Power and information signal transfer using micro-transformers

A power converter comprising:na tank circuit including a coil in parallel with a capacitance, the tank circuit oscillating at a first predetermined frequency; anda switching circuit, including a first switch coupled to a voltage supply and operating at a second predetermined frequency, and transistor pairs coupled in a positive feedback configuration, connecting the first switch to the tank circuit, the tank circuit energizing and sustaining oscillation when the switching circuit couples the voltage supply to the tank circuit, wherein the switching circuit energizes and de-energizes the tank circuit via the voltage supply at a second predetermined frequency that is less than the first predetermined frequency.

A power converter comprising:na self-resonating tank circuit including a coil in parallel with a capacitance, the tank circuit oscillating at a first predetermined frequency; anda switching circuit for connection to a voltage supply and coupled to the tank circuit, the tank circuit energizing and sustaining oscillation when the switching circuit couples the voltage supply to the tank circuit, wherein the switching circuit energizes and de-energizes the tank circuit via the voltage supply at a second predetermined frequency that is less than the first predetermined frequencythe switching circuit further comprising a first switch coupled to the voltage supply and operating at the second predetermined frequency, and at least one transistor coupling the tank circuit to the first switch, wherein the capacitance is provided by the at least one transistor in the switching circuit.

A power converter comprising:na tank circuit including a coil in parallel with a capacitance, the tank circuit oscillating at a predetermined frequency; anda switching circuit, including a first switch selectively coupled to a voltage supply and operating at a second predetermined frequency, and transistor pairs coupled in a positive feedback configuration, coupling the first switch to the tank circuit, the tank circuit energizing and sustaining oscillation when the first switch selectively couples the voltage supply to the tank circuit, wherein the switching circuit energizes and de-energizes the tank circuit via the voltage supply in response to a pulse width modulated signal that oscillates at a frequency lower than the tank circuit oscillating frequency.

A power converter comprising:na self-resonating tank circuit including a coil in parallel with a capacitance, the tank circuit oscillating at a predetermined frequency; anda switching circuit selectively coupling the tank circuit to a supply voltage, the tank circuit energizing and sustaining oscillation when the switching circuit selectively couples the supply to the tank circuit, wherein the switching circuit energizes and de-energizes the tank circuit via the voltage supply in response to a pulse width modulated signal that oscillates at a frequency lower than the tank circuit oscillating frequency,the switching circuit further comprising a first switch coupled to the voltage supply and operating in response to the pulse width modulated signal, and at least one transistor coupling the tank circuit to the first switch, wherein the capacitance is provided by the at least one transistor in the switching circuit.

A power converter comprising:na microtransformer, comprising a pair of coils, a first of the coils coupled to a load circuit;a tank circuit including a second one of the microtransformer coils and a capacitance provided in parallel with the second coil, the tank circuit oscillating at a predetermined frequency; anda switching circuit, including a first switch selectively coupled to a voltage supply and operating at a second predetermined frequency, and transistor pairs configured in a positive feedback configuration, coupling the tank circuit to the first switch, the tank circuit energizing and sustaining oscillation when the first switch couples the voltage supply to the tank circuit, wherein the switching circuit energizes and de-energizes the tank circuit via the voltage supply in response to a pulse width modulated signal that oscillates at a frequency lower than the tank circuit oscillating frequency.

A power converter comprising:na microtransformer, comprising a pair of coils, a first of the coils coupled to a load circuit;a self resonating tank circuit including a second one of the microtransformer coils and a capacitance provided in parallel with the second coil, the tank circuit oscillating at a predetermined frequency; anda switching circuit selectively coupling the tank circuit to a supply voltage, the tank circuit energizing and sustaining oscillation when the switching circuit couples the supply to the tank circuit, wherein the switching circuit energizes and de-energizes the tank circuit via the voltage supply in response to a pulse width modulated signal that oscillates at a frequency lower than the tank circuit oscillating frequency,the switching circuit further comprising a first switch coupled to the voltage supply and operating in response to the pulse width modulated signal, and at least one transistor coupling the tank circuit to the first switch, wherein the capacitance is provided by the at least one transistor in the switching circuit.