Patent Abstract:
A power supply may comprise a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) controller; a synchronous rectifier having a forward metal oxide field effect transistor (MOSFET) and a catch MOSFET; a forward gate driver; a catch gate driver; and the PWM controller connected so that a low output of the PWM controller facilitates operation of the catch MOSFET and so that the low output precludes operation of the forward MOSFET. The power supply may include a self powered synchronous rectifier that may be constructed with delay times that are independent of lot-to-lot and temperature-related timing variations of MOSFETS.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to electrical power supplies, and more particularly, to power supplies that employ synchronous rectification. 
         [0002]    In flyback and forward switching power supplies, output rectifier power dissipation may be a substantial contributor to the efficiency of a power supply. Synchronous rectification, performed with metal oxide field effect transistors (MOSFETS), may reduce the power dissipation of the rectifier and improve efficiency. As compared with diode rectification, synchronous rectification may also allow a power converter of the power supply to operate at small load currents with lower output ripple voltage because a “dead region” of the diodes may be eliminated. The challenge of synchronous rectifier circuits is to provide the correct timing between a catch MOSFET and a forward MOSFET. Small changes in timing may significantly change the efficiency of the power supply. If gate drives are active simultaneously, cross conduction will occur. If the gate drive timing is too slow, the advantage of synchronous rectification is reduced because a body diode and/or a parallel diode may conduct and dissipate power. 
         [0003]    Consequently, many synchronous rectifiers are constructed so that a time delay between operations of the MOSFETS is made low, but not so low as to increase the risk of cross conduction. In this context, it is important to be mindful of the temperature range in which the rectifier may operate, because MOSFETS, due to their inherent parasitic capacitance, may exhibit variations in timing as a function of their temperature. In other words, a particular MOSFET may exhibit a first response time to a gate driver at a low temperature and a different response time to the gate driver at a high temperature. These potential temperature-related response time variations may be significant in rectifiers which may be exposed to wide temperature ranges. For example, a rectifier in an aircraft at ground level may be at a temperature as high as 120° F. The same rectifier may be exposed to temperature as low as −70° F. when the aircraft is in flight. 
         [0004]    Additionally, a particular manufactured lot of MOSFETS may exhibit timing characteristics which may be different from timing characteristics of a different lot of MOSFETS. In other words MOSFETS may exhibit lot-to-lot timing variations when incorporated in synchronous rectifiers. 
         [0005]    Conventional synchronous rectifiers are constructed with the timing of the gate drivers established so that lot-to-lot variations and temperature-related variations of response time of the MOSFETS do not allow cross conduction to occur. For example, if it is empirically determined that a particular type of MOSFET may have a range of possible lot-to-lot and temperature-related response time variations of up to T nanoseconds (ns) for a temperature range between +120° F. and −70° F., then a rectifier constructed to operate within those temperature limits may incorporate an extra delay time of T ns or more to assure that cross conduction does not occur. This extra delay time has the effect of reducing the overall efficiency of the rectifier. 
         [0006]    As can be seen, there is a need for a power supply with a self powered synchronous rectifier that may be constructed with delay times that are independent of lot-to-lot and temperature-related timing variations of MOSFETS. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In one aspect of the present invention, a power supply may comprise a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) synchronous drive circuit; a synchronous rectifier having a forward metal oxide field effect transistor (MOSFET) and a catch MOSFET; a forward MOSFET gate driver; a catch MOSFET gate driver; and the PWM controller connected so that a low output of the PWM controller facilitates operation of the catch MOSFET and so that the low output precludes operation of the forward MOSFET. 
         [0008]    In another aspect of the present invention, a synchronous rectifier may comprise a forward MOSFET; a forward gate driver; a catch MOSFET; a catch gate driver; and wherein an output pin of the catch gate driver is connected with a first input pin of the forward gate driver. 
         [0009]    In still another aspect of the invention, a method of performing rectification may comprise the steps of applying a power demand signal to a PWM controller; applying output signal from the PWM controller to a driver for a forward MOSFET and a driver for a catch MOSFET; activating a catch MOSFET responsively to a low output signal from the PWM controller; and blocking activation of a forward MOSFET responsively to the low output signal so that cross conduction of the forward MOSFET and the catch MOSFET is precluded. 
