Abstract: The DC electrical network comprises an electrical load supplied with electricity by an electrical power source to which the electrical load is linked by a first electrical line and a second electrical line. An overcurrent protection system comprising an input pole and an output pole is mounted in series on the first electrical line. The overcurrent protection system comprises an electronic switch mounted in series between the input pole and the output pole, an electrical current sensor, and a controller configured to control the electronic switch. It also comprises an electronic device linked to the input pole and to the second electrical line. The controller is configured to command a conducting state of the electronic device when a current measurement from the electrical current sensor is above a predetermined current threshold, then to command an opening of the electronic switch.

Abstract: An over-energy protection circuit, a residual current device, an electronic device, and a power distribution box. The protection circuit has relatively high operating reliability, and includes: a first over-energy absorption circuit, a second over-energy absorption circuit, and a residual current determining circuit. The first over-energy absorption circuit receives a first electrical signal output from a current transformer; and when a voltage value of the first electrical signal is greater than or equal to a first preset threshold, performs step-down processing on the first electrical signal to obtain a second electrical signal, and outputs the second electrical signal to the second over-energy absorption circuit; or when a voltage value of the first electrical signal is less than a first preset threshold, outputs the first electrical signal to the second over-energy absorption circuit.

Abstract: A motor apparatus for a switch drive of an electric switch has an electric motor and a controller for controlling the electric motor. The controller has: a rectifier unit for rectifying a supply voltage of the motor apparatus, if the supply voltage is an alternating voltage, and for reverse polarity protection if the supply voltage is a direct voltage, a voltage measurement unit for detecting the supply voltage or a rectifier output voltage of the rectifier unit, a switch unit for generating a drive voltage for the electric motor from the supply voltage or from the rectifier output voltage and a control unit for controlling the switch unit as a function of the supply or rectifier output voltage detected. The electric motor is operable by direct current and the switch unit generates a drive direct voltage for the electric motor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for heating a substrate in a process chamber are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for heating a substrate in a process chamber includes a lamp group comprising one or more sets of lamps to provide radiant energy to heat a substrate when disposed in the process chamber, wherein each set of lamps comprises a plurality of lamps wired in series, and wherein each set of lamps is wired in parallel with respect to other sets of the one or more sets of lamps; an alternating current (AC) power source to produce an AC input waveform; and a lamp driver to power the lamp group, the lamp driver including a rectifier coupled to the AC power source to convert the AC input waveform to DC voltage; and a direct current to direct current (DC/DC) converter to reduce voltage of the DC power.

Abstract: An overvoltage limitation device, for an alternating current (AC) voltage generating system having an inverter circuit unit configured to supply power to a load with dynamic load impedance, includes: input connections for connection to the inverter circuit unit, output connections for connection to an intermediate circuit voltage unit connected to the inverter circuit unit, a rectifier including an alternating current connection and a direct current connection connected to the output connections, and an AC voltage converter including a primary side connected to the input connections and a secondary side connected to the alternating current connection. The overvoltage limitation device is configured such that, when peak values of an AC voltage exceed a first predetermined value at the input connections, power is transported from the input connections via the AC voltage converter and the rectifier to the output connections, and thus the AC voltage is limited to a second predetermined value.

Abstract: A method for operating a power converter having at least one power converter half-bridge, in which a controllable switching element and a freewheeling diode connected parallel thereto and in the blocking direction are provided respectively between a first direct voltage terminal and an alternating voltage terminal as well as between the alternating voltage terminal and a second direct voltage terminal. The switching elements of the at least one half-bridge are controlled in alternating fashion and in each case interrupted by controlling pauses. The duration of the controlling pauses is set on the basis of a determined voltage drop at at least one of the freewheeling diodes.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a voltage supply control circuit configured to receive an external voltage, generate different voltages from the external voltage, and supply the different voltages to loads, respectively, through voltage supply lines, respectively and a discharge control circuit configured to discharge residual voltages from the voltage supply lines in response to a control signal and the external voltage, the discharge control circuit configured to discharge the residual voltages in an order of a highest residual voltage to a lowest residual voltage.

Abstract: A converter system is provided for the switching of at least three voltage levels and for the switching of two voltage levels. A method is also provided for the operation of a converter system for the switching of at least three voltage levels and for the operation of a converter system for the switching of two voltage levels.

