Current limiting device

Claim 1

A current limiting rectifier circuit, comprising: rectifier means (100) for rectifying AC voltage from an AC line voltage source to produce DC voltage; capacitance means (104) connected across said DC voltage for smoothing said DC voltage; current limiting means (106) for dissipating current surges connected in series with said capacitance means; bypass circuit means (122,126,128) for bypassing said current limiting means, said bypass circuit means connected in parallel with said current limiting means(106); said bypass circuit means having: current sensor means (122) for sensing the current level in said bypass circuit and generating a control signal when said current sensor means detects current greater than a set maximum current value or less than a set minimum value; switch means (128) connected to said current sensor means for opening and closing said bypass circuit in response to said control signal from said current sensor means, said switch operating to open said circuit when current in said bypass circuit exceeds said maximum value and to close said circuit when said current in said bypass circuit falls below said minimum value.