Series resonant power converter and method of controlling the same

Abstract: A series resonant power converter in which a resonant capacitor is commonly used in a series resonant circuit and a parallel resonant circuit, whereby a capacitance of the resonant capacitor can be considerably decreased as compared with that of a tank circuit according to a prior art, so that an energy handled by the resonant capacitor can be decreased, which results in decreasing a size of the resonant circuit and also decreasing a power loss. The converter includes means for detecting and computing a voltage applied across a main switch means in its OFF-state and a control circuit for driving the main switch means to its ON-state when the detected and computed value of the voltage drops to a minimum voltage required to sustain oscillation of the series resonant circuit. The minimum voltage is computed by a detecting circuit for detecting an input voltage, a detecting circuit for detecting a voltage of a second resonant circuit and a detecting circuit for detecting a DC output voltage conversed to a primary side of a main transformer.

Description: The present invention relates to a series resonant power converter for producing a desired DC voltage for a load, and a method of controlling such series resonant converter. In general, a value of a resonant current of a series resonant converter depends on values of an inductance of a resonant reactor, a capacitance of a resonant capacitor, a DC input voltage and a DC output voltage. Accordingly, much research has been made on a relationship between these values and the resonant current. As the result of this research, it has been found that in order to control the output voltage of the series resonant power converter at a constant voltage, without controlling the value of the output current, it is necessary to adjust the value of the output current (average value of the resonant current) by control of OFF-periods of a main switch means (that is, frequency control). However, in the case where the constant voltage control of the power converter is effected by the frequency control method, such problem arises that an operating frequency of the converter, which is in proportional relation to the output current, may drop to an audible range under a light load condition (in the case of less output current), with the result that a noise is produced. In order to solve such problem, it has been proposed, for example in EP 0201876, to provide a series resonant converter, as shown in Fig. 1, in which a tank circuit consisting of parallel resonant circuits having an infinite impedance at its resonant frequency is inserted in the series resonant circuit loop, whereby an impedance of the resonant circuit is increased under a light load condition and thus the load dependent characteristic of the operating frequency is minimized. Now, the series resonant power converter according to a prior art will be explained, with reference to Fig. 1. The series resonant converter shown in Fig. 1 includes a first circuit 13 having switch means 11 and 12, such as bipolar transistors, connected together in series in forward direction, a second circuit 16 having diodes 14 and 15 connected together in series in forward direction, a third circuit 19 having resonant capacitors 17 and 18 connected together in series and a DC power source 21 connected across both ends of these circuits. The switch means 11 and 12 are arranged in forward direction relatively to the DC power source 21 but the diodes 14 and 15 are arranged to have opposite polarities. A juncture of the diodes 14 and 15 and a juncture of the resonant capacitors 17 and 18 are connected with each other, and a fourth circuit 24 is connected between the juncture 22 of the resonant capacitors 17 and 18 and a juncture 23 of the switch means 11 and 12. The fourth circuit 24 includes a rectifying circuit 25, a resonant inductor 26 and a tank circuit 27, which are connected in series with each other, and said tank circuit 27 consists of a parallel circuit including a resonant inductor 28 and a resonant capacitor 29. The rectifying circuit 25 consists of a bridge circuit including diodes 31 - 34. An output capacitor 35 is connected across output terminals of said bridge circuit and a load 36 is connected in parallel with said output capacitor 35. Now, the operation of the above series resonant power converter will be explained. As an initial condition, it is assumed that the resonant capacitor 17 has been charged up to a voltage of the DC power source 21 and the resonant capacitor 18 has been discharged to a zero voltage. Under such condition, if the semiconductor switch 11 is turned ON, a current i 1 flows from the DC power source 21→the semiconductor switch 11→the diode 31 of the rectifying circuit 25→the load 36 (capacitor 35)→the diode 33 of the rectifying circuit 25→the resonant inductor 26→the tank circuit 27 to the resonant capacitor 18. At the same time, a discharging current i 2 flows from the switch means 11→the diode 31 of the rectifying circuit 25→the load 36 (capacitor 35)→the diode 33 of the rectifying circuit 25→the resonant inductor 26→the tank circuit 27 to the resonant capacitor 17. This current is a resonant current which discharges the resonant capacitor 17 and charges the resonant capacitor 18. The capacitance C p of the capacitor 29 is set at a value higher than the capacitance C s of the resonant capacitor 17 (or the resonant capacitor 18), so that the voltage of the resonant capacitor 17 becomes zero and the voltage of the resonant capacitor 18 becomes equal to the power source voltage V i , after the lapse of about 2 L s ·C s {π - cos -1 ( V o /( V i -V o ))} sec, where V o is a voltage (output voltage) of the output capacitor 35, L s is an inductance of the resonant inductor 26 and V i is a voltage of the DC power source 21. At this moment, the diode 14 becomes conductive and the current which has passed through the resonant inductor 26, flows as the current i 2 from the resonant inductor 26→the tank circuit 27→the diode 14→the switch means 11→the rectifying circuit 25→the load 36 (capacitor 35)→the rectifying circuit 25. This current i 2 is consumed by the load 36, until it becomes zero. Thus a half cycle of the operation terminates. Then, if the switch means 12 is turned ON, the resonant capacitor 17 is charged while the resonant capacitor 18 is discharged and the similar operation as described above occurs. Thus the next half cycle terminates. The resonant frequency f 1 of the parallel resonant tank circuit 27 consisting of the capacitance C p of the capacitor 29 and the inductance L p of the inductor 28 is expressed by the following equation: f 1 = (2π L p · C p ) -1 and the resonant frequency f 0 of the series resonant circuit consisting of the capacitance C s of the resonant capacitor 17 (or the capacitor 18) and the inductance L s of the resonant inductor 26 is expressed by the following equation: f 0 = (2π L s ·C s ) -1 With regard to the above resonant frequencies f 1 and f 0 , it is required for them to satisfy the following relationship: f 1 « f 0 To meet such requirement, f 1 is set at a value substantially lower than f 0 and the impedance of the tank circuit 27 is increased at around f 1 , so that the minimum operating frequency of the converter is clamped at f 0 . That is, the operating frequency of the converter should be controlled to be increased so that it becomes higher than an audible range, thereby preventing noise scattering. On the other hand, to reduce the output current, the operating frequency of the converter should be controlled to be decreased. Under such circumstances, it has been a usual practice to generate parallel resonance in the tank circuit 27 so that the converter can operate under excessively light load and to restrict the input current of the converter to feed only less output current. By using such additional parallel resonant tank circuit, it is possible to operate the converter with good result even under light load condition, without the need of lowering the operating frequency of the converter to the audible frequency range. In general, in order to hold the output voltage or the output current at constant, it is usual to detect a variation thereof thereby automatically controlling the operating frequency. The converter according to the prior art, as described above, poses some problems to be solved. In the control method for controlling the series resonant power converter according to the prior art, in the case where a negative feedback is applied to the series resonant converter to control its output power, a temporary interruption of the wave form may happen at a transient time responsive to starting of operation, variation of the load condition, variation of input voltage or the like and the operating frequency may drop below the parallel resonant frequency of said tank circuit. In such cases, the impedance of the series resonant circuit loop drops when the operating frequency varies beyond the parallel resonant frequency of said tank circuit, so that the converter is operated in undesirable positive feedback operation rather than negative feedback operation and it becomes impossible to effect a stable control of the converter. The problem of instability discussed above has now been addressed and the present invention is intended as a solution. A series resonant power bridged converter and a method of controlling the same, each in accordance with the present invention, are defined in claims 1 and 4 appended hereto. Embodiments of the invention provide a method of controlling the series resonant converter in which the temporary interruption of the operating waveform, which may happen at a transient time responsive to starting of operation, variation of the load condition, or variation of input voltage, can be avoided, and stable control of the converter can be obtained. Now