Power supply system having improved input power factor

Claim 1

A power supply circuit comprising: said power supply circuit connectable to an alternating current input voltage source; and an activate low frequency switch means connected to said power supply circuit and connectable to a load circuit; said active low frequency switch means includes a switching means and switching control means connected to said switching means and said power supply circuit; said power supply circuit including an inductance means and a rectifier means; said rectifier means for rectifying the alternating current to provide a rectified input current to the load circuit; said inductance means connected effectively in series with said rectifier means between the alternating current input voltage source and the load circuit, whereby current flows from the alternating current input voltage source to the load circuit through said inductance means; said active low frequency switch means is switch on and off to operate in synchronous relationship with the alternating current input voltage source, and said active low frequency switch means connected to said inductance means said rectifier means for building up stored energy in said inductance means from the alternating current input voltage source when said active low frequency switch means is in a conduction state and for forcing the current input to flow into the load circuit through at least a portion of said rectifier means when said active low frequency switch means is in a non-conduction state; said active low frequency switch means including said switching control means for switching said switching means into a conduction state and then into a non-conducting state once in each half cycle of the alternating current input voltage source waveform within the leading portion of the alternating current input voltage source waveform between the zero crossing and peak value of alternating current input voltage source waveform; said switching means for activation into conduction and then into non-conduction in synchronous relation to the alternating current input voltage waveform, said switching means for activation once in each half-cycle of the alternating voltage input waveform to provide a controlled buiId-up of stored energy in said inductance means during the leading portion of the alternating voltage input waveform; and said inductance means providing energy exchange between the alternating current input voltage source, inductance means, and said load circuit during the non-conduction time interval to provide further smoothing to the alternating current input current waveform; said power supply circuit including power factor correction means for controlling the alternating current input waveform to provide high power factor with said active low frequency switching means for providing a higher efficiency, lower cost, lower electromagnetic interference (EMI) over high frequency power factor correction systems.