Unipolar series resonant converter

A unipolar series resonant converter for exchanging energy between first and second circuits, comprising:

• first and second switch assemblies for coupling to the respective first and second circuits;
• a resonant tank coupled between the first and second switch assemblies, the resonant tank having a resonant capacitor and a resonant inductor in series;
• a link current synthesizer coupled to the resonant capacitor, the synthesizer responsive to a synthesizer control signal for generating a link current comprising a train of unipolar link current pulses, with each pulse comprising a nonzero current segment and adjacent pulses separated by a zero current segment, the zero and nonzero current segments being controllable in duration by the synthesizer;
• and
• a blocking switch in series with the resonant capacitor.

A unipolar series resonant converter for exchanging energy between first and second circuits, comprising:

• first and second switch assemblies for coupling to the respective first and second circuits;
• a resonant tank for coupling together the first and second circuits;
• a link current synthesizer coupled to the resonant tank, the synthesizer responsive to a synthesizer control signal for generating a link current as a train of unipolar current pulses, each pulse having a zero current segment and a nonzero current segment of adjustable durations which are independently controlled by said synthesizer;
• and
• a link current buffer device coupled to the synthesizer for clamping the link current to a selected value during energy exchange.

A link current synthesizer for coupling a series combination of a resonant capacitor, a resonant inductor, and a blocking switch with a link current buffer device for a unipolar series resonant converter, the resonant capacitor and resonant inductor coupled together at a first junction, the resonant capacitor and blocking switch coupled together at a second junction, the link current synthesizer comprising:

• first, second and third nodes;
• an initiating switch for coupling the first junction to the buffer device at the first node;
• a buffer switch coupled to the first node;
• and
• an initiation inductor coupled to the buffer switch for initiating the generation of a train of link current pulses through resonant oscillation, each pulse having a zero current segment and a non-zero current segment of independently controllable duration.