CIRCUIT STRUCTURE FOR SWITCHING PLURAL POWER SUPPLY UNITS BETWEEN SERIES-CONNECTED AND PARALLEL-CONNECTED CONFIGURATIONS

Abstract

A circuit structure applied to a driver of an electronic device and for switching power supply units between series-connected and parallel-connected configurations includes an electricity output portion having a first end and a second end, two power supply units, and a switch unit. Each power supply unit includes an electricity element having a positive electrode and a negative electrode, a front diode having an anode connected to the positive electrode and a cathode electrically connected to the first end, and a rear diode having a cathode connected to the negative electrode and an anode electrically connected to the second end. The switch unit has a first end and a second end respectively connected to the positive electrode of one electricity element and the negative electrode of the other electricity element, and a closed-circuit state and an open-circuit state when the electricity elements are respectively series-connected or parallel-connected to output electricity.

Claims

1. A circuit structure for switching a plurality of power supply units between a series-connected configuration and a parallel-connected configuration, to be applied to a driver of an electronic product, the circuit structure comprising: an electricity output portion having a first end and a second end; a first power supply unit comprising a first front diode, a first rear diode and a first electricity element, wherein the first front diode has an anode connected to a positive electrode of the first electricity element and a cathode electrically connected to the first end of the electricity output portion, and the first rear diode has a cathode connected to a negative electrode of the first electricity element and an anode electrically connected to the second end of the electricity output portion; a second power supply unit comprising a second front diode, a second rear diode, and a second electricity element, wherein the second front diode has an anode connected to a positive electrode of the second electricity element and a cathode electrically connected to the first end of the electricity output portion, and the second rear diode has a cathode connected to a negative electrode of the second electricity element and an anode electrically connected to the second end of the electricity output portion; and a switch unit having a first end connected to the anode of the first front diode and a second end connected to the cathode of the second rear diode, wherein the switch unit has a closed-circuit state, in which the first electricity element and the second electricity element are connected in series and output electricity to the electricity output portion, and an open-circuit state, in which the first electricity element and the second electricity element are connected in parallel and output electricity to the electricity output portion.

2. The circuit structure of claim 1, wherein the driver is a motor driver.

3. The circuit structure of claim 1, wherein the driver is an electric vehicle driver.

4. The circuit structure of claim 1, wherein the switch unit is a relay.

5. The circuit structure of claim 2, wherein the switch unit is a relay.

6. The circuit structure of claim 3, wherein the switch unit is a relay.

7. The circuit structure of claim 1, wherein the switch unit is a field-effect transistor.

8. The circuit structure of claim 2, wherein the switch unit is a field-effect transistor.

9. The circuit structure of claim 3, wherein the switch unit is a field-effect transistor.

10. The circuit structure of claim 1, wherein the switch unit is a bipolar junction transistor.

11. The circuit structure of claim 2, wherein the switch unit is a bipolar junction transistor.

12. The circuit structure of claim 3, wherein the switch unit is a bipolar junction transistor.

13. The circuit structure of claim 1, wherein the switch unit is a thyristor.

14. The circuit structure of claim 2, wherein the switch unit is a thyristor.

15. The circuit structure of claim 3, wherein the switch unit is a thyristor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a circuit structure according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 2 shows an equivalent circuit of the circuit structure in FIG. 1 while the switch unit is in the closed-circuit state.

[0013] FIG. 3 shows an equivalent circuit of the circuit structure in FIG. 1 while the switch unit is in the open-circuit state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The present disclosure is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Various embodiments of the disclosure are now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers, if any, indicate like components throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of a, an, and the includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of in includes in and on unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Moreover, titles or subtitles may be used in the specification for the convenience of a reader, which shall have no influence on the scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, some terms used in this specification are more specifically defined below.

[0015] The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the disclosure, and in the specific context where each term is used. Certain terms that are used to describe the disclosure are discussed below, or elsewhere in the specification, to provide additional guidance to the practitioner regarding the description of the disclosure. For convenience, certain terms may be highlighted, for example using italics and/or quotation marks. The use of highlighting has no influence on the scope and meaning of a term; the scope and meaning of a term is the same, in the same context, whether or not it is highlighted. It will be appreciated that same thing can be said in more than one way. Consequently, alternative language and synonyms may be used for any one or more of the terms discussed herein. No special significance is to be placed upon whether or not a term is elaborated or discussed herein. Synonyms for certain terms are provided. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification including examples of any terms discussed herein is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given in this specification.

[0016] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. In the case of conflict, the present document, including definitions will control.

[0017] As used herein, around. about or approximately shall generally mean within 20 percent, preferably within 10 percent, and more preferably within 5 percent of a given value or range. Numerical quantities given herein are approximate, meaning that the term around, about or approximately can be inferred if not expressly stated.

[0018] As used herein, plurality means two or more.

[0019] As used herein, the terms comprising, including, carrying, having, containing, involving, and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to.

