Patent · US Active

Power supply device, heating unit using same, and image forming apparatus using said heating unit

US8401417B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
3References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 2, 2010
Grant dateMar 19, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 10, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02B70/10
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The invention reduces loss produced when a power supply device supplies power to a fixing unit of a copier, thereby contributing to a reduction in size, a saving in terms of energy and lower cost. To achieve this, it is arranged so that it is possible to vary the capacitance of a resonant capacitor C200 that constructs a resonant circuit together with a coil 71 through which a high-frequency current flows in order to produce an induced electromotive force in an electrically conductive heating element. In an interval in which a tail current flows after closure of an IGBT 401 that switches the coil current, the capacitance of the resonant capacitor C200 of a switching element SW402 is increased, thereby suppressing a rise in voltage Vce of the IGBT 40 over a fixed interval of time. As a result, loss ascribable to the tail current is reduced.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.