Abstract: A three phase transformer circuit is provided that includes a supply side, wherein the supply side is selectably configurable, via the use of sets of terminal boards, between a delta connection and a wye connection at a time of use and, a load side, wherein the load side is selectably configurable between a delta connection and a wye connection at the time of use. The three-phase transformer also provides for selecting an input voltage, from multiple input voltages, via the sets of terminal boards, at the time of use, and for selecting an output voltage for the supply side, from multiple output voltage, at the time of use.

Abstract: A converter system is provided for the switching of at least three voltage levels and for the switching of two voltage levels. A method is also provided for the operation of a converter system for the switching of at least three voltage levels and for the operation of a converter system for the switching of two voltage levels.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a controllable rectification comprising an inverter (10), a control panel (20) and a drive panel (30). The inverter (10) may comprise three switch element groups connected in parallel. Each switch element group may comprise at least two switch elements connected in parallel. Each switch element may comprise an upper bridge-arm switch and a lower bridge-arm. The control panel (20) may generate a PWM waveform. The drive panel (30) may generate a drive voltage according to the PWM waveform to drive the upper bridge-arm switch and the lower bridge-arm switch of each switch element to conduct or break respectively, and to make the upper bridge-arms of the same switch element group to conduct or break simultaneously, and to make the lower bridge-arms of the same switch element group to conduct or break simultaneously. The present invention further discloses an electric motor comprising the same.

Abstract: A torque limit section that applies limit to a torque instruction value of an electric motor such that a switching elements temperature is restricted to no more than an element upper limiting temperature includes a torque restriction section that finds a torque restriction value for restricting the torque of the electric motor in accordance with the said switching elements temperature; a torque restriction mitigation section that finds a torque restriction mitigation value for mitigating the torque limit value in accordance with the integrated value of the deviation of the element upper limiting temperature and the switching elements temperature; a first subtractor that finds a torque restriction value by subtracting the torque restriction mitigation value from the torque limit value; and a second subtractor that finds a limited torque instruction value obtained by subtracting the torque limit value from the torque instruction value and outputs this to the gate generating section.

Abstract: A drive system for a multi-phase electric machine with a permanent magnet rotor, the drive system may comprise conduction paths for each phase. Detectors on each of the conduction paths may determine electrical condition of the conduction path. At least one selectable interconnection path may be present between all of the conduction paths and at least one selectable interconnection path may be operable to connect all of the conduction paths together responsively to at least one of the detectors determining that the electrical condition of its respective electrical path is representative of a predetermined electrical fault condition so that heating of the rotor during continued rotation of the rotor is prevented.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement are provided for controlling phase-specific thyristors of a half-controlled network bridge. The method includes identifying continuously a thyristor to be controlled on the basis of magnitudes of supplying phase voltages, controlling the thyristor by enabling a current flow to its gate current circuit through an inductive component of a constant current regulator, which is common to all the gate current circuits. The thyristor control includes determining a magnitude of the gate current at the potential of the gate conductor in the constant current regulator, alternately switching off the voltage producing the gate current from the gate current circuit when the gate current is higher than a first predetermined limit, and switching on the voltage producing the gate current in the gate current circuit when the gate current is lower than a second predetermined limit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method used to charge a self powered gate driver system. The apparatus may include a current loop for inducing a current in a coil. A bridge rectifier may rectify the current induced in the coil and charge a capacitor used to power a driver in a self powered gate driver system. The current loop and coil may be separated by a dielectric to prevent current from passing between the self powered gate driver system and the current loop. The current loop may couple to a line voltage transformer to drive an alternating current through the current loop. In certain embodiments, a single current loop and transformer may charge a plurality of self powered gate driver systems.

Abstract: A pulse power source comprises a first circuit, a second circuit, a transformer for coupling the first circuit and the second circuit, and a switching controller. The second circuit comprises a third semiconductor switch connected in series with a secondary winding of the transformer. The third semiconductor switch is connected in such a direction that a voltage generated in the second circuit is reverse-biased during a period in which the second semiconductor switch is turned on. A gate amplifier for forming a control signal from the switching controller into a pulse and outputting the pulse as a pulse signal is connected between a gate terminal and a cathode terminal of the third semiconductor switch.

