# US 2014/0153304 A1 · Ac-dc converter for wide range output voltage and high switching frequency

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- Number: US 2014/0153304 A1
- Document ID: US20140153304A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/692,717
- Filed: 2012-12-03
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03
- Assignees: Avogy, Inc.
- Applicants: Avogy, Inc.
- Inventors: Sitthipong Angkititrakul; Hemal N. Shah
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153304A1

## CPC

- H02M 7/06: using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode
- H02M 1/4208: {Arrangements for improving power factor of AC input}
- H05K 13/00: Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
- H02M 1/0085: {Partially controlled bridges}
- H02M 1/126: {using passive filters}
- 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
- Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing
- 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)
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

An electrical circuit includes an input for an AC input voltage coupled to a first inductive element with first and second outputs coupled to respective first and second nodes, and a four-quadrant (4-Q) switch coupled between the first and second nodes. A capacitor is coupled between the first node and a third node, a second inductive element is coupled between the third node and the second node, and a first bidirectional device and a first diode are coupled in series between a positive output node and a negative output node. A first output of the second inductive element is coupled between the first bidirectional device and the first diode. A second bidirectional device and a second diode are coupled in series between the positive output node and the negative output node. A second output of the second inductive element is coupled between the second bidirectional device and the second diode.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electrical circuit comprising:
an input operable to receive an AC input voltage;
a first inductive element coupled to the input and having first and second outputs coupled to respective first and second nodes;
a four-quadrant (4-Q) switch coupled between the first and second nodes;
a capacitor coupled between the first node and a third node;
a second inductive element coupled between the third node and the second node;
a first bidirectional device and a first diode coupled in series between a positive output node and a negative output node, wherein a first output of the second inductive element is coupled between the first bidirectional device and the first diode; and
a second bidirectional device and a second diode coupled in series between the positive output node and the negative output node, wherein a second output of the second inductive element is coupled between the second bidirectional device and the second diode.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electrical circuit of claim 1 further comprising a control circuit configured to:
sense the AC input voltage; and
control the 4-Q switch, the first bidirectional device, and the second bidirectional device such that an input current substantially follows a waveform of the AC input voltage, while regulating the dc voltage at the output terminals.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electrical circuit of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first bidirectional device or the second bidirectional device comprises a field-effect transistor (FET) in series with a diode.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The electrical circuit of claim 3 wherein either or both of the FET or the diode comprises at least one of silicon carbide (SiC) or gallium nitride (GaN).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The electrical circuit of claim 1 wherein the 4-Q switch has comprises:
a first FET coupled between the first node and a fourth node;
a second FET coupled between the second node and the fourth node;
a third diode coupled between the first node and the fourth node; and
a fourth diode coupled between the second node and the fourth node;
wherein an input of the first FET and an input of the second FET are configured to operate the 4-Q switch.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The electrical circuit of claim 1 wherein the 4-Q switch has comprises:
a third diode and a fourth diode coupled to the first node;
a fifth diode and a sixth diode coupled to the second node; and
a FET coupled between:
a node connecting the third diode with the fifth diode, and
a node connecting the fourth diode with the sixth diode;
wherein an input of the FET is configured to operate the 4-Q switch.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The electrical circuit of claim 1 wherein:
the second inductive element comprises a inductor;
the first output of the second inductive element comprises the third node; and
the second output of the second inductive element comprises the second node.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The electrical circuit of claim 1 wherein:
the second inductive element comprises a coupled inductor having:
a first winding coupled between the second node and the third node; and
a second winding coupled between a fourth node and a fifth node;
wherein:
the first output of the second inductive element comprises the fourth node; and
the second output of the second inductive element comprises the fifth node.

### Claim 9

A method of manufacturing an electrical circuit, the method comprising:
providing a first inductive element operable to receive an AC input voltage and having first and second outputs comprising respective first and second nodes;
coupling a four-quadrant (4-Q) switch between the first and second nodes;
coupling a capacitor between the first node and a third node;
coupling a second inductive element between the third node and the second node;
coupling a first bidirectional device and a first diode in series between a positive output node and a negative output node;
coupling a first output of the second inductive element between the first bidirectional device and the first diode;
coupling a second bidirectional device and a second diode in series between the positive output node and the negative output node; and
coupling a second output of the second inductive element between the second bidirectional device and the second diode.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 further comprising coupling a control circuit to the first inductive element, the 4-Q switch, the first bidirectional device, and the second bidirectional device such that the control circuit is operable to:
sense the AC input voltage; and
control the 4-Q switch, the first bidirectional device, and the second bidirectional device such that an input current substantially follows a waveform of the AC input voltage.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein at least one of the first bidirectional device or the second bidirectional device comprises a field-effect transistor (FET) in series with a diode.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 wherein either or both of the FET or the diode comprises at least one of silicon carbide (SiC) or gallium nitride (GaN).

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the 4-Q switch has comprises:
a first FET coupled between the first node and a fourth node;
a second FET coupled between the second node and the fourth node;
a third diode coupled between the first node and the fourth node; and
a fourth diode coupled between the second node and the fourth node;
wherein an input of the first FET and an input of the second FET are configured to operate the 4-Q switch.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the 4-Q switch has comprises:
a third diode and a fourth diode coupled to the first node;
a fifth diode and a sixth diode coupled to the second node; and
a FET coupled between:
a node connecting the third diode with the fifth diode, and
a node connecting the fourth diode with the sixth diode;
wherein an input of the FET is configured to operate the 4-Q switch.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein coupling the second inductive element between the third node and the second node comprises coupling an inductor between the third node and the second node such that:
the first output of the second inductive element is coupled to the third node; and
the second output of the second inductive element is coupled to the second node.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein coupling the second inductive element between the third node and the second node comprises:
coupling a first winding of a coupled inductor between the second node and the third node; and
coupling a second winding of the coupled inductor between a fourth node and a fifth node;
such that:
the first output of the second inductive element is coupled to the fourth node; and
the second output of the second inductive element is coupled to the fifth node.

### Claim 17

An AC-DC converter comprising:
a coupled inductor operable to receive an AC input voltage and having first and second outputs coupled to respective first and second nodes;
a first switch coupled between the first and second nodes, wherein the first switch is operable to:
block voltage in two directions in an off state, and
conduct current in two directions in an on state;
a capacitor coupled between the first node and a third node;
an inductive element coupled between the third node and the second node, the inductive element having a first output and a second output;
a second switch and a first diode coupled in series between a first output node and a second output node, wherein the first output of the inductive element is coupled between the second switch and the first diode; and
a third switch and a second diode coupled in series between the first output node and the second output node, wherein the second output of the inductive element is coupled between the third switch and the second diode;
wherein each of the second and third switches are operable to:
block voltage in two directions in an off state, and
conduct current in one direction in an on state.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The AC-DC converter of claim 17 further comprising a control circuit configured to:
sense the AC input voltage, and
control the first, second, and third switches such that an input current substantially follows a waveform of the AC input voltage

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The AC-DC converter of claim 17 wherein at least one of the second or third switches comprises a field-effect transistor (FET) in series with a diode.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The AC-DC converter of claim 19 wherein either or both of the FET or the diode comprises at least one of silicon carbide (SiC) or gallium nitride (GaN).