Rectifier circuits using at least one multi-winding transformer in combination with transistors connected in an inverter mode and arranged in a bridge configuration

Claim 2

A full-wave bridge rectifier circuit, suitable for being electrically connected between an a.c. source across which an alternating voltage exists and load across which a unipolar voltage is establishable by the rectifier circuit, comprising: four transistors, each including an emitter, a base, a collector and a collector-base junction, said four transistors being electrically connected in a bridge circuit configuration such that one pair of transistors have their collectors electrically connected and define a first terminal of the rectifier circuit and the other pair of transistors have their emitters electrically connected and define a second terminal of the rectifier circuit, the emitTers of the one pair of transistors being electrically connected to the collectors, respectively, of the other pair of transistors, the electrically connected emitter and collector of a first transistor of the one pair of transistors and of a first transistor of the other pair of transistors, respectively, defining a third terminal of the rectifier circuit; a primary winding including one end, defining a fourth terminal of the rectifier circuit, and another end electrically connected to the emitter and collector, respectively, of a second transistor of the one pair of transistors and a second transistor of the other pair of transistors; and, four secondary windings magnetically coupled with said primary winding, each transistor having a different one of the secondary windings electrically connected between the emitter and base thereof, said secondary windings having winding polarities such that the bases of the one pair of transistors having opposite polarities established thereat and the bases of the other pair of transistors have opposite polarities established thereat, and such that the base of said first transistor of said one pair of transistors has an opposite winding polarity to the base of the first transistor of said other pair of transistors; the load being electrically connectable between said first and second terminals of the rectifier circuit and the a.c. source being electrically connectable between said third and fourth terminals of the rectifier circuit so that voltage blocking is performable by the collector-base junctions of the transistors.

Claim 3

The bridge rectifier circuit as set forth in claim 1 further comprising four resistance elements, a different one of said resistance elements being electrically connected in series with a different one of said secondary windings and forming four series circuits, each series circuit being electrically connected between the emitter and base of a different one of said transistors, said series circuits including said resistance elements controlling the base currents of said transistors so that those transistors having the same secondary winding polarities are caused to have substantially equal base currents during their conduction periods and substantially simultaneous initiation of turn ''''on'''' and turn ''''off.''''

Claim 4

The bridge rectifier circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transistors are NPN transistors.

Claim 5

The bridge rectifier circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transistors are NPN silicon junction transistors.

Claim 6

The bridge rectifier circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transistors are PNP transistors.

Claim 7

The bridge rectifier circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transistors are PNP silicon junction transistors.

Claim 8

The bridge rectifier circuit as set forth in claim 3 further comprising four diodes, each including an anode and a cathode, each transistor having a different diode electrically connected therewith such that the anode and cathode of the diode are electrically connected between the emitter and collector, respectively, of the transistor.

Claim 9

The bridge rectifier circuit as set forth in claim 5 further comprising four diodes, each having an anode and a cathode, each transistor having a different diode electrically connected therewith such that the anode and cathode of the diode are electrically connected between the collector and emitter, respectively, of the transistor.

Claim 10

The bridge rectifier circuit as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a capacitor electrically connected between said first and second terminals of the rectifier circuit.

Claim 11

The bridge rectifier circuit as set forth in claim 1 further comprising one magnetic core member having said primary and secondary windings wound thereon.

Claim 12

The bridge rectifier circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rectifier circuit is further comprised of four resistance elements, a different one of said resistance elements being electrically connected in series with a different One of said secondary windings and forming four series circuits, each series circuit being electrically connected between the emitter and base of a different one of said transistors, said series circuit including said resistance elements controlling the base currents of said transistors so that those transistors having the same secondary winding polarities are caused to have substantially equal base currents during their conduction periods and substantially simultaneous initiation of turn ''''on'''' and turn ''''off'''', and wherein said rectifier circuit is further comprised of four diode means, each transistor having a different diode means electrically connected therewith between the emitter and collector thereof, and wherein said rectifier circuit is further comprised of a capacitor electrically connected between said first and second terminals of the rectifier circuit.

