A multi-level voltage regulator system/method providing discrete regulation of a DC-DC intermediate bus converter (IBC) output voltage (Vout) is disclosed. The disclosed system/method allows IBC Vout to be regulated in discrete steps during periods where IBC input voltage (Vin) falls below nominal operating values. Rather than shutting down or degrading IBC Vout in an unpredictable non-linear fashion based on IBC input/loading, IBC Vout is regulated in fixed discrete steps, allowing IBC-connected point-of-load (POL) converters to obtain stable power input that is well-defined over IBC Vin. IBC operating parameters may define multi-dimensional operational state spaces of IBC Vout regulation that ensure optimum power flow to attached POLs while maintaining operational stability within the IBC regulator. Instabilities in IBC/POL performance across variations in IBC Vin, load transients, POL loading, and environmental variables may be prevented using Vin voltage step hysteresis.
H02M 3/08 - Conversion of DC power input into DC power output without intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode
H02M 3/337 - Conversion of DC power input into DC power output with intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate AC using devices of a triode or a transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only in push-pull configuration
H02M 3/335 - Conversion of DC power input into DC power output with intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate AC using devices of a triode or a transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only
A thermal management system/method allowing efficient electrical/thermal attachment of heat sourcing PCBs to heat sinking PCBs using reflow/wave/hand soldering is disclosed. The disclosed system/method may incorporate a combination of support pins, spacer pads, and/or contact paste that mechanically attaches a heat sourcing PCB (and its associated components) to a heat sinking PCB such that thermal conductivity between the two PCBs can be optimized while simultaneously allowing controlled electrical conductivity between the two PCBs. Controlled electrical isolation between the two PCBs is provided for using spacer pads that may also be thermally conductive. Contact paste incorporated in some embodiments permits enhanced conductivity paths between the heat sourcing PCB, a thermally conductive plate mounted over the heat sourcing PCB, and the heat sinking PCB. The use of self-centering support pins incorporating out-gassing vents in some embodiments allows reflow/wave/hand soldering as desired.
H05K 1/14 - Structural association of two or more printed circuits
H01L 23/473 - Arrangements for cooling, heating, ventilating or temperature compensation involving the transfer of heat by flowing fluids by flowing liquids
A multi-level voltage regulator system/method providing discrete regulation of a DC-DC intermediate bus converter (IBC) output voltage (Vout) is disclosed. The disclosed system/method allows IBC Vout to be regulated in discrete steps during periods where IBC input voltage (Vin) falls below nominal operating values. Rather than shutting down or degrading IBC Vout in an unpredictable non-linear fashion based on IBC input/loading, IBC Vout is regulated in fixed discrete steps, allowing IBC-connected point-of-load (POL) converters to obtain stable power input that is well-defined over IBC Vin. IBC operating parameters may define multi-dimensional operational state spaces of IBC Vout regulation that ensure optimum power flow to attached POLs while maintaining operational stability within the IBC regulator. Instabilities in IBC/POL performance across variations in IBC Vin, load transients, POL loading, and environmental variables may be prevented using Vin voltage step hysteresis.
H02M 3/337 - Conversion of DC power input into DC power output with intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate AC using devices of a triode or a transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only in push-pull configuration
H02M 3/335 - Conversion of DC power input into DC power output with intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate AC using devices of a triode or a transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only
A thermal management system/method allowing efficient electrical/thermal attachment of heat sourcing PCBs to heat sinking PCBs using reflow/wave/hand soldering is disclosed. The disclosed system/method may incorporate a combination of support pins, spacer pads, and/or contact paste that mechanically attaches a heat sourcing PCB (and its associated components) to a heat sinking PCB such that thermal conductivity between the two PCBs can be optimized while simultaneously allowing controlled electrical conductivity between the two PCBs. Controlled electrical isolation between the two PCBs is provided for using spacer pads that may also be thermal conductive. Contact paste incorporated in some embodiments permits enhanced conductivity paths between the heat sourcing PCB, a thermally conductive plate mounted over the heat sourcing PCB, and the heat sinking PCB. The use of self-centering support pins incorporating out-gassing vents in some embodiments allows reflow/wave/hand soldering as desired.
H05K 1/14 - Structural association of two or more printed circuits
H01L 23/473 - Arrangements for cooling, heating, ventilating or temperature compensation involving the transfer of heat by flowing fluids by flowing liquids
5.
Loosely regulated feedback control for high efficiency isolated DC-DC converters
The improved DC-DC converter apparatus includes a primary side circuit and a secondary side circuit that is galvanically isolated from the primary. The primary side induces a voltage in the secondary side that provides an output voltage for driving POLs. A controller in the primary senses a reflected output voltage signal that is coupled from the secondary and is proportional to the secondary output voltage with respect to a voltage regulation point determined by either a voltage divider circuit or the zener voltage in the secondary. The voltage regulation point is established by wide-tolerance electrical components, such as a zener diode, a resistor, or a combination, connected in the coupling device circuit.
