Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing welding type power is disclosed. A welding type power supply includes an input circuit, a controller and an output circuit. The input circuit receives an input power signal and provides an intermediate power signal. The output circuit receives the intermediate power signal and provides a welding type power output. The output circuit has an inverter with at least two inverter switches, and a clamp circuit that limits the voltage across the inverter. The clamp circuit captures and buffers the excess energy, and returns the excess energy to an input of the inverter over a plurality of switching cycles. The controller has control outputs connected to the input circuit and the output circuit, to control them.

Abstract: A vehicle includes: a first battery; a second battery; a solar cell; a power divider configured to transfer power produced by the solar cell to the first battery or transfer power produced by the solar cell to the second battery; and a controller configured to control the power divider to transfer the power produced by the solar cell to at least one of the first battery and the second battery based on a state of charge (SoC) of the first battery and a SoC of the second battery.

Abstract: A solar array power generation system includes a solar array electrically connected to a control system. The solar array has a plurality of solar modules, each module having at least one DC/DC converter for converting the raw panel output to an optimized high voltage, low current output. In a further embodiment, each DC/DC converter requires a signal to enable power output of the solar modules.

Abstract: Exemplary power supply systems and methods according to the present invention include circuitry that is configured to provide DC power and configured to receive a input signal that originates from a portable electronic device (the “PED”) and to provide a output signal to be sent to the PED. Such circuitry is configured to be coupled to the PED via a connector having a first, second, third, and fourth conductor. Such a connector is configured to be detachably mated with a power input interface of the PED to transfer the DC power to the PED, a ground reference to the PED, the input signal from the PED to the circuitry, and, in coordination with the input signal, the output signal from the circuitry to the PED, which is usable by the PED in connection with control of charging a battery of the PED based on the DC power provided by the circuitry.

Abstract: A light-emitting diode (LED) lamp comprising a normally-operated portion and an emergency-operated portion is used to replace a luminaire operated only in a normal mode with alternate-current (AC) mains. The normally-operated portion comprises a second driving circuit whereas the emergency-operated portion comprises a rechargeable battery, a first driving circuit, a self-diagnostic circuit, and a control circuit. The LED lamp can auto-switch between the normal mode and an emergency mode according to availability of the AC mains and whether a rechargeable battery test is initiated. The control circuit is configured to produce a pulse train with a predetermined duty cycle to operate the first driving circuit while disabling the second driving circuit to eliminate operational ambiguity during the rechargeable battery test.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying power to a high-capacity load includes a three-to-two phase transformer including an input side three-phase transformer terminal for connection to a three-phase supply grid and output side first and second output-side single-phase transformer terminals. A converter arrangement has a first partial converter including a first input-side, single-phase AC voltage terminal for the first output-side transformer terminal and a first single-phase output terminal. A second partial converter has a second input-side single-phase AC voltage terminal for the second output-side transformer terminal and a second single-phase output connector. The partial converters are mutually connectable by the output terminals in an output-side series and/or parallel circuit and form a single-phase load terminal for the high-capacity load. A method for supplying power to a high-capacity load is also provided.

Abstract: A redundant energy acquisition circuit of a power module includes at least one power semiconductor device, a first capacitor, and a first bypass switch. The redundant energy acquisition circuit of the power module includes: a power supply board acquiring energy from the first capacitor, supplying power to a control board, and charging a discharge circuit. A first charging circuit has one end connected to a positive electrode of the first capacitor and another end connected to the discharge circuit, and charges the discharge circuit when the power supply board is not operating normally. The control board controls the discharge circuit to close. The discharge circuit discharges and triggers the first bypass switch to close after the discharge circuit is closed.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure are generally directed to a structure for a balanced-unbalanced (balun) transformer. For example, certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a transformer that generally includes a first winding having a first terminal coupled to an input node and a second terminal coupled to a reference potential node. The transformer may also include a first impedance coupled between a center tap of the first winding and the reference potential node, and a second winding magnetically coupled to the first winding and having a first terminal coupled to a first differential node of a differential output pair, a second terminal coupled to a second differential node of the differential output pair, and a center tap coupled to the reference potential node.

Abstract: A circuit module equipped with a primary coil of a step-down transformer formed by primary coils of a plurality of transformer elements connected in series with each other and a secondary coil formed by secondary coils of the transformer elements connected in series with each other, includes a printed substrate on which the transformer elements are mounted in a lengthwise direction, a connection terminal coupled to a first end of the primary coil of the step-down transformer and connection terminals coupled to the secondary coil of the step-down transformer, the connection terminals are positioned such that the transformer elements are interposed therebetween. As a result, provided are a transformer module that reduces the effect of a high-voltage portion on a low-voltage portion by securing a distance between the high-voltage portion and the low-voltage portion, and a power reception device and a power transmission device equipped with the transformer module.

Abstract: A power supply system includes a rechargeable battery to deliver a supply current to a load and a circuit to limit a discharge current when the rechargeable battery is supplying power to the load. The power supply system may further include an integrator for integrating a discharge voltage representing the discharge current that exceeds a predetermined limit, a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) circuit for producing a control signal having a PWM duty cycle representing the discharge voltage, and a driver circuit for delivering the supply current to said load according to said control signal. In one embodiment, a digital register is used to set the battery discharging current limit, in another embodiment an analog circuit is used to set the battery discharging current limit, and in yet another embodiment or a combination of the digital register and analog circuit is used to set the battery discharging current limit.

Abstract: Techniques for providing transformer-based CMOS oscillators capable of operation with low voltage power supplies. In an exemplary embodiment, an LC tank is provided at the drains of a transistor pair, and the inductance of the LC tank is mutually magnetically coupled to an inductance between the gates of the transistor pair. A separate complementary transistor pair is also coupled to the LC tank. A further exemplary embodiment provides an LC tank at the gates of a transistor pair, as well as for three-way coupling amongst a tank inductance, an inductance between the gates of the transistor pair, and an inductance between the gates of a complementary transistor pair.

Abstract: A rail vehicle emergency lighting system for a rail vehicle includes a main lighting system with light emitting diodes. When a main lighting power supply is active, the light emitting diodes of the main lighting system are lit with a main lighting intensity. When the main lighting power supply fails, the light emitting diodes of the main lighting system are lit with an emergency lighting intensity. The emergency lighting intensity is reduced compared to the main lighting intensity.

Abstract: A regulated switching power converter generates a converter output having first and second regulated output values under corresponding operating conditions. The converter output transitions between the first and second output values in response to transition of a trigger signal in a transition window between first and second trigger values. A transition step function is based on transition amplitude, transition interval and number of steps, the transition amplitude being a difference between the first and second regulated output values, and the transition interval being a difference between the first and second trigger values. The transition step function generates a step-like transition signal based on values of the trigger signal between the first and second trigger values. During operation in the transition window, the step-like transition signal is included in the regulation reference value to generate a step-like transition of the converter output between the first and second regulated output values.

Abstract: The multi-level DC/AC converter, comprising: an input (5,7) connectable to a direct voltage source (3), with a first connection (5) and a second connection (7) between which can be applied an input voltage (Vi); a half-bridge with a first controlled switch (21) and a second controlled switch (25) between which is positioned an output (U) of the converter; a first connecting branch (15) between the first controlled switch (21) and the first connection (5) and a second connecting branch (17) between the second controlled switch (25) and the second connection (7); a third controlled switch (59) associated to the first controlled switch (21), connectable in series to the first controlled switch to generate an output voltage exceeding a first limit value (Vi/2); a fourth controlled switch (61) associated to the second controlled switch (25), connectable in series to said second controlled switch to generate an output voltage below a second limit value (?Vi/2).

Abstract: An emergency lighting module for providing emergency power to a solid state luminaire is provided. The emergency lighting module includes a control circuit configured to detect a line voltage, a first input configured to receive an input voltage from the solid state luminaire, and a bidirectional booster/charger circuit coupled to the microcontroller and configured to charge a battery using the input voltage. The bidirectional booster/charger circuit is further configured to provide an output voltage. The emergency lighting module is configured to provide the output voltage to the solid state luminaire in response to a reduction of the line voltage.