Claim 13

A full-wave bridge rectifier circuit, suitable for being electrically connected between an a.c. source across which an alternating voltage exists and a load across which a unipolar voltage is establishable by the rectifier circuit, comprising: four transistors, each including an emitter, a base, a collector and a collector-base junction, said four transistors being electrically connected in a bridge circuit configuration such that one pair of transistors have their collectors electrically connected and define a first terminal of the rectifier circuit and the other pair of transistors have their emitters electrically connected and define a second terminal of the rectifier circuit, the emitters of the one pair of transistors being electrically connected to the collectors, respectively, of the other pair of transistors; a pair of primary windings, each including one and other ends, one end of one primary winding defining a third terminal of the rectifier circuit and one end of the other primary winding defining a fourth terminal of the rectifier circuit, the other end of the one primary winding being electrically connected to the emitter and collector, respectively, of a second transistor of the one pair of transistors and a second transistor of the other pair of transistors, the other end of the other primary winding being electrically connected to the emitter and collector, respectively, of a first transistor of the one pair of transistors and a first transistor of the other pair of transistors; and, two pairs of secondary windings, one pair of secondary windings being magnetically coupled with one of the primary windings and the other pair of secondary windings being magnetically coupled with the other primary winding, each transistor having a different one of the secondary windings electrically connected between the emitter and base thereof, said secondary windings having winding polarities such that the bases of the one pair of transistors have opposite polarities established thereat and the bases of the other pair of transistors have opposite polarities established thereat; the load being electrically connectable between said first and second terminals of the rectifier circuit and the a.c. source being electrically connectable between said third and fourth terminals of the rectifier circuit so that voltage blocking is performable by the collector-base junctions of the transistors.

Claim 14

A full-wave bridge rectifier circuit, suitable for being electrically connected between an a.c. source across which an alternating voltage exists and a load across which a unipolar voltage is establishable by the rectifier circuit, comprising: four transistors, each including an emitter, a base, a collector and a collector-base junction, said four transistors being electrically connected in a bridge circuit configuration such that one pair of transistors have their collectors electrically connected and define a first terminal of the rectifier circuit and the other pair of transistors have their emitters electrically connected and define a second terminal of the rectifier circuit, the emitters of the one pair of transistors being electrically connected to the collectors, respectively, of the other pair of transistors; a pair of primary windings, each including one and other ends, one end of one primary winding defining a third terminal of the rectifier circuit and one end of the other primary winding defining a fourth terminal of the rectifier circuit, the other end of the one primary winding being electrically connected to the emitter and collector, respectively, of a second transistor of the one pair of transistors and a second transistor of the other pair of transistors, the other end of the other primary winding being electrically connected to the emitter and collector, respectively, of a first transistor of the one pair of transistors and a first transistor of the other pair of transistors; and, two pairs of secondary windings, one pair of secondary windings being magnetically coupled with one of the primary windings and the other pair of secondary windings being magnetically coupled with the other primary winding, each transistor having a different one of the secondary windings electrically connected between the emitter and base thereof, said secondary windings having winding polarities such that the bases of the one pair of transistors have opposite polarities established thereat and the bases of the other pair of transistors have opposite polarities established thereat; the load being electrically connectable between said first and second terminals of the rectifier circuit and the a.c. source being electrically connectable between said third and fourth terminals of the rectifier circuit so that voltage blocking is performable by the collector-base junctions of the transistors.

Claim 15

The bridge rectifier circuit as set forth in claim 12 further comprising two magnetic core members, one magnetic core member having one of the primary windings and one pair of the secondary windings wound thereon, the other magnetic core member having the other primary winding and the other pair of secondary windings wound thereon.

Claim 16

The bridge rectifier circuit as set forth in claim 12 wherein said transistors are NPN transistors.

Claim 17

The bridge rectifier circuit as set forth in claim 12 wherein said transistors are NPN silicon junction transistors.

Claim 18

The bridge rectifier circuit as set forth in claim 12 wherein said transistors are PNP transistors.

Claim 19

The bridge rectifier circuit as set forth in claim 12 wherein said transistors are PNP silicon junction transistors.

Claim 20

The bridge rectifier circuit as set forth in claim 12 further comprising four diode means, each transistor having a different one of the diode means electrically connected therewith between the emitter and collector thereof.

Claim 21

The bridge rectifier circuit as set forth in claim 12 further comprising a capacitor electrically connected between the first and second terminals of the rectifier circuit.

Claim 22

The bridge rectifier circuit as set forth in claim 13 further comprising four diode means, each transistor having a different one of the diode means electrically connected therewith between the emitter and collector thereof, and further comprising a capacitor electrically connected between the first and second terminals of the rectifier circuit.