H02M 3/335 - Conversion of DC power input into DC power output with intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate AC using devices of a triode or a transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only
H02M 3/337 - Conversion of DC power input into DC power output with intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate AC using devices of a triode or a transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only in push-pull configuration
The improved DC-DC converter apparatus includes a primary side circuit and a secondary side circuit that is galvanically isolated from the primary. The primary side induces a voltage in the secondary side that provides an output voltage for driving POLs. A flux-control device measures the transformer primary side flux to control the primary side duty cycle, thereby loosely regulating the output voltage of the secondary side circuit.
H02M 3/335 - Conversion of DC power input into DC power output with intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate AC using devices of a triode or a transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only
H02M 3/337 - Conversion of DC power input into DC power output with intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate AC using devices of a triode or a transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only in push-pull configuration
The present invention provides a non-intrusive method for dissipating heat from open-frame DC-DC power converters where bottom side components are exposed. A thermal interface material is placed between the motherboard to which the power converter is soldered and power dissipating and temperature sensitive components on the bottom of the power converter. The thermal interface material fills the gap between the power converter components and the motherboard, thereby providing a heat conductive path for dissipating heat from the power converter to the motherboard.
A load drive device capable of expanding a range of an output power by improving a linearity thereof when the output power varies. This device includes an output circuit (14) for supplying an electric power to an LED (10), a feedback circuit (28) for turning on or off the electric power supplied to the LED (10) according to a duty ratio of a burst signal to control the electric power and generating a control value for controlling the LED (10) based on an A/D-converted value obtained by detecting an output current (Iout) to the LED (10) to send out the control value to the output circuit when the supply of the electric power is in an on-state, a burst signal previous value correcting circuit (64) for correcting a presently generated control value (y) based on the A/D-converted value (V) and the previous control value (x) which are generated every cycle of the burst signal, and a duty ratio determination circuit (66) for allowing the burst signal previous value correcting circuit (64) to operate upon determining that the duty ratio of the burst signal goes above or below a reference value.
G05F 1/00 - Automatic systems in which deviations of an electric quantity from one or more predetermined values are detected at the output of the system and fed back to a device within the system to restore the detected quantity to its predetermined value or values, i.e. retroactive systems
A DC-DC converter includes a current-source power converter that converts direct current into alternating current; a transformer that transforms the voltage of the alternating current output from the current-source power converter; a rectifier that converts the alternating current the voltage of which has been transformed by the transformer, into direct current; and a capacitor that is connected in series with winding of the transformer on the rectifier side, and blocks a direct-current component from being applied to the transformer.
H02M 3/335 - Conversion of DC power input into DC power output with intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate AC using devices of a triode or a transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only
A controller controls a voltage-source power converter and a current-source power converter based on a detection value of a rail voltage input to the voltage-source power converter and a detection value of a charging voltage output from the current-source power converter, at the time of charging operation.
H02M 3/335 - Conversion of DC power input into DC power output with intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate AC using devices of a triode or a transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
H02J 7/34 - Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other DC sources, e.g. providing buffering
An edgewise coil achieves positioning of both end portions and accurate and reliable conduction with respect to a circuit board in a simple configuration, and can be downsized. The edgewise coil is usable in a conductor. The edgewise coil includes a base material and a coil member fixed at both end portions to the base material and including an external wound-wire portion placed on the base material and an internal wound-wire portion extending in the base material.
A number of cells can be determined before control for a battery without providing cell number setting and input means. The cell number determination device comprises voltage measuring units that select an “i”th cell among cells that are connected in series and that configure a battery, and that measure a voltage value between a terminal in which the “i”th cell and an (i−1)th cell, which is in one location higher than the “i”th cell, are connected and a ground potential line, voltage comparators that determine an existence, nonexistence or normality of the cells by comparing a voltage value of an (i+1)th cell that is in one location lower than the “i”th cell with the voltage value of the “i”th cell measured by the voltage measuring units and a cell number determination unit that determines a number of assembled cells and normal cells and cell assembled locations in the battery.
The present invention provides a DC-DC power converter that comprises two or more Printed Wiring Boards (PWB) mounted parallel to one another and without encapsulation. Electronic components can be mounted on both sides of each board. The open design and parallel orientation of the PWBs allow airflow over components mounted on the PWBs. The PWBs are preferable made of FR-4 with copper foils, with one thicker board being comprised of more copper layers and the other boards comprised of less copper layers. In the preferred embodiment, the power processing elements are housed in the thicker PWB, while the thinner boards house the control circuitry.
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