Method and apparatus for implementing a power converter input terminal voltage discharge circuit
First Claim
1. A power converter, comprising:
- an energy transfer element coupled between an input of the power converter and an output of the power converter; and
a circuit coupled to the input of the power converter, wherein the circuit further comprises;
a control circuit capable of detecting whether an AC voltage source is coupled to the input of the power converter; and
a switch coupled to the control circuit,wherein the control circuit is capable of detecting whether the AC voltage source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter within a first predetermined maximum period of time,wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a first operating mode when the AC voltage source is coupled to the input of the power converter,wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a second operating mode when the control circuit detects the AC voltage source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter and is capable of discharging a capacitance coupled between input terminals of the power converter to a threshold voltage level through a discharge path and through the switch within a second predetermined maximum period of time, andwherein an RC time constant of the discharge path is less than or equal to one second and the threshold voltage level is less than or equal to ten volts.
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Abstract
A power converter includes an energy transfer element and a circuit coupled to the input of the power converter. The circuit includes a switch and a control circuit capable of detecting whether an AC voltage source is coupled to the input, or uncoupled from the input within a first predetermined time. The control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a first operating mode when the AC voltage source is coupled, drive the switch in a second operating mode when the AC voltage source is uncoupled, and is capable of discharging a capacitance coupled between input terminals of the power converter to a threshold voltage level through a discharge path and through the switch within a second predetermined time. An RC time constant of the discharge path is less than or equal to one second and the threshold voltage level is less than or equal to ten volts.
142 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A power converter, comprising:
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an energy transfer element coupled between an input of the power converter and an output of the power converter; and a circuit coupled to the input of the power converter, wherein the circuit further comprises; a control circuit capable of detecting whether an AC voltage source is coupled to the input of the power converter; and a switch coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is capable of detecting whether the AC voltage source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter within a first predetermined maximum period of time, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a first operating mode when the AC voltage source is coupled to the input of the power converter, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a second operating mode when the control circuit detects the AC voltage source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter and is capable of discharging a capacitance coupled between input terminals of the power converter to a threshold voltage level through a discharge path and through the switch within a second predetermined maximum period of time, and wherein an RC time constant of the discharge path is less than or equal to one second and the threshold voltage level is less than or equal to ten volts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A power converter, comprising:
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an energy transfer element coupled between an input of the power converter and an output of the power converter; and a circuit coupled to the input of the power converter, wherein the circuit further comprises; a control circuit capable of detecting whether an AC voltage source is coupled to the input of the power converter; and a bidirectional switch comprising a first transistor coupled to a second transistor, the bidirectional switch further coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is capable of detecting whether the AC voltage source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter within a first predetermined maximum period of time, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the bidirectional switch in a first operating mode when the AC voltage source is coupled to the input of the power converter, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the bidirectional switch in a second operating mode when the control circuit detects the AC voltage source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter, and is capable of discharging a capacitance coupled between input terminals of the power converter to a threshold voltage level through a discharge path and through the bidirectional switch within a second predetermined maximum period of time, and wherein an RC time constant of the discharge path is less than or equal to one second and the threshold voltage level is less than or equal to ten volts. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A power converter, comprising:
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an energy transfer element coupled between an input of the power converter and an output of the power converter; and a circuit coupled to the input of the power converter, wherein the circuit further comprises; a control circuit capable of detecting whether an AC voltage source is coupled to the control circuit by determining whether a voltage of the AC voltage source has reversed in polarity; and a switch coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is capable of detecting whether the AC voltage source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter within a first predetermined maximum period of time, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a first operating mode when the AC voltage source is coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a second operating mode when the control circuit detects the AC voltage source is uncoupled from the control circuit to discharge a capacitance coupled between input terminals of the power converter to a threshold voltage level through a discharge path and through the switch within a second predetermined maximum period of time, and wherein an RC time constant of the discharge path is less than or equal to one second and the threshold voltage level is less than or equal to ten volts. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification