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US5546295A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrical power converter, power supply, and inverter with series-connected switching circuits
Assignee: AGC SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGIES Inc
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Filing: 1995-08-28
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Granted: 1996-08-13
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Expires: 2015-08-28
Abstract
Abstract Due to the intermittent nature of electrical connection through moving contacts on electrically propelled vehicles, electrical power converters such as power supplies and inverters are subject to large voltage transients. For compactness and low weight, a high-frequency power converter comprised series-connected high-speed switching circuits, so that an input voltage with voltage transients is split between the switching circuits. As a result, lower-rated switching elements such as IGBT's and MOSFET's can be used while maintaining resistance to input-voltage transients.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph Prete
- 👤 Vladimir Brunstein
- 👤 Todd J. Kazmirski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 14:26
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/22; H02M3/24; H02M3/28; H02M3/325; H02M3/335; H02M3/33569; H02M3/33573; H02M3/33571; H02M1/00; H02M1/0067; H02M1/0074
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
An electrical power converter, comprising: an input circuit comprising at least two bridge-topology switching converter circuits connected in series between DC power input voltage means; an output circuit for producing a desired AC or DC output voltage, operatively coupled to the input circuit; whereby, in electrical power converter operation, input-voltage transients have minimized influence on the output voltage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
An electrical power converter, comprising: an input circuit comprising at least two bridge-topology switching converter circuits connected in series between DC power input voltage means; an output circuit for producing a desired AC or DC output voltage, operatively coupled to the input circuit; whereby, in electrical power converter operation, input-voltage transients have minimized influence on the output voltage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical power converter of claim 1, wherein the input circuit comprises control circuit means for controlling switching elements of the switching converter circuits.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical power converter of claim 2, wherein the control circuit means is operatively coupled for feedback control of the switching elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrical power converter of claim 1, wherein the output circuit is inductively coupled to the input circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrical power converter of claim 4, wherein the output circuit is inductively coupled to each of the switching converter circuits.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrical power converter of claim 5, wherein inductive coupling is via a transformer comprising a respective primary winding for each of the switching converter circuits.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrical power converter of claim 6, wherein each of the primary windings is wound on a separate core.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrical power converter of claim 6, wherein the primary windings are wound in parallel on one and the same core.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical power converter of claim 1, wherein the output circuit comprises a rectifier circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The electrical power converter of claim 9, wherein the output circuit further comprises DC-to-AC conversion means operatively coupled to the rectifier circuit for converting rectifier DC output to a desired AC output.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrical power converter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the switching converter circuits comprises a transistor half-bridge circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrical power converter of claim 11, wherein both of the switching converter circuits comprise transistor half-bridge circuits, with matched transistor duty cycles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrical power converter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the switching converter circuits comprises a transistor full-bridge circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrical power converter of claim 13, wherein both of the switching converter circuits comprise transistor full-bridge circuits, with matched transistor duty cycles.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrical power converter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the switching converter circuits comprises an IGBT.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrical power converter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the switching converter circuits comprises a MOSFET.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
A DC-to-DC electrical-power supply, comprising: an input circuit comprising two DC-to-AC electrical-power bridge-topology switching converter circuits connected in series between DC power input voltage means; output circuit means for producing a desired DC output voltage, inductively coupled to each of the switching converter circuits.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
A DC-to-DC electrical-power supply, comprising: an input circuit comprising two DC-to-AC electrical-power bridge-topology switching converter circuits connected in series between DC power input voltage means; output circuit means for producing a desired DC output voltage, inductively coupled to each of the switching converter circuits.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The DC-to-DC electrical-power supply of claim 17, wherein each of the switching converter circuits comprises a half-bridge circuit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The DC-to-DC electrical-power supply of claim 17, wherein each of the switching converter circuits comprises a full-bridge circuit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
62 words
A DC-to-AC inverter, comprising: an input circuit comprising two electrical-power bridge-topology switching converter circuits connected in series between DC power input voltage means; rectifier circuit means for producing a DC intermediary voltage, inductively coupled to each of the switching converter circuits; output stage means connected to the rectifier circuit means, for producing a desired AC output voltage from the DC intermediary voltage.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
62 words
A DC-to-AC inverter, comprising: an input circuit comprising two electrical-power bridge-topology switching converter circuits connected in series between DC power input voltage means; rectifier circuit means for producing a DC intermediary voltage, inductively coupled to each of the switching converter circuits; output stage means connected to the rectifier circuit means, for producing a desired AC output voltage from the DC intermediary voltage.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The DC-to-AC inverter of claim 20, wherein each of the switching converter circuits comprises a half-bridge circuit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The DC-to-AC inverter of claim 20, wherein each of the switching converter circuits comprises a full-bridge circuit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-08-13 | 2000-02-12 | 2000-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-13 | 2004-02-12 | 2004-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-13 | 2008-02-12 | 2008-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |