose of zero voltage
switching.
[0038] Please refer to FIG. 4 which shows a schematic diagram of a
specific embodiment of the conversion control circuit (conversion
control circuit 30) of the flyback power converter circuit with
active clamping and zero voltage switching according to the present
invention. The conversion control circuit 30 includes an auxiliary
switch control circuit 31, a timing control circuit 32, a zero
voltage signal generator circuit, and an adjusting circuit 34. The
auxiliary switch control circuit 31 generates an auxiliary switch
control signal S2C to control the auxiliary switch S2. The timing
control circuit 32 generates the primary side switch control signal
S1C according to the auxiliary switch control signal S2C and an
adjusting signal ADJ, to control the primary side switch S1. The
zero voltage signal generator circuit 33 determines a zero crossing
time point according to the switching voltage related signal LXR
and generate a zero voltage signal ZV to represent the zero
crossing time point, wherein the zero crossing time point indicates
a time point when the voltage difference between the current inflow
terminal and the current outflow terminal of the primary side
switch S1 is reaching or crossing zero. The adjusting circuit 34
adjusts the auxiliary dead time TD according to the primary side
switch related signal S1R and the zero voltage signal ZV, such that
the primary side switch is zero voltage switching at the time point
when the primary side switch S1 is turned ON.
[0039] Still referring to FIG. 4, in one embodiment, the adjusting
circuit 34 adjusts the auxiliary dead time TD by the adjusting
signal ADJ, such that a primary side turning ON time point
substantially aligns the zero crossing time point, whereby the
primary side switch S1 is zero voltage switching at the time point
when the primary side switch S1 is turned ON. The "primary side
turning ON time point" refers to a time point when the primary side
switch related signal S1R indicates that the primary side switch S1
is turned ON.
[0040] "Substantially align" means that the time point when the
primary side switch related signal S1R indicates that the primary
side switch S1 is turned ON happens substantially at the same time
as the zero crossing time point. Since there may be signal
processing delay, certain time difference between the primary side
switch related signal S1R and the time point when the primary side
switch is turned ON is tolerable, and therefore "substantially
align" may allow a predetermined time difference between the time
point when the primary side switch related signal S1R indicates
that the primary side switch S1 is turned ON and the zero crossing
time point. In the context of the present invention, the term
"substantially" means that a deviation within a tolerable degree is
acceptable.
[0041] Still referring to FIG. 4, in one embodiment, the timing
control circuit 32 determines a dead time adjustment amount of the
auxiliary dead time TD according to the adjusting signal ADJ to
adjust the auxiliary dead time TD, and at the time point when the
auxiliary dead time TD ends, the primary side switch S1 is
controlled to turn ON by the primary side switch control signal
S1C. The adjusting circuit 34 generates the adjusting signal ADJ
according to a phase difference of the zero voltage signal ZV and
the primary side switch related signal S1R. In one embodiment, when
the phase difference indicates that the zero crossing time point is
later than the primary side turning ON time point, the auxiliary
dead time TD is lengthened by the adjusting signal ADJ, and when
the phase difference indicates that the zero crossing time point is
earlier than the primary side turning ON time point, the auxiliary
dead time TD is shortened by the adjusting signal ADJ, such that
the primary side turning ON time point substantially aligns the
zero crossing time point.
[0042] Note that according to the present invention, the zero
voltage switching of the primary side switch S1 is achieved by
adjusting the auxiliary dead time TD; therefore, the auxiliary
switch S2 and the primary side switch S1 can be arranged to switch
complementarily to each other (i.e. the ON time of the auxiliary
switch S2 and the ON time of the primary side switch S1 are
substantially complementary, excluding the auxiliary dead time TD),
or can be arranged not to switch complementarily to each other
(i.e. the ON time of the auxiliary switch S2 and the ON time of the
primary side switch S1 are not complementary, excluding the
auxiliary dead time TD).
[0043] FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a specific embodiment of
the conversion control circuit (conversion control circuit 30) of
the flyback power converter circuit with active clamping and zero
voltage switching according to the present invention. In this
embodiment, the zero voltage signal generator circuit 33 includes a
sensing circuit 331 and a comparison circuit CP. The sensing
circuit 331 senses the switching voltage related signal LXR to
generate a zero voltage sensing signal ZSEN. The zero voltage
sensing signal ZSEN may be for example but not limited to the
switching voltage related signal LXR. In one embodiment, as shown
in the figure, the sensing circuit 331 is a voltage divider circuit
and the zero voltage sensing signal ZSEN is a voltage division of
the switching voltage related signal LXR. In one embodiment, the
sensing circuit 331 may be a sampling circuit. The comparison
circuit CP compares the zero voltage sensing signal ZSEN with a
reference voltage VREF to generate the zero voltage signal ZV for
use in representing the zero crossing time point.
[0044] Still referring to FIG. 5, in one embodiment, the adjusting
circuit 34 includes a first state control circuit 341 and a second
state control circuit 342 (for example but not limited to flip flop
circuits as shown in the figure) which generate an increasing
signal INC and a decreasing signal DEC respectively according to a
level switching time point (for example but not limited to a rising
edge or falling edge, the same hereinafter) of the zero voltage
signal ZV and a level switching time point of the primary side
switch related signal S1R, to adjust the dead time adjustment
amount to lengthen or shorten the auxiliary dead time TD, wherein
the adjusting signal ADJ includes the increasing signal INC and the
decreasing signal DEC. In another embodiment, the first state
control circuit 341 and the second state control circuit 342 may be
embodied by latch circuits or other types of state control
circuits.
[0045] FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of a specific embodiment of
the timing control circuit (timing control circuit 32) of the
flyback power converter circuit with active clamping and zero
voltage switching according to the present invention. The timing
control circuit 32 includes a variable current source ID and an
integration capacitor CD. The current of the variable current
source ID is adjustable according to the adjusting signal ADJ. The
integration capacitor CD determines the auxiliary dead time TD
according to the current of the variable current source ID. More
specifically, in one embodiment, the timing control circuit 32
includes a counter circuit 322 which generates a multi-bit current
control signal CTD according to the adjusting signal ADJ (i.e. INC
and DEC) to control the current of the variable current source ID.
In another embodiment, the counter circuit may be replaced by a
digital to analog converter circuit to convert the adjusting signal
INC and DEC into the current control signal CTD in analog form to
control the current of the variable current source ID, and the
auxiliary dead time can also be adjusted thereby.
[0046] FIG. 7 shows schematic waveforms corresponding to
embodiments shown in FIGS. 3-5. As shown in the figure, the
auxiliary switch control signal S2C controls the auxiliary switch
S2 to be turned ON at t1, and turned OFF at t2. The timing control
circuit 32 starts counting the auxiliary dead time TD
(corresponding to the integrated capacitor voltage VD shown in the
figure) from the auxiliary switch S2 turning OFF (e.g. t2), and
determines the time length of the auxiliary dead time TD (e.g. till
t3) when VD achieves a predetermined voltage threshold (for example
but not limited to a state transition voltage VTB of the buffer BF
shown in FIG. 6), and controls the primary side switch S1 to turn
ON by the primary side control signal S1C.
[0047] Still referring to FIG. 7, during the time period 1, the
phase difference between the zero voltage signal ZV and the primary
side switch related signal S1R indicates that the zero crossing
time point (i.e. t5 in FIG. 7) is later than the primary side
turning ON time point (i.e. t4 in FIG. 7). The adjusting circuit 34
hence adjusts the auxiliary dead time TD to increase from t5 by the
adjusting signal INC which represents "increasing". During the time
period 2, the phase difference between the zero voltage signal ZV
and the primary side switch related signal S1R indicates that the
zero crossing time point (i.e. t9 in FIG. 7) is earlier than the
primary side turning ON time point (i.e. t10 in FIG. 7). The
adjusting circuit 34 hence adjusts the auxiliary dead time TD to
decrease from t10 by the adjusting signal DEC which represents
"decreasing". During the time period 3, the phase difference
between the zero voltage signal ZV and the primary side switch
related signal S1R indicates that the zero crossing time point
(i.e. t14 in FIG. 7) substantially aligns the primary side turning
ON time point (i.e. t14 in FIG. 7). The adjusting circuit 34 hence
neither increase nor decrease the auxiliary dead time TD by the
adjusting signals INC and DEC.
[0048] Note that in the aforementioned embodiment, the relationship
among the time periods 1, 2 and 3 are for illustration only; they
do not necessarily neighbor each other as the embodiment shows.
Besides, according to requirements or constraints of circuit
design, the adjusting signals INC and DEC can be arranged to adjust
the auxiliary dead time TD in a time period next to the time period
when the adjusting signals are changed. Taking the embodiment in
FIG. 6 as an example, the counter circuit 322 counts up or down
according to the adjusting signal INC or DEC, and controls the
variable current source ID according to the count. In another
embodiment, the adjusting signals INC and DEC may be converted into
an analog control signal to control the variable current source ID.
Furthermore, in another embodiment, the adjusting signals INC and
DEC may be delayed and then adjust the auxiliary dead time TD in a
later time period or in plural time periods.
[0049] Also note that, the exemplary relationship between
"increasing" or "decreasing" of the auxiliary dead time TD and the
phase difference shown in the previous embodiment is for
illustrative purpose but not for limiting. The auxiliary dead time
TD can be adjusted in many different ways; for example, the
adjustment need not be strictly increasing or decreasing. In
summary, the spirit of the present invention is that the auxiliary
dead time TD is adjusted according to the phase difference of the
zero voltage signal ZV and the primary side switch related signal
S1R so that the primary side switch S1 is zero voltage switching at
the time point when the primary side switch S1 is turned ON, and
all variations should be considered falling within the scope of the
present invention.
