Power supply integration system with switchable power supply mode and electronic load mode and switching method thereof

Abstract

The present application relates to a power supply integration system and switching method thereof, which can switch between power supply mode and electronic load mode. When switching from power supply mode to electronic load mode, the following steps are included: after the microprocessor controls the power component to stop operating, the current control module and phase-locked loop are started to obtain the voltage phase of the power supply to be tested; the current control module calculates the on-state current of the power component according to the current setting value and the voltage phase, and then makes the power component generate the pull load current to the power supply to be tested; when switching from electronic load mode to power supply mode, the power component is stopped operating, and then the voltage control module is started; the voltage control module calculates the on-state current of the power component according to the voltage setting value, and then makes the power component input the corresponding voltage to the power supply to be tested.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a power supply system and a switching method for a power supply mode and an electronic load mode that can be switched, and more particularly to a power supply system that integrates AC / DC power supply mode and AC / DC electronic load mode, and can switch modes without shutting down. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of electronic device testing, AC / DC power supplies and AC / DC electronic loads have always played a crucial role. AC / DC power supplies simply provide a stable power source to the device under test (DUT), while AC / DC electronic loads simulate energy consumption to mimic the power environment. However, in current technology, these two instruments are mostly independent electronic devices, with few integrating both functions. This is because one supplies power, and the other consumes power—they are completely opposite in function. Furthermore, the inability to integrate existing AC / DC power supplies and AC / DC electronic loads stems from the differences in their control modes, leading to a lack of hardware design compatibility.

[0003] Upon investigation, Taiwan Patent Publication No. 201434228, entitled "Power Conversion System with Power Supply and Electronic Load," discloses a power conversion system combining a power supply and an electronic load. However, this patented technology utilizes two power converters to function as the power supply and electronic load, respectively. In simpler terms, the aforementioned patent combines two independent components—the power supply and the electronic load—which operate independently with very few shared components, hardly constituting substantial integration. Furthermore, the main technical focus of this patent is on recovering electrical energy as the power source for the power supply when using the electronic load function, without detailing the method for switching modes.

[0004] Therefore, a power integration system that can integrate a power supply and an electronic load into the same electronic device, enabling shared hardware components and switching between these two completely different functions via digital control without shutting down is something that the industry and the general public have been eagerly anticipating. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The main objective of this invention is to provide a power integration system and switching method that can switch between power supply mode and electronic load mode, which can achieve the goal of sharing the same body for AC / DC power supply and AC / DC electronic load, that is, sharing hardware components, and thus achieving substantial integration.

[0006] Another major objective of this invention is to enable the switching between AC / DC power supply mode and AC / DC electronic load mode without shutting down the device. This is done entirely through digital control and requires no hardware replacement or adjustment during the switching process.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a power integration system capable of switching between power supply mode and electronic load mode, mainly comprising an AC / DC conversion module, a DC / DC conversion module, and a DC / AC conversion module; the AC / DC conversion module is electrically coupled to an external power source, while the DC / DC conversion module is electrically connected to the AC / DC conversion module, and the DC / AC conversion module is electrically connected to the DC / DC conversion module and is used for electrical coupling to a power-type device under test; additionally, the DC / AC conversion module may include a microprocessor, a power component, a power component drive circuit, a voltage sensing circuit, and a current sensing circuit; the power component drive circuit is electrically coupled to the microprocessor and the power component, and is controlled to drive the power component; while the power component is electrically coupled to the power-type device under test. The device under test includes a voltage sensing circuit and a current sensing circuit electrically coupled between a power component and a power supply-type device under test (DUT). In power supply mode, the microprocessor controls the power component drive circuit according to a voltage setting, causing the power component to input a corresponding voltage to the DUT. The voltage sensing circuit and current sensing circuit monitor the output voltage and current values ​​output to the DUT and feed them back to the microprocessor. In electronic load mode, the microprocessor controls the voltage sensing circuit to detect the input voltage value of the DUT, and the microprocessor determines the voltage phase based on the input voltage value. The microprocessor then controls the power component drive circuit according to a current setting and the voltage phase, causing the power component to generate a load current on the DUT.

[0008] Accordingly, the present invention will substantially integrate the AC / DC power supply and the AC / DC electronic load into the same system, achieving the goal of sharing the same body for these two functional devices. When performing these two functions separately, most of the hardware components in the system are shared with each other. The present invention executes these two functions and the switching between them only through digital control, which is a completely new type of integrated power supply device.

[0009] To achieve the aforementioned objectives, this invention provides a method for switching between power supply mode and electronic load mode in a power integration system. The power integration system mainly includes a DC / AC conversion module electrically coupled to a power-type device under test (DUT). The DC / AC conversion module includes a microprocessor and a power component. The microprocessor mainly includes a voltage control module, a current control module, and a phase-locked loop (PLL). The method for switching from power supply mode to electronic load mode includes the following steps: First, the microprocessor controls and stops the operation of the power component; next, the current control module is activated; then, the microprocessor controls and activates the PLL and obtains the voltage phase of the power-type DUT; furthermore, the current control module calculates the conduction of the power component based on the current setpoint and the voltage phase; finally, the microprocessor causes the power component to generate a load current on the power-type DUT. The method for switching from electronic load mode to power supply mode includes the following steps: First, the microprocessor controls and stops the operation of the power component; next, the voltage control module is activated; then, the voltage control module calculates the conduction of the power component based on the voltage setpoint; finally, the microprocessor controls the power component to input a corresponding voltage to the power-type DUT.

[0010] Accordingly, this invention enables switching between power supply mode and electronic load mode solely through digital control, without requiring hardware modifications or manual hardware settings reset. Switching is achieved simply through the user interface, and the process is remarkably simple and fast, eliminating the need for device restarts or resets. Furthermore, this invention utilizes current and voltage control modules within the microprocessor to perform current and voltage compensation calculations, thereby ensuring the power component outputs a precise corresponding voltage in power supply mode and generates a precise load current for the power supply-type device under test in electronic load mode. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a system block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 2 This is a system block diagram of the power supply mode of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 3 This is a system block diagram of the electronic load mode of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the switching from electronic load mode to power supply mode.

[0015] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the switching from power supply mode to electronic load mode. Detailed Implementation

[0016] Before the power integration system and switching method for switchable power supply mode and electronic load mode of the present invention are described in detail in this embodiment, it should be noted that similar components will be represented by the same component symbols in the following description. Furthermore, the accompanying drawings of the present invention are for illustrative purposes only and are not necessarily drawn to scale, and not all details may be shown in the drawings.

[0017] Please refer to the following first. Figure 1 This is a system block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the power integration system of the present invention, which can switch between power supply mode and electronic load mode; the diagram shows the main components of the power integration system of this embodiment and the connection relationship between these components and external components. Further, the power integration system 1 of this embodiment mainly includes an AC / DC conversion module 2, a DC / DC conversion module 3, and a DC / AC conversion module 4; wherein, the AC / DC conversion module 2 located at the input terminal is electrically coupled to an external power supply Po, and the external power supply Po can be single-phase or three-phase AC mains power, and the AC / DC conversion module 2 of this embodiment is an AC-to-DC power conversion module with active power factor correction (PFC).

[0018] On the other hand, in this embodiment, the DC / DC conversion module 3 is electrically coupled between the AC / DC conversion module 2 and the DC / AC conversion module 4. The DC / DC conversion module 3 in this embodiment is a step-up / step-down DC isolation transformer. Furthermore, the DC / AC conversion module 4 located at the output end is the spindle of this embodiment, used for electrical coupling to a power supply-type device under test (DUT) Ot; the power supply-type DUT Ot can be a load-type DUT or a power supply-type DUT.

[0019] Furthermore, please refer to Figure 2 This is a system block diagram of the power supply mode of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The following describes the hardware architecture and operation of this embodiment in power supply mode; as shown in the figure, the hardware configuration of the DC / AC conversion module 4 in power supply mode mainly includes a microprocessor 40, a power component 41, a power component drive circuit 42, a voltage sensing circuit 43, a current sensing circuit 44, a switching module 5, a current signal amplification circuit 46, a voltage signal amplification circuit 45, and multiple passive components and a DC bus. In addition, the microprocessor 40 also includes three main functional modules: a voltage control module 401, a current control module 402, and a phase-locked loop 403.

[0020] In this embodiment, the power component drive circuit 42 is electrically coupled to the microprocessor 40 and the power component 41, and the power component 41 is electrically coupled to the power supply-type device under test (DUT) Ot. The voltage sensing circuit 43, the current sensing circuit 44, and the switching component 5 are electrically coupled between the power component 41 and the power supply-type DUT Ot. In this embodiment, the switching module 5 is a relay. When it is turned on by the microprocessor 40, it can turn on the DC / AC conversion module 4 to the power supply-type DUT Ot, or it can be turned off by the microprocessor 40 to create an open circuit between the DC / AC conversion module 4 and the power supply-type DUT Ot.

[0021] Additionally, the current signal amplification circuit 46 is electrically coupled between the current sensing circuit 44 and the microprocessor 40, and is used to amplify the current measurement signal for supply to the microprocessor 40. The current measurement signal can be, for example, the output current value output to the power supply-type device under test (DUT) Ot in power supply mode, or the input current value input by the power supply-type DUT Ot in electronic load mode. Furthermore, the voltage signal amplification circuit 45 is electrically coupled between the voltage sensing circuit 43 and the microprocessor 40, and is used to amplify the voltage measurement signal for supply to the microprocessor 40. The voltage measurement signal can be, for example, the output voltage value output to the power supply-type DUT Ot in power supply mode, or the input voltage value input by the power supply-type DUT Ot in electronic load mode.

[0022] The operation of the power supply mode in this embodiment is explained below. Please refer to the following. Figure 2 The microprocessor 40 controls the power component drive circuit 42 according to the voltage setting value Vu pre-input by the user, so that the power component 41 inputs a corresponding voltage to the power supply type test device Ot. Further, in this embodiment, the voltage control module 401 performs function calculations and steady-state error compensation on the voltage setting value Vu, thereby obtaining the conduction of the power component 41, which is the duty ratio of the semiconductor switching component, and outputs a PWM (Pulse-width modulation) type voltage control signal to the power component drive circuit 42, thereby driving the power component 41 to input a voltage equivalent to the voltage setting value Vu to the power supply type test device Ot.

[0023] Meanwhile, during operation in power supply mode, voltage sensing circuit 43 and current sensing circuit 44 monitor the output voltage and output current values ​​input to the power supply-type device under test Ot in real time and feed them back to microprocessor 40. Once the detected output voltage and output current values ​​have errors with the set values, microprocessor 40 can adjust them in real time to eliminate the errors.

[0024] Additionally, please see Figure 3This is a system block diagram of the electronic load mode according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The following describes the hardware architecture and operation of this embodiment in electronic load mode. As shown in the figure, the hardware architecture of this embodiment in electronic load mode is almost identical to that in power supply mode. The only difference lies in the functional modules operating within the microprocessor 40. In power supply mode, the voltage control module 401 performs calculations and processing, while in electronic load mode, the current control module 402 and the phase-locked loop 403 perform calculations and processing. Therefore, in the power integration system provided in this embodiment, electronic load mode and power supply mode share almost all hardware components, achieving the goal of sharing the same core and perfect integration.

[0025] The operation of the electronic load mode in this embodiment is explained below. Please refer to the following: Figure 3 The microprocessor 40 controls the voltage sensing circuit 43 to detect the input voltage value of the power supply type device under test Ot. The microprocessor 40 can then determine the voltage phase based on the input voltage value. The microprocessor 40 controls the power component drive circuit 42 based on the user-preset current setting value Au and the voltage phase, so that the power component 41 generates a load current on the power supply type device under test Ot.

[0026] To further explain, the voltage sensing circuit 43 detects the input voltage value of the power supply-type device under test Ot in real time and feeds it back to the microprocessor 40. Since the phase-locked loop 403 inside the microprocessor 40 has components such as a phase detector, a loop filter, and a voltage-controlled oscillator, its voltage phase can be obtained immediately through calculation after the input voltage value enters the phase-locked loop 403.

[0027] At this time, the current control module 402 can determine the conduction of the power component, i.e. the duty ratio of the semiconductor switching component, based on the current setpoint Au and the voltage phase through function calculation and steady-state error compensation. Then, it controls the power component drive circuit 42 by outputting a current control signal. The power component drive circuit 42 then outputs a matching voltage Vp to the power component 41, thereby driving the power component 41 to generate a load current on the power supply-type device under test Ot. This load current is essentially equivalent to the current setpoint Au. The current control signal is also a PWM type current control signal.

[0028] Similarly, during the operation of the electronic load mode, the voltage sensing circuit 43 and the current sensing circuit 44 monitor the input voltage and input current of the power supply-type device under test Ot in real time and feed them back to the microprocessor 40. The microprocessor 40 determines the voltage phase based on the input voltage and then adjusts the power component 41. On the other hand, the microprocessor 40 also decides whether to activate the protection mechanism based on the input voltage and the input current. Once the detected input voltage or input current value changes significantly, the microprocessor 40 can process it in real time to avoid system failure.

[0029] Please see Figure 4 The figure shows a flowchart of a preferred embodiment of the present invention switching from electronic load mode to power supply mode. As shown in the figure, firstly, the user performs the switching action through a human-machine interface, which can be done through a physical button, screen touch, or through a computer with a mouse and keyboard, i.e., step S100. Next, in step S110, the microprocessor 40 stops outputting the current control signal to the power component drive circuit 42; moreover, the microprocessor 40 further determines whether the current control signal has stopped outputting, i.e., step S120; if it has not stopped outputting, the process returns to step S110, and the microprocessor 40 continues to stop outputting the signal.

[0030] Furthermore, if the current control signal has been stopped from being output, the microprocessor 40 controls the switch module 5 to shut down, thus creating an open circuit between the DC / AC conversion module 4 and the power supply-type device under test (DUT) Ot (step S130). Next, the microprocessor 40 waits for 200 milliseconds to ensure a complete circuit break (step S140). Then, a system flag command instructs the microprocessor 40 to switch from the current control module 402 to the voltage control module 401, which essentially disables the current control module 402 and enables the voltage control module 401 (step S150). Simultaneously, the microprocessor 40 also resets its internally stored measurement values ​​and parameter settings, clearing all temporarily stored settings and related parameters (step S150).

[0031] Next, the user can input a voltage setting value Vu through the human-machine interface, which is the voltage value to be output in power supply mode. The voltage control module 410 can then calculate the conduction of the power component 41 based on the voltage setting value Vu. That is, the voltage control module 410 calculates the duty ratio of each switching component in the power component 41 through function calculation and steady-state error compensation, which is step S170. Finally, in step S180, the microprocessor 40 outputs the corresponding voltage control signal to the power component drive circuit 42 based on the value calculated in the previous step. The power component drive circuit 42 then drives the power component 41 accordingly, and the DC / AC conversion module 4 can input a voltage equivalent to the voltage setting value Vu to the power supply-type device under test Ot.

[0032] Please see Figure 5 The figure shows a flowchart of a preferred embodiment of the present invention switching from a power supply mode to an electronic load mode. As shown in the figure, firstly, the user performs the switching action through the human-machine interface, i.e., step S200. Next, in step S210, the microprocessor 40 stops inputting the voltage control signal to the power component drive circuit 42; moreover, the microprocessor 40 will further determine whether the voltage control signal has stopped outputting, i.e., step S220; if it has not stopped outputting, the process returns to step S210, and the microprocessor 40 continues to control and stop the output of the signal.

[0033] Furthermore, if the microprocessor 40 determines that the voltage control signal has stopped outputting, it proceeds to step S230. A system flag command instructs the microprocessor 40 to switch from the voltage control module 401 to the current control module 402; essentially, this disables the voltage control module 401 and enables the current control module 402. Simultaneously, the microprocessor 40 resets all internally stored measurement values ​​and parameter settings, clearing the internally stored settings and related parameters; this is step S240. Following this, step S250 is performed, where the microprocessor 40 controls the switching module 5 to turn on the DC / AC conversion module 4 to the power supply-type device under test (DUT) Ot.

[0034] Furthermore, when the switching module 5 is turned on, the microprocessor 40 receives the input voltage value detected in real time by the voltage sensing circuit 43 and starts the phase-locked loop 403 to process the input voltage value to obtain the voltage phase, which is step S260. At the same time, the system receives the current setting value Au input by the user, which is the load current in the electronic load mode. Then, the current control module 402 can calculate the conduction of the power component 41, which is the duty cycle of each switching component in the power component 41, based on the voltage phase and current setting value Au obtained through the phase-locked loop 403, through function calculation and steady-state error compensation, which is step S270. Finally, the microprocessor 40 outputs a PWM-type current control signal to the power component drive circuit 42 according to the aforementioned conduction, and the power component drive circuit 42 outputs a matching voltage Vp to the power component 41, causing the power component 41 to generate the load current.

[0035] As can be seen from the above switching process, this embodiment can switch between AC / DC power supply mode and AC / DC electronic load mode without shutting down the device. The switching is done entirely through digital control. More importantly, no hardware configuration needs to be changed during the mode switching process. Users only need to operate the human-machine interface to switch, which is very simple and convenient for users.

[0036] The above embodiments are merely illustrative examples for ease of explanation. The scope of the claims of this invention should be determined by the scope of the claims, and not limited to the above embodiments.

[0037] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0038] 1: Power Integration System

[0039] 2: AC / DC conversion module

[0040] 3: DC / DC conversion module

[0041] 4: DC / AC conversion module

[0042] 5: Switching module

[0043] 40: Microprocessor

[0044] 41: Power Components

[0045] 42: Power component drive circuit

[0046] 43: Voltage sensing circuit

[0047] 44: Current sensing circuit

[0048] 45: Voltage signal amplification circuit

[0049] 46: Current signal amplifier circuit

[0050] 401: Voltage Control Module

[0051] 402: Current Control Module

[0052] 403: Phase-locked loop

[0053] Au: Current setting value

[0054] Ot: Power supply-related device under test

[0055] Po: External power supply

[0056] Vu: Voltage setting value

[0057] Vp: Matching voltage.

Claims

1. A power integration system capable of switching between power supply mode and electronic load mode, comprising: AC / DC conversion module, which is used for electrical coupling to an external power supply; DC / DC converter module, which is electrically connected to the AC / DC converter module; and DC / AC conversion module, which is electrically connected to the DC / DC conversion module and is used for electrical coupling to power supply type test device; The DC / AC conversion module includes a microprocessor, a power component, a power component drive circuit, a voltage sensing circuit, and a current sensing circuit; the power component drive circuit is electrically coupled to the microprocessor and the power component, and is controlled to drive the power component; the power component is electrically coupled to the power supply type device under test; the voltage sensing circuit and the current sensing circuit are electrically coupled between the power component and the power supply type device under test. When in the power supply mode, the microprocessor controls the power component drive circuit according to the voltage setting value, so that the power component inputs the corresponding voltage to the power-type device under test. The voltage sensing circuit and the current sensing circuit monitor the output voltage value and output current value output to the power-type device under test respectively and feed them back to the microprocessor. When in the electronic load mode, the microprocessor controls the voltage sensing circuit to detect the input voltage value of the power supply-type device under test. The microprocessor determines the voltage phase based on the input voltage value. The microprocessor controls the power component drive circuit based on the current setting value and the voltage phase, so that the power component generates a load current on the power supply-type device under test.

2. The power integration system with switchable power supply mode and electronic load mode according to claim 1, wherein, The microprocessor includes a voltage control module; when in the power supply mode, the voltage control module calculates the conduction of the power component according to the voltage setting value, and outputs a voltage control signal to the power component drive circuit, so that it controls the power component to output the corresponding voltage.

3. The power integration system with switchable power supply mode and electronic load mode according to claim 2, wherein, The microprocessor also includes a current control module and a phase-locked loop. When in the electronic load mode, the microprocessor obtains the voltage phase through the phase-locked loop, calculates the conduction of the power component using the current setting value and the voltage phase through the current control module, and outputs a current control signal to the power component drive circuit, so that the power component drive circuit outputs a matching voltage to the power component, and the power component generates the load current.

