Snubber circuit for a rectifier and method of operation thereof
First Claim
1. For use in a power converter having a rectifier coupled to an output thereof, a snubber circuit including an energy storage device coupled to said rectifier that moderates a voltage across said rectifier, said snubber circuit comprising:
- a first switch that regulates a voltage across said energy storage device;
an inductor, coupled to said first switch, that provides a discharge path for energy stored in said energy storage device when said first switch is conducting; and
a second switch that recovers energy stored in said inductor to said output when said first switch is not conducting, said snubber circuit thereby reducing a voltage stress across said rectifier during a current limit mode of operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
For use in a power converter having a rectifier coupled to an output thereof, a snubber circuit including an energy storage device coupled to the rectifier that moderates a voltage across the rectifier and a method of moderating the voltage. In one embodiment, the snubber circuit includes: (1) a first switch that regulates a voltage across the energy storage device, (2) an inductor, coupled to the first switch, that provides a discharge path for energy stored in the energy storage device when the first switch is conducting and (3) a second switch that recovers energy stored in the inductor to the output when the first switch is not conducting. The snubber circuit thereby reduces voltage stress across the rectifier during a current limit mode of operation.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. For use in a power converter having a rectifier coupled to an output thereof, a snubber circuit including an energy storage device coupled to said rectifier that moderates a voltage across said rectifier, said snubber circuit comprising:
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a first switch that regulates a voltage across said energy storage device; an inductor, coupled to said first switch, that provides a discharge path for energy stored in said energy storage device when said first switch is conducting; and a second switch that recovers energy stored in said inductor to said output when said first switch is not conducting, said snubber circuit thereby reducing a voltage stress across said rectifier during a current limit mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. For use in a power converter having a rectifier coupled to an output thereof, a method of moderating a voltage across said rectifier having an energy storage device coupled thereto, comprising the steps of:
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regulating a voltage across said energy storage device with a first switch; providing a discharge path through an inductor, coupled to said first switch, for energy stored in said energy storage device when said first switch is conducting; and recovering energy stored in said inductor to said output with a second switch when said first switch is not conducting, said snubber circuit thereby reducing a voltage stress across said rectifier during a current limit mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A power converter, comprising:
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a power train having an input couplable to a source of electrical power and a DC output couplable to an electrical load, said power train including; an isolation transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, switching circuitry coupled to said primary winding, a rectifier, coupled to said secondary winding, having a plurality of rectifying diodes, and a snubber circuit having an energy storage device coupled to said rectifier that moderates a voltage across said rectifier, comprising; a first switch that regulates a voltage across said energy storage device; an inductor, coupled to said first switch, that provides a discharge path for energy stored in said energy storage device when said first switch is conducting, and a second switch that recovers energy stored in said inductor to said load when said first switch is not conducting, said snubber circuit thereby reducing a voltage stress across said rectifier during a current limit mode of operation; and control circuitry for applying control signals to said power train. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification