AC-to-DC converter circuit utilizing IGBT's for improved efficiency
US6549438B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 30, 2001 |
| Grant date | Apr 15, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 30, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02M1/32
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An AC-to-DC converter furnishing a regulated DC-output voltage from an AC-input supply voltage which is converted with a rectifier that utilizes, in at least two of its legs, IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) devices, preferably of the kind that have no internal diodes. Also included in the converter of this convention is circuitry which tracks zero-crossing events relative to AC-input voltage for the purpose of establishing switching signals and times for such signals for operating the IGBT devices, and wherein thorough-safe operation is associated with malfunctioning of the zero-crossing tracking subcircuitry whereby a failure in that circuitry will result effectively in a shut down of the entire converter, and a bleed down to zero of DC-output voltage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.