Claim 23

A full-wave bridge rectifier circuit, suitable for being electrically connected between an a.c. source across which an alternating voltage exists and a load across which a unipolar voltage is establishable by the rectifier circuit, comprising: four transistors, each including an emitter, a base, a collector and a collector-base junction, said four transistors being electrically connected in a bridge circuit configuration such that one pair of transistors have their collectors electrically connected and define a first terminal of the rectifier circuit and the other pair of transistors have their emitters electrically connected and define a second terminal of the rectifier circuit, the emitters of the one pair of transistors being electrically connected to the collectors, respectively, of the other pair of transistors; four secondary windings, each transistor having a different one of the secondary windings electrically connected between the emitter and base thereof, said secondary windings having winding polarities such that the bases of the one pair of transistors have opposite polarities established thereat and the bases of the other pair of transistors have opposite polarities established thereat, and such that the base of said first transistor of one pair of transistors has an opposite winding polarity to the base of the first transistor of said other pair of transistors; and, primary winding means adapted for being electrically connected in a series electrical circuit with the a.c. source, said series electrical circuit having terminations at opposite ends thereof defining third and fourth terminals, respectively, of the rectifier circuit, said third terminal of the rectifier circuit being electrically connected to the emitter and collector of a first transistor of the one pair of transistors and a first transistor of the other pair of transistors, respectively, said fourth terminal of the rectifier circuit being electrically connected to the emitter and collector of a second transistor of the one pair of transistors and a second transistor of the other pair of transistors; the load being electrically connectable between said first and second terminals of the rectifier circuit and the a.c. source being electrically connected in said series electrical circuit between the third and fourth terminals of the rectifier circuit so that voltage blocking is performable by the collector-base junctions of the transistors.

Claim 24

A full-wave bridge rectifier circuit, suitable for being electrically connected between an a.c. source across which an alternating voltage exists and a load across which a unipolar voltage is establishable by the rectifier circuit, comprising: four transistors, each including an emitter, a base, a collector and a collector-base junction, said four transistors being electrically connected in a bridge circuit configuration such that one pair of transistors have their collectors electrically connected and define a first terminal of the rectifier circuit and the other pair of transistors have their emitters electrically connected and define a second terminal of the rectifier circuit, the emitters of the one pair of transistors being electrically connected to the collectors, respectively, of the other pair of transistors; four secondary windings, each transistor having a different one of the secondary windings electrically connected between the emitter and base thereof, said secondary windings having winding polarities such that the bases of the one pair of transistors have opposite polarities established thereat and the bases of the other pair of transistors have opposite polarities established thereat, and such that the base of said first transistor of one pair of transistors has an opposite winding polarity to the base of the first transistor of said other pair of transistors; and, primary winding means adapted for being electrically connected in a series electrical circuit with the a.c. source, said series electrical circuit having terminations at opposite ends thereof defining third and fourth terminals, respectively, of the rectifier circuit, said third terminal of the rectifier circuit being electrically connected to the emitter and collector of a first transistor of the one pair of transistors and a first transistor of the other pair of transistors, respectively, said fourth terminal of the rectifier circuit being electrically connected to the emitter and collector of a second transistor of the one pair of transistors and a second transistor of the other pair of transistors; the load being electrically connectable between said first and second terminals of the rectifier circuit and the a.c. source being electrically connected in said series electrical circuit between the third and fourth terminals of the rectifier circuit so that voltage blocking is performable by the collector-base junctions of the transistors.

Claim 25

The bridge rectifier circuit as set forth in claim 21 further comprising four diode means, each transistor having a different one of the diode means electrically connected therewith between the emitter and collector thereof.

Claim 26

The bridge rectifier circuit as set forth in claim 21 further comprising a capacitor electrically connected between said first and second terminals of the rectifier circuit.

Claim 27

The bridge rectifier circuit as set forth in claim 21 wherein said primary winding means and said four secondary windings are magnetically coupled on one magnetic core member.

Claim 28

The bridge rectifier circuit according to claim 21 further comprising first and second magnetic core members, two of said four secondarY windings being magnetically coupled on said first magnetic core member together with part of said primary winding means and the other two secondary windings being magnetically coupled on said second magnetic core member together with the remainder of said primary winding means.