[0050] The primary side switch related signal S1R may be generated
by various methods according to circuit structures of the flyback
power converter circuit. Referring to FIG. 3, in one embodiment,
the primary side control signal S1C is connected directly to the
control terminal of the primary side switch S1 (i.e. the primary
side switch driving signal S1DRV). In this case, the primary side
switch related signal S1R may be connected directly to the primary
side switch driving signal S1DRV (the same as the primary side
switch control signal S1C). In one embodiment, the flyback power
converter circuit may include a conversion circuit 50 (for example
but not limited to a delay resistor and/or a driving circuit) which
converts the primary side control signal S1C to the primary side
switch driving signal S1DRV. FIG. 8A shows a schematic diagram of
an embodiment of the flyback power converter circuit with active
clamping and zero voltage switching and the conversion control
circuit thereof according to the present invention (flyback power
converter circuit 8A and conversion control circuit 38A). In this
embodiment, with the conversion circuit 50, the primary side switch
related signal S1R may still be electrically connected to the
primary side switch driving signal S1DRV directly. For example, the
conversion control circuit 38A includes an input pin SIP which is
coupled to the primary side switch driving signal S1DRV. FIG. 8B
shows a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the flyback
power converter circuit with active clamping and zero voltage
switching and the conversion control circuit thereof according to
the present invention (flyback power converter circuit 8B and
conversion control circuit 38B). In this embodiment, the primary
side switch related signal S1R is coupled to a delayed control
signal S1D, wherein the conversion control circuit 38B further
includes a delay circuit 35 which generates a delayed control
signal S1D according to the primary side switch control signal S1C,
wherein the delayed control signal S1D is delayed by a
predetermined delay time in comparison to the primary side switch
control signal S1C, such that the delayed control signal S1D and
the primary side switch driving signal S1DRV are substantially
in-phase. From one perspective, when the primary side switch
driving signal S1DRV cannot be accessed directly, the delayed
control signal S1D emulates the primary side switch driving signal
S1DRV to ensure that the primary side turning ON time point is
correct, such that the primary side switch S1 is zero voltage
switching at the time point when the primary side switch S1 is
turned ON.
[0051] The switching voltage related signal LXR may be generated by
various methods according to circuit structures of the flyback
power converter circuit. FIG. 9A shows a schematic diagram of an
embodiment of the flyback power converter circuit according to the
present invention (flyback power converter circuit 9A). In this
embodiment, the primary side switch S1 is coupled to the primary
side winding W1 on an switching node LX on which a switching
voltage VLX is generated. In this embodiment, the switching voltage
related signal LXR is electrically connected to the switching
voltage VLX.
[0052] FIG. 9B shows a schematic diagram of another embodiment of
the flyback power converter circuit according to the present
invention (flyback power converter circuit 9B). The flyback power
converter circuit 9B is similar to 9A, but is different in that the
flyback power converter circuit 9B further includes a sensing
capacitor CS, wherein the conversion control circuit 39B further
includes a bias circuit 36 which provides a DC bias VB on a bias
node BS. The sensing capacitor CS is coupled between the bias node
BS and the switching node LX to generate the switching voltage
related signal LXR on the bias node BS. In one embodiment, the bias
circuit 36 includes for example but not limited to a resistive
voltage divider circuit and a diode as shown in FIG. 9B for
generating the DC bias VB. In another embodiment, the bias circuit
36 may be embodied by for example but not limited to a linear
regulator.
[0053] FIG. 9C shows a schematic diagram of a specific embodiment
of the flyback power converter circuit according to the present
invention (flyback power converter circuit 9C). In this embodiment,
the transformer further includes an auxiliary winding W3 for
generating the switching voltage related signal LXR.
[0054] The present invention has been described in considerable
detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof. It
should be understood that the description is for illustrative
purpose, not for limiting the scope of the present invention. It is
not limited for each of the embodiments described hereinbefore to
be used alone; under the spirit of the present invention, two or
more of the embodiments described hereinbefore can be used in
combination. For example, two or more of the embodiments can be
used together, or, a part of one embodiment can be used to replace
a corresponding part of another embodiment. Furthermore, those
skilled in this art can readily conceive variations and
modifications within the spirit of the present invention. For
example, as described above, the "switching voltage related signal
LXR" and the "primary side switch related signal S1R" maybe
embodied in various methods respectively. And according to the
present invention, those skilled in this art may combine the
various embodiments of "switching voltage related signal LXR" and
the "primary side switch related signal S1R" in various ways to
adjust the auxiliary dead time so that the primary side switch S1
is zero voltage switching at the time point when the primary side
switch S1 is turned ON. For example, to perform an action
"according to" a certain signal as described in the context of the
present invention is not limited to performing an action strictly
according to the signal itself, but can be performing an action
according to a converted form or a scaled-up or down form of the
signal, i.e., the signal can be processed by a voltage-to-current
conversion, a current-to-voltage conversion, and/or a ratio
conversion, etc. before an action is performed. The spirit of the
present invention should cover all such and other modifications and
variations, which should be interpreted to fall within the scope of
the following claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *