A DC-DC auto-converter module includes a positive source terminal, a negative source terminal, a positive load terminal, a negative load terminal, and a DC-DC converter. The negative source terminal cooperates with the positive source terminal to facilitate electrical connection of a DC power source thereto. The negative load terminal cooperates with the positive load terminal to facilitate connection of an electrical load thereto. The isolated DC-DC converter comprises an input circuit and an output circuit that is galvanically isolated from the input circuit. The DC-DC converter includes a positive input terminal, a negative input terminal, a positive output terminal, and a negative output terminal. At least one of the positive input terminal, the negative input terminal, the positive output terminal, and the negative output terminal is galvanically connected to at least one of the positive source terminal, the negative source terminal, the positive load terminal, and the negative load terminal.

A transformer includes a multilayer board including insulation layers stacked in a thickness direction, a primary coil provided on at least one of the insulation layers, and a secondary coil provided on at least one of the insulation layers. The primary coil includes first sub coils electrically connected in series to each other, and second sub coils electrically connected in series to each other. Surfaces of the plurality of insulation layers constitute layer planes of the multilayer board. At least two of the first sub coils are provided on layer planes out of the layer plane different from each other. At least two of the second sub coils are provided on layer planes out of the layer planes different from each other. An average of positions of the first sub coils in the thickness direction is aligned with an average of positions of the second sub coils in the thickness direction.

A transformer includes a multilayer board including insulation layers stacked in a thickness direction, a primary coil provided on at least one of the insulation layers, and a secondary coil provided on at least one of the insulation layers. The primary coil includes first sub coils electrically connected in series to each other, and second sub coils electrically connected in series to each other. Surfaces of the plurality of insulation layers constitute layer planes of the multilayer board. At least two of the first sub coils are provided on layer planes out of the layer plane different from each other. At least two of the second sub coils are provided on layer planes out of the layer planes different from each other. An average of positions of the first sub coils in the thickness direction is aligned with an average of positions of the second sub coils in the thickness direction.

A method for communicating with a power converter comprises initiating a communication sequence by sensing a first distortion of a sensed waveform during a discharge period of a first power transfer cycle of the power converter. The sensed waveform is proportional to a secondary current of the power converter. At a primary side of the power converter, a data bit is received from a secondary side of the power converter, by sensing a second distortion to represent one state of the data bit and sending an absence of the second distortion to represent another state of the data bit. The secondary distortion is applied to the secondary current during the discharge period of a subsequent power transfer cycle.

A method for communicating with a power converter comprises initiating a communication sequence by sensing a first distortion of a sensed waveform during a discharge period of a first power transfer cycle of the power converter. The sensed waveform is proportional to a secondary current of the power converter. At a primary side of the power converter, a data bit is received from a secondary side of the power converter, by sensing a second distortion to represent one state of the data bit and sending an absence of the second distortion to represent another state of the data bit. The secondary distortion is applied to the secondary current during the discharge period of a subsequent power transfer cycle.

An insulated DC/DC converter includes: a transformer; a switching transistor; a rectifier circuit; a photocoupler; a feedback circuit configured to drive a light emitting element of the photocoupler such that an output voltage of the DC/DC converter approaches a target voltage; a primary side controller having a feedback terminal which is connected to a light receiving element of the photocoupler and receives a feedback signal from the photocoupler, a zero current detection terminal which receives a zero current detection signal corresponding to a voltage generated at one end of an auxiliary winding of the transformer, and a pulse modulator of a quasi-resonant mode configured to generate a pulse signal depending on the feedback signal and the zero current detection signal; and a starting control circuit which, in start-up of the DC/DC converter, electrically affects the zero current detection terminal such that an OFF time of the switching transistor lengthens.

Provided is a power converter in which a magnetic core of a noise filter can be prevented from magnetic saturation and the noise filter can be downsized. A noise filter 140 provided in a power converter includes: a magnetic core 1 formed with a single through-hole 1A and forming a closed magnetic circuit; first wiring 11 having one end 81 connected to a power conversion circuit and the other end drawn out from the second opening 3, and running through the through-hole 1A from one first opening 2 to the other second opening 3; second wiring 21 having one end connected to the other end of the first wiring 11 and the other end 82 drawn out from the first opening 2 as a filter output end, and running through the through-hole 1A from the second opening 3 to the first opening 2; a first capacitor 41 provided between the ground and a connecting portion 31 of the first wiring 11 and the second wiring 21; and the second capacitor 51 provided between the other end 82 of the second wiring 21 and the ground.

Provided is a power converter in which a magnetic core of a noise filter can be prevented from magnetic saturation and the noise filter can be downsized. A noise filter 140 provided in a power converter includes: a magnetic core 1 formed with a single through-hole 1A and forming a closed magnetic circuit; first wiring 11 having one end 81 connected to a power conversion circuit and the other end drawn out from the second opening 3, and running through the through-hole 1A from one first opening 2 to the other second opening 3; second wiring 21 having one end connected to the other end of the first wiring 11 and the other end 82 drawn out from the first opening 2 as a filter output end, and running through the through-hole 1A from the second opening 3 to the first opening 2; a first capacitor 41 provided between the ground and a connecting portion 31 of the first wiring 11 and the second wiring 21; and the second capacitor 51 provided between the other end 82 of the second wiring 21 and the ground.

The present invention aims to provide a power converter, which includes a plurality of switching power supply devices connected in parallel, with a circuit configuration that enables reduction of cost and a size of the power converter. The present invention relates to a power converter including at least a first switching power supply device and a second switching power supply device connected in parallel. A part of high-voltage-compatible switching elements is commonly used between the first switching power supply device and the second switching power supply device, and a drive gate signal of one of the high-voltage-compatible switching elements of the first switching power supply device and the second switching power supply device and a phase difference of a drive gate signal of the commonly used switching power supply device are set to be equal when a load current is a first current value or lower.

An inductive charge system may include an inductive charging circuit having a switchgear configured to swap between a step-up converter and a step-down converter. The inductive vehicle charge station or system may include a controller configured to operate the switchgear to switch between the step-up converter and the step-down converter based on presence or absence of a load. The step-up converter may be a boost converter. The step-down converter may be a buck converter. The buck converter may have a maximum power output of 100 W. An output of the step-down converter may include a forward-biased diode to prevent backfeeding. The controller may be further configured to ramp an output voltage of the step-down converter from a coupling voltage to a charging voltage to prevent hard switching between the step-up converter and the step-down converter.