Patent · US Expired

Peak voltage clamping circuit for high frequency boost converter and method of operation thereof

US5943200A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
2References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 6, 1998
Grant dateAug 24, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 6, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02M3/155
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

For use in a boost converter having a main boost switch, a boost inductor, a boost diode coupled to the boost inductor and the main boost switch and a resonant, passive snubber coupled to the boost inductor and the main boost switch that limits reverse recovery currents in the boost diode during a turn-on of the main boost switch, a peak voltage clamping circuit for, and method of, reducing voltage stress on the main boost switch caused by operation of the snubber. In one embodiment, the circuit includes a blocking switch and a zener diode, coupled in series between the main boost switch and the boost diode, that cooperate to provide a conductive path from the main boost switch to an output of the boost converter for electrical currents that exceed a predetermined peak voltage value thereby to reduce the voltage stress on the main boost switch.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.