Abstract: A forward converter circuit transfers a reset current to a capacitor each switching cycle that is independent of the value of input voltage. The reset current stored in a capacitor is transferred to an inductor and, in turn, transferred to a filter capacitor each cycle, thereby providing a semi-regulated voltage to a constant resistive load.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetics substrate for implementing a coupled transformer and inductor. In one version, the transformer and inductor are used in a DC to DC converter. The transformer includes primary and secondary windings, each comprising a set of planar windings coupled to one another in series and lying on planar surfaces of layers of the magnetics substrate. These planar windings are coaxially aligned along a transformer core axis which is orthogonal to the layers, and the primary and secondary windings are magnetically coupled to one another through a transformer core positioned along the transformer core axis. The inductor includes a set of planar windings coupled to one another in series and lying on planar surfaces of the layers.

Abstract: An optically triggered solid state switch and method for switching a high voltage electrical current. A plurality of solid state switches (350) are connected in series for controlling electrical current flow between a compensation capacitor (112) and ground in a reactive power compensator (50, 50') that monitors the voltage and current flowing through each of three distribution lines (52a, 52b and 52c), which are supplying three-phase power to one or more inductive loads. An optical transmitter (100) controlled by the reactive power compensation system produces light pulses that are conveyed over optical fibers (102) to a switch driver (110') that includes a plurality of series connected optical triger circuits (288). Each of the optical trigger circuits controls a pair of the solid state switches and includes a plurality of series connected resistors (294, 326, 330, and 334) that equalize or balance the potential across the plurality of trigger circuits.