An undershoot eliminator circuit is disclosed that avoids the occurrence of a negative undershoot that typically happens when an isolated DC-DC converter with a secondary side synchronous driver that is turned off. The undershoot eliminator circuit functions to discharge an energy storage element in an auxiliary supply on said secondary side of said converter. The circuit includes a clamp transistor having a gate terminal, a source terminal, and a drain terminal, the drain terminal of the transistor connected to said storage element, the source terminal of the transistor connecting to the output of the converter; means for trapping charge on the gate terminal of the clamp transistor while said converter is on; and means for coupling the voltage on the output of the converter to the gate terminal, such that, when said converter goes off and its output voltage begins to drop, the trapped charge causes the gate-to-source voltage of the clamp transistor to increase until the gate of the transistor is sufficiently saturated to cause it to turn on for a sufficient time to discharge the storage element. The undershoot eliminator circuit preferably employs a capacitor for trapping a charge on the gate terminal of the clamp transistor. The storage capacitor is quickly discharged to avoid a negative undershoot from occurring when the DC/DC power converter is turned off.
Disclosed is a synchronous forward converter having a reverse current suppressor connected to the gate of a freewheel switch. The reverse current suppressor is configured to receive a control input signal generated by an internal circuitry of a power supply system where the forward converter locates, such as an enable signal, to detect the power-off of the forward converter, and in response thereto turn off the freewheel switch during the interruption of the input power of the forward converter. Alternatively, the reverse current suppressor is configured to detect the decay of the input voltage across the input bulk capacitor located on the primary side of a transformer of the forward converter, and turn off the freewheel switch when the voltage across the secondary side of the transformer is decayed to be smaller than the output voltage of the forward converter.
This invention describes a method for using self-synchronized (also known as self-driven), synchronous rectifiers in converters employing high output voltages or conversely, in converters with wide input voltage ranges.
