EP3304740A1 - Resonance control terminal driven electric power transfer device - Google Patents

Resonance control terminal driven electric power transfer device

Info

Publication number
EP3304740A1
EP3304740A1 EP15733555.5A EP15733555A EP3304740A1 EP 3304740 A1 EP3304740 A1 EP 3304740A1 EP 15733555 A EP15733555 A EP 15733555A EP 3304740 A1 EP3304740 A1 EP 3304740A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
transformer
signal
circuit
terminal
series
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP15733555.5A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Barend Johannis BOERMAN
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Direct Current BV
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP3304740A1 publication Critical patent/EP3304740A1/en
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K17/00—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking
    • H03K17/51—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the components used
    • H03K17/56—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the components used by the use, as active elements, of semiconductor devices
    • H03K17/687—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the components used by the use, as active elements, of semiconductor devices the devices being field-effect transistors
    • H03K17/689—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the components used by the use, as active elements, of semiconductor devices the devices being field-effect transistors with galvanic isolation between the control circuit and the output circuit
    • H03K17/691—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the components used by the use, as active elements, of semiconductor devices the devices being field-effect transistors with galvanic isolation between the control circuit and the output circuit using transformer coupling
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02M—APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF
    • H02M1/00—Details of apparatus for conversion
    • H02M1/08—Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02M—APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF
    • H02M1/00—Details of apparatus for conversion
    • H02M1/08—Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
    • H02M1/088—Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters for the simultaneous control of series or parallel connected semiconductor devices
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02M—APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF
    • H02M3/00—Conversion of dc power input into dc power output
    • H02M3/22—Conversion of dc power input into dc power output with intermediate conversion into ac
    • H02M3/24—Conversion of dc power input into dc power output with intermediate conversion into ac by static converters
    • H02M3/28—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
    • H02M3/325—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
    • H02M3/335—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
    • H02M3/33569—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 having several active switching elements
    • H02M3/33571—Half-bridge at primary side of an isolation transformer
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02M—APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF
    • H02M3/00—Conversion of dc power input into dc power output
    • H02M3/01—Resonant DC/DC converters
    • H02M3/015—Resonant DC/DC converters with means for adaptation of resonance frequency, e.g. by modification of capacitance or inductance of resonance circuit

Definitions

  • the present invention is in the field an electric circuit for transferring electrical power and in particular in the field of a resonance control terminal driven electric power transfer device, a driving circuit for use in said de ⁇ vice, a method of operating said device, a product comprising said device, and use of said device.
  • the present invention is in the field an electric circuit for transferring electrical power.
  • various switching circuits are known. In terms of efficiency it is a goal to convert and likewise transfer electric power with a minimal loss of energy.
  • switching circuits comprising switching elements containing semiconductors.
  • the semiconduc ⁇ tors can be switch alternately to a conducting state in order to transfer electric energy, such as by means of a capacitive component located in between switching units.
  • a potential provided leads to a dependant and proportional output potential and a tuneable second output potential.
  • a complex signal generator provides a driving signal for the second potential.
  • switching elements are driven individually by a signal generator.
  • the signal synchronously drives a series of MOSFETs by means of electronics.
  • the driv ⁇ ing action generates inherent energy loss.
  • switching elements are driven individually. Such is especially cumbersome when a (long) chain of switching units, located in series, need to be driv ⁇ en; typically sophisticated electronics is then required.
  • Some examples relate to inherent galvanic coupling of switching elements and signal generator. A degree of de- sign freedom is lost in such a circuit, especially in view of switches requiring galvanic separation.
  • US6344768 recites a full-bridge DC-to-DC con- verter having an unipolar gate drive is disclosed.
  • the full- bridge DC-to-DC converter includes a primary-to-secondary transformer, multiple gate drive circuits, and multiple gate drive transformers.
  • the primary-to-secondary transformer con- verts a first DC voltage to a second DC voltage under the control of the gate drive circuits.
  • Each of the gate drive circuits includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The gate of the first transistor is connected to a pulse voltage source via a diode.
  • the drain of the second transis- tor is connected to the source of the first transistor, and the source of the second transistor is connected to the gate of the first transistor via a resistor, for discharging a gate-to-source voltage of the first transistor during the time when a voltage of the pulse voltage source is below a gate-to-source threshold voltage of the first transistor.
  • each of the gate drive transformers controls at least two gate drive circuits .
  • the converter uses a block-type wave. It only com- prises one signal transformer; despite thereof the structure is still rather complicated. Also the efficiency is not very good. Further the structure provides for only one power transfer, hence is limited in application and not very flexi ⁇ ble .
  • US7193866 (Bl) recites a half-bridge LLC resonant converter with a synchronous rectification function that includes a first switch; a second switch; a first transformer; a first synchronous rectifier; a second synchronous rectifi ⁇ er; a controller; and a second transformer.
  • the controller of the half-bridge LLC resonant converter with a synchronous rectification function can control the first synchronous rec ⁇ tifier and the second synchronous rectifier directly and the connected second transformer also can control the first switch and the second switch directly.
  • the first synchronous rectifier and second synchronous rectifier having a low conducting resistance substitute the rectifier and greatly lower the power consumption.
  • the controller outputs a control signal to drive a transformer to output a signal to the primary winding, and its signal delay is formed by a delay of an electronic circuit and a power MOS switch of the first switch and second switch.
  • US5514921 recites a gate driver circuit, includ ⁇ ing either a full-bridge or a half-bridge configuration of gate drive switching devices, is capable of applying gate drive signals of variable pulse widths in a substantially loss, less manner to power switching devices of a high- frequency resonant switching converter, while providing transformer isolation between the gate drive electronics and the power switching devices.
  • the present invention therefore relates to an im ⁇ proved electric circuit for transferring electrical power, which solve one or more of the above problems and drawbacks of the prior art, providing reliable and advantageous re- suits, without jeopardizing functionality and advantages.
  • the present invention relates to a converter device according to claim 1.
  • the converter in an example relates to a resonance control terminal driven electric power transfer device.
  • the present device may be used as a converter cir ⁇ cuit.
  • the circuit is designed to operate efficiently. It may be based on a resonant gate controlled electronic drive cir ⁇ cuit, for controlling a power output potential delivered from a power input.
  • An alternating current power output can be transferred using a coupling circuit (C.C.) towards e.g. a rectifier (P.R.) .
  • C.C. coupling circuit
  • P.R. rectifier
  • Such can be done in a passive way, by using a type of diodes, or in an active way, by using a second driver unit extracting the power by running both driver units synchronized.
  • an impedance adjustment can be add ⁇ ed in order to influence the frequency.
  • an optimal efficiency can be achieved by correcting the drive frequency and/or amplitude.
  • the present invention has as an objective to reduce energy losses in the driver. Such is in an example achieved by coupling a signal generator to a primary winding of a sig- nal transformer.
  • the control (or drive) input of semiconduc ⁇ tor switches are each coupled to a secondary winding of a transformer.
  • switching may be operated by providing a same polarity, a different polarity, or a phased polarity.
  • the transformer is, as an inductive counterpart, parallel to the combined parasitic capacities (in a functional scheme) of the semicon ⁇ ductor switches. This enables resonance driving of the switches. As a result energy losses for driving a capacitive load is reduced significantly.
  • the second switching unit is inductively coupled to a secondary side of the at least one signal transformer.
  • two switching units can be coupled through a transformer, even at a level of switching units.
  • the present converter is resonance driven, which is not possible with the configurations of the prior art.
  • the synchronous mode of opera- tion is also intended for the present device.
  • the present invention provides a simple solution wherein in an example one generated signal can be transferred using a transformer to all drive inputs of the transistors, at the same time. Thereto a signal generator and a transform ⁇ er are provided.
  • the present simple design provides a large degree of freedom, such as for circuit requiring galvanic separation between signal generator and switching elements and/or between switching elements mutually. If necessary such separation can even be extended to individual semiconductor switches .
  • the switches of the present invention can be switched very efficient in a synchronous manner.
  • a simple design a number of (minimal required) electronic components can be limited.
  • small, robust and efficient designs are provided.
  • the present invention provides efficient and durable designs having a large degree of freedom for design.
  • the present circuit is also suited for high voltage conversion.
  • the present invention relates to power management, bi-directional conversion, wireless energy transfer, high voltage conversion and voltage multiplexing. In other words, the present invention provides a broad range of applications.
  • the present switching unit comprises at least two switching elements, specifically at least two transistors being connected in series, in parallel, in anti-series, in anti-parallel, and combinations thereof.
  • the switching unit has at least two transistors in series; i.e. if only two transistors are provided then these transistors are placed in series.
  • the two switches may switch mutual oppositely.
  • Two switching units may switch in phase with one and another if electrical energy is transferred.
  • One switching unit forms part of a converter, a second forms part of a driving cir- cuit.
  • the transfer is mediated through a coupling circuit.
  • the coupling circuit in an example comprises passive ele ⁇ ments, such as a capacitor, a transformer, an inductor, a crystal, a complex impedance, and combinations thereof.
  • the coupling circuit optionally comprises an adjustment circuit.
  • the driving of the switching units is through a second side of driving transformer.
  • the switching units comprise transistors, such as a (MOS)FET transistor, an (IG)bipolar transistor, etc.
  • MOS MOS
  • IG IG
  • a signal from a signal generator is provided for driving the transformer.
  • Resonance is take as the tendency of a system to os ⁇ cillate with greater amplitude at some frequencies than at others.
  • Electric power relates to a rate at which electric energy is transferred by an electric circuit.
  • An oscillator provides oscillation.
  • Oscillation is a repetitive variation, typically in time, of a parameter around a central value or between two or more different states.
  • a transformer is a static electrical device that transfers energy by inductive coupling between its winding circuits. Each winding (circuit), i.e. primary winding and secondary winding, typically has a spirally wound wire which may have one or more revolu ⁇ tions, typically a multitude of revolutions.
  • a transistor is a semiconductor device used to amplify and switch electronic signals and electrical power.
  • Electrical impedance relates to a ratio of a voltage phasor to an electric current phasor, which is a measure of the opposition to time-varying electric current in an electric circuit.
  • An impedance adapter is designed to adapt at least one impedance, in relation to one or more oth- er impedances.
  • a converter circuit relates to a complete circuit comprising all the necessary parts to full operation for conversion, consisting of at least a potential transferor (or more spread over several phases, and/or implemented, includ- ing decoupling) .
  • a voltage coupler relates to a converter section which in itself can couple or transfer an electrical potential fully or partly, e.g. when combined with other struc- tures .
  • a driver circuit relates to a circuit in which a power potential is modulated by means of a switching unit and control according to the invention.
  • a single phase embodi- ment it may be provided in combination with a decoupling capacitor.
  • a complete embodiment of a circuit it relates to a minimum required components of the present invention.
  • a driver module relates to a collective term for the three components described below. It can be regarded as an example of an essential building block of the invention which can be constructed in various ways.
