Circuit and method for providing hold-up time in a DC-DC converter
US9024609B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 5, 2012 |
| Grant date | May 5, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 26, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02M1/0096
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A power conversion system and method includes a DC-DC converter and an auxiliary circuit configured to ensure that a minimum input voltage is provided to the DC-DC converter during power interruption and for at least a predetermined hold-up time period. The auxiliary circuit includes an energy storage device, an auxiliary energy source for charging the energy storage device, and a clamping circuit to limit the energy stored by the energy storage device to a threshold voltage. A discharge time of the energy storage device from the threshold voltage to the minimum voltage thereby exceeds the predetermined hold-up time, but is only incrementally greater such that the size of the energy storage device is substantially reduced. The auxiliary energy source may typically be a current source, with the clamping circuit being control logic effective to disable the current source as a voltage across the storage device approaches the threshold.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.