Dynamic Optimum Dead Time in Piezoelectric Transformer-Based Switch-Mode Power Supplies

Soft switching is required to attain high efficiency in high-frequency power converters. Piezoelectric-transformer-based converters can benefit from soft switching in terms of significantly diminished switching losses and stresses. Adequate dead time is needed in order to deliver sufficient energy to charge and discharge the input capacitance of piezoelectric transformers in order to achieve zero-voltage switching. This paper proposes a method for detecting the optimum dead time in piezoelectric transformer-based switch-mode power supplies. The provision of sufficient dead time in every cycle of the switching period results in the quick start-up of resonant current inside the transformer. The new method is implemented by dynamically detecting the optimum dead time for each resonant cycle and results in reduced energy loss and, consequently, increased efficiency in the converter during initialization time and steady-state operation. The theory of optimum dead time operation is also discussed in this paper. Experimental results and simulation are provided to show the implementation of the concept.