  • a driver module is an active (one phase) inverter, or any rectifier.
  • a set-up relates to a synchronous multi-stage driver.
  • An active rectifier has the same operation and structure as a driving circuit.
  • a power potential is demodulated by means of a switching unit and/or a driver ac ⁇ cording to the invention.
  • the demodulation effectively converts an 'AM' appearance power potential to an AC voltage, wherein an alternating voltage converts to a DC voltage.
  • a passive rectifier relates to an alternative. It sets an output voltage to a DC voltage, and limits the relat ⁇ ing potential to an output, and is thereby not bi- directional.
  • An inductor also called a coil or reactor, is a passive two-terminal electrical component which resists changes in electric current passing through it. It consists of a conductor such as a wire, usually wound into a coil or winding. An inductor may have a magnetic core made of a mag ⁇ netic material inside the coil, which serves to increase the magnetic field and thus the inductance.
  • a switching unit in an example relates to a half H- bridge consisting of two complementary switching switch ele- ments.
  • An electronic switch relates to a switch comprising at least two semiconductor elements in series and/or paral ⁇ lel.
  • a semiconductor element relates to a set-up of one or more parallel, counter-parallel, or anti-series-connected controllable semiconductor devices of any type transistor (transistor, FET, IGBT, etc.) which share a common secondary transformer winding signal.
  • transistor may be considered to relate to a some ⁇ what more generic term "semiconductor element" as well.
  • a signal generator relates to a signal driver cir ⁇ cuit which is suitable to drive a LC-impedance and is con- nected to at least a signal transformer on a primary side thereof .
  • a signal transformer relates to a relatively small transformer. If driving both the following apply: it forms a bridge between the signal generator and the semiconductor de- vices, as well as in an impedance mode it forms an inductive counterpart of the sum of the parasitic capacitive input im ⁇ pedance of the semiconductor elements connected to it.
  • a power transformer relates to an inductive variant as an example of a coupling circuit.
  • a complex impedance relates in an coupling circuit: to an alternative to the power transformer, including a crystal, a resonator, an LC series resonant circuit, whether or not in combination with each other and/or with additional active elements (e.g.: tunnel diode) and/or passive elements (e.g.: capacitor) parts.
  • additional active elements e.g.: tunnel diode
  • passive elements e.g.: capacitor
  • An impedance adapter relates to a circuit between the signal generator and the signal transformer comprising a variable complex impedance in order to influence the reso ⁇ nance frequency in driving the switching units.
  • a coupling circuit relates to a transfer medium in a potential transfer circuit.
  • it is located be ⁇ tween two driver modules of which at least one is active (at the entrance) .
  • a by-pass capacitor relates to a loading buffer es- pecially in all single phase units.
  • a safety circuit relates to an auxiliary component, which is not considered an essential part of the invention. It relates to an optional additional circuit for protection, such as when transistors are connected in a series circuit (power band), creating a high voltage switch.
  • a balancer relates to a chain of capacitively cou ⁇ pled potentials.
  • a dynamic current measurement relates to an addi ⁇ tional example arising from the switching properties of the invention. It relates to a method of measuring a current, with no additional resistor, at no additional energy loss, as a part on the feedback for the driving characteristics of the signal generator (frequency and/or amplitude) . It is measured according to the principle that the deviation between the theoretical design ratio and the practical design ratio be ⁇ tween the input voltage and output voltage represents the relative load of the converter.
  • Part of the present invention relates to an improved driving circuit.
  • the present invention relates in a first aspect to a converter device according to claim 1.
  • device 302 two or more sets of (Ic) a first switching unit, (II) a coupling circuit and (III) a second switching unit may be provided.
  • the first switching units are connected to the at least one (and the same) signal trans ⁇ former, and the second switching units may be connected to the at least one (and the same) signal transformer.
  • the first switching units may be mutually connected electrically and the second switching units may be mutually connected electri ⁇ cally.
  • a multitude of the above sets may be driven by one signal generator and one (divided) signal transformer.
  • the driving cir ⁇ cuit comprises at a primary side of the at least one signal transformer (IV) an impedance adapter, preferably a impedance adapter comprising a tuneable capacitor and a tuneable indue- tor, and/or (V) a decouple circuit, preferably a decouple circuit comprising a tuneable capacitor and a tuneable induc ⁇ tor, and/or (VI) a potential comparator, wherein in use the comparator is in electrical contact with the first terminal, the second terminal and the oscillator.
  • the present invention is amongst others aimed at energy transfer, which is improved by the present device.
  • the signal gen ⁇ erator comprises one or more of (Ial) a voltage controlled oscillator, (Ia2) an LC-dependent oscillator, (Ia3)a frequency driver, (Ia4) a signal source, such as (Ia41) a digital pulse generator, and (Ia42) a wave generator, (Ia5) a power driver for complex impedances, and (Ia6) a decoupler for making an output a symmetrical Voltage for the signal transform- er (STr) .
  • the present invention preferably does not use pulse signals, but a sinusoidal signal.
  • a disadvantage of a pulse signal, also referred to as a digital block wave are the flanks which result in many harmonics thereof. With the pre- sent sinusoidal signal the contribution of higher harmonics in the driving is virtually zero, and in the converter sub ⁇ stantially lower.
  • drive inputs of the FETs is the substantial smaller power that is needed to generate (in comparison) an equal ampli ⁇ tude. With the pulse signal a significant part of the energy is lost in drive electronics.
  • the switching unit each individually comprises (i) a decouple capacitor, the decouple capacitor connected parallel to a first terminal (115) and to a second terminal (117), and (iii) the first terminal being in contact with the drain of the first tran ⁇ sistor and the second terminal being in contact with the source of the second transistor.
  • a decouple capacitor connected parallel to a first terminal (115) and to a second terminal (117)
  • the first terminal being in contact with the drain of the first tran ⁇ sistor and the second terminal being in contact with the source of the second transistor.
  • the cou ⁇ pling circuit is one or more of a couple capacitor, a (se- ries ) resonator, a transformer, and an inductor.
  • the first and a second terminal are in contact with one or more of a solar cell terminals, a battery terminals, a capacitor terminals, a power grid terminals, a switch terminals, and combinations thereof.
  • the coupling circuit (II) comprises at least one resonating circuit, the at least one resonating circuit comprising a capacitor, a crystal, or a combination thereof.
  • the at least one signal transformer comprises one or more primary windings and/or one or more secondary windings, wherein the windings are a configuration selected from in parallel, in series, in post synchronized, and combinations thereof. In case of post synchronization at least two signal transformers are present.
  • the driving cir ⁇ cuit comprises a signal generator for varying a resonance frequency.
  • the before may be in combination with an impedance adapter (IA) to alter a complex impedance.
  • IA impedance adapter
  • the present invention relates to a driving circuit for use in a device according to the invention, according to claim 11.
  • the present driver circuit is designed to operate efficiently, based on a frequency variable resonant gate con- trolled electronic drive circuit, for controlling a power output potential delivered from a DC voltage.
  • the present driver comprises ( per phase ) , a controllable signal genera ⁇ tor, with an associated impedance adapter, coupled to at least one signal transformer, coupled to a driver module con- structed out of two switching units.
  • the invention relates to a method of operating a device or driving circuit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein switching units are switched synchronous and in resonance by driving a control terminal of the transistors.
  • non-coupled switching units are switched each individually with a fixed phase shift, such as of a part of 360 degrees, respectively.
  • a fixed phase shift such as 180 degrees
  • the present inven ⁇ tion can provide a flexible phase shift, which can be chosen as required, e.g. as a part of 360 degrees or multiples thereof; examples thereof are 120, 90, 72, 60, 51.43, 45, 40, 36, 24, 12, 10, etc.
  • input and output noise, respec ⁇ tively, may be reduced further.
  • a drive poten ⁇ tial and a drive frequency are controlled actively by the signal generator, which can be based on the output of the
  • a primary and secondary side of a power transformer and a switch direction are switched actively and synchronous ⁇ ly, typically by the signal transformer.
  • the present inven ⁇ tion can achieve this by a single transformer, or several transformers in parallel, in series, or a combination there- of.
  • the present invention relates to a product comprising a device according to the invention, such as a solar cell, a power transfer device, a bidirectional power transfer device, a voltage divider, and an induction device.
  • a device according to the invention such as a solar cell, a power transfer device, a bidirectional power transfer device, a voltage divider, and an induction device.
  • the present invention can be applied in many products, by simply changing the configuration. This adaptability is a further advantage.
  • the invention relates to a use of a device according to the invention for one or more of elec- trical power transfer, capacitive electrical power transfer, electrical induction power transfer, contactless electrical power transfer, series resonance electrical power transfer, bi-directional electrical power transfer, power management of voltage sources in series, voltage divider, differential cur ⁇ rent measurement, series and parallel voltage transfer, se ⁇ ries and parallel current transfer, impedance relating to voltage ratio, and combinations thereof.
  • Fig. 1-15 show topologies of the present invention.
  • IA Impedance adapter
  • VCO Voltage Coupled Oscillator
  • One part of the invention relates to a switching unit.
  • the simplest implementation is shown in Figure 1. Shown are two MOSFETs (102 and 103) . There may be more than one MOSFETs in a switching element as is shown in Figure 2. Also variations are possible with other semiconductor devices such as transistors, IGBTs and the like.
