# US 11,121,638 B2 · Four-mode tap-switching transformer rectifier > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,121,638 B2 - Document ID: US11121638B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/529,963 - Filed: 2019-08-02 - Published: 2021-02-04 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-02 - Assignees: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation - Applicants: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation - Inventors: Thomas P. Joyce - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11121638B2 ## CPC - H02M 1/10: Arrangements incorporating converting means for enabling loads to be operated at will from different kinds of power supplies, e.g. from AC or DC - H02M 7/12: using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode - H02M 1/32: Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection - H02M 7/043: {using transformers or inductors only} - H02M 7/06: using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode - H02M 7/068: {mounted on a transformer} - H02M 7/10: arranged for operation in series, e.g. for multiplication of voltage - H02M 1/0077: {Plural converter units whose outputs are connected in series} - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) ## Abstract Systems and methods for operating a transistor rectifier unit are provided. Aspects include providing a first transformer output and a second transformer output, providing a plurality of rectifier circuits, wherein the plurality of rectifier circuits comprises a first rectifier coupled to the first transformer output and a second rectifier coupled to the second transformer output, and wherein the first rectifier comprises a first output voltage and the second rectifier comprises a second output voltage, operating a plurality of switches based on a plurality of operational modes, wherein the plurality of operational modes comprises a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode, and wherein the plurality of switches comprises a first switch, a second switch, and a third switch. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a transformer comprising a first transformer output and a second transformer output; a plurality of rectifier circuits, wherein the plurality of rectifier circuits comprises a first rectifier coupled to the first transformer output and a second rectifier coupled to the second transformer output, and wherein the first rectifier comprises a first output voltage and the second rectifier comprises a second output voltage; a plurality of switches, wherein the plurality of switches comprises a first switch, a second switch, and a third switch; and a logic circuit configured to operate the plurality switches based on a plurality of operational modes, wherein the plurality of operational modes comprises a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode; and wherein operating the plurality of switches based on the first mode comprises: determining the first output voltage is less than a low threshold voltage; and based on determining the first output voltage is less than the low threshold voltage, causing the logic circuit to: operate the first switch in a closed state, operate the second switch in a closed state, and operate the third switch in an open state; wherein operating the plurality of switches based on the second mode comprises: determining that the first output voltage is greater than a low threshold voltage; determining that the first output voltage is less than a middle threshold voltage; based on determining that the first output voltage is greater than the low threshold voltage and less than the middle threshold voltage, causing the logic circuit to: operate the first switch in an open state, operate the second switch in a closed state, and operate the third switch in an open state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein operating the plurality of switches based on the first mode provides an output voltage comprising the first output voltage and the second output voltage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein operating the plurality of switches based on the second mode provides an output voltage comprising the first output voltage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein operating the plurality of switches based on the second mode comprises: determining that the first output voltage is greater than a middle threshold voltage; determining that the first output voltage is less than a high threshold voltage; based on determining that the first output voltage is greater than the middle threshold voltage and less than the high threshold voltage, causing the logic circuit to: operate the first switch in a closed state, operate the second switch in an open state, and operate the third switch in a third state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein operating the plurality of switches based on the third mode provides an output voltage comprising the second output voltage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of switches further comprise a fourth switch; wherein the plurality of modes further comprises a fourth mode; and wherein operating the plurality of switches based on the fourth mode comprises: determining that a source side voltage of the fourth switch is greater than a high threshold voltage; based on determining that the source side voltage of the fourth switch is greater than the high threshold voltage, causing the logic circuit to: operate the fourth switch in an open state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein operating the plurality of switches based on the fourth mode does not provide an output voltage. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein operating the plurality of switches based on the first mode comprises causing the logic circuit to operate the fourth switch in a closed state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein operating the plurality of switches based on the second mode comprises causing the logic circuit to operate the fourth switch in a closed state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein operating the plurality of switches based on the third mode comprises causing the logic circuit to operate the fourth switch in a closed state. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first switch comprises a p-type metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first switch comprises an n-type metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the transformer comprises a Delta-Wye transformer. ### Claim 14 A method for operating a transistor rectifier unit, the method comprising: providing a first transformer output and a second transformer output; providing a plurality of rectifier circuits, wherein the plurality of rectifier circuits comprises a first rectifier coupled to the first transformer output and a second rectifier coupled to the second transformer output, and wherein the first rectifier comprises a first output voltage and the second rectifier comprises a second output voltage; operating a plurality of switches based on a plurality of operational modes, wherein the plurality of operational modes comprises a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode, and wherein the plurality of switches comprises a first switch, a second switch, and a third switch; and wherein operating the plurality of switches based on the first mode comprises: determining the first output voltage is less than a low threshold voltage; and based on determining the first output voltage is less than the low threshold voltage, causing the logic circuit to: operate the first switch in a closed state, operate the second switch in a closed state, and operate the third switch in an open state; wherein operating the plurality of switches based on the second mode comprises: determining that the first output voltage is greater than a low threshold voltage; determining that the first output voltage is less than a middle threshold voltage; based on determining that the first output voltage is greater than the low threshold voltage and less than the middle threshold voltage, causing the logic circuit to: operate the first switch in an open state, operate the second switch in a closed state, and operate the third switch in an open state. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein operating the plurality of switches based on the first mode provides an output voltage comprising the first output voltage and the second output voltage. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein operating the plurality of switches based on the second mode provides an output voltage comprising the first output voltage.