US 11,990,848 B1
Fault tolerant power converter
Patrizio Vinciarelli, Boston, MA (US)
Assigned to Vicor Corporation, Andover, MA (US)
Filed by Vicor Corporation, Andover, MA (US)
Filed on Mar. 22, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/124,862.
Application 18/124,862 is a division of application No. 17/327,443, filed on May 21, 2021, granted, now 11,626,808.
Application 14/682,187 is a division of application No. 13/044,063, filed on Mar. 9, 2011, granted, now 9,112,422, issued on Aug. 18, 2015.
Application 17/327,443 is a continuation of application No. 15/996,041, filed on Jun. 1, 2018, granted, now 11,018,599.
Application 15/996,041 is a continuation of application No. 15/456,055, filed on Mar. 10, 2017, granted, now 10,014,798, issued on Jul. 3, 2018.
Application 15/456,055 is a continuation of application No. 14/682,187, filed on Apr. 9, 2015, granted, now 9,660,537, issued on May 23, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/312,110, filed on Mar. 9, 2010.
Int. Cl. H02M 1/32 (2007.01); H02M 1/38 (2007.01); H02M 3/00 (2006.01); H02M 3/335 (2006.01); H02M 7/00 (2006.01); H02M 7/219 (2006.01); H03K 17/06 (2006.01); H03K 17/30 (2006.01); H03K 17/687 (2006.01); H02M 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC H02M 7/219 (2013.01) [H02M 1/32 (2013.01); H02M 1/38 (2013.01); H02M 3/01 (2021.05); H02M 3/33507 (2013.01); H02M 3/33576 (2013.01); H02M 7/003 (2013.01); H03K 17/063 (2013.01); H03K 17/302 (2013.01); H03K 17/6871 (2013.01); H02M 1/0032 (2021.05); H02M 1/325 (2021.05); Y02B 70/10 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for converting power from an input source for delivery to a load, where the load may vary over a normal operating range, comprising:
providing a transformer comprising a primary winding and a secondary winding;
providing a resonant circuit including the transformer having a Q less than 13 and having a characteristic resonant frequency and period;
providing two or more primary switches connected to drive the resonant circuit;
providing output circuitry connected to the transformer for delivering a rectified output voltage to the load, wherein the output circuitry comprises two or more secondary switches connected to the secondary winding of the transformer; and
operating, using a secondary switch controller, the secondary switches in a series of converter operating cycles, wherein the secondary switch controller is distinct from a primary switch controller that is adapted to operate the primary switches, and wherein each converter operating cycle is characterized by two power transfer intervals of essentially equal duration each interval having a duration less than the characteristics resonant period, during which one or more of the secondary switches are ON and power is transferred from the input source to the load via the transformer.