4. The power integration system with switchable power supply mode and electronic load mode according to claim 3 further includes a switching module electrically coupled between the DC / AC conversion module and the power-type device under test; the microprocessor controls the switching module to be turned on to allow the DC / AC conversion module to conduct to the power-type device under test, or to be turned off to form an open circuit between the DC / AC conversion module and the power-type device under test.

5. The power integration system with switchable power supply mode and electronic load mode according to claim 4, wherein, When switching from the power supply mode to the electronic load mode, the microprocessor shuts down the power component through the power component drive circuit; the microprocessor starts the current control module and controls the switching module to turn on, and the microprocessor's phase-locked loop starts and calculates to obtain the voltage phase; the current control module calculates the conduction of the power component based on the current set value and the voltage phase, and the microprocessor causes the power component to generate the load current for the power supply type device under test through the power component drive circuit.

6. The power integration system with switchable power supply mode and electronic load mode according to claim 4, wherein, When switching from the electronic load mode to the power supply mode, the microprocessor shuts down the power component through the power component drive circuit; the microprocessor controls the switching module to shut down and waits for a specific time before starting the voltage control module; the voltage control module calculates the conduction of the power component based on the voltage setpoint, and the microprocessor causes the power component to input the corresponding voltage to the power supply-type device under test through the power component drive circuit.

7. The power integration system with switchable power supply mode and electronic load mode according to claim 3 further includes a current signal amplification circuit and a voltage signal amplification circuit, wherein the current signal amplification circuit is electrically coupled between the current sensing circuit and the microprocessor, and the voltage signal amplification circuit is electrically coupled between the voltage sensing circuit and the microprocessor.

8. A method for switching between power supply mode and electronic load mode in a power integration system, wherein, The power integration system includes a DC / AC conversion module electrically coupled to a power-type device under test. The DC / AC conversion module includes a microprocessor and power components. The microprocessor includes a voltage control module, a current control module, and a phase-locked loop. The process of switching from the power supply mode to the electronic load mode includes the following steps: (A1) The microprocessor controls the shutdown of the power component; (A2) Start the current control module; (A3) The microprocessor controls the start of the phase-locked loop and obtains the voltage phase of the power supply-type device under test; (A4) The current control module calculates the conduction of the power component based on the current setpoint and the voltage phase; and (A5) The microprocessor causes the power component to generate a load current on the power supply-type device under test; The process of switching from the electronic load mode to the power supply mode includes the following steps: (B1) The microprocessor controls the shutdown of the power component; (B2) Start the voltage control module; (B3) The voltage control module calculates the conduction of the power component based on the voltage setpoint; and (B4) The microprocessor controls the power component to input the corresponding voltage to the power supply type device under test.

9. The method for switching between power supply mode and electronic load mode in a power integration system according to claim 8, wherein the DC / AC conversion module further includes a power component drive circuit electrically coupled between the microprocessor and the power component; in steps (A1) and (B1), after the microprocessor stops inputting control signals to the power component drive circuit, the microprocessor further determines whether the control signals input to the power component drive circuit have stopped; if they have not stopped, steps (A1) and (B1) continue; if they have stopped, steps (A2) and (B2) are executed; in step (A5), the microprocessor outputs a current control signal to the power component drive circuit according to the conduction obtained in step (A4) to drive the power component to generate the load current for the power-type device under test; in step (B4), the microprocessor outputs a voltage control signal to the power component drive circuit according to the conduction obtained in step (B3) to drive the power component to input the corresponding voltage to the power-type device under test.

10. The method for switching between power supply mode and electronic load mode in a power integration system according to claim 8, wherein, The power integration system also includes a switching module electrically coupled between the DC / AC conversion module and the power-type device under test (DUT). The switching module is controlled to turn on to allow the DC / AC conversion module to conduct to the power-type DUT, and the switching module is controlled to turn off to create an open circuit between the DC / AC conversion module and the power-type DUT. In step (A2), after starting the current control module and clearing all temporary parameters in the microprocessor, the microprocessor controls the switching module to turn on. In step (B2), the microprocessor controls the switching module to turn off and waits for a specific time before starting the voltage control module, and the microprocessor clears all temporary parameters.

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