  • Each switch unit is driv ⁇ en by a signal transformer (101) . This signal transformer is used for all semiconductors of a complete circuit, but can also be used per semiconductor having its own transformer, or can be divided otherwise. What is considered important are the polarities of the windings and the type (N or P) of the semiconductors.
  • a switching unit to be switched the switching elements thereof may be opposed of each other (in function) , wherein a winding orientation is mutually swapped.
  • the orientations of the semiconductors (109 and 110) of the windings (106 and 107) may be in opposite directions. If opposite type semicon ⁇ ductors (N and P) are used, the polarities of the windings are equal.
  • What the switching unit does switching an out ⁇ put potential (116) alternating between two power input po- tentials (115 and 117) .
  • a decoupling capacitor (104) per switching unit can be added. Exceptions may be when multiple switching units are placed parallel.
  • Switching unit 201 shows a set-up with one common winding for two switching elements.
  • Switching unit 202 has the advantage of polarity independence. When using MOSFETs this can be done by sets of two MOSFETs of the same type (N or P) to be placed in an an ⁇ ti-series way. A resulting advantage of this configuration is that the control inputs of each set can be in parallel place ⁇ ment providing an opportunity for connecting both to one single secondary winding. While using transistors or IGBTs this can be done by switching anti-parallel, or complementary par- allel.
  • each semiconductor both of the same type in a set is required to have its own con ⁇ trol winding. Its outputs are then opposed to each other in parallel. In a complementary parallel placement, the outputs are parallel using both semiconductor types N and P.
  • a control winding is placed in between the bases/gates of both transistors. Therein the inputs are basically con ⁇ nected in series, having the control winding in between.
  • Another advantage of the transformer control is its highly syn ⁇ chronous- and consistent control. This offers the possibility of being able to place a multiple thereof in series, as shown in Figure 203. In an example of fig.
  • a higher voltage can be switched com ⁇ pared to when just one transistor is used.
  • a safety circuit per switching element could be placed as a last catch in small asymmetrical imbalance behaviour of the chain shown. It is also possible to switch a higher current simply by connecting multiple parallel transistors.
  • An obvi ⁇ ous advantage is that the inputs of a set can also be con ⁇ nected, as shown in figure 204, in parallel at one common winding. It is a distinct advantage that these examples can also be combined. For example, two parallel set-ups put to an one winding configuration can be configured by combining sample 201 and 204. Also, all random combinations using examples 202, 203 and 204 are possible. For 203 and 204 are also long- er chains than two sets of transistors per switching element are possible .
  • FIG. 300 shows two examples of two power po ⁇ tentials being coupled via coupling capacitors.
  • the switching units are linked by terminal U B and through C3. Because it is a one phase embodiment both the potentials UAB and UBC are buffered by CI and C2.
  • Circuit 302 uses the same technique, but achieving a ratio of 3:1 between the po ⁇ tentials U AC and UCB- In order to be relatively efficient at a higher ratio, the impedance needs to be adjusted per poten- tial.
  • Examples 401 and 700 transfer power by using a power transformer.
  • Circuit 401 shows how both sides can be driven asymmetrically; therein both transformer windings are decou ⁇ pled by using decoupling capacitor C2 and C4.
  • decoupling capacitors shown can be used to reduce a ripple effect.
  • Figure 402 is a disguised derivative of figure 700.
  • a complex impedance (RES1 and RES2) replaces a power transformer transfer for transfer.
  • a complex impedance may consist of a crystal or a capacitor, op ⁇ tionally in combination with an inductor and/or a tunnel diode, or even combined with other components or topologies.
  • Figure 403 and 404 are two separate modules which can trans- mit power wirelessly by induction. In certain cases it can be more interesting to use a complex impedance instead of just a decoupling capacitor (RES3 and RES4) . This could give a more stable operation over a wider distance range.
  • a the receiving side takes into account to synchronize its signal generator in dependence of the sending side.
  • a balancer is shown in Figure 5. It can be made based on the same technique. An operation of a multiple of connected potentials is designed to keep every single cell (such as, a battery, a battery cell, solar cell or solar panel) at the same (or similar) voltage. This reduc ⁇ es the loss on power when a deviation in a part of the chain (501) occurs, for example when a (partial) shade of a panel or cell occurs. The voltage drop of the complete chain will then be reduced by using the balancer. This set-up (501) works for batteries as well, because a cell thereof is not equivalent to another, thereby creating an imbalance.
  • the balancer itself also functions as an accurate voltage di- vider, it can produce intermediate values compared to the chain to determined imbalance as shown in figure 502, by com ⁇ paring these intermediate cell voltage values to the voltage divider values, reflecting an imbalance of related voltages: Ua, Ub and Uc .
  • Figure 502 also shows, by using switches, how the imbalance can be compensated in order to accelerate the balancing process.
  • Figure 6 shows a comparison of impedance behaviour of figure 3.
  • Circuit 301 can be seen as two power exchanging voltage sources, as is shown in figure 601. The same is shown for example 302 (figure 602) .
  • Figures 603 and 604 show, re ⁇ lated to each other, how the conversion reverses direction through various input and output configurations.
  • Figure 8 shows a basic arrangement of a converter with two switching units separated by a coupling circuit.
  • the picture shows how the signal generator via a signal trans ⁇ former drives both switching units. Applying an impedance adapter is not considered a necessary element for the inven ⁇ tion, for each of the converter configurations shown.
  • An option to optimize the converter is by tuning the signal generator depending on the load. Measuring the load can be done using a measuring resistor. The load can be determined from the deviation in voltage difference compared to the theoretical design voltage ratio of the converter, as shown in figure 10, by making use of a predictable converter impedance behaviour.
  • Block D.C.M. measures the input voltage and the output voltage. The degree of deviation of the deter ⁇ mined voltages related to the design ratio is a measure of the relative load. A result thereof can be returned as feed ⁇ back to the signal generator.
  • the invention can be used as a power frequency driver, such as shown in figure 11.
  • a power frequency driver such as shown in figure 11.
  • the drive frequency can be variable without losing its resonance.
  • a frequency of the output potential automatically follows a control frequency thereby .
  • a schematic representation of a signal generator is given.
  • an oscillator is connected to a signal driver, which signal driver is connect- ed to a decouple circuit.
  • a voltage cou ⁇ pled oscillator is connected to a signal driver, which signal driver is connected to a decouple circuit.
  • fig. 13 a capacitive power transfer is shown, now with bipolar transistors. Compared to MOSFET's the bipolar transistor only is conductive in one direction. A further difference is that the bipolar transistors can be switched in both polarities. In fig. 13 the transistors responsible for delivery of power to the output are reversely positioned. With reference to fig. 13 it relates to T3 and T4, located at the mid-section of the output. Likewise if power to the input would be required Tl and T2 could be reversed, and T3 and T4 not.
  • the contacts to the driver transformer TR1 remain to be switched over the basis-emitter, as well as the polarities of the coils of the driving transformer, relative to a sequence wherein the even numbered transistors together, and the odd numbered transistors together, switch alternately.
  • This to ⁇ pography is especially interesting for switching large powers where MOSFETs still are too expensive for.
  • An example would be from about 20 kW, such as used in the Dutch railways.
  • the Ui n could be 3kV
  • the U out 1.5 kV and the ground could be the rails, as is can be the case for railway locomotive converters.
  • Fig. 14 is comparable to fig. 3, having at least one important difference.
  • the power transfer can take place through different, and sometimes combinations of, elements. Further adaptations therein are possible, such as a tunnel diode.
  • a specific example is detailed by combining capacitor C3 with an inductor, namely TR2.
  • TR2 In a passive mode such provides one specific dip in the complex impedance at a lower frequency than e.g. a capacitor alone.
  • This application is e.g. interesting for switching at lower frequencies, and further providing less switching losses.
  • TR2 is now capable of transferring an inductive aspect of the trans ⁇ fer impedance in a galvanic and separate mode to an adaptive system (A.S.) .
  • A.S. adaptive system
  • the element AS can also be used to pick up the transferred potential from TR2 as a potential, and in an amended ratio to be delivered to an input or output; as a result the ratio between U a and 3 ⁇ 4 becomes larger than that between 3 ⁇ 4 and U c .
  • a potential in phase to TR2 can be driven synchronously with a result that the potential at 3 ⁇ 4 is higher than an average of U a and U c (sic! .
  • an energy los is even less compared to e.g. a sophisticated combination with a so-called buck-/boost converter, or likewise to a buck-booster convert ⁇ er on its own.
  • the present additional functionality is e.g. the controllability of the ratio, which also enables regula- tion and stabilisation.
  • the application may e.g. of interest to most kinds of DC conversion products, and also for space agencies .
  • Fig. 15 relates to a minimalistic topography, having only one driving transformer.
  • T2 and T4 are still driven through induction, but not specifically by a driver trans ⁇ former coil.
  • interesting is the simplicity of the driver transformer. It is still required to use a driver transformer in view of the complexity of the independent driving poten ⁇ tials, however only for the transfer of the odd numbered FETs.
  • the even numbered FETs are driven synchronously with the induction of the of the primary coil. In terms of func ⁇ tionality such is similar to topography 300.
  • the ratios of the driver potentials between odd numbered FETs individually and per even numbered FETs individually are mutual equal; however, between all even numbered and all odd numbered these are typically not equal at all.

