Power Integrations has filed a patent for a switch mode power converter with selectable power paths. The converter includes stacked secondary windings and secondary side circuitry, with a power multiplexer that can switch between different power paths to provide a single output power path to a load. This technology could potentially improve the efficiency and performance of power converters. GlobalData’s report on Power Integrations gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Power Integrations, Quantum dot devices was a key innovation area identified from patents. Power Integrations's grant share as of September 2023 was 65%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Switch mode power converter with selectable power paths
A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230299685A1) describes a flyback converter with multiple secondary windings and secondary side circuitry. The converter includes a power multiplexer (MUX) that selects and transitions between different power paths to provide a single output power path to a load.
The flyback converter also includes a MUX bypass circuit that bypasses the power MUX during the transition between power paths. This bypass circuit includes a transfer switch that allows for a transition time, which is based on the resistance of a bleeder resistor in the load.
The load in the flyback converter can be a universal serial bus (USB) type-C load. The power MUX is configured to select and transition between power paths in response to select signals. These select signals can be provided by a secondary controller or a power delivery controller (PDC).
The first power path in the flyback converter provides a power of up to 240 watts, while the second power path provides a power of up to 100 watts. The power MUX itself is a MUX switch that includes a first P-channel field effect transistor (PFET) and an N-channel field effect transistor (NFET) that controls the gate of the PFET. The MUX switch also includes a second PFET and a second NFET in a back-to-back switch configuration.
In another embodiment, the flyback converter includes an energy transfer element with stacked secondary windings and a power MUX with two inputs. The first power path is electrically coupled between the secondary windings and the first input of the power MUX, while the second power path is electrically coupled between the secondary windings and the second input of the power MUX.
The method described in the patent involves operating the flyback converter to transfer power to the secondary windings and providing different voltages to the power MUX via the first and second power paths. The power MUX selects between the power paths based on select signals and provides a single output power path to a USB type-C load. The method also includes bypassing the second voltage to the power MUX via a MUX bypass circuit during a transition time, which is determined by the resistance of a bleeder resistor. The select signals can be provided by a secondary controller or a power delivery controller (PDC). The voltages provided to the power MUX are regulated.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
