Apparatus for controlling surge voltage in DC-DC converter including snubber circuit

The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling a surge voltage

In general, a DC-DC converter may be used when a DC voltage greater or less than an input voltage is required.

The DC-DC converter generates a high spike voltage across each switching devices on a secondary side during switching.

To solve this, in recent years, a snubbed circuit is applied to the DC-DC converter to remove the high spike voltage.

A conventional DC-DC converter is disclosed in Korean patent application No. 2008-0039762.

The conventional DC-DC converter will be described. In the conventional DC-DC converter, a resistor R and a capacitor connected in series are connected to switching devices on a secondary side.

However, the conventional resistor and capacitor have a problem in that they are limited to removal of the spike voltage in a DC-D converter for large power.

Further, because the snubbed circuit has a resistor, heat is generated by the resistor to deteriorate device characteristics and to reduce the life duration.

Meanwhile, because only a coil and a rectifier are configured on the secondary side, the conventional DC-DC converter may not control a spike surge voltage generated when the rectifier is turned-off.

Furthermore, since coils wound in the secondary side are respectively wound around cores, there are problems in cost increase and size side.

Technical Problem

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an apparatus for controlling a high spike surge voltage applied across a rectifier or a switching device in a secondary side.

The embodiment provides an apparatus for controlling a surge voltage by serially configuring a snubbed coil and a snubbed rectifier in the secondary side.

The embodiment further provides an apparatus for controlling a surge voltage which has rectifiers configured on the secondary side functioning as a full wave rectifier.

In an embodiment, a rectifier functioning as the full wave rectifier selectively acts as a corresponding rectifier in response to a forward current and a reverse current.

The embodiment further provides a snubbed coil and a snubbed rectifier serving as a switch in each rectifier are serially connected to each other in a circuit configured as an full wave rectifier type on the secondary side.

In the embodiment, a rectifier device connected to a secondary side coil in series configures a snubbed coil and a snubbed rectifier connected to the secondary coil and the rectifier device in series in order to control a spike surge voltage generated when being turned-off.

The embodiment suggests such that a snubbed rectifier configured on the secondary side is momentarily turned-on to control a surge voltage when a rectifier configured in the secondary side is turned-off.

In the embodiment, when a coil is wound around a core, both of a coil and a snubbed coil on a secondary side are wound around one core.

In the embodiment, when a coil is wound around a core, both of coils and snubbed coils on a primary side and/or a secondary side are wound around one core.

Solution to Problem

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for controlling a surge voltage, includes: an input power supply; a coil on a primary side; a coil on a secondary side; a transformer provided between the coil on the primary side and the coil on the secondary side for inducing a voltage to the secondary side including the coil and a rectifier on the secondary side when power of the input power supply is applied to the coil on the primary side; and a snubbed coil and a snubbed rectifier configured corresponding to the coil and the rectifier on the secondary side.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for controlling a surge voltage, includes: an input power supply; a transformer for inducting a voltage to a secondary side including a coil and a rectifier based on the input power supply and a coil on a primary side; and a snubbed circuit including a snubbed coil and a snubbed rectifier configured corresponding to the secondary side in order to solve a surge voltage generated when the rectifier on the secondary side is turned-off.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for controlling a surge voltage, includes: an input power supply; a transformer for inducting a voltage to a secondary side including a plurality of coils and a plurality of rectifiers based on the input power supply and a coil on a primary side; and a snubbed circuit including a snubbed coil and a snubbed rectifier to be selectively operated in response to a surge voltage generated when one of the rectifiers on the secondary side is turned-off in order to solve the surge voltage.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for controlling a surge voltage in a converter, includes: an input power supply; a transformer for inducing a voltage on a primary side from the input power supply to a switching device on the secondary side including a plurality of coils and first and second rectifiers on the secondary side; a snubbed circuit including a plurality of snubbed coils and first and second snubbed rectifiers connected to the switching device on the secondary side.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

An embodiment as mentioned above can include a snubbed circuit being a combination of a coil and a snubbed rectifier corresponding to a coil and a rectifier being a secondary side circuit to prevent a device life due to heat generation of a resistor from being reduced.

When a rectifier configured in the secondary side circuit is turned-off, the embodiment can momentarily turn-on a snubbed rectifier of a snubbed circuit configured corresponding to the turned-off rectifier to control a surge voltage in a rectifier according to being turned-off.

Further, the present invention may control the number of coils to efficiently reduce a high surge voltage applied to a switching device on a secondary side, namely, a rectifier and control the high surface voltage to a desired level to improve characteristics of a device.

