Bidirectional power converters
First Claim
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1. A bi-directional power converter, which operates as a step down converter in a first direction and a step up converter in a second direction, comprising:
- one reactive element for storing energy when operating in the first direction and the second direction;
a plurality of switching elements for selectively coupling the one reactive element to one of two or more power sources; and
mode selection circuitry for selectively coupling the bi-directional power converter to a first power source when operating as a step down converter and to a second power source when operating a step up converter, such that when the bi-directional power converter is operating as the step up converter, the bi-directional power converter is configured to deliver power to a communications link that includes a power component.
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Abstract
Circuits and methods for bidirectional power conversion are provided that allow mobile and other devices to generate power suitable to support multiple modes of operation. The bidirectional power converters of the present invention may operate in both step up and step down configurations rather than having a single dedicated conversion function and use many of the same components thereby reducing converter size and complexity.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A bi-directional power converter, which operates as a step down converter in a first direction and a step up converter in a second direction, comprising:
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one reactive element for storing energy when operating in the first direction and the second direction; a plurality of switching elements for selectively coupling the one reactive element to one of two or more power sources; and mode selection circuitry for selectively coupling the bi-directional power converter to a first power source when operating as a step down converter and to a second power source when operating a step up converter, such that when the bi-directional power converter is operating as the step up converter, the bi-directional power converter is configured to deliver power to a communications link that includes a power component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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12. A bi-directional DC to DC power converter, which operates as a buck converter in a first direction and a boost converter in a second direction, comprising:
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one reactive element for storing energy when operating in either the first direction or the second direction; a plurality of switching elements for selectively coupling the one reactive element to one of two or more power sources; and control circuitry controlling the plurality of switches such that the bi-directional power converter operates in either a buck mode or boost mode, such that when the bi-directional power converter is operating as the boost converter, the bi-directional power converter is configured to deliver power to a communications link that includes a power component. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22)
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Specification