Stacked Power Modules with Common Duty Cycle Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Stacked power modules in AC-to-DC converter systems face challenges in input voltage sharing, DC output voltage regulation, and input current shaping, requiring effective common duty ratio control and active input voltage and load current sharing.

Innovation Solution

A power supply system comprising multiple power modules with input and output stages, where input stages generate intermediate voltages and output stages produce DC supply voltages, with common control signals having a common duty cycle to ensure balanced operation and efficient power processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If stacked power modules are used in AC-to-DC converter systems, then power supply efficiency is improved, but input voltage sharing and output voltage regulation become challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the control of multiple power modules by implementing a master-slave control architecture where multiple converter modules share a common control signal with a common duty cycle. This integration approach allows the stacked modules to operate efficiently while simplifying the overall control structure, resolving the contradiction between improved efficiency and increased control complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If common duty ratio control is implemented across multiple power modules, then input current shaping is improved, but input voltage sharing regulation becomes challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinput current shapingVSAvoidinput voltage sharing
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allowing each power module to have its own individual duty ratio adjustment capability while sharing a common control framework. Each module can locally regulate its input voltage sharing based on its specific operating conditions, while the overall system maintains coordinated current shaping through the common control signal, thus resolving the contradiction between current shaping productivity and voltage sharing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of energy

If multiple power modules are stacked to process high voltage, then efficiency is improved, but DC output voltage regulation becomes challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveefficiencyVSAvoidoutput voltage regulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where each power module monitors its own output voltage and uses this information to adjust its operation. The master-slave control architecture with common duty cycle ensures that feedback from multiple modules is coordinated, allowing the system to maintain reliable output voltage regulation while preserving the efficiency benefits of stacked module configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2999109B1Power supply and method of supplying power
Publication Date: 2017.08.09 DELTA ELECTRONICS INC(CN)
  • EP2999109B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2999109B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2999109B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

A power supply includes power modules. Each of the power modules includes an input stage and an output stage. The input stage generates an intermediate voltage, and the output stage outputs a DC supply voltage according to the intermediate voltage. The input stages are controlled with at least one first common control signal having a common duty cycle, and the output stages are controlled with at least one second common control signal having a common duty cycle.