Startup detection for parallel power converters
US11855532B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 1, 2022 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 1, 2042 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02M3/077
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Circuits/methods for controlling the startup of multiple parallel power converters that avoid inrush current or switch overstress in an added power converter or a power converter having fault conditions. Embodiments include node status detectors coupled to nodes within parallel-connected power converters to monitor voltage/current and configured in some embodiments to work in parallel with an output status detector measuring the startup output voltage of a power converter. With charge pump-based power converters, the node status detectors ensure that the power converter pump capacitors are charged while the output capacitor is charged as well. For such embodiments, a softstart period of startup may be considered finished if both the shared output capacitors and the power converter pump capacitors are charged to target values. Embodiments may also be used for fault detection during steady-state operation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.