Power supply device for supplying auxiliary power through additional winding

Abstract

The present invention relates to a power supply device for supplying auxiliary power through an additional winding and, more particularly, to a power supply device for smoothing a high-frequency AC voltage of a switching circuit by using an output inductor, wherein the output inductor is replaced with a coupled inductor including a first winding and a second winding, and an additional rectification node connected to the second winding of the coupled inductor is formed to supply auxiliary power.

Description

Power supply providing auxiliary power with additional windings

[0001] The present invention relates to a power supply device that supplies auxiliary power with an additional winding.

[0002] Power supplies in data centers require more power than before to handle more powerful computing capabilities and faster data processing, and also use fans to cool the system.

[0003] Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a conventional power supply device.

[0004] Figure 1 illustrates a server power supply unit (PSU) with a two-stage structure, as an example of a power supply unit requiring high efficiency as described above. The front stage is a power factor correction converter stage to provide a high power factor, and the rear stage is a DC-DC converter stage to provide electrical isolation and a stable DC voltage. The DC-DC converter stage is formed by a main power stage that includes a switching circuit, a transformer, and a rectifier stage.

[0005] At this time, in addition to the main power supply, a fan is required to cool the power supply, and an auxiliary power supply is required to supply power to a standby circuit that requires power to be started when the main power supply is in standby mode.

[0006] Typically, the auxiliary power supply is configured with a simple structure and relatively low efficiency, while the main power supply is configured to sufficiently cover a large output current capacity while simultaneously operating with high efficiency. In this case, the output of the main power supply and the output of the auxiliary power supply are combined through a diode, thereby reducing the load burden on the auxiliary power supply.

[0007] Figure 2 is a drawing showing a conventional power supply device.

[0008] Referring to Fig. 2, the output voltage of the main power supply (100) is 12 V, and the output voltage of the auxiliary power supply (200) is also 12 V, the same as the main power supply (100). At this time, the power of the fan is supplied by combining the outputs of the main power supply (100) and the auxiliary power supply (200) after they pass through output diodes D2 and D3, respectively.

[0009] As above, the outputs of the main power supply (100) and the auxiliary (AUX) power supply (200) are combined in the form of an OR gate, so that when the main power supply (100) is turned off, power is supplied through the auxiliary (AUX) power supply (200) that has low efficiency but covers a small amount of current, and when the main power supply (100) is turned on, power can be supplied through the main power supply (100) that has high efficiency.

[0010] However, this method cannot be used when the output voltage of the main power supply (100) is not 12 V as an example, and in this case, since the power of the fan must be supplied only through the auxiliary power supply (200), there is a problem that the load burden and size of the auxiliary power supply (200) increase.

[0011] Therefore, even when the output voltages of the main power supply unit (100) and the auxiliary power supply unit (200) are not the same, a power supply unit is required that can supply current from the main power supply unit (100) to the auxiliary power supply unit (200) when the main power supply unit (100) is in operation, thereby reducing the load burden on the auxiliary power supply unit (200) and at the same time not increasing its size.

[0012] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to increase the efficiency of the power supply device and minimize the increase in manufacturing cost by enabling the power of the auxiliary (AUX) power supply unit (200) to be supplied with the output of the main power supply unit (100) even when the output voltage of the main power supply unit (100) and the output voltage of the auxiliary (AUX) power supply unit (200) for a fan, etc., are not the same.

[0013] 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 description below.

[0014] A power supply device for supplying auxiliary power with an additional winding according to one embodiment of the present invention for solving the above technical problem may include a voltage source for generating a DC voltage, a switching circuit for converting the DC voltage into a high-frequency AC voltage, a transformer for transforming an output voltage of the switching circuit, a rectifier formed of a coupling inductor and an output capacitor connected to an output of the transformer, and an additional rectifier connected to the coupling inductor.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present invention, the switching circuit may include a full-bridge circuit of a phase shift type in which a leading leg and a lagging leg are formed in parallel.

[0016] In some embodiments of the present invention, the coupling inductor may include a first winding and a second winding, the first winding being connected to the output of the transformer and the output capacitor, and the second winding being connected to the additional rectifier.

[0017] In some embodiments of the present invention, the additional rectifier may include a diode and an auxiliary capacitor.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present invention, the output of the additional rectifier may be connected to the output of the auxiliary power supply.

[0019] In some embodiments of the present invention, the output of the additional rectifier and the output of the auxiliary power supply may be combined after each passing through a power separation diode.

[0020] In some embodiments of the present invention, the output voltage of the additional rectifier may be higher than the output voltage of the auxiliary power supply.

[0021] In some embodiments of the present invention, the load of the auxiliary power supply may be a cooling fan or a standby circuit.

[0022] In some embodiments of the present invention, the magnitude of the voltage supplied to the load of the auxiliary power supply unit can be formed within the tolerance range of the fan or standby circuit.

[0023] According to the present invention, even when the voltages of the outputs of the main power supply and the auxiliary power supply are not the same, by adding a minimum circuit to the main power supply, when the main power supply is operated, current is supplied from the main power supply to the auxiliary power supply, thereby reducing the load burden on the auxiliary power supply and at the same time preventing an increase in the size. Accordingly, an increase in the manufacturing cost of the auxiliary power supply can be prevented, and the efficiency of the entire power supply device can also be increased.

[0024] Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a conventional power supply device.

[0025] Figure 2 illustrates a conventional power supply device.

[0026] Figure 3 illustrates a power supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] The advantages and features of the present invention, and the methods for achieving them, will become clearer with reference to the embodiments described in detail below together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be implemented in various different forms. These embodiments are provided only to ensure that the disclosure of the present invention is complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the invention, and the present invention is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

[0028] “And / or” includes each and every combination of one or more of the items mentioned.

[0029] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing embodiments only and is not intended to limit the present invention. In this specification, the singular also includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise. As used herein, the terms "comprises" and / or "comprising" do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps, operations, and / or elements mentioned.

[0030] Additionally, throughout the specification, when a part is said to be "connected" to another part, this includes not only cases where it is "directly connected," but also cases where it is "indirectly" or "electrically connected" with other members or components in between.

[0031] Additionally, throughout the specification, the description that each layer (film), region, pattern or structure is formed "on" or "under" the substrate, each layer (film), region, pad or pattern includes both being formed directly or through the interposition of another layer. The criteria for being on / over or under / under each layer are explained based on the drawings.

[0032] Additionally, expressions such as 'first, second', etc. are used only to distinguish between multiple components, and do not limit the order or other characteristics between the components.

[0033] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein may be used in their common sense to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. Furthermore, terms defined in commonly used dictionaries are not to be interpreted ideally or excessively unless explicitly and specifically defined otherwise.

[0034] Hereinafter, a power supply device that supplies auxiliary power with an additional winding according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0035] Figure 3 illustrates a power supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 3, a power supply device according to the present invention may include a voltage source (10) that generates a DC voltage, a switching circuit (20) that converts the DC voltage into a high-frequency AC voltage, a transformer T1 (30) that transforms an output voltage of the switching circuit (20), a rectifier (40) formed by a coupling inductor T2 (44) connected to the output of the transformer T1 (30) and an output capacitor (Co), and an additional rectifier (50) connected to the coupling inductor T2 (44).

[0037] The above switching circuit (20) may include a full-bridge circuit of a phase shift method in which a leading leg and a lagging leg are formed in parallel, and the full-bridge circuit may be controlled using a phase shift control technique.

[0038] Switches Q1 and Q2 are the leading legs, and switches Q3 and Q4 are the lagging legs. The switching frequency is fixed and controlled using the phase difference between the leading and lagging legs.

[0039] Switches Q5 and Q6 on the secondary side are each synchronous rectifiers. Switch Q5 is turned on when switch Q1 or switch Q4 is turned on, and switch Q6 is turned on when switch Q2 or switch Q3 is turned on.

[0040] Description of the control of the above switch is omitted as it is the same as the control method of a conventional full-bridge phase shift converter.

[0041] The present invention can be applied to a power supply formed with a full-bridge circuit of a phase shift type, but is not limited thereto, and can be applied to all power supplies including an output inductor (Lo) in a rectifier (40). For example, it can also be applied to a power supply employing a forward type DC-DC converter.

[0042] The above-described coupling inductor T2 (44) includes a first winding (Np2) and a second winding (Ns2), and the first winding (Np2) is connected to the output of the transformer T1 (30) and the output capacitor (Co), and the second winding (Ns2) can be connected to the additional rectifier (50).

[0043] At this time, the additional rectifier (50) may include a rectifier diode (D1) and an auxiliary capacitor (Cfan).

[0044] That is, the output inductor (Lo) of the secondary output stage of the conventional power supply device may be replaced with a coupling inductor T2 (44) in the power supply device according to the present invention.

[0045] The above-described coupled inductor T2 (44) can be modeled as an ideal transformer having a magnetizing inductance Lm2 and a turns ratio of Np2:Ns2 (=n2:1). Therefore, the output voltage of the additional rectifier stage (50) can be determined by the turns ratio of the first winding (Np2) and the second winding (Ns2) of the coupled inductor T2 (44).

[0046] The output of the additional rectifier (50) formed in the main power supply (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention can be connected to the output of the auxiliary (AUX) power supply (200).

[0047] The output of the above additional rectifier (50) and the output of the auxiliary (AUX) power supply (200) can be combined after passing through the power separation diodes (D2, D3).

[0048] The output of the above additional rectifier (50) is connected to the + terminal of the power separation diode (D2), and the output of the auxiliary (AUX) power supply unit (200) can be connected to the + terminal of the power separation diode (D3). The - terminal of the diode (D2) and the - terminal of the diode (D3) can be combined to supply power to the fan.

[0049] The output voltage of the additional rectifier (50) of the power supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention may be higher than the output voltage of the auxiliary (AUX) power supply unit (200).

[0050] The power of the auxiliary power supply (200) can be supplied from the power supply that outputs the higher voltage among the two output voltages: the output voltage of the additional rectifier (50) of the main power supply (100) and the output voltage of the auxiliary power supply (200).

[0051] When the main power supply (100) starts operating, the output voltage of the additional rectifier (50) is set higher than the output voltage of the auxiliary (AUX) power supply (200), so that the output of the additional rectifier (50) can supply power to the auxiliary (AUX) power supply (200).

[0052] Since the load of the above auxiliary (AUX) power supply unit (200) can be a fan or a standby circuit, it is preferable that the magnitude of the voltage supplied to the load of the auxiliary (AUX) power supply unit (200) be set to be formed within the allowable error range of the fan or standby circuit.

[0053] The above fan may have a large load burden because it must be operated at a faster rotational speed to dissipate a large amount of heat generated when the main power supply (100) is operated to supply a large amount of current. However, the load burden can be relieved by supplying current from the auxiliary power supply (200) from the additional rectifier (50) of the main power supply (100).

[0054] The above standby power supply does not require a large current capacity because it handles the minimum current required when the system requires power supply in standby mode.

[0055] Accordingly, the auxiliary power supply (200) according to the present invention can be formed by reducing and minimizing the burden of the load. In addition, when the main power supply (100) requiring a large current capacity is operated, the high-efficiency main power supply (100) supplies power to the fan or standby circuit, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the power supply device.

[0056] In cases where the output voltages of the main power supply (100) and the auxiliary (AUX) power supply (200) are not the same, by adding a minimum circuit to the high-efficiency main power supply and supplying current to the auxiliary (AUX) power supply (200), the load burden on the auxiliary (AUX) power supply (200) can be reduced while at the same time preventing the size from increasing.

[0057] Therefore, it is possible to prevent the increase in manufacturing cost of power supply units and improve efficiency.

[0058] Although the present invention has been described as above, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention can be implemented in other forms while maintaining the technical spirit and essential features of the present invention.

[0059] The scope of the present invention will be defined by the patent claims, but it should be interpreted that not only the configuration directly derived from the description of the patent claims, but also all changes or modified forms derived from equivalent configurations are included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A voltage source that generates DC voltage; A switching circuit that converts the above DC voltage into a high-frequency AC voltage; A transformer that transforms the output voltage of the above switching circuit; and A rectifier formed by a coupling inductor and an output capacitor connected to the output of the above transformer; and A power supply for supplying auxiliary power with an additional winding, the additional rectifier being connected to the above coupling inductor.

2. In paragraph 1, The above switching circuit is a power supply device that supplies auxiliary power with an additional winding, including a full-bridge circuit of a phase shift type in which a leading leg and a lagging leg are formed in parallel.

3. In paragraph 1, A power supply device for supplying auxiliary power with an additional winding, wherein the coupling inductor includes a first winding and a second winding, the first winding being connected to the output of the transformer and the output capacitor, and the second winding being connected to the additional rectifier.

4. In paragraph 3, The above additional rectifier is a power supply that supplies auxiliary power to an additional winding including a diode and an auxiliary capacitor.

5. In paragraph 1, A power supply device that supplies auxiliary power with an additional winding, the output of the above additional rectifier being connected to the output of the auxiliary power supply unit.

6. In paragraph 5, A power supply device that supplies auxiliary power to an additional winding, in which the output of the additional rectifier and the output of the auxiliary power supply are combined after each passing through a power separation diode.

7. In paragraph 6, A power supply device that supplies auxiliary power with an additional winding, wherein the output voltage of the additional rectifier is higher than the output voltage of the auxiliary power supply unit.

8. In paragraph 5, The load of the above auxiliary power supply unit is a power supply unit that supplies auxiliary power with an additional winding, such as a cooling fan or a standby circuit.

9. In paragraph 8, A power supply device that supplies auxiliary power with an additional winding, wherein the magnitude of the voltage supplied to the load of the auxiliary power supply unit is formed within the tolerance range of the fan or standby circuit.

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