Dual forward power converter utilizing coupling capacitors for improved efficiency

摘要

A dual forward power converter and method of operation thereof. The dual forward power converter includes first and second power transformers, where each of the power transformers has first and second primary windings of opposite polarity and a secondary winding. The dual forward power converter also includes first and second switches that alternatively couple the first primary windings of the first and second power transformers, respectively, to a source of input power. The first and second switches, in an advantageous embodiment, are Field Effect Transistors (FETs) and are driven in a complementary manner with substantially 50% duty cycles. The dual forward power converter further includes first and second coupling capacitors that couple the second primary windings of the first and second power transformers to the second and first switches, respectively, and are utilized to reset the first and second power transformers with minimum losses. In a related embodiment, the dual forward power converter includes third and fourth switches that are coupled to the secondary windings of the second and first power transformers, respectively, and are driven in a substantially identical manner as the second and first switches, respectively.