US 2019/0165691 A1 · HIGH EFFICIENCY AC TO DC CONVERTER AND METHODS

Abstract

An improved AC to DC conversion system consists of an electronic switch employed to disconnect the input of a prior art series voltage regulator circuit from a rectified AC mains power supply over a fraction of the period of the AC mains to reduce the power dissipated within the series regulator.

Claims61

Dependent claims

A system for providing energy as a direct current to an electronic load from a power source having a periodic waveform comprising:

a) a rectifier circuit driven by said power source and providing a time varying direct current voltage waveform as an output, wherein the rectifier circuit comprises a semiconductor diode array, and,
b) an energy storage element capable of providing energy in the form of a direct current and operably connected to said electronic load, and,
c) an electronic switch having a threshold voltage interposed between said rectifier circuit and said energy storage element wherein:
i) said electronic switch is open when said rectified voltage waveform exceeds said threshold voltage value, and
ii) said electronic switch is closed when said rectified voltage waveform is exceeded by said threshold value, and,
d) the electronic switch comprises a semiconductor switching device controlled by a semiconductor comparator circuit having one input operably connected to the rectifier output and a second input connected to a voltage reference, and, wherein the semiconductor comparator circuit comprises an MOS field-effect transistor, having a characteristic threshold gate-source voltage and a load device connected in a common-source amplifier configuration and wherein the voltage reference is the threshold gate-source voltage of the MOS field-effect transistor.

3 more elements

A system for providing energy as a direct current to an electronic load from a power source having a periodic waveform comprising:

a) an energy storage element capable of providing energy in the form of a direct current and operably connected to said electronic load, and
b) an electronic switching circuit interposed between said power source and said energy storage element, wherein said switching circuit comprises:
i) a voltage divider connected to the alternating current power source;
ii) a voltage reference, and,
(1) a comparator circuit having a first input connected to the output of the voltage divider, a second input connected to the voltage reference, and an output, wherein the comparator circuit is an MOS field-effect transistor having a characteristic threshold gate-source voltage and a load device connected in a common-source amplifier configuration wherein the voltage reference is the threshold gate-source voltage of the MOS field-effect transistor, and,
iii) an electronic switch device, having a threshold voltage, connected between the alternating current power source and the energy storage element and the output of the comparator circuit controls the state of the electronic switch device, and
(1) said electronic switch device is open when said output of the voltage divider exceeds said threshold voltage value, and
(2) said electronic switch device is closed when said output of the voltage divider is exceeded by said threshold value.

5 more elements

A system for providing energy as a direct current to an electronic load from a power source having a periodic waveform comprising:

a) an energy storage element capable of providing energy in the form of a direct current and operably connected to said electronic load, and
b) an electronic switching circuit interposed between said power source and said energy storage element, wherein said switching circuit comprises:
i) a voltage divider connected to the alternating current power source;
ii) a voltage reference, and,
iii) a comparator circuit having a first input connected to the output of the voltage divider, a second input connected to the voltage reference, and an output, wherein the comparator circuit is a bipolar transistor having a characteristic base-emitter turn-on voltage and a load device connected in a common-emitter amplifier configuration wherein the voltage reference is the base-emitter turn-on voltage of the bipolar transistor, and,
iv) an electronic switch device, having a threshold voltage, connected between the alternating current power source and the energy storage element and the output of the comparator circuit controls the state of the electronic switch device, and
(1) said electronic switch device is open when said output of the voltage divider exceeds said threshold voltage value, and
(2) said electronic switch device is closed when said output of the voltage divider is exceeded by said threshold value.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

16/092,263Filed 1 May 2017

Priority

7 May 2016

Published

30 May 2019

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

H02M 7/219
Using semiconductor devices only: in a bridge configuration
H02M 1/15
Arrangements for reducing ripples from DC input or output: using active elements
H02M 3/06
By static converters: using resistors or capacitors, e.g. potential divider
H02M 7/06
By static converters: using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode

Abstract

Claims61

Dependent claims

A system for providing energy as a direct current to an electronic load from a power source having a periodic waveform comprising:

a) a rectifier circuit driven by said power source and providing a time varying direct current voltage waveform as an output, wherein the rectifier circuit comprises a semiconductor diode array, and,
b) an energy storage element capable of providing energy in the form of a direct current and operably connected to said electronic load, and,
c) an electronic switch having a threshold voltage interposed between said rectifier circuit and said energy storage element wherein:
i) said electronic switch is open when said rectified voltage waveform exceeds said threshold voltage value, and
ii) said electronic switch is closed when said rectified voltage waveform is exceeded by said threshold value, and,
d) the electronic switch comprises a semiconductor switching device controlled by a semiconductor comparator circuit having one input operably connected to the rectifier output and a second input connected to a voltage reference, and, wherein the semiconductor comparator circuit comprises an MOS field-effect transistor, having a characteristic threshold gate-source voltage and a load device connected in a common-source amplifier configuration and wherein the voltage reference is the threshold gate-source voltage of the MOS field-effect transistor.

3 more elements

A system for providing energy as a direct current to an electronic load from a power source having a periodic waveform comprising:

a) an energy storage element capable of providing energy in the form of a direct current and operably connected to said electronic load, and
b) an electronic switching circuit interposed between said power source and said energy storage element, wherein said switching circuit comprises:
i) a voltage divider connected to the alternating current power source;
ii) a voltage reference, and,
(1) a comparator circuit having a first input connected to the output of the voltage divider, a second input connected to the voltage reference, and an output, wherein the comparator circuit is an MOS field-effect transistor having a characteristic threshold gate-source voltage and a load device connected in a common-source amplifier configuration wherein the voltage reference is the threshold gate-source voltage of the MOS field-effect transistor, and,
iii) an electronic switch device, having a threshold voltage, connected between the alternating current power source and the energy storage element and the output of the comparator circuit controls the state of the electronic switch device, and
(1) said electronic switch device is open when said output of the voltage divider exceeds said threshold voltage value, and
(2) said electronic switch device is closed when said output of the voltage divider is exceeded by said threshold value.

5 more elements

A system for providing energy as a direct current to an electronic load from a power source having a periodic waveform comprising:

a) an energy storage element capable of providing energy in the form of a direct current and operably connected to said electronic load, and
b) an electronic switching circuit interposed between said power source and said energy storage element, wherein said switching circuit comprises:
i) a voltage divider connected to the alternating current power source;
ii) a voltage reference, and,
iii) a comparator circuit having a first input connected to the output of the voltage divider, a second input connected to the voltage reference, and an output, wherein the comparator circuit is a bipolar transistor having a characteristic base-emitter turn-on voltage and a load device connected in a common-emitter amplifier configuration wherein the voltage reference is the base-emitter turn-on voltage of the bipolar transistor, and,
iv) an electronic switch device, having a threshold voltage, connected between the alternating current power source and the energy storage element and the output of the comparator circuit controls the state of the electronic switch device, and
(1) said electronic switch device is open when said output of the voltage divider exceeds said threshold voltage value, and
(2) said electronic switch device is closed when said output of the voltage divider is exceeded by said threshold value.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

High efficiency ac to dc converter and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims61

High efficiency ac to dc converter and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims61