Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
Low-loss semiconductor switching circuit having a voltage supply (1, 2, 3), a control system to control current flow, in respectively controlled direction, to a load (17) including a first controlled semiconductor switch (4); a second controlled semiconductor switch (5); means (14) including an inductance (17, 19) connecting together one main current terminal of the respective semiconductor switches, and further to connect said main current terminals to the load, the other main current terminals of the semiconductor switches being connected to the voltage supply; a first network (6) connected in parallel across the main current terminals of the first semiconductor switch and including first means (9) for storing energy connected to receive and store switching energy arising upon changing of switching state of the first semiconductor switch; a second network (7) connected in parallel across the main current terminals of the second semiconductor switch (5) and including second means (12) for storing energy connected to receive and store switching energy arising upon changing of switching state of the second semiconductor switch; and comprising, in accordance with the invention, an additional network (15, 16; 20; 21-26) connecting the energy storing means (9, 12) of said first network (6) and the second network (7) and carrying between said first and second networks which arise upon changing of switching state of a respective one of the semiconductor switches (4, 5), the inductance in the means (14) connecting the main current carrying paths of the semiconductor switches receiving and storing switching energy arising upon control of one of the first or second semiconductor switches (4, 5) between conductive or turn-ON state and non-conductive, or blocked state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
Low-loss semiconductor switching circuit having a voltage supply (1, 2, 3), a control system to control current flow, in respectively controlled direction, to a load (17) including a first controlled semiconductor switch (4); a second controlled semiconductor switch (5); means (14) including an inductance (17, 19) connecting together one main current terminal of the respective semiconductor switches, and further to connect said main current terminals to the load, the other main current terminals of the semiconductor switches being connected to the voltage supply; a first network (6) connected in parallel across the main current terminals of the first semiconductor switch and including first means (9) for storing energy connected to receive and store switching energy arising upon changing of switching state of the first semiconductor switch; a second network (7) connected in parallel across the main current terminals of the second semiconductor switch (5) and including second means (12) for storing energy connected to receive and store switching energy arising upon changing of switching state of the second semiconductor switch; and comprising, in accordance with the invention, an additional network (15, 16; 20; 21-26) connecting the energy storing means (9, 12) of said first network (6) and the second network (7) and carrying between said first and second networks which arise upon changing of switching state of a respective one of the semiconductor switches (4, 5), the inductance in the means (14) connecting the main current carrying paths of the semiconductor switches receiving and storing switching energy arising upon control of one of the first or second semiconductor switches (4, 5) between conductive or turn-ON state and non-conductive, or blocked state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
Circuit according to claim 1, wherein said energy storage means are capacitors (9, 12) connected with one electrode to the terminal of the respective semiconductor switch (4, 5) which is also connected to the voltage supply (1, 3); and the additional network (15, 16; 20; 21-26) is connected to the other terminal (J6, J7) of the capacitors (9, 12) to thereby interconnect said first and second networks which receive and store switching energy arising upon changing switching state of the respective semiconductor switch to which the respective first and second network is connected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
Circuit according to claim 2, further including a diode (10, 13), each, connecting the other terminal of the respective capacitor (9, 12) to the other terminal of the associated semiconductor switch (4, 5).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
Circuit according to claim 1, wherein the additional network comprises a resistor (15).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
Circuit according to claim 1, wherein the additional network includes a capacitor (16) connected across said first and second networks to suppress voltage peaks which arise upon changing of switching state of the respective first or second semiconductor switches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
Circuit according to claim 1, wherein (FIG. 2) the additional network comprises a diode (20).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
Circuit according to claim 6, wherein the diode comprises a Zener diode (20).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
Circuit according to claim 1, wherein the additional network comprises (FIG. 3) an energy recuperation network (21-26) including a voltage converter circuit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
Circuit according to claim 8, wherein the voltage converter circuit includes an oscillatory circuit triggered and powered by energy arising upon changing of switching state of the respective semiconductor switch represented by current flow through the additional network interconnecting the first and second networks (6, 7).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
Circuit according to claim 9, wherein the voltage converter circuit comprises a blocking oscillator including a transformer (26) having a secondary winding (26c) and a rectifier network (27-30) connected to the secondary winding to recuperate energy in direct-current form.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
Circuit according to claim 1, further including means (26c, 27-30) connected to the voltage converter circuit and to the voltage supply (1, 3) and feeding back recuperated energy to the voltage supply.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
Circuit according to claim 8, further including a capacitor (16) included in the additional network and connected across the first and second networks (6, 7) and the input to the voltage converter circuit to suppress voltage peaks arising upon changing of switching state of the respective semiconductor switches (4, 5).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
Circuit according to claim 1, wherein said means (9, 12) to receive switching energy arising upon changing of switching state of the respective semiconductor switch (4, 5) comprises a capacitor (9, 12) in the respective first and second networks (6, 7) receiving and storing switching energy arising upon changing of switching state of the respective semiconductor switch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
Circuit according to claim 1 wherein the additional network comprises a resistance-capacitor circuit (15, 16).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
Circuit according to claim 1 wherein the additional network comprises a parallel resistor-capacitor circuit (15, 16).