Protection of power converters from voltage spikes
US4958121A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 30, 1989 |
| Grant date | Sep 18, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 30, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02M3/1582
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In a power converter circuit directly or indirectly connected to the power distribution network, the protection from voltage spikes which may occur on the power supply rail is implemented in a manner as to consent the utilization of at least a portion of the energy associated with the spike by storing portion of said energy in the reactive components of the converter circuit itself instead of dissipating completely the energy through a dissipating elements as in prior art arrangements. The novel circuit arrangement utilizes one or two spike sensors the output signal or signals of which are fed to logic gates which determine a certain configuration of the analog switches of the converter circuit. A protection voltage limiting element (zener diode, avalanche diode, voltage-dependent resistor, etc.) is functionally connected across the analog switch connected between the reactive element of the converter circuit and the power supply rail and limits to its intrinsic breakdown voltage the maximum voltage across the switch.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.