Abstract: A three-phase boost-buck PFC converter including three independent single-phase boost-buck PFC circuits respectively is provided, which are capable of performing PFC on each phase of the three-phase power. The single-phase boost-buck PFC circuit is composed of two single-phase boost-buck converters independently working in a positive and a negative half cycle of an input voltage, and the two single-phase boost-buck converters are connected in parallel at an input side, and are connected in series at an output side, and each of the single-phase boost-buck converters is composed of a front-end boost circuit and a back-end buck circuit connected in cascade. Compared to the existing technique, regardless of a boost mode or a buck mode, the conduction loss is effectively reduced, and the whole system efficiency is effectively improved.

Abstract: A system for supplying an electrical system with direct current, the system including at least two direct current power supply devices each having means of electrical connection to an alternating current power supply source and an AC/DC converter of alternating current into direct current, a module for managing the power supply of the electrical system which, after reception of an information of failure of a first active power supply device, transmits a command to start up a second inactive power supply device and a back up electrical energy storage device electrically by-pass connected between the power supply devices and the electrical system. The management module also receives the information of failure from the back up device and/or from the electrical system and transmits the command to start up the second power supply device during a discharge phase of the back up device.

Abstract: There is described a power supply for lamps, particularly for LED-MR16 lamps; the power supply receives an alternating voltage, particularly provided by an electronic transformer, at the input between first and second input terminals. The input alternating voltage has a high frequency component and the power supply comprises rectifier means of said input alternating voltage and at least one capacitor connected to the output of said rectifier means; the voltage at the ends of said capacitor is adapted to supply the lamp. The power supply includes a capacitive circuit arranged between the first and second terminals and adapted to be charged by the negative half-wave of the high frequency component of the input alternating voltage; the capacitive circuit adapted to discharge to the capacitor in the presence of the positive half-wave of the high frequency component of the input alternating voltage.

Abstract: A voltage generators is provided including a boosting circuit and a boosting control circuit. The boosting circuit is configured to boost a power voltage to generate first through fourth voltages. The boosting control circuit is configured to control the boosting circuit to enable the first through fourth voltages to be generated in sequence, such that when a current voltage of the first through fourth voltages is boosted to a predetermined level, a voltage next to the current voltage is generated. Related liquid crystal displays and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A voltage boosting circuit includes a first inductor, a first switch, a second inductor, a second switch, a first clamping diode, and a first energy storing element. When the first switch and the second switch conduct, the first and second inductors are able to store energy of a power source signal. When the first switch is not conducting and the second switch conducts, the first inductor is able to release energy to the first energy storing element. When the first switch conducts and the second switch is not conducting, the second inductor and the first energy storing element are able to release energy to a load.

Abstract: An apparatus, device, and system for generating an amount of output power in response to a direct current (DC) power input includes a configurable power supply, which may be electrically coupled to the DC power input. The configurable power supply is selectively configurable between multiple circuit topologies to generate various DC power outputs and/or and AC power output. The system may also include one or more DC power electronic accessories, such as DC-to-DC power converters, and/or one or more AC power electronic accessories such as DC-to-AC power converters. The power electronic accessories are couplable to the configurable power supply to receive the corresponding DC or AC power output of the configurable power supply.

Abstract: A power supply device includes two buck converters, having a coupling inductor Lo composed of two mutually-coupled inductors L1, L2, and a output capacitor Co, wherein of the two buck converters, a first buck converter is operated during a positive half-cycle period of an AC input voltage, and a second buck converter is operated during a negative half-cycle period of the AC input voltage, to obtain a DC output voltage at both ends of the output capacitor Co from the AC input voltage, is provided. Herewith, is provided the power-supply device using the buck converter, which can be reduced in the number of components and produced in a low cost without a diode bridge.

