# US 2014/0153306 A1 · Ac/dc converter and method of correcting power factor

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- Number: US 2014/0153306 A1
- Document ID: US20140153306A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/096,796
- Filed: 2013-12-04
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-05
- Assignees: Hep Tech Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Hep Tech Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Ching-Tsai PAN; Po-Yen CHEN; Ta-Sheng HUNG
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153306A1

## CPC

- H02M 1/4208: {Arrangements for improving power factor of AC input}
- H02M 1/4225: {using a non-isolated boost converter}
- H02M 1/4241: {using a resonant converter}
- H02M 1/4266: {using passive elements}
- H02M 3/1557: {Single ended primary inductor converters [SEPIC]}
- H02M 3/156: with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators
- 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)
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

An AC/DC converter includes a rectifier circuit and an active power factor correction circuit. The rectifier circuit is electrically connected to a power supply, and is used to convert an alternate current into a direct current, wherein the rectifier circuit has a positive output and a negative output for sending out the direct current. The active power factor correction circuit electrically connects the rectifier circuit and a loading, wherein the active power factor correction circuit is used to suppress voltage ripples provided to the loading.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An AC/DC converter for converting an alternate current (AC) of a power supply into a direct current (DC), and the DC is transmitted to a loading, comprising:
a rectifier circuit, which is electrically connected to the power supply to convert the AC into the DC, having a positive output and a negative output for outputting the DC; and
an active power factor correction circuit electrically connecting the rectifier circuit to the loading to suppress voltage ripples provided to the loading, the active power factor correction circuit comprising:
a first diode having an anode and a cathode, wherein the cathode of the first diode is connected to the positive output of the rectifier circuit;
a second diode having an anode and a cathode, wherein the anode of the second diode is connected to the negative output of the rectifier circuit;
a third diode having an anode and a cathode, wherein the anode of the third diode is connected to the anode of the first diode;
a first inductor having two ends, one of which is connected to both the cathode of the first diode and the positive output of the rectifier circuit;
a second inductor having an end connected to the cathode of the second diode and an opposite end connected to the anode of the first diode and the anode of the third diode;
a first capacitor having an end connected to the first inductor and an opposite end connected to the second inductor, the anode of the second diode and the anode of the third diode;
a switch having an end connected to both the first inductor and the first capacitor and an opposite end connected to both the negative output of the rectifier circuit and the anode of the second diode;
a fourth diode having an anode and a cathode, wherein the anode of the fourth diode is connected to both the cathode of the second diode and the second inductor, and the cathode thereof is connected to the cathode of the third diode;
a third inductor having an end connected to both the cathode of the third diode and the cathode of the fourth diode;
a second capacitor having an end connected to both the cathode of the third diode and the cathode of the fourth diode and an opposite end connected to the third inductor; and
a third capacitor having an end connected to both the third inductor and the second capacitor and an opposite end connected to the cathode of the second diode, the second inductor and the anode of the fourth diode, wherein the third capacitor is connected to the loading in parallel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The AC/DC converter of claim 1, wherein the active power factor correction circuit further comprises a fifth diode; the third inductor is electrically connected to both the cathode of the third diode and the cathode of the fourth diode through the fifth diode; the fifth diode has an anode connected to both the cathode of the third diode and the cathode of the fourth diode and a cathode connected to the third inductor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The AC/DC converter of claim 1, wherein the first capacitor is a non-polarity capacitor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The AC/DC converter of claim 1, wherein the second capacitor is a non-polarity capacitor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The AC/DC converter of claim 1, wherein the second capacitor is a capacitor other than an electrolytic capacitor.

### Claim 6

A method of correcting power factor with an active power factor correction circuit, wherein the active power factor correction circuit comprises a first diode, a second diode, a third diode, a first inductor, a second inductor, a first capacitor, a switch, a fourth diode, a third inductor, a second capacitor, and a third capacitor, wherein the first diode has an anode and a cathode, wherein the cathode of the first diode is connected to the positive output of the rectifier circuit; the second diode has an anode and a cathode, wherein the anode of the second diode is connected to the negative output of the rectifier circuit; the third diode has an anode and a cathode, wherein the anode of the third diode is connected to the anode of the first diode; the first inductor has two ends, one of which is connected to both the cathode of the first diode and the positive output of the rectifier circuit; the second inductor has an end connected to the cathode of the second diode and an opposite end connected to the anode of the first diode and the anode of the third diode; the first capacitor has an end connected to the first inductor and an opposite end connected to the second inductor, the anode of the second diode and the anode of the third diode; the switch has an end connected to both the first inductor and the first capacitor and an opposite end connected to both the negative output of the rectifier circuit and the anode of the second diode; the fourth diode has an anode and a cathode, wherein the anode of the fourth diode is connected to both the cathode of the second diode and the second inductor, and the cathode thereof is connected to the cathode of the third diode; the third inductor has an end connected to both the cathode of the third diode and the cathode of the fourth diode; the second capacitor has an end connected to both the cathode of the third diode and the cathode of the fourth diode and an opposite end connected to the third inductor; the third capacitor has an end connected to both the third inductor and the second capacitor and an opposite end connected to the cathode of the second diode, the second inductor and the anode of the fourth diode, wherein the third capacitor is connected to the loading in parallel; the method comprising the steps of:
A. conducting the switch to let the DC power supply charge the first inductor with a DC, the first capacitor charge the second inductor to make the second inductor have a stored energy, and the third inductor, the second inductor and the third inductor provide energy to the loading;
B. cutting off the switch and conducting the first diode to let the first inductor provide energy to the first capacitor, and keeping transmitting the stored energy of the second inductor to the third capacitor;
C. conducting the fourth diode to let the second capacitor and the third inductor provide energy to the third capacitor to provide energy into the loading;
D. keeping providing energy from the second capacitor and the third inductor to the third capacitor to provide energy into the loading as the first diode is cut off after the first inductor finishing providing energy to the first capacitor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of repeating the step A to the step D after the step D.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the second inductor transmits the stored energy to the third capacity through a resonant circuit, which is formed by the second capacitor and the third inductor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the fourth diode conducts when a voltage drop of the third inductor is higher than a voltage drop of the third capacitor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the first inductor keeps providing energy to the first capacitor in the step C.