         [0010]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a power supply in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the power supply of  FIG. 1  showing the synchronous rectifier in detail in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a timing diagram illustrating operation features of the power supply of Figure in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of a method of performing rectification of power in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0016]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0017]    Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide for a synchronous rectification circuit in which gate voltage of a catch MOSFET is employed as feed back to a control circuit which may remove temperature and lot-to-lot related variations of timing that are caused by parasitic impedances of MOSFETS, such as gate to source capacitance. The circuit may accommodate adjusting relative timing between gate drives of catch and forward MOSFETS by changing a resistive capacitive (RC) time constant. 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a power supply  10  is shown in block diagram form. The power supply  10  may comprise a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) controller  12  and a synchronous rectifier  14 . In operation, a power demand signal  16  may be applied to the PWM controller  12 . Responsively to the signal  16 , the PWM controller  12  may provide an operating signal  18  at a desired duty cycle to the rectifier  14 . The rectifier  14  may, responsively to the signal  18 , rectify input current  20  into output current  22 . 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the power supply  10  is illustrated in block diagram form with the rectifier  14  shown in detail. The rectifier  14  may comprise a transformer  30 , with a primary  30 - 1  and a secondary winding  30 - 2 , a forward MOSFET  32  and a catch MOSFET  34 . A gate  32 - 1  of the forward MOSFET may be connected with a forward gate driver  36 . A gate  34 - 1  of the catch MOSFET may be connected with a catch gate driver  38 . 
         [0020]    In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the gate drivers  36  and  38  may be commercially available gate drivers (e.g., LM5112 drivers available from National Semiconductor Corp.). The gate drivers  36  and  38  may have active high input pins  36 - 1  and  38 - 1 ; active low input pins  36 - 6  and  38 - 6 ; and output pins  36 - 4  and  38 - 4 . The drivers  36  and  38  may only produce output signals  36 - 4  and  38 - 4  in the presence of high input signals at their respective inputs  36 - 1  and low input signals at their respective inputs  36 - 6  and  38 - 6 . 
         [0021]    The active high input pin  38 - 1  of the driver  38  may be maintained continuously in a high state by application of voltage from a power source (not shown) to a power input  38 - 3  pin. Consequently, when the PWM controller  12  produces a low one of the signals  18 , the catch MOSFET  34  may operate because the driver  38  is then provided with both a low signal at its pin  38 - 6  and a high signal at its pin  38 - 1 . Conversely, the forward MOSFET  32  will not operate in the presence of the low one of the signals  18 , because the low signal  18  will be applied to the active high input  36 - 1  of the driver  36 . 
         [0022]    It may be noted that the input pin  36 - 6  may be interconnected with the output pin  38 - 4  of the driver  38 . Consequently, an output signal  36 - 10  may be produced only during production of a low output signal  38 - 10  from the driver  38  and a high output signal  18  from the PWM controller  12 . In other words, the output signal  36 - 10  may be produced only when output signal  38 - 10  is not produced. Thus, the gates  32 - 1  and  34 - 1  may not operate simultaneously. The MOSFETS  32  and  34  may only operate sequentially, thus precluding cross conduction. 
         [0023]    In addition to output signal  36 - 10  from the driver  36  producing operation of the gate  32 - 1  of the forward MOSFET  32 , the output signal  36 - 10  may also operate a gate  40 - 1  of a primary MOSFET  40  through a pulse transformer  42 . 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a timing diagram  100  may be illustrative of operating features of an exemplary embodiment of the power supply  10 . In the diagram  100 , a pulse sequence  102  may represent an output from the PWM controller  12 ; a pulse sequence  104  may represent an output from the catch gate driver  38 ; and a pulse sequence  106  may represent an output from the forward gate driver  36 . In operation, the PWM controller  12  may produce the signals  18  in an alternating high/low sequence. A high one of the signals  18  may, after a delay T 1 , result in a low output from the gate driver  38 . A low one of the signals  18  may, after a delay T 1 , result in a high output from the gate driver  38  and the catch MOSFET  34  may be activated. At a time T 1 +T 2 , after the high signal  18 , the gate driver  36  may produce a high output and the forward MOSFET  34  may be activated. Simultaneously with production of a low one of the signals  18 , at a time T 0  after the high signal  18 , the gate driver  36  may produce a low output signal and the forward MOSFET  32  may be deactivated. 
