# US 11,309,790 B2 · Power converter circuit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,309,790 B2 - Document ID: US11309790B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/480,695 - Filed: 2017-01-26 - Published: 2019-12-19 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-26 - Applicants: Redisem Ltd. - Inventors: Russell Jacques; David Coulson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11309790B2 ## CPC - H02M 1/4258: {using a single converter stage both for correction of AC input power factor and generation of a regulated and galvanically isolated DC output voltage (H02M1/4241 takes precedence)} - H02M 1/4208: {Arrangements for improving power factor of AC input} - H02M 3/01: {Resonant DC/DC converters} - H02M 3/073: {Charge pumps of the Schenkel-type} - H02M 3/33507: {with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters (H02M3/33561, H02M3/33569 take precedence)} - H02M 3/33571: {Half-bridge at primary side of an isolation transformer} - H02M 3/33592: {having a synchronous rectifier circuit or a synchronous freewheeling circuit at the secondary side of an isolation transformer} - H02M 7/12: using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode - H05B 45/382: with galvanic isolation between input and output - H05B 45/39: Circuits containing inverter bridges - H05B 47/10: Controlling the light source - H02M 1/0067: {Converter structures employing plural converter units, other than for parallel operation of the units on a single load} - H02M 1/4241: {using a resonant converter} - H02M 3/07: using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode {, e.g. charge pumps} - H02M 7/25: arranged for operation in series, e.g. for multiplication of voltage - Y02B 70/10: Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes - 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) - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A power converter circuit (1) and an associated method of converting an AC power supply. The power converter circuit (1) comprises: a supply rectifier circuit (2) for rectifying an AC supply power to generate a rectified supply power; an inverter circuit (3) for receiving the rectified supply power to generate an inverted supply power; a load rectifier circuit (4) for rectifying the inverted supply power to generate a rectified load power for supplying a load current to a load (5); and a charge pump circuit (6) driven by the load current to pump additional charge to the rectified supply power. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power converter circuit comprising: a supply rectifier circuit for rectifying an AC supply power to generate a rectified supply power; an inverter circuit for receiving the rectified supply power to generate an inverted supply power; a load rectifier circuit for rectifying the inverted supply power to generate a rectified load power for supplying a load current to a load; and a charge pump circuit driven by the load current to pump additional charge to the rectified supply power, the charge pump circuit comprising a first capacitor connected between the supply rectifier circuit and either the load rectifier circuit or an output of the inverter circuit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A power converter circuit according to claim 1 comprising a sensing circuit connected between the supply rectifier circuit and either the load rectifier circuit or the output of the inverter circuit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A power converter circuit according to claim 2 wherein the sensing circuit comprises a current-sensing device or a voltage-sensing device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A power converter circuit according to claim 2 comprising a controller, wherein the inverter circuit has one or more switches and the controller controls the switches. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A power converter circuit according to claim 4 wherein an input of the controller is connected to either the load rectifier circuit or the output of the inverter circuit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A power converter circuit according to claim 4 wherein an input of the controller is connected to an output of the sensing circuit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) A power converter circuit according to claim 4 wherein the controller controls the switches to increase power factor and to reduce harmonic distortion of the AC supply power, or the controller controls the switches to provide regulation of load current or voltage with a low ripple. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A power converter circuit according to claim 1 wherein the charge pump circuit comprises a second capacitor connected across an input and an output of the supply rectifier circuit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A power converter circuit according to claim 8 wherein the charge pump circuit comprises only the first and second capacitors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A power converter circuit according to claim 1 wherein the charge pump circuit comprises a second capacitor connected across a diode of the supply rectifier circuit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A power converter circuit according to claim 10 wherein the charge pump circuit comprises only the first and second capacitors. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A power converter circuit according to claim 1 comprising two or more charge pump circuits. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A power converter circuit according to claim 1 comprising two charge pump circuits: a first of said charge pump circuits comprising the first capacitor connected between the supply rectifier circuit and either the load rectifier circuit or the output of the inverter circuit; and a second of said charge pump circuits comprising a charge pump diode connected between the supply rectifier circuit and the inverter circuit, and a third capacitor connected between the supply rectifier circuit and either the load rectifier circuit or the output of the inverter circuit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A power converter circuit according to claim 13 wherein the first charge pump circuit comprises only the first and second capacitors, and the second charge pump circuit comprises only one charge pump diode and the third capacitor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A power converter circuit according to claim 13 wherein the second of said charge pump circuits comprises a fourth capacitor connected in parallel with the charge pump diode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A power converter circuit according to claim 1 comprising one or more additional charge pump circuits, each said additional charge pump circuit comprising a charge pump diode and one or more additional capacitors, wherein the charge pump diode is connected to another diode. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A power converter circuit according to claim 16 wherein each additional charge pump circuit comprises only one charge pump diode and only one or only two capacitors. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A power converter circuit according to claim 1 comprising one or more switched charge pump circuits, each having: a charge pump capacitor connected between the supply rectifier circuit and either the load rectifier circuit or the output of the inverter circuit; and a charge pump switch connected in parallel with the charge pump capacitor; a state of the charge pump switch being responsive to a sensed circuit parameter. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A power converter circuit according to claim 1 wherein the inverter circuit comprises two switches connected in series, and the power converter circuit comprises an inductive element connected between the inverter circuit and the supply rectifier circuit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A power converter circuit according to claim 19 wherein the inductive element has an inductive output connected to the load rectifier circuit, or connected to a first side of a transformer with the load rectifier circuit connected to a second side of the transformer. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) A power converter circuit according to claim 1 comprising a transformer, a first side of the transformer connected between the inverter circuit and the supply rectifier circuit, and a second side of the transformer connected to the load rectifier circuit. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) A controller for a power converter circuit according to claim 1. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) A driver circuit for driving a lighting apparatus, the driver circuit comprising a power converter circuit according to claim 1. ### Claim 24 A method of converting an AC supply power, the method comprising: rectifying the AC supply power to generate a rectified supply power; inverting the rectified supply power to generate an inverted supply power; rectifying the inverted supply power to generate a rectified load power for supplying a load current to a load; and using the load current to pump additional charge to the rectified supply power by connecting a first capacitor between the AC supply power and either the inverted supply power or the rectified load power.