AC input power converter with multi-functional inductor

摘要

In certain embodiments, a power converter has an input side connected to receive AC input power at an input node and an output side connected to produce a regulated output power at an output node. The power converter has a transformer having at least one primary winding on the input side and at least one secondary winding on the output side. The power converter has at least one multi-functional inductor that supports both main regulation and supplemental regulation in a time-multiplexed manner such that, during main regulation, input energy is transferred from the input node to the output node via the multi-functional inductor, and, during supplemental regulation, the stored energy is transferred from the at least one energy storage element to the output node via the multi-functional inductor. Depending on the embodiment, the multi-functional inductor(s) may be one or two secondary transformer windings or a separate buck inductor.

主权项

1. A power converter for converting AC input power into regulated output power, the power converter comprising:
an input side connected to receive the AC input power at an input node of the power converter; and an output side connected to produce the regulated output power at an output node of the power converter, wherein:
the power converter has a transformer comprising at least one primary winding on the input side and at least one secondary winding on the output side;the output side further comprises at least one energy storage element;the power converter is configurable to perform main regulation in which input energy is transferred from the input node to the output node via the transformer;the power converter is configurable to perform supplemental regulation in which stored energy is transferred from the at least one energy storage element to the output node; andthe power converter comprises a multi-functional inductor that supports both the main regulation and the supplemental regulation in a time-multiplexed manner such that:
during the main regulation, the input energy is transferred from the input node to the output node via the multi-functional inductor;during the main regulation, if excess energy exists in the multi-functional inductor after an output demand has been satisfied, then the excess energy is transferred from the multi-functional inductor to the at least one energy storage element; andduring the supplemental regulation, the stored energy is transferred from the at least one energy storage element to the output node via the multi-functional inductor.