# US 2025/0096573 A1 · Power supply unit for explosion-proof applications > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0096573 A1 - Document ID: US20250096573A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/820,589 - Filed: 2024-08-30 - Published: 2025-03-20 - Earliest claimed: 2023-09-15 - Assignees: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbH - Applicants: Pepperl+Fuchs SE - Inventors: Martin Jung - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250096573A1 ## CPC - H02J 3/36: Arrangements for transfer of electric power between AC networks via high-voltage DC [HVDC] links; Arrangements for transfer of electric power between generators and networks via HVDC links - H02M 7/06: using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode - H02M 1/32: Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection - H02M 1/36: Means for starting or stopping converters - H02M 7/062: {Avoiding or suppressing excessive transient voltages or currents} - H02M 7/2176: {comprising a passive stage to generate a rectified sinusoidal voltage and a controlled switching element in series between such stage and the output} - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - 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) ## Abstract The present invention refers to a power supply unit for operating an electronic device in an explosion-proof area, comprising: a means (2) for providing a rectified input voltage (UE); a DC link capacitance (5) for buffering a DC link voltage; a phase section control (4) controlled to apply the rectified input voltage to the DC link capacitance (5) during a time period in which the rectified input voltage (UE) increases and is between a lower (Uu) and upper voltage threshold (Uo), and to disconnect the rectified input voltage from the DC link capacitance (5) in the remaining time periods; a converter circuit (7) configured to convert the DC link voltage (UZ) into an output voltage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power supply unit (1) for operating an electronic device (10) in an explosion-proof area, comprising: a means (2) for providing a rectified input voltage (UE); a DC link capacitance (5) for buffering a DC link voltage; a phase section control (4) controlled to apply the rectified input voltage to the DC link capacitance (5) during a time period in which the rectified input voltage (UE) increases and is between a lower (Uu) and upper voltage threshold (Uo), and to disconnect the rectified input voltage from the DC link capacitance (5) in the remaining time periods; a converter circuit (7) which is configured to convert the DC link voltage (UZ) into an output voltage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power supply unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein the means for providing a rectified input voltage comprises a passive rectifier (2), and in particular an EMC protection circuit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2) The power supply unit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper voltage threshold (Uo) is below a predetermined explosion protection voltage of in particular 80 volts, wherein the upper voltage threshold (Uo) is in particular between 80% and 95% of the explosion protection voltage, or wherein the upper voltage threshold (Uo) is set below the explosion protection voltage depending on a predetermined power requirement, in particular of the electronic device (10). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2, 3) The power supply unit (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit (6) is configured to interrupt the closing of the semiconductor switch (41) for one or more cycles if the voltage does not fall below the lower voltage threshold (Uu). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4) The power supply (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the converter circuit (7) comprises a step-down-converter (7). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) The power supply unit (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a control circuit (6) is configured to control the phase section control comprising a power semiconductor switch (41). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The power supply unit (1) according to claim 6, wherein the control circuit (6) comprises a microcontroller, wherein in particular the microcontroller is further configured to control an electronic device (10) operated by the power supply unit (1). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The power supply unit (1) according to claim 7, wherein the control circuit (6) is configured to set the upper and/or lower voltage thresholds (Uo, Uu) as a function of the input voltage of the power supply unit (1), the input frequency and the output power of the power supply unit (1), and/or not to apply the rectified input voltage to the DC link capacitance (5) during one or more half-waves. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) The power supply unit (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the phase section control (4) is controlled to apply the rectified input voltage permanently to the DC link capacitance (5) at input voltages (UE) of below the explosion protection voltage. ### Claim 10 Method for operating a power supply unit (1) for operating of an electronic device (10) in an explosion-proof area, wherein the power supply unit has a means (2) for providing a rectified input voltage (UE), a DC link capacitance (5) for buffering a DC link voltage and a converter circuit (7) which is configured to convert the DC link voltage (UZ) into an output voltage, wherein, during a time period in which the rectified input voltage (UE) increases and lies between a lower (Uu) and upper voltage threshold (Uo), the rectified input voltage is applied to the DC link capacitance (5), and in the remaining time periods the rectified input voltage is disconnected from the DC link capacitance (5).