Abstract: An apparatus, device, and system for generating an amount of output power in response to a direct current (DC) power input includes a configurable power supply, which may be electrically coupled to the DC power input. The configurable power supply is selectively configurable between multiple circuit topologies to generate various DC power outputs and/or and AC power output. The system may also include one or more DC power electronic accessories, such as DC-to-DC power converters, and/or one or more AC power electronic accessories such as DC-to-AC power converters. The power electronic accessories are couplable to the configurable power supply to receive the corresponding DC or AC power output of the configurable power supply.

Abstract: A power supply control device for lamp includes a control unit, the control unit receives a forward voltage signal and a reverse voltage signal simultaneously from a zero-crossover sampling circuit and determines if a connected load is an LED lamp, then the control unit turns on a tri-electrode AC switch (TRIAC) after an operating voltage for the LED voltage is reached, thereby outputting the AC power to an outlet for illuminating the LED lamp; since the TRIAC can be turned on with the forward voltage or the reverse voltage, the LED lamp is powered with a stable power supply to prevent the LED lamp from blinking.

Abstract: An apparatus, device, and system for generating an amount of output power in response to a direct current (DC) power input includes a configurable power supply, which may be electrically coupled to the DC power input. The configurable power supply is selectively configurable between multiple circuit topologies to generate various DC power outputs and/or and AC power output. The system may also include one or more DC power electronic accessories, such as DC-to-DC power converters, and/or one or more AC power electronic accessories such as DC-to-AC power converters. The power electronic accessories are couplable to the configurable power supply to receive the corresponding DC or AC power output of the configurable power supply.

Abstract: A LED driver arrangement including a switching-mode stage to produce a drive current for feeding a LED from a DC input; a current sensor for the current fed to the LED for producing a feedback signal; error amplifier circuitry for generating a control signal from the feedback signal; and control circuitry sensitive to the control signal to control the switching-mode stage so that the drive current fed by the switching-mode stage to the LED corresponds to the LED current. An opto-coupler feeds the control signal to the control circuitry, and the opto-coupler having associated biasing circuitry to increase current on the opto-coupler when the LED current decreases. The opto-coupler is configured to saturate when the drive current reaches a minimum level. There is also an auxiliary supply voltage for the control circuitry to keep the auxiliary supply voltage above a minimum level when the opto-coupler is saturated.

Abstract: A method of controlling an uninterruptible power supply apparatus (UPS) is provided. The UPS apparatus includes at least an AC input voltage, a DC input voltage and a single-phase AC/AC converter. The single-phase AC/AC converter includes an AC inductor, a bus capacitor, a boost arm, a common arm and a buck arm. The method includes steps of: controlling the bus voltage to have a DC component and full-wave rectifying component, and setting a bus voltage parameter K so that the bus voltage approaches to a full-wave rectifying voltage when K approaches to 1, wherein 0?K?1.

Abstract: A power management apparatus includes a first electrical lead and a second electrical lead. The first electrical lead routes electrical current at a first electrical lead electrical potential level and the second electrical lead route electrical current at a second current port electrical potential level. The power management apparatus further includes a first electrical parameter sensor configured to measure a first electrical lead electrical parameter and a second electrical parameter sensor configured to measure a second electrical lead electrical parameter. The power management apparatus further comprises a buck boost converter electrically coupled to both the first electrical lead and the second electrical lead. The buck boost converter is configured to convert electrical current between the first electrical lead electric potential level and the second electrical lead electric potential level at a controlled potential conversion level.

Abstract: A converter device includes a converter circuit that includes a reactor connected to a primary side power supply, and a step-up feeding device that has a step-up switching element connected to the reactor and that boosts electric power of the primary side power supply by on/off switching the step-up switching element and outputting a stepped-up electric power as a secondary voltage; a converter control device that PWM-controls on/off switching of the step-up switching element so that the secondary voltage becomes equal to a secondary target voltage; and a temperature detecting device that detects a temperature of the reactor, wherein the converter control device limits PWM-controlled on/off switching of the step-up switching element for step-up operation when the temperature of the reactor increases to a first predetermined value or higher.

