Circuit for converting AC voltage into DC voltage

Abstract

The invention relates to a circuit for converting AC voltage into DC voltage for one or two consumers (Rm, Ra), in which circuit a first part of the current is fed to the input side via a large induction coil (L50) and a first rectifier (Gm) and a second part of the current via a second rectifier (Ga) upstream of the large induction coil. On the output side, behind the second rectifier (Ga), a switched-mode power supply is arranged, preferably in the form of an up-converter or a flyback converter (10). The division of the applied current for smoothing the output voltage provides that the induction coil (L50) can be accordingly dimensioned smaller and, despite this, the circuit can also satisfy relevant standard specifications.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a circuit for converting AC voltage into DC voltage for at least one consumer, comprising

[0002] two external terminals for feeding an AC voltage,

[0003] a rectifier module whose two inputs are connected via connection lines to the two external terminals and which comprises two output lines with external terminals for coupling this at least one consumer,

[0004] at least one induction coil coupled in at least one of the connection lines between the external terminals and the rectifier module.

[0005] Many electric or electronic devices need a DC voltage for their operation, which DC voltage is to be rendered available or generated, respectively, from the AC voltage of the electric mains. A television set (TV) is mentioned in place of such terminal devices. The circuits for converting AC voltage into DC voltage installed in such devices are to satisfy certain requirements with regard to their conrversion behavior, particularly, with regard to the remaining portion of the network harmonics. Such requirements are known, more particularly, from the subject matter of standards, for which especially CEI/IEC 61000-3-2, SECOND EDITION, 2000-08 may be mentioned, which is to be satisfied in Europe as from the year 2001 by terminal devices that have a power consumption exceeding 75 W.

[0006] To guarantee that said quality standards are adhered to, there are various possibilities with various optimal power ranges. Active solutions are predominant for large powers of about 500 W and upwards. In range of smaller powers, on the other hand, often 50 Hz coils are found. They are comparatively inexpensive, but also comparatively large and heavy. This size or this concentrated volume respectively leads to problems with the available place on printed circuit boards or to problems with chock resistance of the manufactured devices.

[0007] Said problems particularly occur in applications which contain more than one switched-mode power supply. An example of this is formed by modern TV sets in which the second power supply is necessary for standby operation and in normal operation supplies power to the logic ICs.

[0008] Against this background it was an object of the present invention to provide a circuit for converting AC voltage into DC voltage for at least one consumer, which circuit guarantees sufficient quality of the conversion with limited required space and expenditure and which is particularly suitable for applications having two switched-mode power supplies.

[0009] This object is achieved by a circuit having the characteristic features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are stated in the dependent Claims.

[0010] The circuit for converting AC voltage into DC voltage for at least one consumer accordingly comprises the following component parts:

[0011] (a) Two external terminals (EA) to which the poles of an external AC voltage source can be connected.

[0012] (b) A rectifier module of known structure whose two inputs are connected to one of said external terminals via connecting lines and which has two output lines to which at least one consumer can be connected.

[0013] (c) At least one induction coil, which is arranged in one of the connecting lines which connect the external terminals to the rectifier module. The induction coil has for its object to level the recharging current or reduce the harmonic part of the recharging current, respectively.

[0014] The circuit is characterized in that at least a second rectifier module is present whose two inputs are connected to a respective external terminal without an induction coil being arranged in the associated connecting line. Furthermore, the rectifier module has two output lines for connecting at least one consumer. A switched-mode power supply with a respective drive is then arranged for this purpose in the output lines, which power supply has at least a substantially sinusoidal input current. This means that the input current has a small harmonic part. Such power supplies which are also called AC/DC converter or PFC (Power Factor Correction circuit) are known from the literature (compare Siemens “Schaltnetzteile” W. Hirschmann, A. Hauenstein, 1990, ISBN 3-8009-1550-2, chapters 6.1 to 6.3).

