Power supply including diode recovery current suppression circuits

Abstract

Diode recovery current suppression circuits are disclosed for use with power supplies. A power supply circuit including the diode recovery current suppression circuit may include a main inductor and a main diode coupled to the end of the main inductor. In such a context, the diode recovery current suppression circuit can include (a) a set of additional inductive windings, (b) an auxiliary inductor, and (c) an auxiliary diode. The set of additional inductive windings are coupled to the end of the main inductor such that the diode recovery current suppression circuit is coupled in parallel with the main diode.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A power supply circuit comprising: 
 a main inductor having a first end, a second end and a tap between the first and second ends;    a main diode coupled to the tap of the main inductor; and    a diode recovery current suppression circuit including an auxiliary inductor and an auxiliary diode coupled in series, the diode recovery current suppression circuit being coupled to the second end of the main inductor.    
     
     
         2 . A power supply circuit as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a switch in circuit with the main inductor for selectively at least partially discharging the main inductor.  
     
     
         3 . A power supply circuit as defined in  claim 1  wherein the main inductor comprises part of a transformer.  
     
     
         4 . A power supply circuit as defined in  claim 3  further comprising a switch in circuit with the transformer for selectively at least partially discharging the main inductor.  
     
     
         5 . A power supply circuit as defined in  claim 1  further comprising an output capacitor in circuit with the main diode and the diode recovery suppression circuit.  
     
     
         6 . A power supply circuit as defined in  claim 1  wherein the auxiliary inductor performs at least one of reducing and eliminating reverse recovery current in the auxiliary diode.  
     
     
         7 . A power supply circuit as defined in  claim 1  wherein energy from the main inductor charges a capacitor for a predetermined time period, and the diode reverse recovery current suppression circuit terminates current flow through the main diode prior to termination of the predetermined time period.  
     
     
         8 . A power supply circuit as defined in  claim 1  wherein the power supply circuit comprises a switchmode power converter.  
     
     
         9 . A power supply circuit as defined in  claim 1  wherein at least some of the components of the power supply circuit form at least a portion of a boost regulator.  
     
     
         10 . A power supply circuit as defined in  claim 1  wherein at least some of the components of the power supply circuit form at least a portion of a buck regulator.  
     
     
         11 . A power supply circuit as defined in  claim 1  wherein at least some of the components of the power supply circuit form at least a portion of a fly-back regulator.  
     
     
         12 . A power supply circuit as defined in  claim 11  wherein the fly-back regulator is structured to operate in continuous mode.  
     
     
         13 . A power supply circuit as defined in  claim 1  wherein the main diode comprises at least a portion of a full bridge rectifier.  
     
     
         14 . A power supply circuit comprising: 
 a main inductor having a first end, a second end and a tap between the first and second ends;    a main diode coupled to the tap of the main inductor; and    a diode recovery current suppression circuit including an auxiliary diode coupled to the second end of the main inductor wherein a portion of the main inductor between the tap and the second end has sufficient leakage inductance to function as a virtual auxiliary inductor.    
     
     
         15 . A power supply circuit comprising: 
 a main inductor having an end;    a main diode coupled to the end of the main inductor; and    a diode recovery current suppression circuit including: (a) a set of additional inductive windings and (b) an auxiliary diode coupled to the set of additional inductive windings, the set of additional inductive windings being coupled to the end of the main inductor and having sufficient leakage inductance to function as a virtual auxiliary inductor.