DC-to-DC Converter

Claim 2

A DC-to-DC converter responsive to a primary DC voltage of a first polarity for providing an output voltage at the opposite polarity, said converter comprising: first and second complementary transistors, each having a base, an emitter and a collector; control means for providing a gating signal alternating between two amplitude levels; means connecting said gating signal to the base of each of said first and second transistors; means connecting said primary DC voltage to the collector of said first transistor; means connecting the collector of said second transistor to circuit ground; first and second resistors of relatively low resistance connected together at a first circuit junction; means connecting said first and second resistors in series between the emitters of said first and second transistors; a second circuit junction; a first capacitor connected between said first and second circuit junctions; a first diode connected between said second circuit junction and ground and poled to conduct current when the voltage at said second circuit junction is of said first polarity; a second diode connected to said second circuit junction and poled to conduct current when the voltage at said second circuit junction is at said opposite polarity; a second capacitor connected between said second diode and circuit ground to be charged by current conducted through said second diode; circuit means for biasing said first and second transistor such that each transistor, when conducting, is in the region of saturation; wherein said circuit means includes: a third diode; a third capacitor; a third resistor; means connecting said third diode and third capacitor in series between said primary DC voltage and said first circuit junction, said third diode being poled to conduct current flowing between said primary DC voltage and ground through said third capacitor and the collector-emitter circuit of said second transistor; means connecting said third resistor between the base of said first transistor and a circuit junction between said third diode and third capacitor to permit discharge of said third capacitor through said third resistor and the base-emitter circuit of said first transistor when said first transistor is in the conducting state.

Claim 3

The converter according to claim 1 further comprising a current-limiting resistor connected in series with said third capacitor and said third diode to limit the charge current through said third capacitor.

Claim 4

The converter according to claim 2 wherein said control means comprises: an oscillator operative in response to said primary DC voltage to continuously provide an oscillatory signal; a control transistor of the same conductivity type as said first transistor and having a base, a collector, and an emitter; and means connecting said oscillatory signal to the base of said control transistor; wherein said means connecting said gating signal comprises a connection between the collector of said control transistor and the bases of said first and second transistors; and wherein said circuit means additionally comprises: a feedback resistor connected between said second circuit junction and the emitter of said control transistor; and a prir of inverse parallel-connected diodes connected between the emitter of said control transistor and circuit ground.

Claim 5

The converter according to claim 3 wherein said second diode is part of a full wave rectifier which is selectively switchable to be driven by a primary AC voltage, and wherein said second capacitor is connected to be charged to said opposite polarity during both each half cycle of said primary AC voltage.

Claim 6

The converter according to claim 4 further comprising a voltage regulator for regulating the voltage stored in said second capacitor.

Claim 7

The converter according to claim 4 further comprising: a fourth diode; a fourth capacitor; a fifth diode connected as part of said full wave rectifier; means connecting said fourth and fifth diodes and said fourth capacitor in series between said primary DC voltage and circuit ground to permit said fourth capacitor to be charged by said primary DC voltage through said fourth and fifth diodes; and regulator means for regulating voltage stored in said fourth capacitor.

Claim 8

A DC-to-DC converter responsive to a primary DC voltage of a first polarity for providing an output voltage at the opposite polarity, said converter comprising: first and second complementary transistors, each having a base, an emitter and a collector; control means for providing a gating signal alternating between two amplitude levels; means connecting said gating signal to the base of each of said first and second transistors; means connecting said primary DC voltage to the collector of said first transistor; means connecting the collector of said second transistor to circuit ground; first and second resistors of relatively low resistance connected together at a first circuit junction; means connecting said first and second resistors in series between the emitters of said first and second transistors; a second circuit junction; a first capacitor connected between said first and second circuit junctions; a first diode connected between said second circuit junction and ground and poled to conduct current when the voltage at said second circuit junction is of said first polarity; a second diode connected to said second circuit junction and poled to conduct current when the voltage at said second circuit junction is at said opposite polarity; a second capacitor connected between said second diode and circuit ground to be charged by current conducted through said second diode; and circuit means for biasing said first and second transistor such that each transistor, when conducting, is in the region of saturation; wherein said control means comprises: an oscillator operative in response to said primary DC voltage to continuously provide an oscillatory signal; a control transistor of the same conductivity type as said first transistor and having a base, a collector, and an emitter; and means connecting said oscillatory signal to the base of said control transistor; wherein said means connecting said gating signal comprises a connection between the collector of said control transistor and the bases of said first and second transistors; and wherein said circuit means comprises: a feedback resistor connected between said second circuit junction and the emitter of said control transistor; and a pair of inverse parallel-connected diodes connected between the emitter of said control transistor and circuit ground.