embodiments of the invention will be explained with reference to the drawings, in which Fig. 1 illustrates a known series resonant converter; Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate an embodiment of the present invention; and Figs. 4 to 6 illustrate further embodiments of the present invention, respectively. In figures 2-6, 1 indicates a main switch means; 2 indicates a second switch means; 3, 4, 13, 14, 33 and 34 indicate diodes; 5, 6 and 9 indicate resonant capacitors; 7 indicates a DC input power source; 8 and 12 indicate resonant reactors; 10 indicates a tank circuit; 11 indicates a main transformer; 15 indicates an output capacitor; 16 indicates a load; 17, 18 and 19 indicate a voltage detector; 20 indicates a control circuit; 21 indicates a current detector; 22 indicates a driving circuit; 23 - 26 indicate a transformer; 27 - 30 indicate a switch means; and 31 and 32 indicate an input capacitor. The series resonant power converter shown in Fig. 2 includes a first circuit in which the first main switch means 1 and the second main switch means each consisting of FET are connected in series with each other in a forward direction, a second circuit in which the diodes 3 and 4 are connected in series with each other in a forward direction and a third circuit in which the resonant capacitors 5 and 6 are connected in series with each other, and the DC input power source 7 is connected across these circuits. The main switch means 1 and 2 are arranged in the forward direction relatively to the DC input power source 7, while the diodes 3 and 4 have an opposite polarity to that of the DC power source. A juncture of the diodes 3 and 4 and a juncture of the resonant capacitors 5 and 6 are connected together. The tank circuit 10 consists of a parallel circuit including the resonant reactor 8 and the resonant capacitor 9, and a series circuit including said tank circuit 10, the primary winding of the main transformer 11, and the resonant reactor 12 is connected between said juncture of the diodes 3, 4 and the resonant capacitors 5, 6 and the juncture of the switch means 1 and 2. The output capacitor 15 and the load 16 are connected through the diodes 13 and 14 to the secondary winding of the main transformer 11. A detecting point a for detecting the DC input voltage V a with reference to the negative terminal of the DC input power source 7, a detecting point b for detecting the resonant voltage V b , that is, the voltage at the juncture of the tank circuit 10 and the primary winding of the main transformer 11, and a detecting point c for detecting the DC output voltage V' c , that is, the voltage across the load 16, are connected to the control circuit 20, through the voltage detectors 17, 18 and 19, respectively. The current detector 21, which is arranged in a current path of the resonant reactor 8 and serves to detect the current through said resonant reactor 8 in the direction as indicated by an arrow, is connected to the control circuit 20. The driving circuit 22 is connected with the control circuit 20 to receive a signal therefrom. This driving circuit 22 is so arranged that it feeds ON and OFF signals to the main switch means 1 through the transformers 23 and 24, respectively, while it feeds ON and OFF signals to the main switch means 2 through the transformers 25 and 26, respectively. The switch means 27 - 30 consisting of transistors, diodes or the like are arranged to turn ON only when the signals are fed thereto, synchronous with the signals fed from the transformers 23 - 26. The control circuit 20 is arranged to feed control signals to the driving circuit 22 and drives the main switch means 1 or 2 in the manner as hereinafter described. That is, the control circuit 20 is constituted to generate an ON signal (output power control signal S 1 , S 1 ') which acts to produce a required output power, a signal (S 2 , S 2 ') which acts to turn ON the main switch means at the time when the voltage computed by the means for detecting and computing the voltage applied across the main switch means drops to a minimum voltage required to sustain the oscillation of the converter, and a signal (current state control signal S 4 , S 4 ') which acts to turn ON the main switch means at the time when the current through the parallel resonant tank circuit is detected to be zero. These signals operate in such manner that a signal fed at a former time acts with priority to a signal fed at a later time in the same period, and within the same period a plurality of ON driving operations of the same main switch means 1 or 2 are inhibited. Also, the control circuit feeds an OFF signal (S 3 , S 3 ') which acts to turn OFF the main switch means 1 or 2. The OFF signal S 3 , S 3 ' is produced when the current through the main switch means 1 or 2 is detected to drop to a zero value. The measure of producing the OFF signal S 3 , S 3 ' has been well known in the art and, therefore, a detailed description