Abstract: A square wave power inverter includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, first and second input voltage sources, and a pair of power switching transistors connected series between the first and second voltage sources for selectively connecting the first and second input voltage sources to the primary winding of the transformer. A pair of output terminals is connected to the secondary winding of the transformer for receiving a load. An inverter control is connected to the gates of the switching transistors for generating a gate drive signal. The inverter control generates a low impedance, substantially square wave, gate drive signal, producing a substantially square wave inverter output when a substantial load is connected to the output terminals, and a high impedance gate drive signal, producing a trapezoidal inverter output when a light load is connected to the output terminals.

Abstract: A DC power converter is disclosed for converting an input voltage to a final output voltage that is higher than the input voltage. The power converter includes an input terminal for receiving the input voltage and a final output terminal. A boost converter generates an intermediate voltage that is higher than the input voltage and lower than the final output voltage. The boost converter includes an inductor having a primary winding that has a first end connected to the input terminal, a switch for selectively connecting the second end of the first winding to ground, a first diode connected between the second end of the first winding and an intermediate node, and a first output capacitor connected between the intermediate node and ground. The boost converter produces at the first output capacitor an intermediate voltage higher than the input voltage. The step up converter described further includes a second winding on the inductor, a first end of which is connected to receive the intermediate voltage.

Abstract: A power converter is disclosed that includes multiple lower power boost converters interconnected to reduce the magnitude of the input current ripple and output current ripple by distributing the converter current draw over time, as compared to a single boost converter. The operating cycle of each of the multiple boost converters is phase shifted with respect to the others. The converter described converts a primary input DC voltage into an output DC voltage, wherein the output DC voltage is higher than the primary input DC voltage. The converter includes a primary input terminal for receiving the primary input DC voltage and a plurality of boost converter cells, each of which has an input connected to the primary input terminal, and each of which has an output. The converter additionally includes a master controller for causing each boost converter cell to operate in a predetermined phase relationship with respect to the other boost converter cells.