Abstract: Apparatus controls a power converter 34 to interchange power between first and second electric sources, 30 and 32. Typically the first source 30 is a standard utility bus and the second source 32 is a storage battery. A controller generates control signals in response to the utility bus voltage, to a command specifying the required power interchange and to a feedback signal indicative of the actual power being interchanged. These signals control the power converter 34 to produce the required power interchange.

Abstract: A high power switching circuit which utilizes a four-terminal Darlington transistor block to improve switching speed, particularly in rapid turn-off. Two independent reverse drive currents are utilized during turn off in order to expel the minority carriers of the Darlington pair at their own charge sweep-out rate. The reverse drive current may be provided by a current transformer, the secondary of which is tapped to the base terminal of the power stage of the Darlington block. In one application, the switching circuit is used in each power switching element in a chopper-inverter drive of an electric vehicle propulsion system.