thereof is omitted. Now the operation of the power converter as shown in Fig. 2 will be described. As an initial condition, it is assumed that the resonant capacitor 5 has been charged up to the voltage of the DC input power source 7 and the resonant capacitor 6 has been discharged to the zero voltage and the operation will be explained with reference to Fig. 3. Under this condition and when the output power control signal S 1 as shown in Fig. 3(a) is applied to the main switch means 1 at the time t 1 , the main switch means 1 is turned ON, so that the charging current flows from the DC input power source 7 through the main switch means 1 → the resonant reactor 12 → the primary winding of the main transformer 11 → the tank circuit 10 to the resonant capacitor 6 and at the same time the discharging current flows through the main switch means 1 → the resonant reactor 12 → the primary winding of the main transformer 11 → the tank circuit 10 to the resonant capacitor 5. This current is a resonant current I 1 which serves to discharge the resonant capacitor 5 and to charge the resonant capacitor 6. If the direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. 2 is assumed to be positive, the current is as shown in Fig. 3(c). Referring to Fig. 3, the drain-source voltage of the main switch means is shown in Fig. 3(d), the anode voltage of the diode 14 (cathode is grounded) is shown in Fig. 3(e), a voltage V c which is a value of electromotive force across the primary winding of the main transformer derived from the detected voltage V' c at the detecting point c , the detected voltage V b at the detecting point b and the detected voltage V a at the detecting point a are shown in Fig. 3(f), and the detected current I L of the current detector 21 is shown in Fig. 3(g). The value of these voltages will be hereinafter described. A predetermined voltage K and waveforms of voltages representing results of computation of (V a - V b - V c ) and (V b - V c ) are shown in Fig. 3(h). When the voltage (V a - V b - V c ) drops to the predetermined voltage K at the time t 2 , the voltage state control signal S 2 , which acts to turn ON the main switch means 1, is generated, but this signal is neglected under the function of inhibiting a plurality of ON-operations of the same main switch means within the same time period. When the voltage of the resonant capacitor 5 becomes zero and the voltage of the resonant capacitor 6 becomes the voltage of the DC input power source 7, at the time t 3 , the diode 3 becomes conductive at once, and the current I 1 flowing through the resonant reactor 12 flows from the resonant reactor 12 through the primary winding of the main transformer 11→the tank circuit 10→the diode 3→the main switch means 1. This current I 1 is consumed by the load 16 through the diode 14 and it becomes zero at the time t 4 . At the time t 4 when the current I 1 becomes zero, the OFF signal S 3 is applied to the main switch means 1. At the time t 5 , the value of the current detected by the current detector 21 becomes zero, at which the current changes from negative value to a positive value. At this time t 5 , the current state detecting signal S 4 , which acts to turn ON the main switch means 1, is generated, but it is neglected under the function of inhibiting a plurality of ON-operations of the same main switch means within the same period. Thus, a half cycle of operation terminates. At the time t 6 , the output power control signal S 1 ' as shown in Fig. 3(b) is applied to the main switch means 2. Then the main switch means 2 is turned ON, so that the resonant capacitor 5 is charged and the resonant capacitor 6 is discharged. The same operation as described with reference to the first half cycle is performed and the second half cycle terminates. In the second half cycle, when the voltage (V b - V c ) drops to the above-mentioned predetermined voltage K at the time t 7 , the voltage state control signal S 2 ', which acts to turn ON the main switch means 2, is produced, but this signal is neglected under the function of inhibiting a plurality of operations of the same main switch means within the same period. Under such steady-state operating condition, the operation of detecting the output voltage and applying the detected voltage to the main switch means 1 or 2 is repeated, whereby the operating frequency is automatically controlled to maintain the constant output voltage. Under the above-mentioned steady-state operating condition if a variation of the load arises to change light (the output current is decreased), for example, it becomes necessary to lower the operating frequency and the output power control signals S 1 and S 1 ' is temporarily stopped. However, in the embodiment as described above, at the time t 2 when (V a - V b - V c ) drops to the predetermined voltage value K, the voltage state control signal S 2 is applied to the main switch means 1, or at the time t 7 when (V b - V c ) drops