Voltage doubling circuit for powering a load

A voltage doubling circuit for providing power to a load, the circuit comprising:

• a first power terminal and a second power terminal configured to couple across an alternating current voltage source;
• a charging capacitor coupled in series between the first power terminal and a first output terminal;
• a diode connected in series between the charging capacitor and the first output terminal, and configured to allow the flow of current from the charging capacitor to the first output terminal;
• a storage capacitor having a first lead coupled between the diode and the first output terminal, and a second lead coupled to a second power terminal;
• a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) having a cathode coupled between the charging capacitor and the diode, and an anode coupled to the second power terminal;
• and
• a control circuit having a first connection to power, a second connection to power, and a third connection to a gate of the SCR,
• wherein during a negative half of an AC cycle the control circuit is configured to control the SCR to allow the flow of electricity such that the charging capacitor is charged, and during a positive half of the AC cycle the SCR restricts the flow of electricity such that the charging capacitor charges the storage capacitor through the diode,
• wherein the storage capacitor is prevented from being over-voltaged even if the SCR fails.

A method of powering a load with a voltage doubling circuit, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a voltage doubling circuit comprising:
• a first and a second power terminal;
• a first and a second output terminal, the second output terminal coupled to the second power terminal;
• a charging capacitor coupled between the first power terminal and the first output terminal;
• a diode coupled in series between the charging capacitor and the first output terminal;
• a storage capacitor having an anode and a cathode, the anode coupled between the diode and the first output terminal and the cathode coupled to the second output terminal;
• a SCR having an anode and a cathode, the anode coupled to the second output terminal and the cathode coupled to the first output terminal;
• b) coupling the first power terminal and the second power terminal across an alternating current voltage source having an input voltage;
• and
• c) controlling the SCR with a control circuit to allow the flow of electricity through the SCR to the charging capacitor during a negative half of an AC cycle of the alternating current voltage source,
• wherein flow of electricity through the SCR during the positive half of the AC cycle is restricted such that the charging capacitor discharges into the storage capacitor.