Abstract: Voltage inverter provided with four switching cells (Q1 to Q4) to be connected to the terminals of a DC voltage source (Vdc), each comprising two semiconductor switches (I11, I12, I21, I22, I31, I32, I41, I42) installed in series, these switches having a common point (A0) to be connected to an AC current source (Mac) with three phases (p1, p2, p3) and a neutral (n), the connection being made onto one phase (p1, p2, p3) for three of the cells (Q1, Q2, Q3) and onto the neutral (n) for the fourth cell (Q4). Each cell (Q1 to Q4) cooperates with a semiconductor electrical isolating device (S1, (S2.1 and S2.2)) to be put into a turn-off state if the cell should fail, this isolating device (S1, (S2.1 and S2.2)) being arranged either on the connection to the AC current source (Mac), or on connections to the terminals of the DC voltage source (Vdc).

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for controlling phase-specific thyristors of a half-controlled network bridge, the method comprising identifying a thyristor to be controlled on the basis of the magnitude of phase voltage, controlling the thyristor by switching on a voltage in its gate current circuit to achieve a gate current. The controlling of the thyristor comprises the steps of leading the gate current through an inductive component of the gate current circuit to the gate of the thyristor, determining the magnitude of the gate current, alternately switching off the voltage in the gate current circuit, when the gate current is higher than a preset limit, and switching on the voltage in the gate current circuit, when the gate current is lower than a preset limit.

Abstract: A method for triggering a high voltage solid state switch comprised of a set of thyristors connected in series. Initiating switch turn-on requires command triggering of only the lowest voltage thyristor, thereby eliminating the need for expensive high voltage pulse transformers or optically isolated triggers. Triggering of one thyristor causes a redistribution of voltage across the switch, generating a current flowing through the snubber circuit across each untriggered thyristor. This current is coupled to the gate of each thyristor causing all of them to turn on simultaneously. This results in an inexpensive method for triggering a high voltage solid state switch.

Abstract: A turbine generating apparatus includes a control unit which controls the turbine generating apparatus as follows. During a system connection running mode, a fuel is fed to the gas turbine at a fuel flow rate corresponding to a preset load. The converter prepares a pseudo-system in which a frequency conforms to a set rotational speed of the gas turbine at the preset load, and converts an output of the generator to a direct current in a state that a number of revolutions of the gas turbine is specified by operating the generator synchronously with the pseudo-system. A power to be taken out is controlled depending on a magnitude of a turbine output. The inverter converts a DC voltage output from the converter to an AC voltage by a pulse width modulation at a system voltage and a system frequency so as to keep the DC voltage output from the converter at a predetermined voltage.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a shorted thyristor cell in a bridge that supplies a load from a source, the bridge including a plurality of the thyristor cells. The method includes the step of sequentially gating each of the cells to a conducting state, so that only one cell is gated at one time; providing at least one current transformer in the bridge; generating a current flow that passes through the bridge including the one cell that is gated; observing current in the at least one current transformer to determine a short in one of the cells the that is not gated; and determining a shorted cell based on the step of observing current in the at least one current transformer.

Abstract: A fault detection system detecting malfunctions or deteriorations, which may result in an inverter fault, is provided. The system has a temperature sensor installed on a semiconductor module to monitor a temperature rise rate. It is judged that an abnormal condition has occurred if the thermal resistance is increased by the deterioration of a soldering layer of the semiconductor module or by drive circuit malfunctions and, as a result, the relation between an operation mode and the temperature rise rate falls outside a predetermined range.

Abstract: Circuits and methods for protecting thyristors in a bridge configuration are provided. A circuit comprises a line reactor in series with the input of the bridge and the input of the diametric cell, two leg reactors each in series with a respective leg and an output of the diametric cell. Two snubber circuits in parallel with the two thyristors that comprise the diametric cell may also be used to protect the thyristors.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a shorted thyristor cell in a bridge that supplies a load from a source, the bridge including a plurality of the thyristor cells. The method includes the step of sequentially gating each of the cells to a conducting state, so that only one cell is gated at one time; providing at least one current transformer in the bridge; generating a current flow that passes through the bridge including the one cell that is gated; observing current in the at least one current transformer to determine a short in one of the cells the that is not gated; and determining a shorted cell based on the step of observing current in the at least one current transformer.

Abstract: A fault current tolerant power supply circuit having a dc power source and switching devices for inverting dc current from the source into ac load current includes a protective circuit for protecting the switching devices from overvoltage conditions when an inductive load is short-circuited. The protective circuit uses a capacitive component to absorb charge during a short circuit to protect non-conducting switching devices from an overvoltage condition.