to the predetermined voltage value K, the voltage state control signal S 2 ' is applied to the main switch means 2, whereby the main switch means 1 and 2 are operated so that the main switch means 1 or 2 is turned ON, and thus even during the -transient time where the output power control signals S 1 and S 1 ' are not produced, the temporary interruption of the wave form is avoided, so that the negative feedback state is maintained and the stable control can be effected. The predetermined value K, referred to in the above description, corresponds to a value of the voltage applied to said switch means 1 or 2 immediately before the main switch means 1 or 2 is turned ON by the voltage state control signal S 2 or S 2 ' minus a value conversed to the primary side from the output voltage. This value K must meet such relationship in potential that a current flows when the main switch means 1 or 2 is turned ON and, consequently, it must have a positive value. If this value falls within a range where the oscillation can be sustained, it is desirable to reduce this value, because the smaller this value is, the closer the operating frequency is to the parallel resonant frequency of the tank circuit 10, so that the current at the breeder resistance can be minimized. Under a transient state where a usual variation occurs, the oscillation is sustained by the operation of the above-mentioned voltage state control signals S 2 , S 2 ' until the output power control signal S 1 ,S 1 ' comes into operation, whereby the steady-state operation can be restored. However, in the case where a considerable variation in the load arises, for example, a variation arises from a heavy load to a light load (and the current considerabl-y decreases accordingly), it is probable that the voltage does not drop to the predetermined voltage K, because of small amplitude of the tank circuit 10 itself and, consequently, small amplitude of the voltage (V a - V b - V c ) and the voltage (V b - V c ). In such case, both of the output power control signals S 1 , S 1 ' and the voltage state control signals S 2 , S 2 ' are not generated, but at the time t 5 or t 10 where the resonant current I 1 flowing through the resonant reactor 8 becomes zero in the process of changing from negative to positive or from positive to negative, the current state control signal S 4 , S 4 ' is applied to the main switch means 1 or 2 to cause the main switch means 1 or 2 to be turned ON. At this time, the oscillating frequency of the tank circuit 10 lowers toward the parallel resonant frequency, so that the operating frequency is decreased and the amplitude of the voltage of the tank circuit 10 itself is increased accordingly, until the output power control signal S 1 , S 1 ' operates with priority to the voltage state control signal S 2 , S 2 ' and for a while the output power control signal S 1 , S 1 ' operates, whereby the steady-state operation is restored. Thus, even in a transient state where both of the output power control signals S 1 , S 1 ' and the voltage state control signal S 2 , S 2 ' are not generated, temporary interruption of a wave form is avoided, so that the negative feedback state is maintained and the stable control of the converter is assured. Fig. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention. In Fig.4, the circuit is so arranged that the resonant capacitors 5 and 6 also perform a function of the resonant capacitor 9 as shown in Fig. 2. The input capacitors 31 and 32 act to divide a potential of the DC input power source 7. The method of controlling the series resonant converter of this embodiment is substantially the same as explained with reference to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2. The technical effect obtained is also substantially the same as explained with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 5 illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the diodes 33 and 34 are connected in parallel with the main switch means 1 and 2 but with opposite polarities with respect thereto. The method of controlling the series resonant converter of this embodiment is substantially the same as explained with reference to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 and the technical effect obtained in the former is substantially the same as in the latter. Fig. 6 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The circuit arrangement of this embodiment corresponds to a combination of embodiments of Figs. 4 and 5. The method controlling the converter and the technical effect of the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 are substantially the same as those explained with reference to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2. In the above description the present invention is explained with reference to embodiments where the invention is applied to the constant output voltage control. The present invention also can be applied to a constant current control.

