Boost Voltage Hysteretic Control for Welding Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional welding setups face challenges with electrical noise from switch-mode power supplies, particularly affecting communication technologies like weld circuit communication, necessitating large and expensive filtering components to comply with regulatory emissions thresholds.

Innovation Solution

Implementing hysteretic mode boost voltage control to mitigate noise by switching to hysteretic control during idle states, reducing noise without additional hardware, and utilizing existing circuitry like DSP microprocessors for noise mitigation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional switch-mode power supply control is used, then power delivery function is maintained, but broad spectrum noise is generated affecting communication

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise emissionVSAvoidcommunication function
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic control of the boost converter by switching between conventional PWM mode and hysteretic mode based on system state. During idle periods, the system transitions to hysteretic mode which dynamically adjusts switching based on voltage thresholds, reducing noise emission while maintaining power delivery functionality. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize for noise reduction when communication is less critical.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic monitoring of system state to determine when to switch between control modes. By detecting idle states and transitioning to hysteretic control during these periods, the system creates periodic noise reduction cycles that improve communication without compromising overall system reliability. The periodic nature allows communication functions to benefit from reduced noise while power delivery continues to function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If large filtering components are added to reduce noise, then regulatory compliance is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise emissionVSAvoidfiltering components
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the boost converter by implementing hysteretic control, which modifies the switching behavior based on voltage thresholds rather than fixed frequency PWM. This parameter change inherently reduces noise emission without requiring additional filtering components, thus resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and device complexity. The control parameter transformation achieves compliance while maintaining simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the need for mechanical/passive filtering components with an active control mechanism (hysteretic control algorithm). Instead of adding physical filters to reduce noise, the system uses intelligent control to minimize noise generation at the source, substituting complex hardware with software-based control logic that achieves the same noise reduction goal without increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If hysteretic control is applied during idle states, then noise is reduced, but power delivery response may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise emissionVSAvoidpower delivery response
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic mode switching that adapts control strategy based on system state. During idle states, hysteretic control is applied for noise reduction. When power delivery demands arise, the system dynamically transitions back to conventional PWM control, ensuring fast response capability is preserved when needed. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by applying noise reduction only when it does not compromise power delivery speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the operational states into distinct modes (idle vs. active power delivery) and applies different control strategies to each segment. By identifying and separating idle periods from active power transfer periods, the system can apply hysteretic control during idle segments for noise reduction while maintaining conventional control during active segments for fast response, thus resolving the speed-nice tradeoff through temporal segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances signal-to-noise ratio, improves communication performance, ensures regulatory compliance, and reduces power consumption by eliminating broad-spectrum noise, particularly in idle modes.

Implementation Method 1

applying the noise mitigation comprises using hysteretic voltage control when the welding-type power source is at idle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHysteretic control: Hysteresis

Data Source

PatentEP4674554A1Hysteretic mode boost voltage control for reduced broad spectrum noise emission
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC
  • EP4674554A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4674554A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4674554A1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for hysteretic mode boost voltage control for reduced broad spectrum noise emission.