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Abstract

The present invention is in the field an electric circuit for transferring electrical power and in particular in the field of a resonance control terminal driven electric power transfer device, a driving circuit for use in said device, a method of operating said device, a product comprising said de- vice, and use of said device.

Description

Resonance control terminal driven electric power transfer de¬ vice
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is in the field an electric circuit for transferring electrical power and in particular in the field of a resonance control terminal driven electric power transfer device, a driving circuit for use in said de¬ vice, a method of operating said device, a product comprising said device, and use of said device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is in the field an electric circuit for transferring electrical power. For electric po¬ tential conversion various switching circuits are known. In terms of efficiency it is a goal to convert and likewise transfer electric power with a minimal loss of energy.
Various switching circuits are known comprising switching elements containing semiconductors. The semiconduc¬ tors can be switch alternately to a conducting state in order to transfer electric energy, such as by means of a capacitive component located in between switching units.
In such an example a potential provided leads to a dependant and proportional output potential and a tuneable second output potential. A complex signal generator provides a driving signal for the second potential.
In a further example switching elements are driven individually by a signal generator. The signal synchronously drives a series of MOSFETs by means of electronics. The driv¬ ing action generates inherent energy loss.
In a further example switching elements are driven individually. Such is especially cumbersome when a (long) chain of switching units, located in series, need to be driv¬ en; typically sophisticated electronics is then required.
Some examples relate to inherent galvanic coupling of switching elements and signal generator. A degree of de- sign freedom is lost in such a circuit, especially in view of switches requiring galvanic separation.
Various documents recite converters.
US6344768 (Bl) recites a full-bridge DC-to-DC con- verter having an unipolar gate drive is disclosed. The full- bridge DC-to-DC converter includes a primary-to-secondary transformer, multiple gate drive circuits, and multiple gate drive transformers. The primary-to-secondary transformer con- verts a first DC voltage to a second DC voltage under the control of the gate drive circuits. Each of the gate drive circuits includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The gate of the first transistor is connected to a pulse voltage source via a diode. The drain of the second transis- tor is connected to the source of the first transistor, and the source of the second transistor is connected to the gate of the first transistor via a resistor, for discharging a gate-to-source voltage of the first transistor during the time when a voltage of the pulse voltage source is below a gate-to-source threshold voltage of the first transistor.
Coupled to at least two of the gate drive circuits, each of the gate drive transformers controls at least two gate drive circuits .
The converter uses a block-type wave. It only com- prises one signal transformer; despite thereof the structure is still rather complicated. Also the efficiency is not very good. Further the structure provides for only one power transfer, hence is limited in application and not very flexi¬ ble .
US7193866 (Bl) recites a half-bridge LLC resonant converter with a synchronous rectification function that includes a first switch; a second switch; a first transformer; a first synchronous rectifier; a second synchronous rectifi¬ er; a controller; and a second transformer. The controller of the half-bridge LLC resonant converter with a synchronous rectification function can control the first synchronous rec¬ tifier and the second synchronous rectifier directly and the connected second transformer also can control the first switch and the second switch directly. The first synchronous rectifier and second synchronous rectifier having a low conducting resistance substitute the rectifier and greatly lower the power consumption. The controller outputs a control signal to drive a transformer to output a signal to the primary winding, and its signal delay is formed by a delay of an electronic circuit and a power MOS switch of the first switch and second switch.
In the converter a digital transformer is used in combination with an LC-resonance circuit. Limited control is only possible, e.g. because each FET has its own control cir¬ cuit. Further limitations as above apply.
US5514921 (A) recites a gate driver circuit, includ¬ ing either a full-bridge or a half-bridge configuration of gate drive switching devices, is capable of applying gate drive signals of variable pulse widths in a substantially loss, less manner to power switching devices of a high- frequency resonant switching converter, while providing transformer isolation between the gate drive electronics and the power switching devices.
The present invention therefore relates to an im¬ proved electric circuit for transferring electrical power, which solve one or more of the above problems and drawbacks of the prior art, providing reliable and advantageous re- suits, without jeopardizing functionality and advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a converter device according to claim 1. The converter in an example relates to a resonance control terminal driven electric power transfer device.
The present device may be used as a converter cir¬ cuit. The circuit is designed to operate efficiently. It may be based on a resonant gate controlled electronic drive cir¬ cuit, for controlling a power output potential delivered from a power input. An alternating current power output can be transferred using a coupling circuit (C.C.) towards e.g. a rectifier (P.R.) . Such can be done in a passive way, by using a type of diodes, or in an active way, by using a second driver unit extracting the power by running both driver units synchronized. In a set-up an impedance adjustment can be add¬ ed in order to influence the frequency. In order to improve drive settings for a wider range an optimal efficiency can be achieved by correcting the drive frequency and/or amplitude. In order to determine these settings one can measure a devia¬ tion between a theoretical designed ratio divided by a meas¬ ured difference between input and output voltage. This result is considered to represent a specific degree of duty/load. The result can be used as a feedback for tuning the present signal generator.
The present invention has as an objective to reduce energy losses in the driver. Such is in an example achieved by coupling a signal generator to a primary winding of a sig- nal transformer. The control (or drive) input of semiconduc¬ tor switches are each coupled to a secondary winding of a transformer. Depending on a type or types of semiconductor used, switching may be operated by providing a same polarity, a different polarity, or a phased polarity. The transformer is, as an inductive counterpart, parallel to the combined parasitic capacities (in a functional scheme) of the semicon¬ ductor switches. This enables resonance driving of the switches. As a result energy losses for driving a capacitive load is reduced significantly.
It is noted that by the present application of a transformer for transferring a signal, the signal being provided to a primary winding of the transformer, leads to a (theoretically) perfect synchronous driving of all the semi¬ conductor switches, the switches being coupled to a secondary side of the transformer.
In the present device the second switching unit is inductively coupled to a secondary side of the at least one signal transformer. Such provides a much better efficiency compared to the prior art.
In the present device two switching units can be coupled through a transformer, even at a level of switching units. An additional inductive element besides that is not necessarily present.
Also contrary to at least some of the prior art doc- ument converters the present converter is resonance driven, which is not possible with the configurations of the prior art. At the best a synchronous mode of operation is achieved in the prior art converters; the synchronous mode of opera- tion is also intended for the present device.
The present invention provides a simple solution wherein in an example one generated signal can be transferred using a transformer to all drive inputs of the transistors, at the same time. Thereto a signal generator and a transform¬ er are provided. The present simple design provides a large degree of freedom, such as for circuit requiring galvanic separation between signal generator and switching elements and/or between switching elements mutually. If necessary such separation can even be extended to individual semiconductor switches .
The switches of the present invention can be switched very efficient in a synchronous manner. By a simple design a number of (minimal required) electronic components can be limited. As such, small, robust and efficient designs are provided. The present invention provides efficient and durable designs having a large degree of freedom for design.
In an example the present circuit is also suited for high voltage conversion.
In certain examples the present invention relates to power management, bi-directional conversion, wireless energy transfer, high voltage conversion and voltage multiplexing. In other words, the present invention provides a broad range of applications.
The present switching unit (SU) comprises at least two switching elements, specifically at least two transistors being connected in series, in parallel, in anti-series, in anti-parallel, and combinations thereof. The switching unit has at least two transistors in series; i.e. if only two transistors are provided then these transistors are placed in series. The two switches may switch mutual oppositely. Two switching units may switch in phase with one and another if electrical energy is transferred. One switching unit forms part of a converter, a second forms part of a driving cir- cuit. The transfer is mediated through a coupling circuit. The coupling circuit in an example comprises passive ele¬ ments, such as a capacitor, a transformer, an inductor, a crystal, a complex impedance, and combinations thereof. The coupling circuit optionally comprises an adjustment circuit.
The driving of the switching units is through a second side of driving transformer. The switching units comprise transistors, such as a (MOS)FET transistor, an (IG)bipolar transistor, etc. On a primary side of the driving (or signal) transformer a signal from a signal generator is provided for driving the transformer.
With respect to terms used the following is noted (in line with Wikipedia) .
Resonance is take as the tendency of a system to os¬ cillate with greater amplitude at some frequencies than at others. Electric power relates to a rate at which electric energy is transferred by an electric circuit. An oscillator provides oscillation. Oscillation is a repetitive variation, typically in time, of a parameter around a central value or between two or more different states. A transformer is a static electrical device that transfers energy by inductive coupling between its winding circuits. Each winding (circuit), i.e. primary winding and secondary winding, typically has a spirally wound wire which may have one or more revolu¬ tions, typically a multitude of revolutions. A transistor is a semiconductor device used to amplify and switch electronic signals and electrical power. It is composed of semiconductor material with at least three terminals for connection to an external circuit. Electrical impedance relates to a ratio of a voltage phasor to an electric current phasor, which is a measure of the opposition to time-varying electric current in an electric circuit. An impedance adapter is designed to adapt at least one impedance, in relation to one or more oth- er impedances.
A converter circuit relates to a complete circuit comprising all the necessary parts to full operation for conversion, consisting of at least a potential transferor (or more spread over several phases, and/or implemented, includ- ing decoupling) .
A voltage coupler relates to a converter section which in itself can couple or transfer an electrical potential fully or partly, e.g. when combined with other struc- tures .
A driver circuit relates to a circuit in which a power potential is modulated by means of a switching unit and control according to the invention. In a single phase embodi- ment it may be provided in combination with a decoupling capacitor. As a complete embodiment of a circuit it relates to a minimum required components of the present invention.
A driver module relates to a collective term for the three components described below. It can be regarded as an example of an essential building block of the invention which can be constructed in various ways. In brief, a driver module is an active (one phase) inverter, or any rectifier. In a combination of more than one hereof a set-up relates to a synchronous multi-stage driver.
