System and methods for using a mems switch as an ideal diode
AssigneeDigiq Power Ltd.
InventorYan-Fei LIU
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for converting an input AC voltage of a voltage source into an output DC voltage is proposed. The proposed system and method include at least two MEMS switches coupled in parallel with a corresponding voltage clamp switch within a MEMS rectifier. The MEMS switches achieve Zero-Voltage-Zero-Current (ZVZC) Turn on and Zero-Current-Zero-Voltage (ZCZV) Turn off through the inclusion of at least one high frequency switch and a current diverting circuit which ensure that when the at least two MEMS switches transition between an on-state and off-state there is no voltage or current present in the at least two MEMS switches.
Claims20
A method for converting an input AC voltage of a voltage source into an output DC voltage using a boost AC-to-DC converter circuit having micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) switches, the method comprising:
- disabling a pair of high frequency switches when the input AC voltage is close to zero;
- activating a current diverting circuit to divert a flow of current from a first MEMS switch within a first MEMS rectifier in the on-state;
- activating a first voltage clamp switch within the first MEMS rectifier, the first voltage clamp switch being connected in parallel with the first MEMS switch;
- transitioning the first MEMS switch from an on-state to an off-state when about zero voltage or current is present in the first MEMS switch, and then disabling the first voltage clamp switch;
- activating a second voltage clamp switch within a second MEMS rectifier and then transitioning a second MEMS switch within the second MEMS rectifier from an off-state to an on-state when about zero voltage or current is present in the second MEMS switch, the second voltage clamp switch being connected in parallel with the second MEMS switch;
- and
- disabling the second voltage clamp switch and then disabling the current diverting circuit.
A method for converting an input AC voltage of a voltage source into an output DC voltage using a boost AC-to-DC converter circuit having micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) switches, the method comprising:
- disabling a high frequency switch when the input AC voltage is close to zero;
- activating a current diverting circuit to divert a flow of current from a second and a third MEMS switch within a second and a third MEMS rectifier in the on-state;
- activating a second and third voltage clamp switch within the second and third MEMS rectifier, the second and third voltage clamp switch being connected in parallel with the second and third MEMS switch, respectively;
- transitioning the second and third MEMS switch from the on-state to an off-state when about zero voltage or current is present in the second and third MEMS switch, and then disabling the second and third voltage clamp switch;
- activating a first and a fourth voltage clamp switch within a first and a fourth MEMS rectifier, the first and fourth voltage clamp switch being connected in parallel with a first and a fourth MEMS switch, respectively;
- transitioning the first and the fourth MEMS switch within the first and fourth MEMS rectifier from the off-state to the on-state when about zero voltage or current is present in the first and fourth MEMS switch;
- disabling the first and fourth voltage clamp switch and then disabling the current diverting circuit;
- and
- activating the high frequency switch.
A non-transitory computer readable medium, storing machine readable instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for converting an input AC voltage of a voltage source into an output DC voltage using a boost AC-to-DC converter circuit having micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) switches, the method comprising:
- disabling a pair of high frequency switches when the input AC voltage is close to zero;
- activating a current diverting circuit to divert a flow of current from a first MEMS switch within a first MEMS rectifier in the on-state;
- activating a first voltage clamp switch within the first MEMS rectifier, the first voltage clamp switch being connected in parallel with the first MEMS switch;
- transitioning the first MEMS switch from an on-state to an off-state when about zero voltage or current is present in the first MEMS switch, and then disabling the first voltage clamp switch;
- activating a second voltage clamp switch within a second MEMS rectifier and then transitioning a second MEMS switch within the second MEMS rectifier from an off-state to an on-state when about zero voltage or current is present in the second MEMS switch, the second voltage clamp switch being connected in parallel with the second MEMS switch;
- and
- disabling the second voltage clamp switch and then disabling the current diverting circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.