High voltage full bridge circuit and method for operating the same

• US 7,489,530 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2006
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ambrell Corporation (inTEST Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ameritherm, Inc. (inTEST Corporation)
• Inventors: Paull, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US11/453,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20070002598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 363/16, 363/55, 363/56.01, 363/131, 363/135
• US Class Current: 363/56.01
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/483 Converters with outputs that each can have more than two voltages levels
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/5387 in a bridge configuration

Abstract

Switches (such as FET'"'"'s and other devices) are often used in circuits to generate an AC signal from a DC supply input. There are times when the supplied DC voltage is greater than desired for the ratings of the switches that can or must be used. There are also times when there may be voltage surges or other transient high voltage conditions for which it is desired to have greater margin between the voltage applied and the switch ratings. The circuit described applies across any of the switches a maximum of one half of the supplied DC voltage. The circuit may also be operated in a linear mode for use with analog signals.

Claims

1. In an environment comprising an output circuit for providing an AC voltage, wherein the output circuit comprises a first, second, third and fourth switch, a method of operating the output circuit comprising:

(a) operating the switches so that the first and fourth switch are on and the second and third switch are off for a first period of time;

(b) after said first period of time has expired, operating the switches so that the first and fourth switch are off and the second and third switch are on for a second period of time; and

(c) after said second period of time has expired, repeating steps (a) and (b) one or more times,

wherein the switches are connected in series such that the second switch is connected directly between the first switch and the third switch and the third switch is connected directly between the second switch and the fourth switch.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the switches are transistors.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the transistor are field effect transistors.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the load is connected in series with a blocking capacitor.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the load, the blocking capacitor, the second switch, and the third switch form a closed electrical loop.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the switches are connected in parallel with a DC voltage source such that the sum of (a) the voltage across the first switch, (b) the voltage across the second switch, (c) the voltage across the third switch, and (d) the voltage across the first switch is equal to the DC voltage produced by the DC voltage source.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the blocking capacitor receives charge from the DC voltage source by the simultaneous operation of the first switch and the fourth switch.

8. A circuit apparatus for providing an AC voltage to a load, comprising:

a first, second, third and fourth switch, wherein the switches are connected in series such that the second switch is connected directly between the first switch and the third switch and the third switch is connected directly between the second switch and the fourth switch;

a voltage source, wherein the voltage source is electrically connected directly between the first switch and the fourth switch;

a resistive divider connected across the voltage source;

a first resistor connected in parallel with the first switch;

and a second resistor connected in parallel with the third switch wherein

the sum of (a) the voltage across the first switch, (b) the voltage across the second switch, (c) the voltage across the third switch, and (d) the voltage across the first switch is equal to the voltage produced by the voltage source.

9. The circuit of claim 8, wherein the resistive divider comprises a third resistor connected in series with a fourth resistor.

10. The circuit of claim 9, further comprising a first filter capacitor connected across the third resistor and a second filter capacitor connected across the fourth resistor.

11. The circuit of claim 10, further comprising a blocking capacitor having a first terminal connected to an output node, wherein the output node is between the first switch and the second switch.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the load, the blocking capacitor, the second switch, and the third switch form a closed electrical loop.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the blocking capacitor receives charge from the voltage source by the simultaneous operation of the first switch and the fourth switch.

14. The circuit of claim 8, wherein the switches are transistors.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the transistor are field effect transistors.