[0015] In the circuit according to the invention, the power supplied from the exterior as AC voltage is led over two separate inputs paths. One path leads via the first rectifier module. This path includes in known manner an induction coil to effect a reduction of the harmonic part of the recharging current. In addition, according to the invention, a second input path is opened via the second rectifier module. The consequent relief of the first input path when the total power consumption remains the same may be used for accordingly arranging smaller induction coils in this path, because the necessary inductivity can be chosen smaller. In this way it becomes possible to use induction coils of drastically reduced size which can also be used when there is limited space on printed circuit boards and to avoid problems with the shock resistance of the devices. Furthermore, the pattern of the power consumption from the AC voltage source, which pattern is caused by the circuit according to the invention, is modified in advantageous manner, so that standard specifications can be satisfied in simple fashion at reduced cost.

[0016] Whereas, basically, different topologies can be used for the switched-mode power supply, this power supply is preferably arranged so that it can be operated with a sinusoidal current. For this purpose, preferably an upconverter (also called boost converter or forward gain controller) and/or a flyback converter, for contrary to many other topologies, the upconverter and the flyback converter can generate a purely sinusoidal input current when accordingly driven in a “normal” fashion.

[0017] As an alternative, the switched-mode power supply (for example upconverter or flyback converter) can also be operated not to generate a purely sinusoidal input current, but use the recharging pulse to keep the input current tapped from the external terminals sinusoidal as long as possible.

[0018] The circuit according to the invention may be complemented in various ways to obtain improved output signals. For example, the two output lines of the first rectifier module Gm may be coupled each via a smoothing capacitor. This smoothing capacitor provides a suppression of higher frequencies in the output voltage.

[0019] The coupling via the output capacitor of the switched-mode power supply (for example, of the upconverter or flyback converter) takes place in the second output path.

[0020] These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from and will be elucidated, by way of non-limitative example, with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter:

[0021] In the drawings:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a circuit according to the state of the art for supplying power to two consumers;

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a circuit according to the state of the art for supplying power to one consumer;

[0024] FIG. 3, shows the curve of the power consumption in a circuit shown in FIG. 1 or 2,

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a circuit according to the invention with two consumers;

[0026] FIG. 5 shows the curve of the power consumption in the circuit shown in FIG. 4 when the AC/DC converter is operated with sinusoidal current; and

[0027] FIG. 6 shows the curve of the power consumption of the circuit shown in FIG. 4 when the AC/DC converter is operated when part of the recharging current pulse is used.

[0028] The generation of DC voltages for supplying power to electronic terminal devices from an AC mains current is to satisfy certain minimum requirements with regard to the conversion of the AC voltage into DC voltage. For consumers consuming more than 75 W these requirements are expressed, for example, in the intended standard CEI/IEC 61000-3-2, SECOND EDITION, 2000-08. Various methods of satisfying this standard are about generating as exact a sinusoidal input current as possible. Nevertheless, such a sinusoidal form is not absolutely prescribed by the standard.

[0029] A widely used method of satisfying quality standards consists of a passive solution via a so-called 50 Hz coil which smoothes the input current. However, a high inductivity is then required to satisfy for example the CEI/IEC 61000-3-2, SECOND EDITION, 2000-08. The respective coil is thus very large and heavy, which causes problems when accommodating it on a printed circuit board and also during shock tests of the devices. The present invention renders a circuit available which makes the use of smaller coils possible while simultaneously satisfying the quality specifications for the conversion.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a circuit according to the state of the art for supplying a DC voltage to two consumers Rm, Ra, which DC voltage is the result of a conversion from an AC voltage source. This circuit corresponds to that of FIG. 2 in which the two consumers Rm, Ra are connected in parallel to the output circuit of the rectifier module G.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a more detailed picture of a known circuit for supplying a DC voltage to a consumer RL. The power is taken from an AC voltage source and converted into an uncontrolled or fluctuating (ripple affected) DC voltage by a rectifier module G. The AC voltage is fed to the input terminals of the rectifier module G. One of the connecting lines or both connecting lines of the rectifier module G to the external terminals EA of he circuit include a 50 Hz coil 50 for smoothing purposes. The DC voltage can be tapped from the output terminals “+”, “−” of the rectifier module G by the consumer RL. The two output lines to these terminals will be coupled via a smoothing capacitor C. Furthermore, an output line often includes a resistor R to achieve a limitation of the switch-on current.

