Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a vehicle battery charger is provided. At least one transformer includes a first winding and a second winding on a primary side of the transformer that are connected to one another to form a middle point. The middle point of the at least one transformer receives an input voltage signal from a mains supply. A half-bridge rectifier receives the input voltage signal from the mains supply to enable the middle point of the least one transformer to receive the input voltage signal from the mains supply. A first active bridge includes a first plurality of switching devices to receive a first input signal directly from the first winding and to receive a second input signal directly from the second winding. The first input signal and the second input signal are out of phase with one another to minimize electromagnetic interference within the vehicle battery charger.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to variable power modular electronic systems for generating unipolar and bipolar electrical pulses and associated uses thereof. In an embodiment, such a system includes one or more pulse generators for generating electrical pulses that can be connected in series; a charging circuit for charging the pulse generators; and a controller communicatively coupled to the pulse generators and the charging circuit. Advantageously, each pulse generator may include an AC/DC rectifier and a DC/AC inverter connected to said AC/DC rectifier in a bridge configuration to generate bipolar output electrical pulses or pulse trains. In addition, the charging circuit may include a DC/DC step-up converter connected to an indirect DC/AC inverter. The system provided in various embodiments of the disclosure also provides a great versatility for adaptation to various applications and high output voltage and current values.

Abstract: A household appliance device includes an integer number N of row switching elements at a row position i, wherein i is an integer number 1?i?N, an integer number M of column switching elements at a column position j, wherein j is an integer number 1?j?M, a heating matrix including at least N×M heating matrix elements having positions (i,j), with N+M>2, wherein a heating matrix element at the position (i,j) includes at least one inductor at the position (i,j) and is connected to both the i-th row switching element and the j-th column switching element. At least one switching diode connects at least one of the row switching elements or at least one of the column switching elements to at least one reference potential.

Abstract: An on-board charger for charging a battery, such as a traction battery of an electric vehicle, includes an AC/DC converter and a pulsating buffer (PB) converter. The AC/DC converter is configured to convert an AC input from a mains supply into an output having a DC voltage and a current ripple. The PB converter is connected to the AC/DC converter and is configured to process the output of the AC/DC converter to reduce or minimize the current ripple thereof and transform the output of the AC/DC converter into a battery-level DC output for charging the battery.

Abstract: A cook top with at least two heating elements includes a power electronics arrangement connected to a domestic single phase AC supply. The power electronics arrangement includes several power supply units, which each supply heating currents to one or more heating elements, and a switch arrangement with several electromechanical relays for connecting/disconnecting the power supply units to/from the heating elements. Output poles of at least two electromechanical relays associated with different power supply units are connected in parallel, wherein the parallel connection is permanently connected to at least one of the heating elements. This arrangement reduces the number of switching processes required for alternating use of a power supply device with several heating elements, and simplifies compliance with electromagnetic compatibility standards.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a charging apparatus for a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a power converter having a primary stage, a first secondary stage, and a second secondary stage. The primary stage is configured to receive an incoming voltage to generate a first input voltage. The first secondary stage includes a first plurality of electrical components configured to generate a first portion of an output voltage. The second secondary stage is in series with the first secondary stage and includes a second plurality of electrical components configured to generate a second portion of the output voltage. Each of the first plurality of electrical components and the second plurality of electrical components is rated to a voltage rating that is less than a total sum of the first portion and the second portion of the output voltage.

Abstract: In a method for operating a cooking zone of a cook top, wherein the cooking zone is formed by at least two cooking sub-zones and each cooking sub-zone can be heated by at least one heating unit, with the heating units arranged adjacent to each other without overlapping such that a cohesive heatable surface is formed during a joint operation of the cooking sub-zones, detection of an occupancy of a cooking sub-zone by at least one food preparation vessel is activated in a first operating mode and a same electrical power is supplied to all activated cooking sub-zones occupied by a food preparation vessel.