[0020] As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A or B or C), using a non-exclusive logical OR. It should be understood that one or more steps within a method may be executed in different order (or concurrently) without altering the principles of the present disclosure.

[0021] The present disclosure relates to a circuit structure applied to the driver of an electronic product (e.g., a driver for driving an electric vehicle or motor). The driver may also be referred to as an inverter, controller, frequency converter, or the like, and serves mainly to output electricity. The circuit structure is for switching a plurality of power supply units between a series-connected configuration and a parallel-connected configuration. Referring to FIG. 1, the circuit structure 1 at least includes a first power supply unit 11, a second power supply unit 12, and a switch unit 13. It is noted that the circuit structure 1 described herein is only a basic structure. A person skilled in the art may increase the number of the power supply units and of the switch unit or even provide the circuit structure 1 with additional electronic components and circuits (e.g., resistors, capacitors, current-limiting circuits, etc.) according to the technical features described below and/or to meet practical needs, provided that the circuit structure 1 has the essential structure disclosed herein and can produce the intended effects.

[0022] With continued reference to FIG. 1, the first power supply unit 11 includes at least a first front diode 111, a first rear diode 112, and a first electricity element 113. The anode of the first front diode 111 is connected to a positive electrode of the first electricity element 113. The cathode of the first front diode 111 is electrically connected to an end E1 of an electricity output portion E of the circuit structure 1. The cathode of the first rear diode 112 is connected to a negative electrode of the first electricity element 113. The anode of the first rear diode 112 is electrically connected to the other end E2 of the electricity output portion E. In certain embodiments, and by way of example only, the first electricity element 113 has an output voltage of 1.5 V and an output current of 1 A. The first electricity element 113 serves the main purpose of providing electricity, and its configuration may be adjusted according to product requirements. For instance, the first electricity element 113 may be a battery, a switching power, or a power supply.

[0023] With continued reference to FIG. 1, the second power supply unit 12 includes at least a second front diode 121, a second rear diode 122, and a second electricity element 123. The anode of the second front diode 121 is connected to a positive electrode of the second electricity element 123. The cathode of the second front diode 121 is electrically connected to the end E1 of the electricity output portion E. The cathode of the second rear diode 122 is connected to a negative electrode of the second electricity element 123. The anode of the second rear diode 122 is electrically connected to the end E2 of the electricity output portion E. In certain embodiments, and by way of example only, the second electricity element 123 has an output voltage of 1.5 V and an output current of 1 A.

[0024] With continued reference to FIG. 1, the switch unit 13 has a first end connected to the anode of the first front diode 111 and a second end connected to the cathode of the second rear diode 122. In certain embodiments, the switch unit 13 is a relay. In certain embodiments, the switch unit 13 may be a thyristor or a transistor instead, wherein the transistor may be a field-effect transistor (FET) or a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), depending on product requirements.

[0025] With continued reference to FIG. 1, when the switch unit 13 is in the closed-circuit state, the positive electrode of the first electricity element 113 is connected to the negative electrode of the second electricity element 123 such that the first electricity element 113 and the second electricity element 123 are connected in series. As a diode conducts electricity in one direction only (i.e., in the forward direction rather than the reverse direction), electric current from the positive electrode of the second electricity element 123 is prevented from flowing through the first front diode 111 to the negative electrode of the second electricity element 123, and electric current from the positive electrode of the first electricity element 113 is prevented from flowing through the second rear diode 122 to the negative electrode of the first electricity element 113. Thus, the first electricity element 113 and the second electricity element 123 are each kept from short-circuiting and jointly form the equivalent circuit in FIG. 2, allowing the load L connected to the electricity output portion E to receive a total electricity output of 3 V and 1 A from the first power supply unit 11 and the second power unit 12.

[0026] With continued reference to FIG. 1, when the switch unit 13 is in the open-circuit state, an open circuit is formed between the positive electrode of the first electricity element 113 and the negative electrode of the second electricity element 123; as a result, the first electricity element 113 and the second electricity element 123 are connected in parallel and form the equivalent circuit in FIG. 3, allowing the load L connected to the electricity output portion E to receive a total electricity output of 1.5 V and 2 A from the first power supply unit 11 and the second power unit 12. According to the above, the circuit structure 1 makes it possible to adjust the output electricity merely by changing the state of the switch unit 13. Moreover, thanks to the exceptional design of the circuit structure 1, a circuit employing the circuit structure 1 can be designed, manufactured, maintained, and debugged with ease. A manufacturer, therefore, can readily increase the number of the power supply units and of the switch unit to enable an even wider diversity of output electricity, thereby increasing the industrial applicability of the present disclosure. For example, the circuit structure 1 of the present disclosure not only can be applied to the internal circuit of a power supply unit to adapt the output electricity of the power supply unit to an external electronic device, but also can be applied to a motor device or an electric vehicle in order to adjust the power supplied to the motor driver or the electric vehicle.

[0027] The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

[0028] The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the disclosure and their practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the disclosure and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.