A power factor correction method and apparatus which use Pulse Frequency
Modulation (PFM) to control an AC/DC converter is disclosed. The average
current drawn by the AC/DC converter is compared with a reference
sinusoidal signal and the error is used to determine the switching
frequency. The switching frequency varies with the sinusoidal reference
signal such that the converter emulates a resistive load. By using PFM
control, EMI is spread over a range rather than concentrated at a few
frequencies. Since the switching frequency decreases with the loading of
the converter, the switching loss decreases with the loading as well.
Thus, the need of meeting efficiency standards, e.g. the 80 PLUS and
Energy Star, can be fulfill without extra circuitry.