Abstract: A power factor corrector (PFC), such as for an on-board charger (OBC) for charging a vehicle traction battery, uses an input voltage and an input current from a power source to output a desired voltage. The PFC has an inductor and first and second power switches. A micro-controller generates, for each half-cycle of the input voltage, first and second reference signals respectively indicative of (i) a sinusoidal envelope of the inductor current for which the PFC will absorb sufficient power from the power source for the PFC to output the desired voltage and (ii) a reverse value of the inductor current for which zero voltage switching (ZVS) of the switches is ensured. A comparator assembly turns the first switch off (on) and the second switch on (off) upon the inductor current equaling the outer sinusoidal amplitude envelope (the reverse value) whereby the PFC outputs the desired voltage with ZVS.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to variable power modular electronic systems for generating unipolar and bipolar electrical pulses and associated uses thereof. In an embodiment, such a system includes one or more pulse generators for generating electrical pulses that can be connected in series; a charging circuit for charging the pulse generators; and a controller communicatively coupled to the pulse generators and the charging circuit. Advantageously, each pulse generator may include an AC/DC rectifier and a DC/AC inverter connected to said AC/DC rectifier in a bridge configuration to generate bipolar output electrical pulses or pulse trains. In addition, the charging circuit may include a DC/DC step-up converter connected to an indirect DC/AC inverter. The system provided in various embodiments of the disclosure also provides a great versatility for adaptation to various applications and high output voltage and current values.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a transformer assembly is provided. The assembly includes a first printed circuit board (PCB), a magnetic core, a primary winding, and a secondary winding. The magnetic core is positioned about the first PCB. The primary winding is implemented as a wire assembly and is positioned on a first side of the PCB to interface with the magnetic core. The secondary winding is embedded within the first PCB to interface with the primary winding and the magnetic core to convert an input signal into a converted output signal.

Abstract: A power factor corrector (PFC), such as for an on-board charger (OBC) for charging a vehicle traction battery, uses an input voltage and an input current from a power source to output a desired voltage. The PFC has an inductor and first and second power switches. A micro-controller generates, for each half-cycle of the input voltage, first and second reference signals respectively indicative of (i) a sinusoidal envelope of the inductor current for which the PFC will absorb sufficient power from the power source for the PFC to output the desired voltage and (ii) a reverse value of the inductor current for which zero voltage switching (ZVS) of the switches is ensured. A comparator assembly turns the first switch off (on) and the second switch on (off) upon the inductor current equaling the outer sinusoidal amplitude envelope (the reverse value) whereby the PFC outputs the desired voltage with ZVS.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to variable power modular electronic systems for generating unipolar and bipolar electrical pulses and associated uses thereof. In an embodiment, such a system includes one or more pulse generators for generating electrical pulses that can be connected in series; a charging circuit for charging the pulse generators; and a controller communicatively coupled to the pulse generators and the charging circuit. Advantageously, each pulse generator may include an AC/DC rectifier and a DC/AC inverter connected to said AC/DC rectifier in a bridge configuration to generate bipolar output electrical pulses or pulse trains. In addition, the charging circuit may include a DC/DC step-up converter connected to an indirect DC/AC inverter. The system provided in various embodiments of the disclosure also provides a great versatility for adaptation to various applications and high output voltage and current values.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a charging apparatus for a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a power converter having a primary stage, a first secondary stage, and a second secondary stage. The primary stage is configured to receive an incoming voltage to generate a first input voltage. The first secondary stage includes a first plurality of electrical components configured to generate a first portion of an output voltage. The second secondary stage is in series with the first secondary stage and includes a second plurality of electrical components configured to generate a second portion of the output voltage. Each of the first plurality of electrical components and the second plurality of electrical components is rated to a voltage rating that is less than a total sum of the first portion and the second portion of the output voltage.

