DC/DC Converter Control Circuit Using Capacitive Coupling for Energy Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing DC/DC converters face limitations in efficiency improvement due to restricted driving voltages for drivers, which can lead to increased heat loss and reduced efficiency, despite reduced switching loss.
Innovation Solution
A control circuit configuration for DC/DC converters that separates the lower side power supply terminal of the first driver and the upper side power supply terminal of the second driver, using capacitive coupling to arbitrarly set driving voltages, thereby reducing switching loss and heat loss while maintaining high efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If discharge current is sunk by the first driver and discarded to ground, then the first driver operates simply, but energy is wasted and efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding the discharge current to ground, the patent recovers it by connecting the lower side power supply terminal of the first driver to a third line and using a coupling capacitor to transfer this current to the fourth line, where it charges the gate capacitance of the second driver. This recovery mechanism reduces energy waste and improves efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge current from the first driver is utilized to serve the second driver's gate driving requirements. The coupling capacitor enables the first driver's discharge current to automatically charge the second driver's gate capacitance, creating a self-service energy recovery system that reduces overall power consumption.
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
The solution effectively reduces switching loss and heat loss of transistors, enhancing the overall efficiency of the DC/DC converter by allowing flexible setting of driving voltages, thus overcoming the limitations of restricted voltages in previous designs.
Implementation Method 1
a coupling capacitor connected between the third line and the fourth line
Data Source
AI summary
A control circuit for a DC/DC converter including P-channel and N-channel transistors. The control circuit includes: a pulse generator that generates first and second pulse signals for designating turning on/off of the P-channel and N-channel transistors such that a state of the DC/DC converter or a load approaches a target value; first and second drivers that drive the P-channel and N-channel transistors based on the first and second pulse signals; first to fourth lines individually connected to an upper side power supply terminal of the first driver, a lower side power supply terminal of the second driver, a lower side power supply terminal of the first driver, and an upper side power supply terminal of the second driver; and first and second regulators that stabilize voltages of the third and fourth lines to first and second given voltage values. A coupling capacitor is connected between the third and fourth lines.