In the embodiment, both of coils and snubbed coils on a primary side and/or a secondary side may be wound around one core when a coil is wound around a core to reduce a cost and slim the size.

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a configuration of a converter including a full wave rectifier and a snubbed circuit corresponding to the full wave rectifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a current direction in a secondary side operating in a current flow direction and a current direction in a snubbed circuit corresponding thereto during a forward operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating a current direction in a secondary side operating in a current flow direction and a current direction in a snubbed circuit corresponding thereto during a reverse operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating a configuration of a converter including a half wave rectifier and a snubbed circuit corresponding to the half wave rectifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating a changed location of a rectifier on a secondary side.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings in detail.

The same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. Detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structures incorporated herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention.

In a description of an embodiment, a rectifier is used to perform full wave rectification through a switching operation during a forward operation and a reverse direction of alternating current (AC).

In the description of an embodiment, a winding wire and a coil are integrated as substantially the same element.

In the description of an embodiment, a forward direction is a flow direction of an electric current during a half period (0˜180) of an AC, and a reverse direction a flow direction of an electric current during a half period (180˜360) of the AC.

In the description of an embodiment, a snubbed rectifier includes a circuit arrangement or a circuit device for controlling a spike surge voltage generated when the rectifier is turned-off.

A case where components are connected to or linked to each other includes a case where the components are directly connected to or linked to each other, or a case where the component is connected to or linked to another component, another medium, another device in a mechanical scheme, an electric scheme, or a signal scheme or wired/wireless schemes.

Here, an operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a configuration of a converter including a full wave rectifier and a snubbed circuit corresponding to the full wave rectifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a current direction in a secondary side operating in a current flow direction and a current direction in a snubbed circuit corresponding thereto during a forward operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating a current direction in a secondary side operating in a current flow direction and a current direction in a snubbed circuit corresponding thereto during a reverse operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating a configuration of a converter including a half wave rectifier and a snubbed circuit corresponding to the half wave rectifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating a changed location of a rectifier on a secondary side.

First, this embodiment will be generally described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , during a forward current period, that is, when an upper side of an input voltage is + and a lower side of the input voltage is −, a first diode D 1 is turned-on but a second diode D 2 is turned-off in a full wave rectifier on a secondary side according to a transformer dot direction (polarization direction).

Furthermore, when a third diode D 3 and a fourth diode D 4 are turned-off, the fourth diode D 4 is turned-off by force during a forward operation. Conversely, when the third diode D 3 and the fourth diode D 4 are turned-off, the third diode D 3 is turned-off by force during a reverse operation.

Force turning-off the third diode D 3 and the fourth diode D 4 may be implemented by controlling the number of turns of corresponding snubber coils Nb 1 and Nb 2 , which will be described below. The reason to turn-off the fourth diode D 4 by force is that only snubber coils Np 1 and Ns 1 function as a main transformer Np and Ns. That is, the reason is because only snubber coils Np 2 and Ns 2 function as one transformer if the fourth diode D 4 is not turned-off by force.

The foregoing matters are applicable to a method for turning-off the third diode D 3 by force with the same reason.

Since the first diode D 1 is turned-on, a voltage across the snubber coil Ns 1 is an output voltage Vo. Accordingly, a voltage across the snubber coil Np 1 is (Np/Ns)*Vo, and a voltage across the snubber coil Np 2 is Vin−(Np/Ns)*Vo.

When a polarity of an input voltage changes, namely, during a revere operation, states of the voltage across the snubber coil Np 1 and the voltage across the snubber coil Np 2 are changed.

As shown in FIG. 3 , when the first diode D 1 shifts from an on state to an off state, a high spike voltage is applied across the first diode D 1 due to leakage inductance of a transformer and the like.

To control the spike surge voltage, when the third diode D 3 is momentarily turned-on in a case where the first diode D 1 shifts an on state to an off state, the output voltage Vo is applied to the snubber coil Nb 1 . Because a voltage obtained by reflecting the voltage from the snubber coil Ns 1 becomes (Ns 1 /Nb 1 )*Vo, and the first diode D 1 is turned-off, a voltage across the first diode D 1 becomes Vo+(Ns 1 /Nb 1 )*Vo=VD_max. When a VD_max value is set, a spike voltage across the first diode D 1 may be controlled. When the spike voltage is equal to the output voltage Vo or within a preset range set by a user (for example, exceeds 10%), the third diode D 3 is turned-off.

