Current Share Controller for Power Converter Modules
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power converter systems with parallel-coupled voltage converting modules face inefficiencies and increased complexity due to the need for each module to constantly exchange and compare current sense data, leading to processing overhead and hardware complexity in current sharing schemes.
Innovation Solution
Establishing a master-slave relationship between voltage converting modules using the Power Management Bus (PMBus) protocol, where one module acts as the master to transmit current sharing information and the others act as slaves to receive and adjust, minimizing processing and hardware requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If each voltage converting module constantly exchanges and compares current sense data with other modules, then current sharing accuracy is improved, but processing overhead and hardware complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
A dedicated current share controller is introduced as an intermediary device that centralizes the current sharing control function. The controller receives current sense data from all voltage converting modules, processes the information, and generates control signals to adjust each module's output current. This eliminates the need for complex peer-to-peer communication and comparison logic in each module, reducing hardware complexity while maintaining current sharing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The current sharing control logic is extracted from individual voltage converting modules and consolidated into a separate current share controller. This extraction removes the complex data exchange and comparison circuitry from each module, simplifying their design while preserving the ability to achieve accurate current sharing through centralized control.
2Measurement precision
If each voltage converting module constantly exchanges and compares current sense data with other modules, then current sharing accuracy is improved, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The current share controller serves as a centralized intermediary that handles all current sharing computations and decision-making. Instead of each module performing complex real-time comparisons and data exchanges, the controller consolidates current sense data from all modules, determines the appropriate current sharing ratios, and issues control signals. This significantly reduces the processing overhead in individual modules while maintaining accurate current sharing.
3Reliability
If passive current share setup with o-ring diodes and droop resistors is used, then current sharing is achieved, but conversion losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces passive mechanical/electrical components (o-ring diodes and droop resistors) with an active digital control system. The current share controller uses digital communication to exchange current information between modules and generates precise control signals to regulate each module's output current. This substitution eliminates the inherent power losses associated with passive components while achieving reliable current sharing through intelligent control.
Data Source
AI summary
A power converter system disclosed herein includes first and second voltage converting modules, for converting input current to output voltage, and a current share controller configured to establish a master-slave relationship between the first and second voltage converting modules. As a result, one of the first and second voltage converting modules acts as a master module, and the other acts as a slave module. The first and second voltage converting modules are arranged to operate in a current share configuration so as to share a load of the power converter system. The master module determines its output current and sends a signal indicative of its output current to the slave module via at least one signaling line connecting the master and modules to the current share controller. The slave module adjusts its output current in dependence on the signal from the master module.