Abstract: This invention improves the performance and lowers the cost of DC to AC inverters and the systems where these inverters are used. The performance enhancements are most valuable in renewable and distributed energy applications where high power conversion efficiencies are critical. The invention allows a variety of DC sources to provide power thru the inverter to the utility grid or directly to loads without a transformer and at very high power conversion efficiencies. The enabling technology is a novel boost converter stage that regulates the voltage for a following DC to AC converter stage and uses a single semiconductor switching device. The AC inverter output configuration is either single-phase or three-phase.

Abstract: This invention improves the performance and lowers the cost of DC to AC inverters and the systems where these inverters are used. The performance enhancements are most valuable in renewable and distributed energy applications where high power conversion efficiencies are critical. The invention allows a variety of DC sources to provide power thru the inverter to the utility grid or directly to loads without a transformer and at very high power conversion efficiencies. The enabling technology is a novel boost converter stage that regulates the voltage for a following DC to AC converter stage and uses a single semiconductor switching device. The AC inverter output configuration is either single-phase or three-phase.

Abstract: A switching power supply 38 for use in a switched anode, field emission flat panel display includes energy recovery modules 48.sub.R, 48.sub.G and 48.sub.B for recovering energy from each anode electrode 50.sub.R, 50.sub.G and 50.sub.B of the display as the voltage on the anode V.sub.A is switched from a high level to a low level, and for restoring this energy to the anode as the voltage is returned from the low level back to the high level. Each energy recovery module 48 includes a capacitor 62 for storing charge and an inductor 60 for storing energy. During the deactivation period of each anode electrode 50, dc source 40 is uncoupled from anode electrode 50 and energy is transferred from the anode electrode 50 to inductor 60, and subsequently from inductor 60 to storage capacitor 62. During the re-activation period, energy transfers from storage capacitor 62 to inductor 60 and anode electrode 50, and subsequently from inductor 60 to anode electrode 50.

Abstract: This invention improves the performance and lowers the cost of DC to AC inverters and the systems where these inverters are used. The performance enhancements are most valuable in renewable and distributed energy applications where high power conversion efficiencies are critical. The invention allows a variety of DC sources to provide power thru the inverter to the utility grid or directly to loads without a transformer and at very high power conversion efficiencies. The enabling technology is a novel boost converter stage that regulates the voltage for a following DC to AC converter stage and uses a single semiconductor switching device. The AC inverter output configuration is either single-phase or three-phase.