Power converters with improved switching efficiency
US5410467A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 1993 |
| Grant date | Apr 25, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02M3/33576
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A Circuit for reversing the direction of current flow in a rectifying device of a power converter during a time interval just prior to when the rectifying device is to be rendered non-conductive is described. The current reversal substantially reduces or eliminates reverse-recovery currents in the rectifying device, which may cause short circuits and needlessly dissipates power. The circuit comprises an energy source, a magnetic storage device, and a switch for coupling the magnetic storage device to the energy source. The magnetic storage device may comprise an inductor or a transformer. The energy source may include a voltage source, the converter's input voltage, the output voltage, or a winding magnetically coupled to another magnetic storage device of the converter. The reversal circuit includes a circuit for coupling the reversing current to the rectifying device such that it partially or completely reverses the flow of current in the rectifying device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.