Abstract: In a power conversion device according to the present invention, an AC power source voltage signal Vac which is the instantaneous value of AC power source 1 detected by a power source voltage detection circuit comprising a transformer 5, rectifier 6 and A/D converter 7 is averaged by an averaging circuit 9 and an average AC power source voltage signal Vave is output. This average AC power source voltage signal Vave and AC power source voltage signal Vac are compared in comparator 8 and, if their deviation is more than a prescribed value, a power source voltage drop detection signal PSF_S is output. Spurious detection of power source voltage drop resulting from the effect of power source fluctuations can thereby be prevented.

Abstract: Thyristor-controlled series capacitor equipment (CEQ), intended for connection between an ac network (NET) and a converter (CONV), connected thereto, for conversion between alternating current ((IT) and high-voltage direct current (Id), with a controllable semiconductor valve (TYSW), has control equipment with control means (32) which, in dependence on a synchronization signal (&PHgr;SYNC), form firing pulses (TP1,TP2) for control of the semiconductor valve. The converter has a control device (CTR1) which forms a control-angle order (&agr;-ORD) for phase-angle control of the converter, related to the phase position for a voltage (U12) at a chosen connection point (J2).

Abstract: The invention related to a resonance inverter comprising a resonance circuit with at least one inductance and one capacitors, a switch circuit electrically connected to the resonance circuit comprising at least one power electronic component, as well as a control circuit for controlling each power electronic component in accordance with a given control algorithm or strategy, the control circuit being electrically connected to the switch circuit. The unique feature of the invention is that the resonance inverter additionally comprise a pulse generating circuit (12′; 15; 32′, 31) having at least one control inductance (12′, 32′) which is inductively coupled to at least one of the inductances (12; 32) of the resonance circuit, whereby energy is transferred inductively to the resonance circuit.

Abstract: A device in a valve on high voltage potential level and in a high voltage converter station comprises members arranged on high voltage level and adapted to detect parameters of a voltage divider circuit consisting of resistances (24, 25) and capacitors (27, 28) connected in series and across each thyristor of said valve. The capacitors are of self-healing type, in which from the point of time for occurring of a possible fault thereof the capacitance is gradually reduced, and said members are adapted to carry out measurements so as to determine whether the capacitance of the capacitors is changed over the time.

Abstract: A three-point or multipoint converter is described. The converter has a series circuit formed of at least four main switches per converter phase, which are connected electrically in parallel between a positive and a negative DC voltage rail. An individual snubber capacitance is disposed in parallel with each individual main switch. At least two converter levels are formed between the DC voltage rails, a junction point or junction points and voltage neutral points of the converter levels are accessible. An output of the converter phase is connected to the voltage neutral points of the converter levels, via a series circuit formed of at least one resonant inductance and independently controllable bidirectional auxiliary switches. Junction points of the snubber capacitances that do not at the same time form the output of the converter phase are connected via charge control switches to the junction point or the junction points of the converter levels.

Abstract: An AC current source circuit converts a DC input voltage into an AC output current, and comprises a chopper circuit for converting a DC input voltage into a chopper voltage; and an inverter for converting the chopper voltage into an output AC current of a predetermined frequency. The inverter comprises at least four switch elements, and clamp-type snubber circuits corresponding to each of the switch elements are provided. The snubber circuit releases electric charges to the input terminal of the DC input voltage of the chopper circuit. The chopper circuit is connected to the inverter through a DC reactor. The DC input voltage is converted into a DC current by the chopper circuit and the DC reactor and transmitted to the inverter.

Abstract: The power converter extracts the accumulated energy accumulated in a snubber capacitor (a first capacitor) from the second capacitor in a series circuit, composed of a second capacitor and a diode, which is provided in parallel with that snubber capacitor, and uses it as the driving power source for a self-turn-off-semiconductor device.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a circuit for generating a large-amplitude oscillating voltage. The circuit includes a power supply means for providing an input voltage and a power supply switching means including a solid state relay (SSR) connected to the power supply means for switching on and off the power supply means. The circuit further includes an voltage oscillating means connected to the power supply switching means to be activated by the input voltage and a voltage regulating means connected in series between the power supply switching means and the voltage oscillating means for regulating the input voltage. The circuit further includes a gate driver means connected in parallel between the power supply means and the voltage oscillating means for generating a driving voltage to the voltage oscillating means for generating the large-amplitude oscillating voltage when the solid state relay is switched on.