Abstract: An apparatus, device, and system for generating an amount of output power in response to a direct current (DC) power input includes a configurable power supply, which may be electrically coupled to the DC power input. The configurable power supply is selectively configurable between multiple circuit topologies to generate various DC power outputs and/or and AC power output. The system may also include one or more DC power electronic accessories, such as DC-to-DC power converters, and/or one or more AC power electronic accessories such as DC-to-AC power converters. The power electronic accessories are couplable to the configurable power supply to receive the corresponding DC or AC power output of the configurable power supply.

Abstract: An apparatus, device, and system for generating an amount of output power in response to a direct current (DC) power input includes a configurable power supply, which may be electrically coupled to the DC power input. The configurable power supply is selectively configurable between multiple circuit topologies to generate various DC power outputs and/or and AC power output. The system may also include one or more DC power electronic accessories, such as DC-to-DC power converters, and/or one or more AC power electronic accessories such as DC-to-AC power converters. The power electronic accessories are couplable to the configurable power supply to receive the corresponding DC or AC power output of the configurable power supply.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a power converter with low standby power consumption, used to convert an AC input power to an output DC power, comprising: an EMI filter, coupled to the AC input power to filter the EMI; a TRIAC, coupled to the EMI filter to access the AC input power; and a TRIAC driver, used for driving the gate of the TRIAC switch according to an on-off control signal from a loading device, to control the conduction of the TRIAC switch.

Abstract: An aircraft device power supply is capable of connecting to either an AC or a DC power bus provided on an aircraft. When connected to an aircraft's AC power bus, an AC power signal is EMI-filtered, stepped down in voltage to the same voltage as that of the DC power bus, and then rectified. When connected to an aircraft's DC power bus, a DC power signal is EMI-filtered before it is merged with the rectified AC power signal via an AC/DC switchover subcircuit. The output of the AC/DC switchover subcircuit is input to a power factor correction subcircuit which outputs a boosted DC voltage, regardless of which of the AC or DC aircraft power buses is connected to the power supply. A step down converter reduces the boosted DC voltage to a lower, system voltage which may then be further reduced or modified, as appropriate for device to be powered.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a power supply system for reducing reverse current, the system comprising a primary side circuit, for receiving alternating current; a transformer circuit, for transforming voltage; a secondary side rectifier circuit, for rectifying voltage; a secondary side filter circuit, for filtering voltage and providing direct current to a device; a first voltage division circuit, for providing a first voltage division signal; a switch circuit, for deciding the conducting condition based on the first voltage division signal and a reference voltage signal; a second voltage division circuit, for providing a second voltage division signal; and a control circuit, for deciding the charging condition based on the second voltage division signal; wherein the second voltage division circuit comprising a rectifier component and a filter component, for rectifying and filtering the source of the second voltage division signal.

Abstract: The configurations of an H-bridge circuit and a controlling method thereof are provided in the present invention. The proposed circuit includes an H-bridge having a first and a second bridge arms, each of which has a middle point, and a bidirectional switch connected to the two middle points, a bootstrap circuit providing a bootstrap voltage, a driving circuit receiving the bootstrap voltage and driving the bidirectional switch, and an energy compensation circuit coupled to the H-bridge, the bootstrap circuit and the driving circuit, and providing a compensation energy to the bootstrap circuit.

Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a switching section for switching on/off an input voltage so as to output a primary voltage in accordance with a control signal; and a voltage boosting section for boosting the primary voltage received at a primary side thereof to a secondary voltage at a secondary side thereof. The primary and secondary sides of the voltage boosting section are electrically isolated from each other. In a feedback link for supplying the control signal from the secondary side to the primary side, a signal isolation section is provided for both transmitting the control signal between and electrically isolating primary side and secondary side portions of the feedback link. Additionally or alternatively, a balancing circuit section is connected between the secondary side of the voltage boosting section and a plurality of lamps so as to uniformly supply an alternating current, generated by the secondary voltage, to the lamps, in order to uniformize the luminances of the lamps.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to devices and methods for converting or buffering a voltage including an inductor configured to perform at least a primary function and to be reused to contribute to converting or buffering the voltage as a secondary function.

