Converter using a planar transformer

Abstract

To provide a converter using a planar transformer which can improve the efficiency of power conversion and the stability of power conversion, and reduce the cost of components.SOLUTION: A converter using a planar transformer includes an input unit that receives a high voltage input, a transformer equipped with a first plane transform unit and a second plane transform unit that decompress a voltage provided from the input unit, and an output unit that outputs the voltage decompressed by the transformer as a low voltage. The input unit includes a plurality of inductors that provide a current to a primary winding coil of each of the first and second plane transform units via a first current path and a second current path whose current directions are different from each other, and are connected in parallel with the primary winding coil of each of the first and second plane transform units.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a DC-DC converter using a planar transformer.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Recently, in response to the crises of air pollution and oil depletion, technologies related to eco-friendly vehicles that use electric energy as vehicle power have been actively developed. Eco-friendly vehicles include Hybrid Electric Vehicles, Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles, and Electric Vehicles.

[0003] Eco-friendly vehicles include a high-voltage battery for driving the vehicle and a low-voltage battery for driving electrical components. The electric energy charged in the high-voltage battery is used as the power source of the vehicle, and the electric energy charged in the low-voltage battery is used as the power source for the electrical components of the vehicle.

[0004] Since the ratio of electric energy usage is increasing not only in eco-friendly vehicles but also in general vehicles, there is a demand for the development of converters that stably supply electric energy and have high power conversion efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0005] Embodiments of the present invention aim to provide a converter using a planar transformer.

[0006] The technical problems of the present invention are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0007] A converter using a planar transformer according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an input section that receives a high voltage input, a transformer comprising a first planar transformer section and a second planar transformer section that reduce the voltage provided from the input section, and an output section that outputs the voltage reduced by the transformer as a low voltage, wherein the input section provides current to the primary winding coils of the first and second planar transformers respectively via a first current path and a second current path having different current directions, and may include a plurality of inductors connected in parallel to the primary winding coils of the first and second planar transformers respectively. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] This invention can improve the efficiency and stability of power conversion and reduce the cost of components.

[0009] This invention can improve vehicle fuel efficiency by increasing the efficiency of power conversion.

[0010] This invention can improve the stability of a vehicle's electrical system by increasing the stability of power conversion.

[0011] In addition, a variety of other effects may be provided, either directly or indirectly, as described herein. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This figure shows the actual configuration of the converter according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a diagram showing the configuration of a planar transformer. [Figure 3] This is a diagram showing the configuration of a planar transformer. [Figure 4] This is a circuit diagram showing a converter according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This figure illustrates the operation of a converter according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to illustrative figures. It should be noted that, in assigning reference numerals to the components in each figure, the same component will be given the same reference numeral whenever possible, even if it is shown in a different figure. Furthermore, in describing embodiments of the present invention, if a specific description of a related known configuration or function is deemed to hinder understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, such detailed description will be omitted.

[0014] In describing the components of embodiments of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc., may be used. Such terms are merely for distinguishing a component from other components, and do not limit the nature, order, or sequence of the component. Furthermore, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, have the same meaning as those generally understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having the meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art, and should not be interpreted in an ideal and overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in this application.

[0015] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

[0016] Figure 1 shows the actual configuration of a converter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Referring to Figure 1, a converter according to one embodiment of the present invention may be implemented inside a vehicle. In this case, the converter may be formed integrally with the vehicle's internal control unit, or it may be implemented in a separate device and connected to the vehicle's control unit by a separate coupling means.

[0018] Referring to Figure 1, the converter according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a circuit board, an input section, a transformer, and an output section.

[0019] An input unit, a transformer, and an output unit may be mounted on a circuit board.

[0020] The input unit can receive a high voltage input, and transmit the received high voltage to the transformer. At this time, when transmitting the high voltage to the transformer, the input unit can reduce and transmit the noise component contained in the high voltage.

[0021] The transformer can lower the voltage level of the high voltage transmitted from the input unit and convert it into a low voltage.

[0022] The transformer may include first and second planar transformer units, and the first and second planar transformer units can lower the voltage level of a high voltage and convert it into a low voltage.

[0023] The output unit can transmit the low voltage whose voltage level is lowered by the transformer to an external circuit (electrical component). At this time, the output unit can reduce and output the noise component contained in the low voltage received from the transformer.

[0024] At this time, both the high voltage input to the input unit and the low voltage output from the output unit may be direct current (DC) voltages.

[0025] Figure 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a transformer.

[0026] The transformer 100 may include a multilayer circuit board 110, first and second upper cores 121-1, 121-2, and first and second lower cores 122-1, 122-2.

[0027] The multilayer circuit board 110 may include a plurality of printed circuit boards 111.

[0028] A winding 112 having a predetermined pattern may be formed on each of the plurality of printed circuit boards 111.

[0029] The printed circuit board 111 may be made of an insulator such as epoxy.

[0030] The winding 112 may have a predetermined pattern formed on one surface of the printed circuit board 111, and can form a self-path that generates electromagnetic induction.

[0031] In this case, the winding 112 may be represented by a metal foil such as copper foil, silver foil, or aluminum foil made of a conductive material, or by a conductive paste such as ink in which metal oxides are dispersed, in order to form a self-pathway.

[0032] The windings 112 may be formed on each printed circuit board 111 in a spiral pattern with a central opening 113 at its center.

[0033] The windings 112 formed on each printed circuit board 111 may have different numbers of turns.

[0034] Each printed circuit board 111 may have a central opening 113 through which one leg each of the first and second lower cores 122-1 and 122-2 can pass.

[0035] The first and second upper cores 121-1, 121-2 and the first and second lower cores 122-1, 122-2 may be joined in a manner that encloses the central opening 113 of the multilayer circuit board 110 from the outside.

[0036] The first and second upper cores 121-1, 121-2 and the first and second lower cores 122-1, 122-2 may each be made of a magnetic material having magnetic properties.

[0037] In a transformer 100 having such a configuration, the voltage transformation ratio may be determined by the number of turns of the windings 112 formed on each printed circuit board 111.

[0038] Figure 3 shows the first and second planar transformer sections 130 and 140 included in the transformer shown in Figure 2.

[0039] The first planar transformer section 130 may include a first upper core 121-1, a first lower core 122-1, and windings 112 between the legs of the first lower core 122-1.

[0040] The second planar transformer section 140 may include the second upper core 121-2, the second lower core 122-2, and the winding 122 between the legs of the second lower core 122-2.

[0041] Figure 4 is a circuit diagram showing a converter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Referring to Figure 4, the converter according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an input unit 10, a transformer 100, and an output unit 20.

[0043] The input unit 10 can transmit a high voltage as the input voltage (VS) to the transformer 100.

[0044] The input unit 10 may include a switching unit 11 and an input stabilization unit 12.

[0045] The switching unit 11 may include first and second switches Qp1 and Qp2.

[0046] In this case, the first and second switches Qp1 and Qp2 may be turned on alternately. The current path of the input section 10 can be determined by the alternately turned-on of the first and second switches Qp1 and Qp2.

[0047] For example, when the first switch Qp1 is turned on, current may be supplied to the transformer 100 by the first current path, and when the second switch Qp2 is turned on, current may be supplied to the transformer 100 by the second current path.

[0048] The input stabilization unit 12 includes a first capacitor CR, a first inductor LR, a second inductor Lm1, and a third inductor Lm2, and can remove noise from the current supplied to the transformer 100.

[0049] The transformer 100 can reduce the high voltage transmitted from the input section 10 and transmit it to the output section 20.

[0050] The transformer 100 may include a first planar transformer 130 and a second planar transformer 140.

[0051] If the first and second planar transformer sections 130 and 140 are shown in the circuit diagram, they can be represented as primary winding coils Np1 and Np2 and secondary winding coils Ns1 and Ns2.

[0052] The first planar transformer section 130 may be represented by a primary winding coil Np1 and a secondary winding coil Ns1.

[0053] The ends of the primary winding coil Np1 of the first planar transformer section 130 may be connected to the ends of the second inductor Lm1, respectively.

[0054] The second planar transformer section 140 may be shown as a primary winding coil Np2 and a secondary winding coil Ns2.

[0055] The ends of the primary winding coil Np2 of the second planar transformer section 140 may be connected to the ends of the third inductor Lm2, respectively.

[0056] The output unit 20 can transmit the voltage (low voltage) transformed by the transformer 100 to an external circuit (electrical equipment).

[0057] The output unit 20 may include a rectifier unit 21 and a filter unit 22.

[0058] The rectifier unit 21 includes first and second diodes Ds1 and Ds2, and can convert the voltage supplied from the transformer 100 into a DC voltage.

[0059] To explain in more detail, the first and second diodes Ds1 and Ds2 included in the rectifier section 21 can generate a DC voltage by causing the current generated by the induced electromotive force in the secondary winding coils Ns1 and Ns2 of the first and second planar transformer sections 130 and 140 to flow in one direction.

[0060] The filter section 22 includes a second capacitor Co and a resistor Ro, and can remove noise from the DC voltage provided by the rectifier section 21 and output it as an output voltage Vo.

[0061] The operation of the converter according to this embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 5.

[0062] In the case of Figure 5A), the second switch Qp2 is turned on, and a current path may be formed that passes sequentially through the first inductor LR, the second inductor Lm1, the third inductor Lm2, and the second switch Qp2.

[0063] At this time, current can flow through the primary winding coil Np1 of the first planar transformer unit 130.

[0064] When current flows through the primary winding coil Np1 of the first planar transformer 130, a magnetic flux is generated, which can induce an electromotive force in the secondary winding coil Ns2 of the second planar transformer 140.

[0065] The induced electromotive force generated in the secondary winding coil Ns2 of the second planar transformer 140 can generate current flowing through the first diode Ds1, the second capacitor Co, and the resistor Ro.

[0066] In this case, a voltage Vo may be output across the resistor Ro through which the current flows.

[0067] On the other hand, in the case of Figure 5B), the first switch Qp1 is turned on, and a current path may be formed that sequentially passes through the third inductor Lm2, the second inductor Lm1, the first inductor LR, the first capacitor CR, and the first switch Qp1.

[0068] At this time, current can flow through the primary winding coil Np2 of the second planar transformer 140.

[0069] When current flows through the primary winding coil Np2 of the second planar transformer 140, a magnetic flux is generated, which can induce an electromotive force in the secondary winding coil Ns1 of the first planar transformer 130.

[0070] The induced electromotive force generated in the secondary winding coil Ns1 of the first planar transformer 130 can generate current flowing through the second diode Ds2, the second capacitor Co, and the resistor Ro.

[0071] In this case, a voltage Vo may be output across the resistor Ro through which the current flows.

[0072] Even when the first and second switches Qp1 and Qp2 are turned on alternately, and the direction of the current path in the input section 10 changes, the output section 20, i.e., the current flows in only one direction from the top to the bottom of the resistor Ro, so a DC voltage can be output across the resistor Ro.

[0073] Furthermore, depending on the winding ratio of the primary winding coils Np1, Np2 and the secondary winding coils Ns1, Ns2 of the first and second planar transformer units 130 and 140, the high voltage input from the input unit 10 can be reduced to a low voltage and transmitted to an external circuit (electrical equipment) via the output unit 20.

[0074] In other words, the converter according to the embodiment of the present invention can reduce a high-voltage DC voltage to a low-voltage DC voltage and output it.

[0075] Referring to Figures 5A) and 5B), in the converter according to the embodiment of the present invention, even if the direction of the current path of the input section 10 changes when the first and second switches Qp1 and Qp2 are turned on alternately, the current passes through all of the first to third inductors LR, Lm1, and Lm2, so that noise in the current flowing through the primary winding coils Np1 and Np2 of the first and second planar transformer sections 130 and 140 can be removed.

