# US 2017/0288546 A1 · Zero Voltage Switching > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0288546 A1 - Document ID: US20170288546A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/488,858 - Filed: 2017-04-17 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2008-03-24 - Assignees: Solaredge Technologies Ltd. - Applicants: Solaredge Technologies Ltd. - Inventors: Tzachi Glovinsky - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170288546A1 ## CPC - H02M 3/158: including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load - H02M 1/34: Snubber circuits - H02M 7/5387: in a bridge configuration - H02M 7/4811: {having auxiliary actively switched resonant commutation circuits connected to intermediate DC voltage or between two push-pull branches} - 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 A method for providing non-resonant zero-voltage switching in a switching power converter. The switching power converter converts power from input power to output power during multiple periodic switching cycles. The switching power converter includes a main switch and an auxiliary capacitor adapted for connecting to the main switch, and an inductor connectible to the auxiliary capacitor. When the main switch is on, a previously charged (or previously discharged) auxiliary capacitor is connected to the main switch with auxiliary switches. The main switch is switched off with zero voltage while discharging non-resonantly (charging) the auxiliary capacitor by providing a current path to the inductor. The auxiliary capacitor is disconnected from the main switch. The voltage of the auxiliary capacitor is charged and discharged alternatively during subsequent switching cycles. The voltage of the auxiliary capacitor stays substantially the same until the subsequent turn off of the main switch during the next switching cycle with substantially no energy loss in the auxiliary capacitor. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-9. (canceled) ### Claim 10 A method comprising: charging, through a first switch, a capacitor during a first switching cycle when the first switch is closed at a first time; discharging the capacitor to an output terminal through an inductor connected between a first node and the output terminal when the first switch is open; and charging, through a second switch, the capacitor during a second switching cycle when the second switch is closed at a second time. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: discharging the capacitor to the output terminal when the second switch is off. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein discharging the capacitor further comprises discharging the capacitor to an additional output terminal through an additional inductor connected between a second node and the additional output terminal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the inductor and the additional inductor are connected in series. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein connecting the capacitor across the first switch comprises connecting the capacitor using a bidirectional switch unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the bidirectional switch unit comprises a plurality of bidirectional switches arranged in a full bridge topology. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, one or more of the plurality of bidirectional switches comprises first and second switch-diode pairs arranged in series. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein diodes in the first and second switch-diode pairs are connected in opposite directions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising charging the capacitor with current from the inductor during one or more switching cycles. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein charging the capacitor with current from the inductor comprises inverting a voltage across the capacitor. ### Claim 20 A method comprising: charging a capacitor through a first switch of a plurality of main switches; diverting current from an inductor to the capacitor through at least one bidirectional switch of a plurality of bidirectional switches while the first switch is off; inverting a charge on the capacitor; and charging the capacitor across through a second switch of the plurality of main switches. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the plurality of main switches are arranged in a full bridge topology. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the plurality of bidirectional switches are arranged in a full bridge topology. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising: diverting current from the inductor to the capacitor through a different bidirectional switch from the at least one bidirectional switch when the second switch while the second switch is off. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein a voltage across the first switch is substantially zero while the current is diverted from the inductor to the capacitor. ### Claim 25 A method comprising: connecting a first terminal of a capacitor to a first voltage source via a first main switch of a plurality of main switches and a first bidirectional switch of a plurality of bidirectional switches; connecting a second terminal of a capacitor to a second voltage source via a second main switch of the plurality of main switches and a second bidirectional switch of the plurality of bidirectional switches; disconnecting the first and second terminals from the first and second voltage sources by turning the first and second main switches off; diverting current from a first inductor to the first terminal via the first bidirectional switch; and diverting current from a second inductor to the second terminal via the second bidirectional switch. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising inverting a charge on the capacitor. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the first voltage source is a positive voltage source and the second voltage source is a negative voltage source. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the voltages across the first and second main switches is substantially zero when the current is diverted from the first and second inductors. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the first and second inductors are connected in series.