An active rectifier has the same operation and structure as a driving circuit. However, a power potential is demodulated by means of a switching unit and/or a driver ac¬ cording to the invention. For an alternating variant it applies in practice that the demodulation effectively converts an 'AM' appearance power potential to an AC voltage, wherein an alternating voltage converts to a DC voltage.
A passive rectifier relates to an alternative. It sets an output voltage to a DC voltage, and limits the relat¬ ing potential to an output, and is thereby not bi- directional.
An inductor, also called a coil or reactor, is a passive two-terminal electrical component which resists changes in electric current passing through it. It consists of a conductor such as a wire, usually wound into a coil or winding. An inductor may have a magnetic core made of a mag¬ netic material inside the coil, which serves to increase the magnetic field and thus the inductance.
A switching unit in an example relates to a half H- bridge consisting of two complementary switching switch ele- ments.
An electronic switch relates to a switch comprising at least two semiconductor elements in series and/or paral¬ lel. A semiconductor element relates to a set-up of one or more parallel, counter-parallel, or anti-series-connected controllable semiconductor devices of any type transistor (transistor, FET, IGBT, etc.) which share a common secondary transformer winding signal. Within the present application the term "transistor" may be considered to relate to a some¬ what more generic term "semiconductor element" as well.
A signal generator relates to a signal driver cir¬ cuit which is suitable to drive a LC-impedance and is con- nected to at least a signal transformer on a primary side thereof .
A signal transformer relates to a relatively small transformer. If driving both the following apply: it forms a bridge between the signal generator and the semiconductor de- vices, as well as in an impedance mode it forms an inductive counterpart of the sum of the parasitic capacitive input im¬ pedance of the semiconductor elements connected to it.
A power transformer relates to an inductive variant as an example of a coupling circuit.
A complex impedance relates in an coupling circuit: to an alternative to the power transformer, including a crystal, a resonator, an LC series resonant circuit, whether or not in combination with each other and/or with additional active elements (e.g.: tunnel diode) and/or passive elements (e.g.: capacitor) parts.
An impedance adapter relates to a circuit between the signal generator and the signal transformer comprising a variable complex impedance in order to influence the reso¬ nance frequency in driving the switching units.
A coupling circuit relates to a transfer medium in a potential transfer circuit. In an example it is located be¬ tween two driver modules of which at least one is active (at the entrance) .
A by-pass capacitor relates to a loading buffer es- pecially in all single phase units.
A safety circuit relates to an auxiliary component, which is not considered an essential part of the invention. It relates to an optional additional circuit for protection, such as when transistors are connected in a series circuit (power band), creating a high voltage switch.
A balancer relates to a chain of capacitively cou¬ pled potentials.
A dynamic current measurement relates to an addi¬ tional example arising from the switching properties of the invention. It relates to a method of measuring a current, with no additional resistor, at no additional energy loss, as a part on the feedback for the driving characteristics of the signal generator (frequency and/or amplitude) . It is measured according to the principle that the deviation between the theoretical design ratio and the practical design ratio be¬ tween the input voltage and output voltage represents the relative load of the converter.
Part of the present invention relates to an improved driving circuit.
Thereby the present invention provides a solution to one or more of the above mentioned problems and drawbacks.
Advantages of the present description are detailed throughout the description.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in a first aspect to a converter device according to claim 1.
In an example, as for instance is illustrated in figure 3, device 302, two or more sets of (Ic) a first switching unit, (II) a coupling circuit and (III) a second switching unit may be provided. The first switching units are connected to the at least one (and the same) signal trans¬ former, and the second switching units may be connected to the at least one (and the same) signal transformer. The first switching units may be mutually connected electrically and the second switching units may be mutually connected electri¬ cally. As such a multitude of the above sets may be driven by one signal generator and one (divided) signal transformer.
In an example of the present device the driving cir¬ cuit comprises at a primary side of the at least one signal transformer (IV) an impedance adapter, preferably a impedance adapter comprising a tuneable capacitor and a tuneable indue- tor, and/or (V) a decouple circuit, preferably a decouple circuit comprising a tuneable capacitor and a tuneable induc¬ tor, and/or (VI) a potential comparator, wherein in use the comparator is in electrical contact with the first terminal, the second terminal and the oscillator. The present invention is amongst others aimed at energy transfer, which is improved by the present device.
In an example of the present device the signal gen¬ erator comprises one or more of (Ial) a voltage controlled oscillator, (Ia2) an LC-dependent oscillator, (Ia3)a frequency driver, (Ia4) a signal source, such as (Ia41) a digital pulse generator, and (Ia42) a wave generator, (Ia5) a power driver for complex impedances, and (Ia6) a decoupler for making an output a symmetrical Voltage for the signal transform- er (STr) .
The present invention preferably does not use pulse signals, but a sinusoidal signal. A disadvantage of a pulse signal, also referred to as a digital block wave, are the flanks which result in many harmonics thereof. With the pre- sent sinusoidal signal the contribution of higher harmonics in the driving is virtually zero, and in the converter sub¬ stantially lower. An advantage of the sinusoidal signal for a combination of a signal transformer and capacitive load
(drive inputs of the FETs) is the substantial smaller power that is needed to generate (in comparison) an equal ampli¬ tude. With the pulse signal a significant part of the energy is lost in drive electronics.
In an example of the present device the switching unit each individually comprises (i) a decouple capacitor, the decouple capacitor connected parallel to a first terminal (115) and to a second terminal (117), and (iii) the first terminal being in contact with the drain of the first tran¬ sistor and the second terminal being in contact with the source of the second transistor. Such is typically the case if two transistors of similar nature are provided, such as two N-type or two P-type transistors, respectively. If two different types of transistors are provided than clearly a second terminal is in contact with a drain of the second transistor, instead of the source thereof. An advantage here¬ of is that noise is suppressed.
In an example of the present device (II) the cou¬ pling circuit is one or more of a couple capacitor, a (se- ries ) resonator, a transformer, and an inductor.
In an example of the present device the first and a second terminal are in contact with one or more of a solar cell terminals, a battery terminals, a capacitor terminals, a power grid terminals, a switch terminals, and combinations thereof.
In an example of the present device the coupling circuit (II) comprises at least one resonating circuit, the at least one resonating circuit comprising a capacitor, a crystal, or a combination thereof.
In an example of the present device the at least one signal transformer comprises one or more primary windings and/or one or more secondary windings, wherein the windings are a configuration selected from in parallel, in series, in post synchronized, and combinations thereof. In case of post synchronization at least two signal transformers are present.
In an example of the present device the driving cir¬ cuit comprises a signal generator for varying a resonance frequency. The before may be in combination with an impedance adapter (IA) to alter a complex impedance.
In a second aspect the present invention relates to a driving circuit for use in a device according to the invention, according to claim 11.
The present driver circuit is designed to operate efficiently, based on a frequency variable resonant gate con- trolled electronic drive circuit, for controlling a power output potential delivered from a DC voltage. The present driver comprises ( per phase ) , a controllable signal genera¬ tor, with an associated impedance adapter, coupled to at least one signal transformer, coupled to a driver module con- structed out of two switching units.
In a third aspect the invention relates to a method of operating a device or driving circuit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein switching units are switched synchronous and in resonance by driving a control terminal of the transistors.
In an example of the present method non-coupled switching units are switched each individually with a fixed phase shift, such as of a part of 360 degrees, respectively. The prior art documents at the best provide only a fixed phase shift, such as 180 degrees, whereas the present inven¬ tion can provide a flexible phase shift, which can be chosen as required, e.g. as a part of 360 degrees or multiples thereof; examples thereof are 120, 90, 72, 60, 51.43, 45, 40, 36, 24, 12, 10, etc. Herewith input and output noise, respec¬ tively, may be reduced further.
In an example of the present method a drive poten¬ tial and a drive frequency are controlled actively by the signal generator, which can be based on the output of the
D.C.M. This has as advantage the based on a specific use the potential and frequency can be controlled. An further optimi¬ zation of reduction of conversion loss is herewith obtained.
In an example of the present method, e.g. for exam- pie (800) a primary and secondary side of a power transformer and a switch direction are switched actively and synchronous¬ ly, typically by the signal transformer. The present inven¬ tion can achieve this by a single transformer, or several transformers in parallel, in series, or a combination there- of.
In a fourth aspect the present invention relates to a product comprising a device according to the invention, such as a solar cell, a power transfer device, a bidirectional power transfer device, a voltage divider, and an induction device. The present invention can be applied in many products, by simply changing the configuration. This adaptability is a further advantage.
In a fifth aspect the invention relates to a use of a device according to the invention for one or more of elec- trical power transfer, capacitive electrical power transfer, electrical induction power transfer, contactless electrical power transfer, series resonance electrical power transfer, bi-directional electrical power transfer, power management of voltage sources in series, voltage divider, differential cur¬ rent measurement, series and parallel voltage transfer, se¬ ries and parallel current transfer, impedance relating to voltage ratio, and combinations thereof.
The one or more of the above examples and embodi¬ ments may be combined, falling within the scope of the inven¬ tion .
EXAMPLES
The invention is further detailed by the accompanying figures, which are exemplary and explanatory of nature and are not limiting the scope of the invention. To the per¬ son skilled in the art it may be clear that many variants, being obvious or not, may be conceivable falling within the scope of protection, defined by the present claims.
The invention although described in detailed explanatory context may be best understood in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
SUMMARY OF FIGURES
Fig. 1-15 show topologies of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
In the figures the following references are used:
A.S. Adaptive System
C: Capacitor
CC: Coupling Circuit
Cell: (Solar) cell
DC: Decouple Circuit
DCM: Dynamic Current Measurement
IA: Impedance adapter
OSC: Oscillator
PR: Passive Rectifier
RES : Resonance circuit
R: Resistor
SD: Signal Driver
SG: Signal Generator
SU: Switching unit
T : Transistor
Tr : Transformer
STR: Signal transformer U: Potential at terminal
VCO: Voltage Coupled Oscillator
The above elements may be numbered (consecutively) in any of the figures.