Abstract: A method and inverter (2, 27) for converting a DC input voltage supplied by a DC source (9), which is in particular a solar cell array, into a 3-phase AC output. For each phase (R, S, T) the DC input voltage is converted to a DC output voltage (DCR, DCS, DCT) with a specific waveform. The waveforms of the three DC output voltages are identical, shifted in time by 120° to each other and they are such that by subtracting any two of them a sinusoidal waveform is obtained. The waveform of each DC output voltage may comprise a first portion of ? or 120° of the AC output cycle with an amplitude of zero and a subsequent second portion of ? or 240° of the AC output cycle during which the DC output voltage has a non-zero amplitude.

Abstract: A technique performed by a transformer-coupled DC-DC converter is described for recovering energy, due to leakage inductance in the transformer. A main power supply, providing a power supply voltage to a Vin terminal, is intermittently coupled to the primary winding of the transformer by a switching transistor. When the switching transistor is turned off, creating a voltage spike in the primary winding due to leakage inductance, the spike is conducted by a forward biased diode and filtered by a capacitor. The voltage at the capacitor (Vc) is then applied as an input voltage to a small pulse width modulated (PWM) regulator. The output of the PWM regulator is coupled to the Vin terminal along with the main power supply. The PWM regulator regulates the input voltage Vc to be a predetermined amount above the power supply voltage. Since the voltage spike energy is used to create the input voltage for the PWM regulator, and the output of the PWM regulator is fed back into the Vin terminal, the energy is recovered.

Abstract: The zero-voltage-switching electric converter comprises a power source configured to provide DC current and having a first terminal and a second terminal, a switching circuit having a third terminal electrically connected to the first terminal of the power source and a fourth terminal, and a resonant load having a fifth terminal electrically connected to the second terminal of the power source and a sixth terminal connected to the fourth terminal of the switching circuit. The power source, the switching circuit and the resonant load are connected to form a loop, and the net energy fed into the switching circuit is zero.

Abstract: A maximum power point tracking method, applied to a tracking device, employs a DC/DC converter connecting with a solar cell array, and including a controller actuating the DC/DC converter to perform an active resistance characteristic; a maximum power point tracking circuit adjusting the active resistance of the DC/DC converter; monitoring a change of an output power of the solar cell array in determining a direction for adjusting the active resistance of the DC/DC converter; and the maximum power point tracking circuit repeatedly adjusting the active resistance of the DC/DC converter. If the change of the output power of the solar cell array is positive, the active resistance of the DC/DC converter is adjusted in the same direction; but, conversely, if the change of the output power of the solar cell array is negative, the active resistance of the DC/DC converter is adjusted in an opposite direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a three-level ac generating circuit and the control method thereof. The three-level ac generating circuit includes a three-level boosting circuit connected to an input source and including a positive boosting portion and a negative boosting portion; and a three-level inverting circuit connected to the three-level boosting circuit and including a positive inverting portion and a negative inverting portion, wherein while the input source is a relative low voltage, the relatively low voltage is boosted via the three-level boosting circuit, inverted and output via the three-level inverting circuit; while the input source is a relatively high voltage, the relatively high voltage is inverted and output via the three-level inverting circuit and wherein the output of the three-level ac generating circuit is power grid.

Abstract: A DC-AC converter is applicable for transforming direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). The DC-AC converter includes a voltage boost module and a DC-AC converter module. Herein the voltage boost module includes a voltage bypass circuit and a voltage boost circuit, both of which receive input voltage from DC input power. Meantime, the voltage bypass circuit sends out the received input voltage, and the voltage boost circuit will operate to increase DC output voltage from the DC input as the DC output voltage from the voltage bypass circuit is not high enough to meet requirement by AC output power. The DC-AC converter module receives the output voltage from the voltage boost module and converts the received voltage to the required AC output power.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method, system and device for converting direct current (DC) electrical voltage from a fuel cell to an alternating current (AC) voltage. The inventive method regulates power drawn from the fuel cell and from a battery to maintain a substantially constant DC voltage across a DC bus, and inverts the DC voltage from the DC bus to the AC voltage. The method may further electrically isolate the fuel cell from the load. Also, the inventive method may prevent current from flowing to the fuel cell. The inventive method may also provide a charging current to the battery.

