The Need

DC/DC converters are used by hybrid electric vehicles, laptops, desktops, data-com systems, etc. Converters that optimize conversion of voltages last longer and improve energy efficiency. Therefore, improvements to existing converters could reduce time and money spent by manufacturers on faulty, less efficient converters.

The Technology

Researchers at The Ohio State University, led by Dr. Jin Wang, developed a novel flyback DC/DC converter, which is composed of a front-stage circuit, a high frequency transformer, and a post-stage circuit. The front-stage circuit has a step-down DC/AC topology that can serve as either an isolated or a non-isolated DC/DC converter. It also can drive any load composed of paralleling inductors and resistors. The post-stage circuit can be a traditional rectifying circuit, synchronous rectification circuit, and ripple canceling circuit.

Commercial Applications

• Isolated DC/DC converter: hybrid electrical vehicles, laptops, and desktops
• Non-isolated DC/DC converters: data centers, telecom, and datacom systems
• Converters that drive load composed of paralleling inductor and resistor: inductor heating, wireless charging for hybrid electric vehicle, and wireless energy transfer

Benefits/Advantages

• Reduces voltage stress on the switches to 2/3 of the input voltage and reduces voltage stress on the transformer to 1/3 of the input voltage
• Reduction in flux and core loss
• Reduction in core size and prevention of core saturation
• No need for snubber circuits to limit transformer leakage
• Reduction in switching losses and increase in efficiency
• Shrinking of the transformer profile
• Eliminates need to design high-side gate driver in the post-stage circuit, which reduces costs
• Friendlier towards high switching frequency, wide band-gap devices than traditional circuits.