One part of the invention relates to a switching unit. The simplest implementation is shown in Figure 1. Shown are two MOSFETs (102 and 103) . There may be more than one MOSFETs in a switching element as is shown in Figure 2. Also variations are possible with other semiconductor devices such as transistors, IGBTs and the like. Each switch unit is driv¬ en by a signal transformer (101) . This signal transformer is used for all semiconductors of a complete circuit, but can also be used per semiconductor having its own transformer, or can be divided otherwise. What is considered important are the polarities of the windings and the type (N or P) of the semiconductors. Within a switching unit to be switched the switching elements thereof may be opposed of each other (in function) , wherein a winding orientation is mutually swapped. When a same type of semiconductor is used, the orientations of the semiconductors (109 and 110) of the windings (106 and 107) may be in opposite directions. If opposite type semicon¬ ductors (N and P) are used, the polarities of the windings are equal. What the switching unit does is switching an out¬ put potential (116) alternating between two power input po- tentials (115 and 117) . Depending on the mode, a decoupling capacitor (104) per switching unit can be added. Exceptions may be when multiple switching units are placed parallel.
Examples of possible configurations of switching units can be seen in figure 2. Switching unit 201 shows a set-up with one common winding for two switching elements.
Therein control inputs can be put parallel to each other. A complementary switching behaviour is achieved by using opposite type semiconductors N and P, respectively. A goal of this arrangement is the simplicity of an individual signal transformer. Switching unit 202 has the advantage of polarity independence. When using MOSFETs this can be done by sets of two MOSFETs of the same type (N or P) to be placed in an an¬ ti-series way. A resulting advantage of this configuration is that the control inputs of each set can be in parallel place¬ ment providing an opportunity for connecting both to one single secondary winding. While using transistors or IGBTs this can be done by switching anti-parallel, or complementary par- allel. In anti-parallel arrangement, each semiconductor (both of the same type) in a set is required to have its own con¬ trol winding. Its outputs are then opposed to each other in parallel. In a complementary parallel placement, the outputs are parallel using both semiconductor types N and P. For con- trol, a control winding is placed in between the bases/gates of both transistors. Therein the inputs are basically con¬ nected in series, having the control winding in between. Another advantage of the transformer control is its highly syn¬ chronous- and consistent control. This offers the possibility of being able to place a multiple thereof in series, as shown in Figure 203. In an example of fig. 203, by using multiple transistors in series, a higher voltage can be switched com¬ pared to when just one transistor is used. In addition, a safety circuit per switching element could be placed as a last catch in small asymmetrical imbalance behaviour of the chain shown. It is also possible to switch a higher current simply by connecting multiple parallel transistors. An obvi¬ ous advantage is that the inputs of a set can also be con¬ nected, as shown in figure 204, in parallel at one common winding. It is a distinct advantage that these examples can also be combined. For example, two parallel set-ups put to an one winding configuration can be configured by combining sample 201 and 204. Also, all random combinations using examples 202, 203 and 204 are possible. For 203 and 204 are also long- er chains than two sets of transistors per switching element are possible .
With the technique of the switching units mentioned, it is possible to construct a basic converter by building up a circuitry using at least two switching units using a cou- pling circuit. Figure 300 shows two examples of two power po¬ tentials being coupled via coupling capacitors. In circuit 301, the switching units are linked by terminal UB and through C3. Because it is a one phase embodiment both the potentials UAB and UBC are buffered by CI and C2. Circuit 302 uses the same technique, but achieving a ratio of 3:1 between the po¬ tentials UAC and UCB- In order to be relatively efficient at a higher ratio, the impedance needs to be adjusted per poten- tial. In figure 302 this is done using two parallel switching units in potential UBc- Another option is to lower the imped¬ ance using one low impedance switching unit. With two sets as shown in the figure the sets can be in opposite phase orien¬ tated by setting one of the paired sets switching units fully complementary to the other set. Furthermore, the conversion of any type converter shown stops when the signal generator (e.g. 311, 312) is not active.
An other than capacitive conversion is possible us¬ ing the gate resonance drive control technique, such as by forms of transmission between switch units as shown in figure 4. Examples 401 and 700 transfer power by using a power transformer. Circuit 401 shows how both sides can be driven asymmetrically; therein both transformer windings are decou¬ pled by using decoupling capacitor C2 and C4. In figure 7 both windings are symmetrically driven, and therein a decou¬ pling may not be required. The decoupling capacitors shown can be used to reduce a ripple effect. An advantage of the control by using a signal transformer results in that tran¬ sistors of different independent potentials can be driven with just one signal generator (419 and 701) . Also, if the potentials are to remain electrically isolated from each oth¬ er, the windings of the signal transformer itself are also electrically isolated. Figure 402 is a disguised derivative of figure 700. Therein a complex impedance (RES1 and RES2) replaces a power transformer transfer for transfer. A complex impedance (RES) may consist of a crystal or a capacitor, op¬ tionally in combination with an inductor and/or a tunnel diode, or even combined with other components or topologies. Figure 403 and 404 are two separate modules which can trans- mit power wirelessly by induction. In certain cases it can be more interesting to use a complex impedance instead of just a decoupling capacitor (RES3 and RES4) . This could give a more stable operation over a wider distance range. Therein, a the receiving side takes into account to synchronize its signal generator in dependence of the sending side.
In an alternative a balancer is shown in Figure 5. It can be made based on the same technique. An operation of a multiple of connected potentials is designed to keep every single cell (such as, a battery, a battery cell, solar cell or solar panel) at the same (or similar) voltage. This reduc¬ es the loss on power when a deviation in a part of the chain (501) occurs, for example when a (partial) shade of a panel or cell occurs. The voltage drop of the complete chain will then be reduced by using the balancer. This set-up (501) works for batteries as well, because a cell thereof is not equivalent to another, thereby creating an imbalance. Since the balancer itself also functions as an accurate voltage di- vider, it can produce intermediate values compared to the chain to determined imbalance as shown in figure 502, by com¬ paring these intermediate cell voltage values to the voltage divider values, reflecting an imbalance of related voltages: Ua, Ub and Uc . Figure 502 also shows, by using switches, how the imbalance can be compensated in order to accelerate the balancing process.
Figure 6 shows a comparison of impedance behaviour of figure 3. Circuit 301 can be seen as two power exchanging voltage sources, as is shown in figure 601. The same is shown for example 302 (figure 602) . Figures 603 and 604 show, re¬ lated to each other, how the conversion reverses direction through various input and output configurations.
Figure 8 shows a basic arrangement of a converter with two switching units separated by a coupling circuit. The picture shows how the signal generator via a signal trans¬ former drives both switching units. Applying an impedance adapter is not considered a necessary element for the inven¬ tion, for each of the converter configurations shown.
A slightly simpler variant is based on a passive rectifier output, shown in figure 9. This can be interesting if constructed for high frequencies or high voltages, in which cases power loss caused by voltage drop of the rectifi¬ er diodes is minor to the overall conversion power loss. A disadvantage is that an exchange of energy in both directions is no longer possible this way.
An option to optimize the converter is by tuning the signal generator depending on the load. Measuring the load can be done using a measuring resistor. The load can be determined from the deviation in voltage difference compared to the theoretical design voltage ratio of the converter, as shown in figure 10, by making use of a predictable converter impedance behaviour. Block D.C.M. measures the input voltage and the output voltage. The degree of deviation of the deter¬ mined voltages related to the design ratio is a measure of the relative load. A result thereof can be returned as feed¬ back to the signal generator.
In a further application, the invention can be used as a power frequency driver, such as shown in figure 11. In this way, using the resonant gate control, an output poten¬ tial can be driven highly efficient. With use of the imped¬ ance adapter in the control section, the drive frequency can be variable without losing its resonance. A frequency of the output potential automatically follows a control frequency thereby .
In fig. 12 a schematic representation of a signal generator is given. In the upper variant an oscillator is connected to a signal driver, which signal driver is connect- ed to a decouple circuit. In the lower variant a voltage cou¬ pled oscillator is connected to a signal driver, which signal driver is connected to a decouple circuit.
In fig. 13 a capacitive power transfer is shown, now with bipolar transistors. Compared to MOSFET's the bipolar transistor only is conductive in one direction. A further difference is that the bipolar transistors can be switched in both polarities. In fig. 13 the transistors responsible for delivery of power to the output are reversely positioned. With reference to fig. 13 it relates to T3 and T4, located at the mid-section of the output. Likewise if power to the input would be required Tl and T2 could be reversed, and T3 and T4 not. The contacts to the driver transformer TR1 remain to be switched over the basis-emitter, as well as the polarities of the coils of the driving transformer, relative to a sequence wherein the even numbered transistors together, and the odd numbered transistors together, switch alternately. This to¬ pography is especially interesting for switching large powers where MOSFETs still are too expensive for. An example would be from about 20 kW, such as used in the Dutch railways. In such a case the Uin could be 3kV, the U out 1.5 kV, and the ground could be the rails, as is can be the case for railway locomotive converters.
Fig. 14 is comparable to fig. 3, having at least one important difference. The power transfer can take place through different, and sometimes combinations of, elements. Further adaptations therein are possible, such as a tunnel diode. A specific example is detailed by combining capacitor C3 with an inductor, namely TR2. In a passive mode such provides one specific dip in the complex impedance at a lower frequency than e.g. a capacitor alone. This application is e.g. interesting for switching at lower frequencies, and further providing less switching losses. Even further, TR2 is now capable of transferring an inductive aspect of the trans¬ fer impedance in a galvanic and separate mode to an adaptive system (A.S.) . Such could be considered an impedance adapta¬ tion, which can be controlled and regulated. The element AS can also be used to pick up the transferred potential from TR2 as a potential, and in an amended ratio to be delivered to an input or output; as a result the ratio between Ua and ¾ becomes larger than that between ¾ and Uc. As an alternative a potential in phase to TR2 can be driven synchronously with a result that the potential at ¾ is higher than an average of Ua and Uc (sic!) . In both cases an energy los is even less compared to e.g. a sophisticated combination with a so-called buck-/boost converter, or likewise to a buck-booster convert¬ er on its own. The present additional functionality is e.g. the controllability of the ratio, which also enables regula- tion and stabilisation. The application may e.g. of interest to most kinds of DC conversion products, and also for space agencies .
Fig. 15 relates to a minimalistic topography, having only one driving transformer. T2 and T4 are still driven through induction, but not specifically by a driver trans¬ former coil. Interesting is the simplicity of the driver transformer. It is still required to use a driver transformer in view of the complexity of the independent driving poten¬ tials, however only for the transfer of the odd numbered FETs. The even numbered FETs are driven synchronously with the induction of the of the primary coil. In terms of func¬ tionality such is similar to topography 300. The ratios of the driver potentials between odd numbered FETs individually and per even numbered FETs individually are mutual equal; however, between all even numbered and all odd numbered these are typically not equal at all. The ones being equal have no difference in terms of dynamic potential, but only an offset which offset can be bridged by C4 and C5. Further Rl and R2 take care that the average value of the gate driver remains equal to the source potential, comparable to a case wherein for each FET an individual transformer coil is connected. It is noted that potential fluctuations at a power side disturb to a certain proportionality the driving.

