Rectifier Standby Power Reduction via Active Capacitor Discharge
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rectifying devices using electrolytic capacitors for smoothing AC to DC power face issues with stability, surge voltage generation, and large size, while requiring improved durability and efficiency for IoT applications with insulated communication and standby power control.
Innovation Solution
A rectifying device that rectifies AC power to unsmoothed DC, uses a buck/boost circuit for voltage regulation, and incorporates a charging and discharging unit with surge prevention switches to generate smoothed DC power without electrolytic capacitors, enabling insulated communication and reduced standby power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrolytic capacitors are used for smoothing DC power, then the DC power can be smoothed, but the device size becomes large and reliability is reduced due to frequent failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes electrolytic capacitors from the circuit by implementing a capacitor-free smoothing method using active switching circuits. The rectifying device extracts the smoothing function from traditional passive capacitor-based designs and replaces it with active voltage regulation circuits that achieve smoothing without requiring large electrolytic capacitors, thereby reducing device size and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the passive mechanical/electrical smoothing mechanism (electrolytic capacitors) with an active electronic control system. The switching circuits and control units actively regulate voltage to achieve smoothing effects that were previously dependent on passive energy storage components, substituting the traditional capacitor-based approach with modern active power management technology.
2Reliability
If electrolytic capacitors are used for smoothing, then DC power can be provided, but surge voltage is generated reducing durability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful surge voltage generated during capacitor discharge into a beneficial control signal. The control unit detects voltage variations and uses them to trigger switching operations that regulate the output voltage, transforming the harmful surge effect into a useful mechanism for voltage stabilization and smoothing without requiring large capacitors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control mechanism where the control unit continuously monitors the output voltage and adjusts the switching circuits accordingly. When voltage surges occur, the feedback system detects these changes and modulates the switching duty cycle to counteract the surge, maintaining stable output voltage and preventing damage to connected devices while eliminating the need for protective capacitors.
3Stability of the object's composition
If SMPS is used for AC to DC conversion, then stable DC power can be provided, but standby power consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic switching action in the rectifying circuits to achieve DC power conversion. By using pulse-width modulation (PWM) techniques where switching elements operate in periodic on-off cycles, the system converts AC to DC with high efficiency while allowing for easy standby mode implementation. The periodic switching enables precise control of power transfer, reducing standby losses compared to continuous operation SMPS designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a standby mode where the power conversion circuits are completely shut off when full power is not needed, discarding the power conversion function temporarily. The control unit can quickly reactivate the switching circuits when power is required, recovering the power conversion capability on demand. This on-demand operation eliminates the continuous power consumption inherent in traditional SMPS standby modes.
4Stability of the object's composition
If large electrolytic capacitors are used in the internal circuit, then smoothing can be improved, but the device size becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the smoothing approach by transitioning from high-capacity passive components to low-capacity active circuits. Instead of increasing capacitor size to improve smoothing, the system uses high-frequency switching and active voltage regulation to achieve superior smoothing performance with minimal capacitance, fundamentally changing the relationship between smoothing capability and component size.
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 device provides stable DC power, prevents surge voltage generation, and reduces standby power consumption by using a capacitor-free design with insulated communication, enhancing durability and efficiency for IoT applications.
Implementation Method 1
a rectifying unit for rectifying AC power to output an unsmoothed DC power
Implementation Method 2
a charging and discharging unit charged with the unsmoothed DC power, and for generating smoothed DC power by discharging the charged power to the output terminal of the rectifying unit to be overlapped with the unsmoothed DC power
Implementation Method 3
a buck/boost circuit unit for receiving the DC power from an output terminal of the rectifying unit to boost or step down the DC power according to a control signal
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a rectifying device provided with a standby power reduction function. When a voltage of unsmoothed DC power, which is output from a rectifying unit that rectifies AC power, is lowered to be equal to or smaller than a discharge reference voltage at a time around a zero-crossing point of the AC power, the present invention can instantaneously discharge a capacitor, which has been charged with the unsmoothed DC power, to be synthesized with the unsmoothed DC power, and thus supply stable DC power to a load without using an electrolytic capacitor. In particular, the present invention can adjust a resistance value of a surge prevention switch connected in series with the capacitor to control a current amount flowing through the capacitor, and thus can prevent a surge voltage from being generated when charging and discharging the capacitor.