Claims: A series resonant power bridged converter, comprising: a series resonant circuit (5,6,12) including first switch means (1) and second switch means (2); a parallel resonant circuit (10; 5,6,8) connected in series with said series resonant circuit; and a transformer (11) connected in series with said series and parallel resonant circuits operable to generate via a rectifier a desired DC output power at a load (16) in response to a current produced by turning said first and second switch means ON and OFF when the converter is connected to a power supply means (7), said current being caused to flow through said series resonant circuit (5,6,12) in a first direction under operation of said first switch means (1) and in a second direction under operation of said second switch means (2), the current flow thereby having a periodic waveform: characterised by the provision of control means (17-30) comprising: means for detecting current flow through said first and second switch means and means for turning the first (1) or second (2) switch means OFF when the detected current through the respective switch means becomes zero; and voltage detection and computing means (17,18,19,20,21) for determining the voltage across the first or second switch means and for turning the first or second switch means ON when a voltage value which corresponds to the voltage across the respective switch means minus a voltage value (V c ) converted to the primary side from the output voltage (V' c ), drops to a predetermined voltage (K), thereby preventing interruption of said waveform during any one of the following transient conditions: starting of operation, variation of said load (16), variation of said power supply means (7). A series resonant power bridged converter according to claim 1, wherein said voltage detection and computing means (17-21) comprises: means (17) for determining a first voltage V a being the input voltage from said power supply means (7); means (18) for determining a second voltage V b being the voltage of said parallel resonant circuit (10); means (19) for determining a third voltage V' c being the DC output voltage across the load (16); and means for determining when said voltage across said first (1) or second (2) switch means has dropped to a minimum voltage required to sustain the oscillation of said converter by reference to said predetermined voltage (K) and a derived voltage, either V a -V b -V c or V b -V c , where V c is the voltage value converted to the primary side from the output voltage V' c . A series resonant power bridged converter according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said control means (17-30) further comprises: means (21) for detecting a current (IL) flowing through said parallel resonant circuit (10; 5,6,8) means for turning said first (1) or second (2) switch means ON when the detected current (IL) flowing through said parallel resonant circuit (10) is zero; and means for preventing the same switch means being switched ON more than once in a single period of said periodic waveform. A method of controlling a series resonant power bridged converter comprising: a series resonant circuit (5,6,12) including first switch means (1) and second switch means (2); a parallel resonant circuit (10; 5,6,8) connected in series with said series resonant circuit; and a transformer (11) connected in series with said series and parallel resonant circuits operable to generate a desired DC output power at a load (16) in response to a current produced by turning said first and second switch means ON and OFF when the converter is connected to a power supply means (7), said current being caused to flow through said series resonant circuit (5,6,12) in a first direction under operation of said first switch means (1) and in a second direction under operation of said second switch means (2), the current flow thereby having a periodic waveform; said method comprising the steps of: detecting current flow through said first and second switch means and turning the first (1) or second (2) switch means OFF when the detected current through the respective switch means becomes zero; and determining the voltage across the first or second switch means and turning the first or second switch means ON when a voltage value which corresponds to the voltage across the respective switch means minus a voltage value (V c ) converted to the primary side from output voltage (V' c ), drops to the predetermined voltage (K), thereby preventing interruption of said waveform during any one of the following transient conditions: starting of operation, variation of said load (16), or variation of said power supply means (7).

Inventors: ITO MIDIO, KII YASUO, SAITO RYOJI, SUZUKI YOSHIO, ITO, MIDIO, KII, YASUO, SAITO, RYOJI, SUZUKI, YOSHIO
Applicants: ORIGIN ELECTRIC, ORIGIN ELECTRIC CO. LTD.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: H02M3
IPC codes: H02M3