[0032] The curved pattern of the power consumption resulting from the circuit shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, respectively, is shown in FIG. 3 where the circuit is based for example on the following parameters: R=1.5 Ohms, L50−=32 mH, C=22 μF, Uin=230 V, f=50 Hz, Po=145 W.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a circuit according to the invention for supplying power to two consumers Rm, Ra. In this circuit there are two different paths through which energy is drawn from the AC voltage (mains power supply) present on the external terminals EA. The first path leads through the first amplifying module Gm (m=“main”), the second path through the second rectifier module Ga (a=“aux”). Only the first path leads on the input side of the first rectifier module Gm through the 50 Hz coil L50, while the auxiliary line for the second path is tapped before the 50 Hz coil L50.

[0034] While the output path via the rectifier module Gm utilizes the conventional configuration of diode bridge and electrolyte capacitor Cm, the power for the second path is actively rendered available by means of the sinusoidal current. This may be effected via a switched-mode power supply 10 (also called AC/DC converter or PFC) such as, for example, an upconverter (boost converter) or a flyback converter, which is arranged between the rectifier module Ga and the consumer Ra. The first path which includes the rectifier module Gm then preferably renders the larger power available. However, the first path could also process the smaller power.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows the resulting signal curve of the power consumption on the external terminals EA (50 Hz input current, a half-wave) when the circuit according to FIG. 4 is used, if the power for the consumer Ra is rendered available via a sinusoidal current flowing through the rectifier module Ga. The resulting form of the curve of the input current (solid line) consists of two parts, that is to say, the current flowing through the first rectifier module Gm (dashed line) and the current flowing through the second rectifier module Ga (dotted line). The main recharge pulse is limited by the large 50 Hz coil L50.

[0036] FIG. 6 shows the resulting signal curve of the power consumption on the external terminals EA (50 Hz input current, a half-wave) when the circuit shown in FIG. 4 is used, if the power for the consumer Ra is not tapped as a purely sinusoidal power, but part of the recharge pulse is used to form as sinusoidal an input current as possible. The resulting form of the curve of the input current (solid line) again consists of two parts, the current flowing through the first rectifier module Gm (dashed line) and the second rectifier module Ga (dotted line). When the recharge pulse begins, the current consumption is reduced by the second rectifier module Ga until the power consumption becomes negative (which is not possible because of the rectifier module Ga). For this purpose the recharge pulse is to be detected in the upper circuit. This may be effected according to present day current sensor principles.

[0037] In the examples on which FIGS. 5 and 6 are based the coil L50 can be reduced by a factor of 2 compared to the state of the art (with L×1{fraction (2/2)} as an approximate value for the size of the coil).

[0038] In all proposals the non-linear magnets may be used for further reduction of the size of the magnetic components.

List of preferences:
AC     AC voltage source
C      smoothing capacitor
Ca     capacitor in the second input path
Cm     capacitor in the first input path
EA     external terminal
Gm     rectifier in the first input path (main)
Ga     rectifier in the second input path (aux)
1      current
L50    50 Hz coil
Lcom   current inductivity
R      ohmic resistance
RL     consumer
Rm, Ra consumer in the first/second input path
t      time

Claims

1. A circuit for converting AC voltage into DC voltage for at least one consumer, comprising, two external terminals (EA) for feeding an AC voltage, a rectifier module (GM) whose two inputs are connected via connection lines to the two external terminals (EA) and which comprises two output lines with external terminals for coupling this at least one consumer (Rm), at least one induction coil (L 50) arranged in one of the connection lines between the external terminals (EA) and the rectifier module (Gm), characterized in that at least a second rectifier module (Ga) is present whose two inputs are each connected to one of the external terminals (EA) while bypassing the induction coil (L50) and which rectifier module (Ga) has two output lines for the connection of at least one consumer (Ra) while the output lines include a switched-mode power supply (10) arranged between the second rectifier module (Ga) and the consumer to be connected.

2. A circuit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the switched-mode power supply (10) is arranged so that it is operated with a substantially sinusoidal current.

3. A circuit as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the switched-mode power supply is an up-converter or a flyback converter (10).

4. A circuit as claimed in at least one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the switched-mode power supply (10) is arranged so that it utilizes part of the recharge pulse to extract as sinusoidal a current as possible at the two external terminals (EA).