# US 11,451,157 B2 · Rectifier bridge > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,451,157 B2 - Document ID: US11451157B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/071,193 - Filed: 2020-10-15 - Published: 2021-05-06 - Granted: 2022-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 2019-10-30 - Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS - Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS - Inventors: Yannick Hague; Romain Launois - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11451157B2 ## CPC - H02M 7/162: in a bridge configuration - H02M 1/0085: {Partially controlled bridges} - H02M 7/06: using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode - H02M 7/062: {Avoiding or suppressing excessive transient voltages or currents} - 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 A circuit includes two input nodes and two output nodes. A rectifier bridge is coupled to the input and output nodes. The rectifier bridge includes a first and second thyristors and a third thyristor coupled in series with a resistor in series. The series coupled third thyristor and resistor are coupled in parallel with one of the first and second thyristors. The first and second thyristors are controlled off, with the third thyristor controlled on, during start up with resistor functioning as an in in-rush current limiter circuit. In normal rectifying operation mode, the first and second thyristors are controlled on, with the third thyristor controlled off. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A circuit, comprising: a first input node and a second input node; a first output node and a second output node; and a rectifier bridge comprising: a first thyristor having an anode directly connected to the first input node and a cathode directly connected to the first output node; a second thyristor having an anode directly connected to the second input node and a cathode directly connected to the first output node; a first resistor having a first terminal directly connected to the first input node and having a second terminal; a third thyristor having an anode directly connected to the second terminal of the first resistor and a cathode directly connected to the first output node; a second resistor having a first terminal directly connected to the second input node and having a second terminal; and a fourth thyristor having an anode directly connected to the second terminal of the second resistor and a cathode directly connected to the first output node. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the first and second resistors have a same resistance within a limit of manufacturing variations. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third and fourth thyristors are all cathode-gated devices. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the third and fourth thyristors are identical to each other within a limit of manufacturing variations. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third and fourth thyristors are identical to each other within a limit of manufacturing variations. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the rectifier bridge is a mixed bridge. ### Claim 7 A circuit, comprising: a first input node and a second input node; a first output node and a second output node; and a rectifier bridge comprising: a first thyristor; a second thyristor; a third thyristor coupled in series with a first resistor; wherein the series coupled third thyristor and first resistor are coupled in parallel with the first thyristor; a fourth thyristor coupled in series with a second resistor; wherein the series coupled fourth thyristor and second resistor are coupled in parallel with the second thyristor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The circuit according to claim 7, wherein the rectifier bridge is a mixed bridge. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The circuit according to claim 7, wherein the first thyristor is coupled between the first input node and the first output node and wherein the second thyristor is coupled between the second input node and the first output node. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The circuit according to claim 7, wherein the first and second thyristors are cathode-gate thyristors. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The circuit according to claim 7, wherein the first and second thyristors are anode-gate thyristors. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The circuit according to claim 7, wherein the third and fourth thyristors are of a same gate trigger type as the first and second thyristors. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The circuit according to claim 7, wherein a maximum current that each of the third and fourth thyristors can withstand is lower than a maximum current that each of the first and second thyristors can withstand. ### Claim 14 A circuit, comprising: a first input node and a second input node; a first output node and a second output node; and a rectifier bridge comprising: a first rectifying circuit having an anode directly connected to the second output node and a cathode directly connected to the first input node; a second rectifying circuit having an anode directly connected to the second output node and a cathode directly connected to the second input output node; a first resistor having a first terminal directly connected to the first input node and having a second terminal; a first thyristor having an anode directly connected to the second terminal of the first resistor and a cathode directly connected to the first output node; a second resistor having a first terminal directly connected to the second input node and having a second terminal; and a second thyristor having an anode directly connected to the second terminal of the second resistor and a cathode directly connected to the first output node. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The circuit of claim 14, wherein the first and second resistors have a same resistance within a limit of manufacturing variations. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The circuit of claim 14, wherein the first and second thyristors are cathode-gated devices. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The circuit of claim 14, wherein the first and second thyristors are identical to each other within a limit of manufacturing variations. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The circuit of claim 14, wherein the first and second rectifying circuits are diodes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The circuit of claim 14, further comprising: a third rectifying element having an anode directly connected to the first input node and a cathode directly connected to the first output node; and a fourth rectifying element having an anode directly connected to the second input node and a cathode directly connected to the first output node. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The circuit of claim 19, wherein the third and fourth rectifying elements are thyristors.