Abstract: A high power inverter pole for a voltage sourced inverter suitable for providing compensation in electric power transmission and distribution systems, has a positive switching valve and a negative switching valve connected between closely spaced dc-source terminal, respectively, and a common ac terminal to form a current loop with minimum loop area thereby reducing stray loop inductance and limiting the overshoot voltage on serially connected electronic switches which make up the valves. In a preferred embodiment, the valves are mounted on opposite sides of the web of an insulative I-beam. The electronic switches are incorporated in modular switching units connected in series by C-channel connecting conductors having flanges bolted to the I-beam flanges. The modular units include broad, flat conductors bolted through end flanges to the C-channel connecting conductors. The electronic switches and anti-parallel diodes of the modular units are clamped between these broad, flat conductors.

Abstract: A method and/or apparatus used with a thyristor based AC-AC motor controller in a discontinuous current mode for providing power to thyristor gate drivers. The apparatus includes a snubber network and two rechargeable capacitors for storing input line voltage to an inversely connected pair of thyristors when both the thyristors are off. Stored voltage is provided via a power lead to each thyristor driver to provide power thereto and thus the circuit operates in a self-powered manner.

Abstract: A converter circuit arrangement in which the gate turn-off thyristors are driven hard, i.e., the GTO is driven with a gate current configured in such a way that the turn-off gain IS/IGpeak is distinctly less than 3 so as to result in an anode voltage rise of at least 1 kV/.mu.s. The snubber circuit of such driven thyristors may be designed to include only a small number of elements. The voltage rise limiter includes at least one capacitor connected in parallel with one of the reverse-connected parallel diodes. The current rise limiter includes a parallel circuit having an inductor and a current limiting diode.

Abstract: A converter circuit arrangement is specified in which actively controllable current and voltage rise limiting means are provided in parallel with a semiconductor switch. These means also take over the function of a reverse-connected parallel diode and essentially comprise a bipolar transistor which is driven by a control circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for supervising the functioning of a plurality of valve units, a system for performing the method, a control unit and a control assembly for cooperation with the control unit. Each valve unit in the system comprises a semiconductor element (THY1-THYN) and a control unit for controlling the semiconductor element. The control unit comprises a trigger order input for receiving a trigger order (FP), an indication output for emitting a first indication signal (TP) and a trigger signal output (100) for emitting a trigger signal to the semiconductor element. The method comprises the steps: detecting a positive forward voltage (U.sub.T) across the semiconductor valve, generating a first indication signal (IP) when the forward voltage (U.sub.T) exceeds a first threshold value (U.sub.1), generating a trigger signal upon detected receival of the triggering order signal (FP), and the step: generating a second indication signal (SSTP) when the forward voltage (U.sub.

Abstract: A power conversion device including a plurality of bridge connected self-turn-off modules. Each of the self-turn-off modules includes a plurality of self-turn-off devices connected in series and a plurality of first snubber circuits, each including a first series circuit of a first snubber capacitor and a first snubber diode. Each of the first snubber circuits is connected in parallel with one of the self-turn-off devices to form a first parallel circuit, respectively. The self-turn-off module further includes a snubber energy regenerating circuit including a regenerating transformer and a first auxiliary switch connected in series with a primary winding of the regenerating transformer. A secondary winding of the regenerating transformer is adapted for connecting to an outer power source. The self-turn-off module also includes a plurality of first gate circuits, each for driving one of the self-turn-off devices, respectively, and a second gate circuit for driving the first auxiliary switch.

Abstract: A gate power supply circuit including a switching device and a gate drive circuit connected to the switching device for generating a gate signal to be supplied to a gate of the switching device. The gate power supply circuit further includes a series circuit of a snubber capacitor and a snubber diode connected in parallel with the switching device, and an inductor, a first terminal of which is connected to a connection point of the switching device and the snubber diode. The gate power supply circuit also includes a series circuit of power disposing circuit and a first diode, connected between a series connection point of the snubber capacitor and the snubber diode and a second terminal of the inductor. The gate power supply circuit further includes a series circuit of a power supplying capacitor and a second diode, connected in parallel with the inductor.

Abstract: A gate power supply circuit including a switching device and a gate drive circuit connected to the switching device for generating a gate signal to be supplied to a gate of the switching device. The gate power supply circuit further includes a first series circuit of a first capacitor and an inductor, connected in parallel with the switching device, and a second series circuit of a first diode and a second capacitor, connected in parallel with the inductor. The gate drive circuit is connected to the second capacitor to receive energy stored in the second capacitor as power source for the gate drive circuit.

