Zero-voltage-switching quasi-resonant converters with multi-resonant bipolar switch

Claim 1

A variable frequency, zero-voltage switched, multi-resonant converter for receiving power from a power source and providing power to a load, said converter including rectifying means for directing power from the power source to the load and optionally including at least one of a filtering inductor and a filtering capacitor, said converter comprising: (a) a resonant switch means (S) for connecting and disconnecting said power source to and from said load; (b) a first diode (D p ) in parallel with said switch means (S); (c) a second diode (D S ) in series with said switch means (S); (d) a first resonant capacitor (C r1 ); (e) a second resonant capacitor (C r2 ); (f) a resonant inductor (L r ); wherein said first resonant capacitor (C r1 ) is operatively connected to said resonant switch means (S) such that any voltage change across said first resonant capacitor (C r1 ) necessitates a corresponding voltage change across said resonant switch means (S) such that ##EQU33## and wherein said second resonant capacitor (C r2 ) is operatively connected to said second diode (D s ) such that any voltage change across said second resonant capacitor (C r2 ) necessitates a corresponding voltage change across said second diode (D s ) such that ##EQU34## and wherein said resonant inductor (L r ) is operatively connected in series with said resonant switch means (S) such that any current change through said resonant inductor (L r ) necessitates a corresponding change in a sum of currents flowing through said first resonant capacitor (C r1 ), said first diode (D p ), and said resonant switch means (S); and wherein any current change through said resonant inductor (L r ) necessitates a corresponding change in a sum of currents flowing through said second resonant capacitor (C r2 ) and said second diode (D s ), such that ##EQU35## and wherein the sum of instantaneous currents flowing through C r2 and D s always equals the sum of currents flowing through C r1 , S, and D p when said converter is operatively connected to said power source.