Abstract: A domestic appliance includes a mains connection at which an electrical mains voltage can be applied relative to a reference potential, a main supply unit supplying an electrical operating voltage from the mains voltage at its output, and at least one electrical consumer receiving the operating voltage. An electrical switch electrically isolates at least the output of the main supply unit from the mains connection, when the domestic appliance is in a standby mode. Provided separate from the main supply unit is a voltage supply which is coupled to the mains connection and which taps the mains voltage at the mains connection in the standby mode and supplies a supply voltage from the mains voltage for switching the electrical switch to an electrically conducting switching state to thereby switch the domestic appliance from the standby mode to an operating mode.

Abstract: A household appliance device includes an integer number N of row switching elements at a row position i, wherein i is an integer number 1?i?N, an integer number M of column switching elements at a column position j, wherein j is an integer number 1?j?M, a heating matrix including at least N×M heating matrix elements having positions (i,j), with N+M>2, wherein a heating matrix element at the position (i,j) includes at least one inductor at the position (i,j) and is connected to both the i-th row switching element and the j-th column switching element. At least one switching diode connects at least one of the row switching elements or at least one of the column switching elements to at least one reference potential.

Abstract: A household appliance device includes an integer number N of row switching elements at a row position i, wherein i is an integer number 1?i?N, an integer number M of column switching elements at a column position j, wherein j is an integer number 1?j?M, and a heating matrix including at least N×M heating matrix elements having positions (i, j), with N+M>2, wherein a heating matrix element at the position (i,j) includes at least one inductor at the position (i,j) and is connected to both the i-th row switching element and the j-th column switching element.

Abstract: An on-board charger (OBC) for charging a traction battery of an electric vehicle includes a Power Factor Correction (PFC) stage to convert AC power from a mains supply into DC power for use in charging the traction battery, a bi-directional DC/DC converter coupled to the traction battery, a DC link capacitor between the PFC stage and the DC/DC converter, and a controller. The controller is operable to control the PFC stage and the DC/DC converter to operate in (i) a pre-charge mode in which the DC link capacitor is pre-charged using electrical power from the traction battery and (ii) a stable operation mode in which the traction battery is charged using the AC power from the mains supply.

Abstract: An on-board charger (OBC) for charging a traction battery of an electric vehicle includes a Power Factor Correction (PFC) stage to convert AC power from a mains supply into DC power for use in charging the traction battery, a bi-directional DC/DC converter coupled to the traction battery, a DC link capacitor between the PFC stage and the DC/DC converter, and a controller. The controller is operable to control the PFC stage and the DC/DC converter to operate in (i) a pre-charge mode in which the DC link capacitor is pre-charged using electrical power from the traction battery and (ii) a stable operation mode in which the traction battery is charged using the AC power from the mains supply.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to variable power modular electronic systems for generating unipolar and bipolar electrical pulses and associated uses thereof. In an embodiment, such a system includes one or more pulse generators for generating electrical pulses that can be connected in series; a charging circuit for charging the pulse generators; and a controller communicatively coupled to the pulse generators and the charging circuit. Advantageously, each pulse generator may include an AC/DC rectifier and a DC/AC inverter connected to said AC/DC rectifier in a bridge configuration to generate bipolar output electrical pulses or pulse trains. In addition, the charging circuit may include a DC/DC step-up converter connected to an indirect DC/AC inverter. The system provided in various embodiments of the disclosure also provides a great versatility for adaptation to various applications and high output voltage and current values.

Abstract: A cooktop apparatus, in particular an induction cooktop apparatus, includes a switching unit configured to interrupt and establish current flow from a current supply, a first switching element receiving the current flow during an operating process, a control apparatus, which controls the switching unit during the operating process such that the switching unit interrupts the current supply during a first time interval which has a duration of less than of half a period of the power supply voltage. The control apparatus causes the current supply to be connected during the operating process immediately before and immediately after the first time interval. The first switching element begins switching and ends switching during the first time interval.