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Bidirectional direct current power conversion circuits and methods

  • US 6,369,651 B2
  • Filed: 03/22/2001
  • Issued: 04/09/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A bidirectional direct current power conversion circuit comprising:

  • an inductor having first and second inductor ends;

    a first switch connected between a first terminal and the first inductor end, the second inductor end being connected to a second terminal, the inductor and the first switch defining a node therebetween;

    a second switch connected between the node and a common terminal; and

    a switch controller that is configured to control the first and second switches such that the first switch is closed for a proportion of time approximately equal to a ratio of a lower voltage to a higher voltage and the second switch is opened when the first switch is closed and is closed when the first switch is opened, wherein the circuit transfers power in a forward direction from the first terminal at the higher voltage relative to the common terminal, to the second terminal at the lower voltage relative to the common terminal and in a reverse direction from the second terminal at the lower voltage, to the first terminal at the higher voltage, such that power is transferred from the lower voltage to the higher voltage when current flows from the lower voltage into the second terminal and power is transferred from the higher voltage to the lower voltage when current flows from the higher voltage into the first terminal, and the direction of current flow is defined such that current flows in the same direction as power flows.

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