Power Converter Feed Circuit With Passive Voltage and Current Division

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional feed circuits for power converters face stability issues due to complex topologies and the inability to manage excessively high voltages and currents, leading to poor performance and reliability.

Innovation Solution

The proposed power converter and feed circuit design incorporate a transformer with a primary and secondary circuit, featuring a half-bridge branch with series and parallel connected storage capacitors, and a feed circuit with voltage and current division components that clamp voltages and currents at safe levels, eliminating the need for additional active circuits for voltage limiting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a voltage limiter or logic circuit is added to prevent excessively high voltage on the energy storage device, then voltage protection is improved, but the circuit topology becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage protectionVSAvoidcircuit topology
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a voltage division component as an intermediary element that automatically divides the high voltage from the secondary circuit into lower voltages suitable for the energy storage device and drive circuit. This passive voltage division mechanism replaces complex active voltage limiting circuits, achieving voltage protection while maintaining simple topology.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the high voltage from the secondary circuit into multiple voltage levels through the voltage division component. By dividing the voltage into different portions (one for the energy storage device, another for the drive circuit), the system avoids the need for complex voltage regulation circuits while providing appropriate voltage levels to each component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a semiconductor-type voltage regulator circuit is added to perform voltage regulation, then voltage control is improved, but the circuit topology becomes complex and current problems cannot be resolved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage controlVSAvoidcircuit topology
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The voltage division component acts as a passive intermediary that simultaneously handles both voltage regulation and current distribution. By using resistive or capacitive division rather than active semiconductor regulation, the circuit achieves voltage control without adding complexity or failing to address current issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The voltage division component performs multiple functions simultaneously: it divides voltage to protect the energy storage device, regulates voltage for the drive circuit, and distributes current appropriately. This multi-functionality replaces what would otherwise require separate voltage regulator and current management circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Power

If the feed circuit operates at high voltage without voltage division, then power supply capability is improved, but excessively high voltage and current cause the feed circuit to fail

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply capabilityVSAvoidfeed circuit stability
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The voltage division component serves as a protective intermediary between the high-voltage secondary circuit and the sensitive energy storage device and drive circuit. It allows the feed circuit to operate at high voltage for power supply capability while automatically limiting the voltage and current reaching the sensitive components, thus maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This design simplifies the feed circuit topology, enhances stability by preventing overvoltage and overcurrent conditions, and reduces hardware costs by using a single energy storage component to supply power to multiple drive circuits.

Implementation Method 1

Each voltage division component is configured to: when the corresponding switching transistor is turned off, perform voltage division on a drain-source voltage of the switching transistor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage division: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 2

Each voltage and current division component is configured to: when the corresponding switching transistor is turned off, perform voltage division on the drain-source voltage of the switching transistor, and perform current division on a current flowing into the voltage and current division component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage division: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 3

perform current division on a current flowing into the voltage and current division component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCurrent division: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 4

Each energy storage component is configured to: be charged when the corresponding switching transistor is turned off, and be discharged when the switching transistor is turned on, to supply power to the power supply end of the drive circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 5

a voltage of the primary winding is less than a voltage of the secondary winding. The secondary circuit includes a half-bridge branch, a first storage capacitor, and a second storage capacitor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP4564657A1Power converter and feed circuit
Publication Date: 2025.06.04 HUAWEI DIGITAL POWER TECH CO LTD
  • EP4564657A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4564657A1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP4564657A1 patent drawingFigure 2b

AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide a power converter and a feed circuit. The feed circuit of the power converter includes a voltage division component, a voltage and current division component, and an energy storage component. The voltage division component and the current division component are connected in series and then connected to a source and a drain of a switching transistor of a secondary circuit of the power converter. The voltage and current division component is connected in parallel to the energy storage component. An output end of the energy storage component is connected to a power supply end of a drive circuit, and a drive end of the drive circuit is connected to a control end of the switching transistor. When the switching transistor is turned off, a drain-source voltage of the switching transistor is not zero, and a voltage of the voltage division component is greater than a voltage of the voltage and current division component, to clamp a voltage of the energy storage component at a low level. The voltage and current division component avoids an excessively high current flowing into the energy storage component in a parallel current division manner. The energy storage component is configured to store electric energy when the switching transistor is turned off, to supply power to the power supply end of the drive circuit when the switching transistor is turned on. Therefore, the energy storage component may feed power from two ends of the switching transistor and supply power to the power supply end without a risk of overcurrent and overvoltage.