US6400588B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Non-isolated A.C./D.C. converter
Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA
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Filing: 2000-07-28
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Granted: 2002-06-04
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Expires: 2020-07-28
Abstract
Abstract A converter receiving an A.C. voltage between an input terminal and a reference terminal and providing two D.C. voltages of opposite polarities across a first and a second capacitor. The converter includes a first switch connected the input terminal and a node of the circuit; a third capacitor, connected in parallel with the first capacitor, between the node and the reference terminal; circuitry including a second switch for connecting, in series, the second capacitor and the third capacitor when the second switch is closed; and a control circuit for closing the first switch only at the beginning and at the end of halfwaves of given polarity, the first switch being open when the second switch is closed.
Inventors
- 👤 Benoît Peron
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:18
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M7/00; H02M7/02; H02M7/04; H02M7/12; H02M7/21; H02M7/217
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A converter receiving an A.C. voltage between an input terminal and a reference terminal and providing two D.C. voltages of opposite polarities across a first and a second capacitor, a common terminal of which is connected to the reference terminal, including: a first one-way switch connected between the input terminal and a node of the converter; a third capacitor, connected in parallel with the first capacitor, between said node and the reference terminal; circuit means including a second switch for connecting the second capacitor in series with the third capacitor when the second switch is closed; and a control circuit for closing the first switch only at a beginning and at an end of halfwaves of a given polarity of said A.C. voltage, the second switch being open when the first switch is closed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A converter receiving an A.C. voltage between an input terminal and a reference terminal and providing two D.C. voltages of opposite polarities across a first and a second capacitor, a common terminal of which is connected to the reference terminal, including: a first one-way switch connected between the input terminal and a node of the converter; a third capacitor, connected in parallel with the first capacitor, between said node and the reference terminal; circuit means including a second switch for connecting the second capacitor in series with the third capacitor when the second switch is closed; and a control circuit for closing the first switch only at a beginning and at an end of halfwaves of a given polarity of said A.C. voltage, the second switch being open when the first switch is closed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The converter of claim 1 , wherein the circuit means include a controllable current source for flowing a constant current.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The converter of claim 1 , wherein the second switch is connected between said node and the reference terminal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The converter of claim 1 , wherein the first capacitor is connected to said node via a first diode, the third capacitor being connected via a third diode to the reference terminal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The converter of claim 4 , wherein a second diode is connected between the second capacitor and a junction point of the third capacitor and of the third diode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The converter of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit receives information about the D.C. voltage across the first capacitor and controls the first switch so that the D.C. voltage across the first capacitor is substantially constant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The converter of claim 1 , wherein the first switch is controllable by voltage or current to be turned off or on and is able to block the main voltage forwardly or in reverse when said first switch is not controlled to the on state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
98 words
A converter capable of receiving an A.C. voltage, comprising: a first switch connected between an input terminal and a node of the converter; a third capacitor, connected in parallel with a first capacitor, between the node and a reference terminal; a second switch connecting a second capacitor in series with the third capacitor when the second switch is closed; and a control circuit for closing the first switch during a first portion and a second portion of a halfwave of a given polarity of said A.C. voltage, the second switch being open when the first switch is closed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
98 words
A converter capable of receiving an A.C. voltage, comprising: a first switch connected between an input terminal and a node of the converter; a third capacitor, connected in parallel with a first capacitor, between the node and a reference terminal; a second switch connecting a second capacitor in series with the third capacitor when the second switch is closed; and a control circuit for closing the first switch during a first portion and a second portion of a halfwave of a given polarity of said A.C. voltage, the second switch being open when the first switch is closed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The converter of claim 8 , further comprising a controllable current source that provides a constant current.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The converter of claim 8 , wherein the second switch is connected between the node and the reference terminal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The converter of claim 8 , wherein the first capacitor is connected to the node via a first diode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The converter of claim 8 , wherein the third capacitor is connected via a third diode to the reference terminal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The converter of claim 12 , wherein a second diode is connected between the second capacitor and a junction point of the third capacitor and the third diode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The converter of claim 8 , further comprising a first D.C. voltage across the first capacitor, wherein the control circuit controls the first switch so that the first D.C. voltage across the first capacitor is substantially constant.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The converter of claim 14 , further comprising a second D.C. voltage of opposite polarity, wherein the second D.C. voltage of opposite polarity is across the second capacitor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The converter of claim 8 , wherein the first switch is controlled by voltage or current to be turned off or on and being able to block the main voltage forwardly or in reverse when the first switch is not controlled to the on state.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The converter of claim 8 , wherein the first switch is a one-way switch.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for converting an A.C. voltage into a D.C. voltage, the method comprising the steps of: connecting a third capacitor in parallel with a first capacitor between a node and a reference terminal; connecting a second capacitor in series with the third capacitor; connecting an input terminal and the node of the converter during a first portion and a second portion of a halfwave of a given polarity of said A.C. voltage; and disconnecting a second capacitor in series with the third capacitor when the input terminal is connected to the node of the converter.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for converting an A.C. voltage into a D.C. voltage, the method comprising the steps of: connecting a third capacitor in parallel with a first capacitor between a node and a reference terminal; connecting a second capacitor in series with the third capacitor; connecting an input terminal and the node of the converter during a first portion and a second portion of a halfwave of a given polarity of said A.C. voltage; and disconnecting a second capacitor in series with the third capacitor when the input terminal is connected to the node of the converter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 18 , the method further comprising: providing a controllable current source that provides a constant current.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 18 , the method further comprising: connecting the first capacitor to the node via a first diode.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 20 , the method further comprising: charging the first capacitor during the first portion and the second portion of the halfwave.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 18 , the method further comprising: connecting the third capacitor to the reference terminal via a third diode.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 22 , the method further comprising: charging the third capacitor during the first portion and the second portion of the halfwave.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 22 , the method further comprising: maintaining a voltage across the third capacitor when the input terminal is disconnected from the node of the converter and when the node of the converter is disconnected from the reference terminal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 22 , the method further comprising: connecting a second diode between the second capacitor and a junction point of the third capacitor and the third diode.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 25 , the method further comprising: charging the second capacitor when the input terminal is disconnected from the node of the converter and when the node of the converter is connected to the reference terminal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 18 , the method further comprising: controlling the connection between an input terminal and the node of the converter so that a D.C. voltage across the first capacitor is substantially constant.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 18 , the method further comprising: controlling the connection between the input terminal and the node of the converter by voltage or current to be turned off or on; and blocking the main voltage forwardly or in reverse when the connection between the input terminal and the node of the converter is not controlled to the on state.
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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) | 2005-06-03 | 2005-12-03 | 2006-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-03 | 2009-12-03 | 2010-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-03 | 2013-12-03 | 2014-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |