POWER FACTOR CORRECTION CIRCUIT
First Claim
1. A power converter that is capable of receiving AC power from an AC power source on an input terminal and delivering DC power to a load on an output terminal, the power converter comprising:
- a rectifier having an input terminal coupled to the AC power source, and an output terminal, the rectifier being operable to receive an AC voltage on its input terminal and deliver a rectified voltage on its output terminal;
a power factor correction circuit having an input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the rectifier, and an output terminal coupled to the output terminal of the power converter, the power factor correction circuit being operable to modify the power factor of the power converter, and being operable to deliver DC power to a load; and
an auxiliary circuit that operates to bypass the power factor correction circuit when the magnitude of the voltage of an output terminal of the AC power source is greater than the voltage of the output terminal of the power converter.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power converter that is operable to convert AC power into DC power that may be delivered to a load. The power converter operates to bypass a power factor correction (PFC) circuit during a portion of each AC power cycle. The power converter bypasses the PFC circuit when an AC input voltage is greater than a DC output voltage. The power converter may also include sensing circuitry to sense the AC input voltage and the DC output voltage of the power converter. The power converter may include one or more diodes that function to deliver power directly to a load when the AC input voltage is greater than the DC output voltage, thereby bypassing the PFC circuit. The DC output voltage of the power converter may be regulated to a level that is less than the peak AC input voltage.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A power converter that is capable of receiving AC power from an AC power source on an input terminal and delivering DC power to a load on an output terminal, the power converter comprising:
-
a rectifier having an input terminal coupled to the AC power source, and an output terminal, the rectifier being operable to receive an AC voltage on its input terminal and deliver a rectified voltage on its output terminal; a power factor correction circuit having an input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the rectifier, and an output terminal coupled to the output terminal of the power converter, the power factor correction circuit being operable to modify the power factor of the power converter, and being operable to deliver DC power to a load; and an auxiliary circuit that operates to bypass the power factor correction circuit when the magnitude of the voltage of an output terminal of the AC power source is greater than the voltage of the output terminal of the power converter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A power converter that is capable of receiving AC power from an AC power source on an input terminal and delivering DC power to a load on an output terminal, the power converter comprising:
-
a rectifier having an input terminal coupled to the AC power source, and an output terminal, the rectifier being operable to receive an AC voltage on its input terminal and deliver a rectified voltage on its output terminal; a power factor correction circuit having an input terminal and an output terminal, the input terminal being coupled to the output terminal of the rectifier, the power factor correction circuit being operable to modify the power factor of the power converter, and being operable to deliver DC power to a load; an auxiliary circuit that operates to bypass the power factor correction circuit when the magnitude of the voltage of an output terminal of the AC power source is greater than the voltage of the output terminal of the power converter; and a current-shaping circuit having an input terminal that is coupled to the output terminal of the power factor correction circuit, and an output terminal that is coupled to the output terminal of the power converter, wherein the current-shaping circuit is operable to reduce the harmonic distortion of an electrical current of the AC power source. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method for use in a power converter, the power converter being operable to receive AC power from an AC power source on an input terminal and delivering DC power to a load on an output terminal, the method comprising:
-
converting an input AC voltage to a rectified voltage; supplying the rectified voltage to a power factor correction circuit, the power factor correction circuit being operable to modify the power factor of the power converter, and being operable to deliver DC power to a load; regulating an output voltage of the power factor correction circuit to a level that is less than a peak voltage of the AC power source; and bypassing the power factor correction circuit when the magnitude of the voltage of an output terminal of the AC power source is greater than the voltage of the output terminal of the power converter. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification