DC-to-DC Converter Switching Sequence Suppresses Voltage Surges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing DC-to-DC converters face significant voltage surges during boost mode operations, leading to excessive stress on switching elements and electrical noise, necessitating high withstand voltage devices and additional snubber circuits, which increase complexity and costs.
Innovation Solution
A DC-to-DC converter control method that suppresses voltage surges by synchronizing the switching control sequence of switching elements, allowing concurrent ON states to reduce current flow in switching elements before switch-off, eliminating the need for snubber circuits and high withstand voltage devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional switching control is used in boost mode, then voltage conversion is achieved, but high voltage surges occur at switch-off causing excessive stress on switching elements and electrical noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by switching on the second switching element Q2 before switching off the first switching element Q1. This creates a concurrent ON state that prepares the circuit path in advance, allowing the current to transition smoothly through the second element before the first element opens, thereby preventing voltage surge at the switch-off moment
2Reliability
If high withstand voltage devices and snubber circuits are used to suppress voltage surges, then switching element stress is reduced, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for additional protective components like snubber circuits by using intelligent switching control sequence. The control method removes the requirement for these extra components by preventing voltage surge through proper timing of switching operations, thereby simplifying the overall circuit configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The switching elements themselves serve the dual function of both power conversion and voltage surge protection through the concurrent ON state control method. The circuit uses its own switching elements Q1 and Q2 in a coordinated sequence to protect against voltage surge, eliminating the need for separate protective components
3Reliability
If high withstand voltage devices are used to handle voltage surges, then switching element reliability is improved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the switching elements by implementing a specific timing sequence where Q2 is switched on before Q1 is switched off. This parameter change in switching timing creates a protective effect that allows the use of standard voltage-rated devices instead of expensive high-withstand-voltage components, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining reliability
Data Source
AI summary
In a DC-to-DC converter which can convert DC power supplied to a first voltage system circuit, having first and second switching elements, to DC power at a boosted voltage, produced from a second voltage system circuit having third and fourth switching elements, with conversion performed based on control of a switching sequence of the switching elements, the sequence is designed such that switch-off of each of the first and second switching elements occurs only when the current flowing in the switching element is close to zero, thereby suppressing occurrence of voltage surges at switch-off.