Claims

1. Converter (800) device comprising
(I) a driving circuit, the driving circuit comprising
(la) a signal generator, for controlling a drive potential and a drive frequency,
(lb) at least one signal transformer, the signal gen¬ erator being coupled to a primary side of an at least one transformer,
(Ic) at least one first switching unit, the at least one first switching unit being inductively cou- pled to a secondary side of the at least one sig¬ nal transformer, and being connected to a first terminal ,
(II) at least one coupling circuit {C.C.) , being connected to the at least one first switching unit, and
(III) at least one second switching unit, the unit being con¬ nected at one side to a second terminal and at another side to the coupling circuit,
wherein the first and second switching unit each indi¬ vidually comprise at least two transistors for switching be- ing connected in series, in parallel, in anti-series, in an¬ ti-parallel, and combinations thereof, such as (MOS)FET and bipolar transistors,
wherein the second switching unit is at one side induc¬ tively coupled to a secondary side of the at least one signal transformer, and
wherein the at least one signal transformer is for driving control terminals of the transistors, such that in use on a first transistor a first polarity and on a second transis¬ tor a second polarity can be applied in use.
2. Device (800) according to claim 1, wherein the driving circuit comprises at a primary side of the at least one signal transformer at least one of
(IV) an impedance adapter (I.A.), preferably an impedance adapter comprising at least one of a tuneable capacitor and a tuneable inductor,
(V) a decouple circuit, preferably a decouple circuit com- prising a tuneable capacitor and a tuneable inductor, and
(VI) a potential comparator, wherein in use the potential comparator is in electrical contact with the first ter- minal, the second terminal and the signal generator.
3. Device (800) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the signal generator comprises at least one of
(Ial) a voltage controlled oscillator,
(Ia2) an LC-dependent oscillator,
(Ia3) a frequency driver,
(Ia4) a signal source, such as
(Ia41) a digital pulse generator, and
(Ia42) a wave generator,
(Ia5) a power driver for complex impedances (S.D.), and (Ia6) a decoupler for making anoutput a symmetrical
Voltage for the signal transformer (STr) .
4. Device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the switching unit each individually compris¬ es
(i) a decouple capacitor, the decouple capacitor connected parallel to a first terminal (115) and to a second ter¬ minal ( 117 ) , and
(iii) the first terminal being in contact with the drain of the first transistor and the second terminal being in contact with the source of the second transistor.
5. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein (II) the coupling circuit is one or more of a couple capacitor, a ( series ) resonator, a transformer, and an inductor .
6. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and a second terminal are in contact with one or more of a solar cell terminals, a battery terminals, a capacitor terminals, a power grid terminals, a switch termi¬ nals, and combinations thereof.
7. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling circuit (II) comprises at least one res¬ onating circuit, the at least one resonating circuit compris¬ ing a capacitor, a crystal, or a combination thereof.
8. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one signal transformer comprises one or more primary windings and/or one or more secondary windings, wherein the windings are a configuration selected from in parallel, in series, in post synchronized, and combinations thereof .
9. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the driving circuit comprises a signal generator for varying a resonance frequency.
10. Driving circuit (1100) for use in a device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising
(la) a signal generator, for controlling a drive potential and a drive frequency,
(lb) at least one signal transformer, the signal genera- tor being coupled to a primary side of the at least one transformer,
(Ic) at least one first switching unit, the at least one first switching unit at one side being inductively coupled to a secondary side of the at least one signal transformer, and being connected to a first terminal and to a second terminal,
wherein the at least one first switching units each in¬ dividually comprise at least two transistors for switching being connected in series, in parallel, in anti-series, in anti-parallel, and combinations thereof, such as (MOS)FET and bipolar transistors, and
wherein the at least one signal transformer is for driving control terminals of the transistors, such that in use on a first transistor a first polarity and on a second transis- tor a second polarity can be applied,
characterized in that the driving circuit comprises at a pri¬ mary side of the at least one transformer
(V) a decouple circuit, preferably a decouple circuit com¬ prising a tuneable capacitor and a tuneable inductor, and optionally at least one of
(IV) an impedance adapter, preferably a impedance adapter comprising a tuneable capacitor and a tuneable induc¬ tor, (VI) a potential comparator, wherein in use the comparator is in electrical contact with the first terminal, the second terminal and the signal generator, and
(Illb) a rectifier unit.
11. Method of operating a device or driving circuit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein switching units are switched synchronous and in resonance by driving a control terminal of the transistors.
12. Method according to claim 11, wherein non- coupled switching units are switched each individually with a fixed phase shift, such as of a part of 360 degrees, respec¬ tively.
13. Method according to any of claims 11-12, wherein a drive potential and a drive frequency are controlled ac- tively by the signal generator, and/or
wherein a primary and secondary side of a power transformer and a switch direction are switched actively and synchronous- ly.
14. Product comprising a device according to any of claim 1-10, such as a solar cell, a power transfer device, a bi-directional power transfer device, a voltage divider, and an induction device.
15. Use of a device according to any of claim 1-10 for one or more of electrical power transfer, capacitive electrical power transfer, electrical induction power transfer, contactless electrical power transfer, series resonance electrical power transfer, bi-directional electrical power transfer, power management of voltage sources in series, voltage divider, differential current measurement, series and parallel voltage transfer, series and parallel current trans¬ fer, impedance relating to voltage ratio, and combinations thereof .
EP15733555.5A 2015-06-05 2015-06-05 Resonance control terminal driven electric power transfer device Ceased EP3304740A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/NL2015/050406 WO2016195478A1 (en) 2015-06-05 2015-06-05 Resonance control terminal driven electric power transfer device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3304740A1 true EP3304740A1 (en) 2018-04-11

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Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3304740A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2016195478A1 (en)

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5514921A (en) 1994-06-27 1996-05-07 General Electric Company Lossless gate drivers for high-frequency PWM switching cells
US6344768B1 (en) 2000-08-10 2002-02-05 International Business Machines Corporation Full-bridge DC-to-DC converter having an unipolar gate drive
US6975098B2 (en) * 2002-01-31 2005-12-13 Vlt, Inc. Factorized power architecture with point of load sine amplitude converters
TWM301461U (en) 2006-05-09 2006-11-21 Hipro Electronics Taiwan Co Lt Half-bridge LLC resonant transformer having a synchronizing rectifying function
US8829949B2 (en) * 2012-01-17 2014-09-09 Franc Zajc Method and apparatus for driving a voltage controlled power switch device

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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None *
See also references of WO2016195478A1 *

Also Published As

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