Abstract: A device for controlling a thyristor converter including series connected thyristors. The device includes a plurality of forward voltage detection circuits, each of which detects forward voltage of one of the thyristors and generates a forward voltage signal based on the detected forward voltage, respectively. The device includes a first circuit for generating a conduction command signal which commands the thyristor converter to conduct, and a second circuit for generating a plurality of light gate signals and a gate monitoring signal based on a plurality of modified forward voltage signals and the conduction command signal. Each of the light gate signals is applied to one of the thyristors to turn ON thereof, respectively. The device includes a first delay circuit connected to receive the gate monitoring signal for delaying the gate monitoring signal by a first predetermined time to produce a first delayed signal.

Abstract: A high frequency power inverter comprises a power supply, a thyristor for switching the energy from the power supply to a load and a neutral capacitor for storing energy cyclically to assure reverse voltage is applied to the thyristor. A clamp circuit is associated with the switch to limit the ring-up voltage on the capacitor to a preselected value. The clamp circuit is comprised of an inductor having a relatively large value for permitting a gradual leaking of the capacitor voltage during an inverting of the power supply voltage to the load so that the capacitor can ring-up to a higher value than the supply voltage. The inductor is selected so that under all conditions, the voltage on the capacitor will be safely larger than the power supply voltage plus a load voltage peak for a time long enough to assure thyristor turn off.

Abstract: A DC power supply apparatus includes a switching transformer having a switching element, a primary current detection circuit, arranged on a primary side of the transformer, for detecting a current flowing in the switching element, a secondary current detection circuit for detecting an output current from a secondary side of the transformer, and a control circuit for controlling the switching element on the basis of outputs from the primary and secondary current detection circuit.

Abstract: A switching-type voltage regulator of this invention comprises a voltage control section for generating a stabilized voltage by controlling a voltage supply period from input side to output side, and a protective device. The protective device monitors the temperature of a certain component part or parts of the voltage control section and convert the temperature into a voltage to compare with the reference voltage generated by a reference voltage source, and brings the output of the voltage control section to a halt in accordance with the result of comparison. The output of the voltage control section is brought to a halt regardless of the presence of output abnormalcy when the temperature of the component part or parts monitored exceeds a certain level. As the monitoring means, it is preferable to utilize the electrical characteristic of semiconductor p-n junction changing with temperature, and a semiconductor diode is more preferable.

Abstract: For responding to a shorted gate in a gate turnoff thyristor the gate electrode of which is connected by means of a controllable switch to a control voltage terminal having a negative potential with respect to the cathode potential of the thyristor, the controllable switch being arranged to conduct negative gate current in response to a thyristor turnoff command, voltage comparing means is coupled to the controllable switch for detecting when the switch is conducting negative gate current of relatively high magnitude, timing means is active for a predetermined interval following the start of said thyristor turnoff command, and logic means is operative to cause the switch to stop conducting negative gate current if the voltage comparing means detects high gate current at the end of such interval.

Abstract: For controlling the current in an inductive load, the gate current used to fire thyristors in a rectifier is controlled to reach zero at exactly the same time, within a given half-wave, as the current in the inductive load which receives the voltage from the rectifier, keeping gate voltage on as long as thyristor current is on. A discontinuous thyristor converter current signal is detected and used to generate an enable signal in conjunction with a thyristor gate voltage. The enable signal, in synchronism with a power supply line voltage, provides a pair of channeling signals which then, depending upon whether the field current is positive or negative, activate the gate voltages of the thyristors such that the gate voltages end exactly at that time, within a given half-wave, where the generator field current becomes discontinuous.

Abstract: A static switch is disclosed, adapted to switch overintensities of more than a thousand amps. Instead of using one large, commercially available component, a series of small components are used in parallel, each being associated with a snubber circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting thyristors in a power converter from overvoltages. Voltage detectors determine if the forward voltage of each thyristor has increased in the converter. If such an overvoltage occurs during a predetermined period after the conduction of the thyristor, forced triggering of all the thyristors prevent damage to the thyristors.

Abstract: A power supply module for control electronics of a DC motor, the module comprising a power cell of the stepdown type controlled as a function of peak current, the current flowing in both directions, and the module including a bridge stage likewise capable of passing current in both directions and including a reactive element constituted by one of the windings of the DC motor. The invention is particularly suitable for space applications.