A Multi-MHz Active Clamp Topology for High Cost-Performance Wireless Power Transfer

Abstract

The single-switch topologies, e.g., the Class E topology, have the advantages of low component count, no shoot-through problem, simple driving circuit, which make it more suitable for high frequency low/medium-power wireless power transfer (WPT) applications. However, due to the high switch voltage stress, narrow soft switching range, bulky input choke, or ac inductor, its power delivery capability and applications are limited. In order to solve these problems, this article proposed a novel active clamp topology for high cost-performance medium-power WPT systems. The proposed topology offers low component count with no bulky inductor and low switch voltage stress, leading to high power-density, low cost, and compact size, i.e., high cost-performance for WPT applications. And the switch peak voltage can be adjusted and the soft switching operation can be achieved in a wide load range by designing the compensation capacitor and clamp capacitor. In this article, the detailed theoretical analysis and parameter design are discussed and the proposed topology is compared with the existing single-switch topology in terms of voltage stress, cost, and component count. A 120 W and 1 MHz active clamp WPT system is built and a 92.4% system efficiency is achieved with high cost-performance, which validate the feasibility of the proposed topology and the theoretical analysis.