Claim 9

A DC-to-DC converter responsive to a primary DC voltage of a first polarity for providing an output voltage at the opposite polarity, said converter comprising: first and second complementary transistors, each having a base, an emitter and a collector; control means for providing a gating signal alternating between two amplitude levels; means connecting said gating signal to the base of each of said first and second transistors; means connecting said primary DC voltage to the collector of said first transistor; means connecting the collector of said second transistor to circuit ground; first and second resistors of relatively low resistance connected together at a first circuit junction; means connecting said first and second resistors in series between the emitters of said first and second transistors; a second circuit junction; a first capacitor connected between said first and second circuit junctions; a first diode connected between said second circuit junction and ground and poled to conduct current when the voltage at said second circuit junction is of said first polarity; a second diode connected to said second circuit junction and poled to conduct current when the voltage at said second circuit junction is at said opposite polarity; a second capacitor connected between said second diode and circuit ground to be charged by current conducted through said second diode; and circuit means for biasing said first and second transistor such that each transistor, when conducting, is in the region of saturation; wherein said control means comprises: an oscillator operative in response to said primary DC voltage to continuously provide an oscillatory signal; a control transistor of the same conductivity type as said first transistor and having a base, a collector, and an emitter; and means connecting said oscillatory signal to the base of said control transistor; wherein said means connecting said gating signal comprises a connection between the collector of said control transistor and the bases of said first and second transistors; and wherein said circuit means comprises: a feedback resistor connected between said second circuit junction and the emitter of said control transistor; and a pair of inverse parallel-connected diodes connected between the emitter of said control transistor and circuit ground.

Claim 10

The converter according to claim 1 wherein said second diode is part of a full wave rectifier which is selectively switchable to be driven by a primary AC voltage, and wherein said second capacitor is connected to be charged to said opposite polarity during both each half cycle of said primary AC voltage.

Claim 11

The converter according to claim 1 further comprising: a fourth diode; a fourth capacitor; a fifth diode connected as part of said full wave rectifier; means connecting said fourth and fifth diodes and said fourth capacitor in series between said primary DC voltage and circuit ground to permit said fourth capacitor to be charged by said primary DC voltage through said fourth and fifth diodes; and regulator means for regulating voltage stored in said fourth capacitor.

Claim 12

A DC-to-DC converter responsive to a primary DC voltage of a first polarity for providing an output voltage at the opposite polarity, said converter comprising: first and second electronic switches of opposite conductivity type, each having first and second signal-conducting terminals and a gating terminal; control means for providing a gating signal alternating between two amplitude levels; means connecting said gating signal to the gating terminal of each of said first and second switches; means connecting said primary DC voltage to the second terminal of said first switch; means connecting the second terminal of said second switch to circuit ground; means interconnecting the first terminals of said first and second switches to define a first circuit junction; a second circuit junction; a first capacitor connected between said first and second circuit junctions; a first diode connected between said second circuit junction and ground and poled to conduct current when the voltage at said second circuit junction is of said first polarity; a second diode connected to said second circuit junction and poled to conduct current when the voltage at said second circuit junction is at said opposite polarity; a second capacitor connected between said second diode and circuit ground to be charged by current conducted through said second diode; a third diode; a third capacitor; a resistor; means connecting said third diode and third capacitor in series between said primary DC voltage and said first circuit junction, said third diode being poled to conduct current flowing between said primary DC voltage and ground through said third capacitor and the first and second signal-conducting terminals of said second electronic switch; and means connecting said resistor between the gating terminal of said first electronic switch and a circuit junctIon between said third diode and third capacitor to permit discharge of said third capacitor through said resistor when said first electronic switch is in the conducting state.

Claim 13

A DC-to-DC converter responsive to a primary DC voltage of a first polarity for providing an output voltage at the opposite polarity, said converter comprising: first and second electronic switches of opposite conductivity type, each having first and second signal-conducting terminals and a gating terminal; control means for providing a gating signal alternating between two amplitude levels; means connecting said gating signal to the gating terminal of each of said first and second switches; means connecting said primary DC voltage to the second terminal of said first switch; means connecting the second terminal of said second switch to circuit ground; means interconnecting the first terminals of said first and second switches to define a first circuit junction; a second circuit junction; a first capacitor connected between said first and second circuit junctions; a first diode connected between said second circuit junction and ground and poled to conduct current when the voltage at said second circuit junction is of said first polarity; a second diode connected to said second circuit junction and poled to conduct current when the voltage at said second circuit junction is at said opposite polarity; a second capacitor connected between said second diode and circuit ground to be charged by current conducted through said second diode; a third diode; a third capacitor; a resistor; means connecting said third diode and third capacitor in series between said primary DC voltage and said first circuit junction, said third diode being poled to conduct current flowing between said primary DC voltage and ground through said third capacitor and the first and second signal-conducting terminals of said second electronic switch; and means connecting said resistor between the gating terminal of said first electronic switch and a circuit junctIon between said third diode and third capacitor to permit discharge of said third capacitor through said resistor when said first electronic switch is in the conducting state.