Circuit for switching an AC voltage

An assembly comprising:

• a first switchable AC circuit;
• a second switchable AC circuit;
• a first switchable DC circuit;
• a second switchable DC circuit;
• a first plurality of switching elements;
• and
• a second plurality of switching elements, wherein
• said first switchable AC circuit comprises an AC power source, a first diode and a first charge storage arrangement in serial arrangement,
• said second switchable AC circuit comprises said AC power source, a second diode and a second charge storage arrangement in serial arrangement,
• said first switchable DC circuit comprises a DC power source, a shared inductive element, said first diode and a first inductive element in serial arrangement,
• said second switchable DC circuit comprises said DC power source, said shared inductive element, said second diode and a second inductive element in serial arrangement,
• said first diode effects a switching of said first switchable AC circuit,
• said second diode effects a switching of said second switchable AC circuit,
• in a first state of said first switchable DC circuit, said DC power source induces a first DC current that flows through said shared inductive element, said first diode and said first inductive element, which first DC current energizes said shared inductive element and said first inductive element,
• in a second state of said first switchable DC circuit, an energy stored in said shared inductive element and said first inductive element induces a flow of charge that alters a charge of said first charge storage arrangement in a manner that increases a cathode voltage at a first cathode of said first diode relative to an anode voltage at a first anode of said first diode,
• said first plurality of switching elements are configured such that a polarity of said first inductive element within said first switchable DC circuit is reversible,
• in a first state of said second switchable DC circuit, said DC power source induces a second DC current that flows through said shared inductive element, said second diode and said second inductive element, which second DC current energizes said shared inductive element and said second inductive element,
• in a second state of said second switchable DC circuit, an energy stored in said shared inductive element and said second inductive element induces a flow of charge that alters a charge of said second charge storage arrangement in a manner that increases a cathode voltage at a second cathode of said second diode relative to an anode voltage at a second anode of said second diode, and
• said second plurality of switching elements are configured such that a polarity of said second inductive element within said second switchable DC circuit is reversible.

A circuit for switching an alternating, voltage comprising:

• an input connection connectable to an alternating voltage source,
• an output connection connectable to a load impedance,
• a first series circuit comprising a diode and a circuit for storing electrical charge, wherein the first series circuit has a first end connection connected to the input connection and a second end connection connected to the output connection,
• a DC voltage source connected to an electrical connection between the diode and the input connection, or to an electrical connection between the diode and the output connection, and designed to generate a direct current in the diode, and
• a first switch connected to an electrical connection between the diode and the circuit for storing electrical charge and designed to switch between a switching state in which a potential dependent on a reference potential is applied to the electrical connection between the diode and the circuit for storing electrical charge, and a switching state, in which there is an electrical floating potential in the electrical connection between the diode and the circuit for storing electrical charge, wherein
• further first series circuits each comprising a further diode and a further circuit for storing electrical charge are provided, wherein each further series circuit has a first end connection and a second end connection, each first end connection being connected to the input connection and each second end connection being connected to a further output connection, each of the latter being connectable to a further load impedance and wherein, in each case, a further first switch is connected to the electrical connection between the respective further diode and the respective further circuit for storing electrical charge, and is designed to switch between a switching state in which a potential dependent on the reference potential is applied at the electrical connection between the respective further diode and the respective further circuit for storing electrical charge, and a switching state in which an electrical floating potential is applied in the electrical connection between the respective further diode and the respective further circuit for storing electrical charge, in order thus to switch each individual further diode separately in the forward or reverse direction.