Dynamic converter topology

Abstract

Methods and apparatus of dynamic topology power converters are provided. One method includes monitoring at least one variable of the power converter and based on the at least one monitored variable, using a converter topology selected between at least a full-bridge converter topology and a half-bridge converter topology to achieve an efficient operation at a then current operational load.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A voltage converter, the circuit comprising:
 a plurality of voltage converter circuits, each voltage converter circuit having an associated topology; and   a control circuit coupled to the voltage converter circuits, the control circuit operable to select one of the voltage converter circuits to provide an output power on an output node, and the control circuit operable in response to a switching frequency of the selected voltage converter circuit to select another one of the voltage converter circuits.   
     
     
         24 . The voltage converter of  claim 23 ,
 wherein the voltage converter includes an H-bridge structure including first and second pairs of switching elements, each pair of switching elements including first and second switching elements, and   wherein the control circuit is operable to control all the switching elements in the H-bridge structure to operate in a full-bridge topology and to open the first switching element and close the second switching element in the second pair and to control the switching elements in the first pair to operate in a half-bridge topology responsive to the switching frequency reaching a threshold value.   
     
     
         25 . The voltage converter of  claim 23 , wherein the control circuit is operable responsive to the switching frequency reaching a minimum frequency value to switch to operation of the full-bridge voltage converter circuit. 
     
     
         26 . The voltage converter circuit of  claim 23 , wherein the control circuit is operable to detect additional parameters of the plurality of voltage converter circuits and operable to switch among the plurality of voltage converter circuits responsive to the switching frequency of the selected voltage converter and the detected additional parameters. 
     
     
         27 . The voltage converter circuit of  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of voltage converter circuits includes a voltage converter circuit having a full-bridge topology and a voltage converter circuit including a half-bridge topology. 
     
     
         28 . The voltage converter circuit of  claim 27 , wherein the control circuit is operable in response to a switching frequency of the voltage converter circuit having the half-bridge topology to select the voltage converter circuit having the full-bridge topology. 
     
     
         29 . The voltage converter circuit of  claim 28 , wherein the control circuit is further operable to detect other parameters of a selected one of the plurality of voltage converter circuits. 
     
     
         30 . The voltage converter circuit of  claim 29 , wherein the other parameters includes a duty cycle of the voltage converter circuit having the full-bridge topology, and wherein the control circuit is operable to select the voltage converter circuit having the half-bridge topology responsive to the duty cycle reaching a minimum threshold value. 
     
     
         31 . The voltage converter circuit of  claim 29 , wherein the other parameters includes a zero voltage crossing of the voltage converter circuit having the full-bridge topology, and wherein the control circuit is operable to select the voltage converter circuit having the half-bridge topology responsive to detecting a zero voltage crossing of the voltage converter circuit having the full-bridge topology. 
     
     
         32 . An electronic system, the system comprising:
 a varying load device having at least one power input;   a converter having at least one output coupled to the at least one power input of the varying load device; the converter including,
 at least first and second voltage converter topologies, wherein the first voltage converter topology is a full-bridge converter topology and the second voltage converter topology is a half-bridge converter topology, 
 an output node, and 
 a controller operable to implement one of the first and second voltage converter topologies and operable responsive to a switching frequency of at least one of the first and second voltage converter topologies to implement the other one of the first and second voltage converter topologies. 
   
     
     
         33 . The electronic system of  claim 32 ,
 wherein the converter includes an H-bridge structure including first and second pairs of switching elements, each pair of switching elements including first and second switching elements, and   wherein the controller is further operable to control all the switching elements in the H-bridge structure to operate in the full-bridge converter topology and to open the first switching element and close the second switching element in the second pair and to control the switching elements in the first pair to operate in the half-bridge converter topology when the switching frequency reaches a threshold value.   
     
     
         34 . The voltage converter circuit of  claim 32 , wherein the voltage converter includes additional voltage converter circuits, each voltage converter circuit having an associated topology, and wherein the control circuit is operable to detect additional parameters of the additional voltage converter circuits and to switch among the voltage converter circuits responsive to at least one of the additional parameters and the switching frequency. 
     
     
         35 . The voltage converter of  claim 32 , wherein the control circuit is operable responsive to the switching frequency of the second voltage converter topology reaching a minimum frequency value to switch to operation of the first voltage converter topology. 
     
     
         36 . The voltage converter circuit of  claim 35 , wherein the additional parameters include a duty cycle of the voltage converter circuit having the full-bridge topology, and wherein the control circuit is operable to select the voltage converter circuit having the half-bridge topology responsive to the duty cycle reaching a minimum threshold value. 
     
     
         37 . The voltage converter circuit of  claim 35 , wherein the additional parameters include a zero voltage crossing of the voltage converter circuit having the full-bridge topology, and wherein the control circuit is operable to select the voltage converter circuit having the half-bridge topology responsive to detecting a zero voltage crossing of the voltage converter circuit having the full-bridge topology. 
     
     
         38 . A method of operating a power converter, comprising:
 selecting a converter from among a plurality of converters, each converter having an associated topology;   generating power using the selected converter;   monitoring a switching frequency of the selected converter when the selected converter has a topology that is operated at a variable frequency to generate power;   selecting a converter having a different topology responsive to the monitored switching frequency reaching a threshold value; and   generating power using the newly selected converter having the different topology.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the initially selected converter has a half-bridge topology and newly selected converter has a full-bridge topology. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising monitoring the phase shift of the newly selected converter having the full-bridge topology.