Abstract: Electronic self-test and/or self-diagnostic systems particularly useful with emergency lighting fixtures, including exit signage having light emitting diodes as light sources and unit emergency fixtures powered with lead-acid batteries, the systems perform testing and diagnostic functions on the circuitry, power supply, charger and lamping of such fixtures either by manual or automatic initiation. Testing functions are provided through use of a programmable microprocessor, the diagnostic circuitry not only monitoring operation of charger/transfer circuitry but also controlling the charger/transfer circuitry to enable alternate strategies for alleviation of a given failure. In emergency mode of a light emitting diode exit sign, a microprocessor-controlled two-stage inverter is employed not only to power the LED light source, but also to efficiently power the microprocessor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for integrating buck or boost converting includes processing for controlling the configuration of transistors, an inductor, a power source, and a load to provide buck or boost converting. Such processing begins by determining whether a buck/boost signal is indicating buck operation or boost operation. If the buck/boost signal is indicating buck operation, the processing proceeds by generating a buck control signal and a load control signal. The buck control signal is provided to the transistors such that the transistors are coupled to a power source and the inductor to provide a buck converter. The load control signal is provided to a load transistor to regulate the output with respect to the load. When the bucklboost signal indicates boost operation, the processing generates a boost control signal and a load control signal. The boost control signal is provided to the transistors such that the transistors are coupled to the power source and the inductor to provide a boost converter.

Abstract: A bi-directional power converter apparatus and method of conversion is disclosed which comprises three active elements (output, primary, and auxiliary switches) and two passive components (primary and auxiliary energy storage elements) coupled so as to enable operation in any one of several different power conversion modes, including: a Non-Assisted Generation mode, a Super-Assisted Generation mode, a Super-Assisted Regeneration mode, an Auxiliary Generation mode, and an Output Regeneration mode. The individual components operate in a synergistic fashion to enable the free, bi-directional, transfer of power from primary and auxiliary energy sources to a load, and from the load to the primary and auxiliary energy sources. Further, the invention operates in such a way as to dramatically reduce the effective boost/buck ratios required for low voltage energy sources connected to a high voltage output power bus.

Abstract: A buck boost switching regulator includes a buck switch and a boost switch controlled by a first and second comparator, respectively. The first comparator generates a duty cycle control signal for the buck switch in response to the difference between the regulator output voltage and a control voltage corresponding to a desired regulator output voltage. The second comparator generates a duty cycle control signal for the boost switch in response to a supply voltage.

Abstract: In a voltage regulator converter circuit comprising an input 20 and an output 25, an input signal can be controlled by applying a high frequency switching signal (1 KHz-30 MHz) to an input circuit 12, 13, 16 and 17. An output of the circuit is obtained via an inductor 28 and a capacitor 29. The input can be DC to 500 Hz and the output can be DC or AC. Switches 12, 13, 16 and 17 can be thyristors, bipolar transistors, field effect transistors or IGBi transistors. Diodes 11, 14, 15 and 18 are connected in series with the switches 12, 13, 16 and 17. In an alternative embodiment (FIG. 9) the four switches can be connected in series between an AC input and an output is obtained from a center point of the series connection via an inductor (106) and a capacitor (107). A further aspect (FIG. 10) relates to transformed coupled input and output switching stages.

Abstract: Power supply apparatus includes a converter which converts a commercial AC voltage into a DC voltage. An inverter converts the DC voltage into a high frequency voltage. The high frequency voltage is voltage-transformed by a transformer, and then rectified and smoothed by a rectifier and a smoothing reactor into a DC voltage. This DC voltage is applied between a workpiece and a torch. A high frequency voltage generator generates a high frequency voltage and applies it to a primary winding of a coupling transformer. A boosted high frequency voltage is induced in a first secondary winding and applied between the workpiece and the torch, so that arcing is initiated. The coupling transformer includes a second secondary winding in which another high frequency voltage is induced. The high frequency voltage induced in the second secondary winding is converted into a DC voltage by a diode and a smoothing capacitor for application between the workpiece and the torch, so that the arcing is sustained.