DC-to-DC power supply including an energy transferring snubber circuit
First Claim
1. A direct current to direct current power including:
- (a) a power conductor and a reference conductor connectable to a power source;
(b) flux producing means for producing a changing magnetic flux and for producing a first potential, the flux producing means including a first inductor and a switching element for interrupting electric current flow through the first inductor, the first inductor and the switching element being connected in series with the power conductor and the reference conductor;
(c) a first capacitor for storing electric charge and for developing a second potential in response to the stored electric charge, the first capacitor being connected to the reference conductor;
(d) first means for permitting electric current flow from the producing means to the first capacitor and for blocking electric current flow from the first capacitor to the producing means, the first means being connected between the producing means and the first capacitor;
(e) a second inductor for inducing a third potential in response to the changing magnetic flux, the second inductor being magnetically coupled to the producing means and being connected in series with the first capacitor to add the second potential to the third potential to produce a combined potential;
(e) an output conductor for supplying an output current at an output voltage to a load connected between the output conductor and the reference conductor;
(f) second means for permitting electric current flow from the second inductor to the output conductor and for blocking electric current flow from the output conductor to the second inductor, the second means being operatively connected to the second inductor and the output conductor.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A DC to DC power supply including an energy transferring snubber circuit produces a changing magnetic flux by opening and closing a switching element to interrupt current flow in a first inductor. A current is induced in a second inductor in response to the changing magnetic flux. A first capacitor is charged with a current due to a first potential appearing across the switching element when the switching element is opened. The current induced in the second inductor and the current from the first capacitor is conducted to the load when the switching element is closed. A snubber circuit minimizes the first potential appearing across the switching element while transferring energy to the load.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A direct current to direct current power including:
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(a) a power conductor and a reference conductor connectable to a power source; (b) flux producing means for producing a changing magnetic flux and for producing a first potential, the flux producing means including a first inductor and a switching element for interrupting electric current flow through the first inductor, the first inductor and the switching element being connected in series with the power conductor and the reference conductor; (c) a first capacitor for storing electric charge and for developing a second potential in response to the stored electric charge, the first capacitor being connected to the reference conductor; (d) first means for permitting electric current flow from the producing means to the first capacitor and for blocking electric current flow from the first capacitor to the producing means, the first means being connected between the producing means and the first capacitor; (e) a second inductor for inducing a third potential in response to the changing magnetic flux, the second inductor being magnetically coupled to the producing means and being connected in series with the first capacitor to add the second potential to the third potential to produce a combined potential; (e) an output conductor for supplying an output current at an output voltage to a load connected between the output conductor and the reference conductor; (f) second means for permitting electric current flow from the second inductor to the output conductor and for blocking electric current flow from the output conductor to the second inductor, the second means being operatively connected to the second inductor and the output conductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of supplying current to a load, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) producing a changing magnetic flux by opening and closing a switching element to interrupt current flow in a first inductor; (b) inducing a current in a second inductor in response to the changing magnetic flux; (c) charging a first capacitor with a current due to a first potential appearing across the switching element when the switching element is opened; (d) conducting current induced in the second inductor and current from the first capacitor to the load when the switching element is closed. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method of reducing voltage stress across a switching element in a switching circuit for supplying power to a load, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) charging a first capacitor with a current due to a first potential appearing across the switching element is opened; (b) conducting current from the first capacitor to a load when the switching element is closed; (c) charging a second capacitor with a portion of the current from the first capacitor when the switching element is closed and conducting current from the second capacitor to the load when the switching element is open.
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Specification