Snubber circuit for a rectifier and method of operation thereof
US5877947A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 30, 1997 |
| Grant date | Mar 2, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 30, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02B70/10
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
For use in a power converter having a rectifier coupled to an output thereof, a snubber circuit including an energy storage device coupled to the rectifier that moderates a voltage across the rectifier and a method of moderating the voltage. In one embodiment, the snubber circuit includes: (1) a first switch that regulates a voltage across the energy storage device, (2) an inductor, coupled to the first switch, that provides a discharge path for energy stored in the energy storage device when the first switch is conducting and (3) a second switch that recovers energy stored in the inductor to the output when the first switch is not conducting. The snubber circuit thereby reduces voltage stress across the rectifier during a current limit mode of operation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.