[0076] Therefore, since the current supplied from the input section 10 to the transformer 10 is supplied with noise removed, it is possible to prevent noise components from being generated in the induced electromotive force generated in the secondary winding coils Ns1 and Ns2 of the first and second planar transformer sections 130 and 140.

[0077] The output section of a typical converter, which outputs a reduced voltage, includes an inductor to remove noise from the output voltage. Because a larger amount of current flows through the output section due to the voltage reduction, an inductor capable of handling high currents must be used. Inductors capable of handling high currents can be large in size, which increases the cost of the components.

[0078] However, unlike conventional converters, the converter according to the embodiment of the present invention removes noise when transmitting voltage or current from the input section that receives a high voltage input to the transformer, so an inductor is not required in the output section 20.

[0079] Therefore, the converter according to the embodiment of the present invention can reduce the size of the converter and lower the cost of its components compared to a general converter.

[0080] The above description is merely illustrative of the technical concept of the present invention, and a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs could make various modifications and variations without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention.

[0081] Therefore, the embodiments disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes only, and not to limit, the technical concept of the present invention, and such embodiments do not limit the scope of the technical concept of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention must be interpreted in accordance with the claims, and all technical concepts within an equivalent scope should be interpreted as being included within the scope of the rights of the present invention.

Claims

1. An input section that receives a high voltage input; A transformer comprising a first planar transformer and a second planar transformer that reduce the voltage supplied from the input section; and An output unit that outputs the voltage reduced by the transformer as a low voltage; Includes, The aforementioned input unit is A first current path and a second current path, which have different current directions from each other, supply current to the primary winding coils of the first and second planar transformers, respectively, and a second inductor and a third inductor are connected in parallel to the primary winding coils of the first and second planar transformers, respectively. A switching unit including a first switch and a second switch for selecting one of the first and second current paths, and An input stabilization unit comprising a first capacitor, a first inductor, the second inductor, and the third inductor, which removes noise from the current supplied to the primary winding coils of the first and second planar transformer units via the current path selected by the switching unit. Includes, The first switch and the second switch are turned on alternately. The output unit is, It includes a rectifier that causes the current supplied from the secondary winding coils of the first and second planar transformer sections to flow in one direction, The converter using a planar transformer is characterized in that the rectifier section includes a first diode and a second diode to convert the voltage supplied from the transformer into a DC voltage.

2. The aforementioned input unit is A converter using a planar transformer according to claim 1, characterized in that when the second switch is turned on, current is supplied to the primary winding coil of the first planar transformer section via the first current path.

3. The first current path is This is a current path that passes sequentially through the first inductor, the second inductor, the third inductor, and the second switch. The converter using the planar transformer according to claim 2, characterized in that the primary winding coil of the first planar transformer is connected in parallel with the second inductor.

4. The aforementioned input unit is A converter using a planar transformer according to claim 1, characterized in that when the first switch is turned on, current is supplied to the primary winding coil of the second planar transformer section via the second current path.

5. The second current path is This is a current path that passes sequentially through the third inductor, the second inductor, the first inductor, the first capacitor, and the first switch. The converter using the planar transformer according to claim 4, characterized in that the primary winding coil of the second planar transformer is connected in parallel with the third inductor.

6. The secondary winding coils of the first and second planar transformer units are electrically connected to the output unit, The converter using a planar transformer according to claim 1, characterized in that the second and third inductors allow all the current through the first and second current paths to flow.

7. The first and second planar transformer units are, Multilayer circuit board, and It includes an upper core and a lower core that are joined in a manner that encloses the multilayer circuit board, The multilayer circuit board described above is Includes numerous printed circuit boards, Each of the aforementioned numerous printed circuit boards includes windings formed in a helical pattern, A converter using a planar transformer according to claim 6, characterized in that the upper core and the lower core include a magnetic material.

8. The output unit is, A converter using a planar transformer according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a filter unit that removes noise from the current flowing through the rectifier unit.

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