Voltage converter

• US 20040252527A1
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Somfy Sas (Somfy SA)
• Original Assignee: Somfy Sas (Somfy SA)
• Inventors: Serge, Bruno
• Granted Patent: US 7,075,805 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/20
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/155 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/2176 comprising a passive stage to generate a rectified sinusoidal voltage and a controlled switching element in series between such stage and the output

Abstract

A voltage converter comprises two input terminals between which at least a current limiter, an electronic switch controlled by a control device in synchronization with the supply voltage and a storage capacitor are disposed, and whose two output terminals are taken from the storage capacitor, wherein the current limiter is formed by at least the primary of a transformer whose secondary supplies a rectifier whose output terminals are connected to the output terminals of the converter.

Claims

1. A voltage converter comprising two input terminals between which at least a current limiter, an electronic switch controlled by a control device in synchronization with the supply voltage and a storage capacitor are disposed, and whose two output terminals are taken from the storage capacitor, wherein the current limiter is formed by at least the primary of a transformer whose secondary supplies a rectifier whose output terminals are connected to the output terminals of the converter.

2. The converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the current limiter, the switch and the capacitor are configured in series, the voltage applied between the input terminals being a rectified alternating voltage.

3. The converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the current limiter is connected in series with a bridge rectifier whose outputs are connected to the switch and to the capacitor, which are connected in series, the voltage applied between the input terminals being an AC voltage.

4. The converter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the primary and secondary windings have the same number of turns.

5. The converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ratio of the number of turns in the secondary to the number of turns in the primary of the transformer is less than 1.

6. The converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the current limiter also comprises a resistor in series with the transformer primary winding.

7. The converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wires of the primary and secondary transformer windings are wound simultaneously.

8. The converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the primary winding of the transformer is used as an inductor to filter out mains conducted interference.