Because a voltage across a snubber coil Np 1 is Vin−(Np 2 /Ns 2 )*Vo, a voltage obtained by reflecting the voltage across a snubber coil Np 1 becomes (Nb 1 /Np 1 )*[Vin−(Np 2 /Ns 2 )*Vo]=(Nb 1 /Np 1 )*Vin−(Nb 1 /Ns 2 )*Vo. When the third diode D 3 should be turned-off, (Nb 1 /Np 1 )*Vin−(Nb 1 /Ns 2 )*Vo]<Vo should be satisfied. If a corresponding equation is arranged, (Nb 1 /Np 1 )*Vin<[1+(Nb 1 /Ns 2 )]*Vo. If (Nb 1 /Np 1 )*Vin<[1+(Nb 1 /Ns 2 )]

*Vo is rearranged,

( Ns 1/ Np 1) Vin< [1+( Ns 1/ Nb 1)* Vo ]=VD_max.

Accordingly, when a VD_max value which a designer can permit in actual design is determined, a snubber coil Nb (Nb becomes Nb 1 or Nb 2 according to an operation situation) may be obtained based on an equation (Ns 1 /Np 1 )Vin<[1+(Ns 1 /Nb 1 )*Vo]=VD_max). Here, the Np and Ns are a main transformer, and are determined already in a circuit design, and a coil operating in FIG. 1 becomes Np or Ns.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a converter according to this embodiment includes an AC input power supply Vin, a transformer T for inducing a primary side voltage from the AC input power supply Vin to a switching device 200 on a secondary side having coils Ns 1 and Ns 2 and full wave rectifiers D 1 and D 2 on the secondary side, and a snubber circuit 300 having a snubber coil Nb 1 and a snubber rectifier D 3 connected to the switching device 200 on the secondary side in series.

Coils Np 1 and Np 2 on a primary side are connected with both terminals of the AC input power supply Vin, respectively, and a switching device (not shown) may be connected between the AC input power supply Vin and the coils Np 1 and Np 2 on the primary side.

The switching device may be configured by combining a plurality of switches in series and parallel, which may be a power MOSFET.

Further, the switching device may further a protection diode having internal capacitance the source and the drain and using a direction from a source to a drain as a forward direction.

Moreover, a gate serving as a control terminal may be connected to a control circuit.

Coils Ns 1 and Ns 2 on the secondary side may be provided at another terminal of the transformer T such that a voltage is induced in the coils Np 1 and Np 2 on the primary side.

In the meantime, as illustrated in FIG. 4 , a technical idea of this embodiment is applicable to a single module.

Rectifier diodes, for example, a first diode D 1 and a second diode D 2 are connected to the coils Ns 1 and Ns 2 on the secondary side in series, and a capacitor C and a resistor R are connected to the first diode D 1 and the second diode D 2 in parallel.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , when an input voltage from an power supply Vin is applied in a forward direction, the first diode D 1 in the coil Ns 1 on the secondary side with respect to the first coil Np 1 generates a forward voltage. Accordingly, an electric current flows through a path composed of a coil Ns 1 on the secondary side with respect to the first coil, a load side, and a coil Ns 1 on the secondary side with respect to the first coil. In this case, the electric current may be increased according to the time.

After that, when the input power Vin is not applied, the electric current flow through the path but the electric current is reduced according to the time.

In the meantime, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 , when the AC input voltage Vin is applied in a reverse direction, a second diode D 2 in the coil Ns 2 on the secondary side with respect to the second coil Np 2 generates a forward voltage. Accordingly, an electric current through the first diode D 1 rapidly becomes zero, and flows through a path composed of a coil Ns 2 on the secondary side with respect to the second coil, a load R, the second diode D 2 , and a coil Ns 2 on the secondary side. Next, as illustrated above, the flow of the electric current repeats.

During the foregoing operation, the electric current flowing through the first diode D 1 does not stop when a forward current becomes zero, but an electric current (reverse recovery current) flows in a forward direction. The reverse recovery current flows through a short circuit path composed of the first diode D 1 , the coil Ns 1 on the secondary side, a coil Ns 2 of the secondary side with respect to the second coil, the second diode D 2 , and the first diode D 1 .

Because the foregoing reverse recovery current rapidly stops, a surge voltage is generated in the coil Ns 1 on the secondary side with respect to the first coil, and the reverse recovery current is supplied to the first diode D 1 in a reverse direction.

A forward voltage drop is increased in the first diode D 1 having high internal pressure to endure the foregoing surge voltage. If the forward voltage drop is increased, loss is increased when the electric current flows in a forward direction, and accordingly conversion efficiency is reduced and heat is generated.

Accordingly, to absorb the surge voltage, snubber circuits 300 and 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be provided. One of the snubber circuits 300 and 400 will be described by way of example.

The snubber circuit 300 may be a circuit including a snubber coil Nb 1 and a snubber diode D 3 .

The snubber coil Nb 1 may be arranged in one side of a transformer T parallel with another side of the transformer, for example, a coil Ns 1 on a secondary side with respect to a first coil.

The number of snubber coils Nb 1 may be determined according to an input voltage Vin, an output voltage Vo, a coil Np 1 on a primary side, and a coil Ns 1 on a secondary side, and may be suitably controlled to obtain maximum efficiency.

When the input power Vin is applied in a forward direction, the first diode D 1 is turned-on. In this case, the second diode D 2 and snubber diodes D 3 and D 4 are turned-off.

When a polarity of the input voltage Vin is changed, the first diode D 1 shifts from a turning-on state to a turning-off state, and a high surge voltage is applied across the first diode D 1 .

When the first diode D 1 is turned-off, the snubber diode D 3 is turned-on, and an output voltage Vo is applied across the snubber diode D 3 .

Accordingly, a voltage expressed by equation 1 may be applied to a coil Ns 1 on the secondary side with respect to a first coil

When the first diode D 1 is turned-off, because a Vo voltage is applied across the first diode D 1 already, a total voltage VD_max applied across the first diode D 1 may be determined by a following equation 2.

In this case, when the moment elapses that the surge voltage is applied, a voltage expressed by a following equation 3 is applied across a coil Np 1 on the primary side.

Accordingly, when the voltage

V IN - V O × ( Ns ⁢ ⁢ 2 Nb ⁢ ⁢ 2 )

is applied, a voltage expressed by a following equation 4 is applied across the snubber diode D 3 .

In this case, because the snubber diode D 3 is turned-off, a following equation 5 may be satisfied.

In the equation 5, since the present invention sets that Np 1 =Np 2 =Np, Ns 1 =Ns 2 =Ns, and Nb 1 =Nb 2 =Nb, the Ns 2 may be substituted for the Ns 1 .

Accordingly, since the input voltage Vin, a coil Np 1 value on the primary side, a coil Ns 1 value on the secondary side, and an output voltage Vo are known, if a total voltage VD_max is set to a desired value, a snubber coil Nb 1 value may be obtained from the equation 2.

Accordingly, the snubber circuit 300 according to the present invention may reduce a high surge voltage applied across a switching device on the secondary side and control the high surge voltage to a desired level, thereby improving characteristics of a device.

In the same manner, when the second diode D 2 shifts from a turning-on state to a turning-off state, it may turn-on a snubber diode D 4 of the snubber circuit 400 to reduce a voltage applied across the second diode D 2 .

In the embodiment, Np 1 =Np 2 and Ns 1 =Ns 2 , and an operating device becomes a main transformer Np and Ns.

The embodiment of the present invention as described above will be explained by various methods.

A snubber circuit of the embodiment includes an input power supply; a transformer for inducing a voltage to a secondary side having a plurality of coils Ns 1 and Ns 2 and a plurality of rectifiers D 1 and D 2 based on the input power supply and a coil on a primary side; and snubber coils Nb 1 and Nb 2 and snubber rectifiers D 3 and D 4 provided on the secondary side to be selectively operated in response to a surge voltage generated when one of a plurality of rectifiers D 1 and D 2 is turned-off in order to solve the surge voltage.

The rectifiers and the snubber rectifiers provided on the secondary side may be connected to each other in series. Further, when the rectifiers D 1 and D 2 shift from an on state to an off state, so reduce a surge voltage generated in the rectifiers, snubber rectifiers D 3 and D 4 configured corresponding to the rectifiers D 1 and D 2 are turned-on for a predetermined time. The predetermined time when the snubber rectifiers D 3 and D 4 are turned-on is determined based on circuits including the D 1 and D 2 service as a switch and a snubber coil.

Moreover, when a forward current is switched to a reverse current, the D 1 is turned-off but the D 3 is momentarily turned-on.

Conversely, when the reverse current is switched to the forward current, the D 2 is turned-off but the D 4 is momentarily turned-on.

The ratio of turns in the snubber coil Nb 1 is controlled such that a snubber rectifier D 3 is turned-on when a voltage across the snubber coil Nb 1 is greater than an output voltage Vo.

The ratio of turns in the snubber coil Nb 1 is controlled such that a snubber rectifier D 3 is turned-on when a voltage in the snubber coil Nb 1 is (Nb 1 /Np 1 )*Vin−(Nb 1 /Ns 2 )*Vo]>Vo, where, the Np 1 indicates the primary coil, the Vin indicated input power, and the Ns 2 indicates a coil on the secondary side.

The ratio of turns in the snubber coil Nb 1 is controlled such that the snubber rectifier D 3 is turned-off when (Nb 1 /Np 1 )*Vin−(Nb 1 /Ns 2 )*Vo]<Vo, (Nb 1 /Np 1 )*Vin<[1+(Nb 1 /Ns 2 )]*Vo, or (Ns 1 /Np 1 )Vin<[1+(Ns 1 /Nb 1 )*Vo]=VD_max, where, the Np 1 indicates a coil on a primary side, the Vin indicates input power, the Ns 2 indicates a coil value on a secondary side, and the VDmax is set by the user.

The ratio of turns in the snubber coil Nb 2 is controlled such that the snubber rectifier D 4 is turned-on when a voltage in the snubber coil Nb 2 is greater than the output voltage Vo.

In a case where the rectifier D 1 on the secondary side shifts from an on state to an off state, when the snubber rectifier D 3 is turned-on, the output voltage Vo is applied to the snubber coil Nb 1 . Since a voltage obtained by reflecting the voltage from the coil Ns 1 becomes (Ns 1 /Nb 1 )*Vo and the D 1 is turned-off, a voltage across the D 1 becomes Vo+(Ns 1 /Nb 1 )*Vo=VD_max. When the VD_max is set, a spike surge voltage across the D 1 may be controlled. When the spike voltage is within a range set by the user or is identical with at least output voltage Vo, the D 3 is turned-off.

The rectifiers D 1 and D 2 provided on the secondary side function as a full wave rectifier. In the embodiment, rectifiers D 1 and D 2 provided on the secondary side is applicable as a single module such as a half wave rectifier.

In the embodiment, although the snubber circuit only includes a coil on a primary side, a coil on a secondary side, a snubber coil organically operating, a rectifier provided on a secondary side, and a snubber rectifier adversely operating, the present invention is not limited thereto.

Further, wherein the snubber circuit only includes a snubber coil organically operating with a coil on a primary side and a coil on a secondary side, and a snubber rectifier which is adversely operating with a rectifier provided on a secondary side.

In the embodiment, a rectifier D 1 being turned-on during a forward current time period of a primary side and a rectifier D 3 being momentarily turned-on when a reverse current of the primary side flows are provided in series on a secondary side.

In the embodiment, a rectifier D 1 being turned-on during a forward current time period of a primary side and a snubber rectifier D 3 being momentarily turned-on when a forward current of the primary side is switched are provided in series on a secondary side.

In the embodiment, a rectifier D 2 being turned-on during a forward current time period of a primary side and a rectifier D 4 being momentarily turned-on when a forward current of the primary side flows are provided in series on a secondary side.

In the embodiment, a rectifier D 1 being turned-on and a second rectifier D 2 being turned-off during a forward current time period are provided on the secondary side, and first and second snubber rectifiers D 3 and D 4 corresponding to the rectifiers D 1 and D 3 are provided in series, respectively. When the rectifier D 1 is turned-on according to a forward current, the second rectifier D 2 , first and second snubber rectifiers D 3 and D 4 are turned-off.

In the embodiment, a second rectifier D 2 being turned-on and a first rectifier D 1 being turned-off during a reverse current time period are provided on the secondary side, and first and second snubber rectifiers D 3 and D 4 corresponding to the first rectifier D 1 and the first snubber rectifier D 3 are provided in series, respectively. When the rectifier D 2 is turned-on according to a reverse current, the rectifiers D 1 , D 3 , and D 4 are turned-off.

In the embodiment, each coil on the secondary side and a snubber coil on the secondary side are integrated with one core and wound around it.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it should be clearly understood that many variations and modifications of the basic inventive concepts herein taught which may appear to those skilled in the present art will still fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.

The embodiment may be used to control a surge voltage generated by a transformer and rectifiers.

The embodiment is applicable to various circuits including at least one coil, at least one rectifier, and snubber coils and snubber rectifiers corresponding thereto.