Patent ID: 8374012

Claim:
A phase-controlled power supply, comprising: a power conditioner with an input and an output, the input configured to connect to an external source of electrical power, wherein the power conditioner is configured to provide conditioned power on its output; a transformer comprising a primary winding and a secondary winding; and a switching module coupled between the output of the power conditioner and the primary winding of the transformer, the switching module having open-loop and closed-loop modes of operation, the switching module comprising: a first switching element configured to connect the power conditioner output to the primary winding of the transformer; and a control signal input configured to accept a first control signal; wherein the switching module operates in the open-loop mode when the first control signal is in a first state, the open-loop mode comprising switching of the first switching element at a open-loop frequency and a open-loop duty cycle, and wherein the switching module operates in the closed-loop mode when the first control signal is in a second state, the closed-loop mode comprising switching of the first switching element at a closed-loop frequency and a closed-loop duty cycle according to the first control signal.