         [0025]    Thus, the forward MOSFET  32  may be inactivated while the catch MOSFET  34  is activated. Conversely, the catch MOSFET  34  may be inactivated while the forward MOSFET  32  is activated. The catch MOSFET  34  may be activated with pulse times equal to the pulse times of the PWM controller  12 , i.e., pulse time T 0 . In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the forward MOSFET  32  may be activated with pulse times shorter than T 0 . The forward MOSFET  32  may be activated for time intervals which are a time T 2  less than the time intervals of activation of the catch MOSFET  34 . 
         [0026]    This T 2  time differential may be considered “dead time”. It may be noted that in an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an RC circuit  50  may be interposed between the output pin  38 - 4  of the driver  38  and the input pin  36 - 6  of the driver  36 . With proper selection of capacitance and resistance values, the RC circuit  50  may introduce a predetermined dead time delay i.e., the time T 2 , between production of output signals  38 - 10  at pin  38 - 4  and receipt of a corresponding input signal at pin  36 - 1 . 
         [0027]    As explained above, cross conduction may be logically precluded because of the interlocking arrangement of input and output pins of the drivers  36  and  38 . However, a certain degree of unpredictability of timing may occur if triggering of the forward MOSFET  32  were to proceed merely as a function of production of an output signal from pin  36 - 4  of the catch MOSFET  36 . In a typical MOSFET there may be a finite unpredictable time lapse between activation of its gate and initiation of current between its source and drain. It may be desirable to reduce the unpredictability by introducing a known dead time lapse between successive operations of the MOSFETS  32  and  34 . The RC circuit  50  may perform this role. 
         [0028]    The resistive and capacitive components of the RC circuit  50  may be selected from various commercial sources. It may be desirable to select these components which may have stability of resistive or capacitive value over a large range of temperature. Use of such temperature-stable components may provide the power supply  10  with temperature stable timing. Temperature stability of timing in such a power supply may be independent of temperature stability of timing of the MOSFETS  32  and  34 . In other words, timing of the rectifier  14  may remain nearly constant throughout a wide range of temperature, because timing may be determined exclusively by selection of temperature stable components of the RC circuit  50 . 
         [0029]    Additionally, timing may be determined independently of lot-to-lot timing variations in MOSFETS which may be incorporated in the rectifier  14 . 
         [0030]    A second RC circuit  52  may be interposed between the PWM controller  12  and the active high input pin  36 - 6 . The second RC circuit  52  may provide an additional mechanism for controlling timing. As is the case with the RC circuit  50 , the second RC circuit  52  may advantageously be constructed with temperature stable components. 
         [0031]    It may be seen that the rectifier  14  may be constructed and successfully operated without use of either the RC circuits  50  or  52 . Also the rectifier may be operated with only the RC circuit  50  or only the second RC circuit  52  or with both of the RC circuits  50  and  52 . 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a flow chart  400  may illustrate an exemplary method which may be employed to operate the electrical power supply  10  in accordance with an embodiment the invention. In a step  402 , a power demand signal may be applied to a PWM controller (e.g., the signal  16  may be applied to the PWM controller  12 ). In a step  404 , an operating signal may be produced to activate a catch gate driver (e.g., the PWM controller  12  may produce an active low signal and apply the signal to the active low input pin  38 - 6  of the catch gate driver  38 ). In a step  406 , a catch MOSFET may be activated (e.g., the catch gate driver  38  may produce an output from output pin  38 - 4  to operate the gate  34 - 1  of the catch MOSFET  34 ). In a step  408 , performed simultaneously with step  306 , activation of a forward MOSFET may be blocked (e.g., the active low signal from the PWM controller  12  may be applied to the active high input pin  36 - 1  of the forward gate driver  36  resulting in an absence of a high output from the forward gate driver  36 ). In a step  410 , the forward MOSFET may be activated with feedback from the catch gate driver (e.g., an active low signal from the output pin  38 - 4  of the catch gate driver  38  may be applied to the active low input pin  36 - 6  of the forward gate driver  36 ). 
         [0033]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7