Ac-to-dc converter with intelligent capacitive energy storage regulator

A power converter, comprising:

• a control system configured to control a charging of a storage capacitor using current drawn from alternating current (AC) power applied to an input terminal of the power converter, to provide direct current (DC) power to a load that is coupled to an output terminal of the power converter;
• wherein the control system is configured to control the charging of the storage capacitor by:
• monitoring a voltage level across the storage capacitor;
• causing charging current to flow to the storage capacitor during a given positive half-cycle of the AC power to charge the storage capacitor to a maximum voltage level, in response to determining that the monitored voltage level across the storage capacitor is less than a minimum voltage level;
• and
• preventing charging current from flowing to the storage capacitor during the given positive half-cycle of the AC power, in response to determining that the monitored voltage level across the storage capacitor is less than the maximum voltage level and greater than the minimum voltage level.

A method, comprising:

• converting alternating current (AC) power to direct current (DC) power which is stored on a storage capacitor, wherein converting the AC power to DC power comprises:
• monitoring a voltage level across the storage capacitor;
• causing charging current to flow to the storage capacitor during a given positive half-cycle of the AC power to charge the storage capacitor to a maximum voltage level, in response to determining that the monitored voltage level across the storage capacitor is less than a minimum voltage level;
• and
• preventing charging current to flow to the storage capacitor during the given positive half-cycle of the AC power, in response to determining that the monitored voltage level across the storage capacitor is less than the maximum voltage level and greater than the minimum voltage level.