Power Converter Overvoltage Protection via Split Discharge Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power converters can damage circuit components and input power sources due to excessive voltages or currents if they are released along inappropriate current paths.
Innovation Solution
A power converter with an overvoltage protection mechanism that includes a switch circuit, driver circuit, control circuit, and overvoltage protecting circuit, which controls the flow of output current through inductors and switches to safely discharge excessive energy, preventing damage by dividing the current into paths to the input power source and ground.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If excessive energy is released along the original current path, then energy dissipation occurs, but circuit components and input power sources are damaged by excessive currents
Solution Approach 1:
The current path is segmented into multiple paths: the original path through the input power source and an alternative path through the overvoltage protection circuit. This segmentation allows energy to be dissipated through multiple routes, preventing excessive current concentration on a single path that would damage components.
Solution Approach 2:
The overvoltage protection circuit acts as an intermediary component between the switching circuit and ground. It provides a controlled path for excessive current to flow to ground, mediating the energy dissipation process and protecting the input power source and other circuit components from damage.
2Reliability
If an overvoltage protection circuit is added to prevent damage, then component protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The overvoltage protection circuit is designed with multi-functionality: it includes a switching component that can operate in normal switching mode and an overvoltage protection mode. The circuit can function as both a standard switching element and an overvoltage protection element, reducing the need for separate dedicated protection circuits and thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A power converter having an overvoltage protection mechanism is provided. A node between a second terminal of the high-side switch and a first terminal of a low-side switch is connected to an inductor. When an output current or an output voltage of the power converter must be released, the output current of the power converter flows to the input power source sequentially through the inductor, the high-side switch being turned on. Under this condition, when an overvoltage protecting circuit determines that a current or a voltage of the inductor or a current or a voltage of the input power source is larger than a threshold, the output current of the power converter flows to a ground through the overvoltage protecting circuit.