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Method and apparatus for high efficiency AC/DC conversion of low voltage input

  • US 8,743,577 B2
  • Filed: 11/19/2010
  • Issued: 06/03/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An AC/DC converter, comprising:

  • a first active diode;

    a second active diode;

    a first energy storage element; and

    a second energy storage element;

    wherein the converter is adapted to connect to an input AC voltage source such that the first active diode is in series between the input AC voltage source and the first energy storage element and the second active diode is in series between the input AC voltage source and the second energy storage element, such that when a voltage of the input AC voltage source is below a voltage of the first energy storage element, the first active diode turns on and current flows from the first energy storage element to the input AC voltage source, and when the voltage of the input AC voltage source is higher than a voltage of the second energy storage element, current flows from the input AC voltage source to the second energy storage element;

    wherein the first active diode comprises a first comparator and a first switch,wherein the second active diode comprises a second comparator and a second switchwherein the first comparator comprises a first positive input port, a first negative input port, at least one first bias port, and a first output port;

    wherein the first switch comprises a first transistor, where the first transistor has a first gate, a first drain, and a first source;

    wherein the second comparator comprises a second positive input port, a second negative input port, at least one second bias port, and a second output port;

    wherein the second switch comprises a second transistor, wherein the second transistor comprises a second gate, a second drain, and a second source,wherein the converter further comprises;

    at least one first bias voltage supply; and

    at least one second bias voltage supply;

    wherein the at least one first bias voltage supply is connected to the at least one first bias port so as to provide a first bias voltage to the first comparator, wherein the first output port is connected to the first gate, wherein one of the first positive input port and the first negative input port is connected to the first energy storage element, wherein the other of the first positive input port and the first negative input port is adapted to connect to the input AC voltage source, wherein one of the first drain and the first source is adapted to connect to the input AC voltage source and the other of the first drain and first source is connected with the first energy storage element such that the first transistor is in series between the input AC voltage source and the first energy storage element, wherein when the voltage of the input AC voltage source is below the voltage of the first energy storage element a voltage of the first output port turns on the first transistor and current flows from the first energy storage element to the input AC voltage source,wherein the at least one second bias voltage supply is connected to the at least one second bias port so as to provide a second bias voltage to the second comparator, wherein the second output port is connected to the second gate, wherein one of the second positive input port and the second negative input port is connected to the second energy storage element, wherein the other of the second positive input port and the second negative input port is adapted to connect to the input AC voltage source, wherein one of the second drain and the second source is adapted to connect to the input AC voltage source and the other of the second drain and the second source is connected to the second energy storage element such that the second transistor is in series between the input AC voltage source and the second energy storage element, wherein when the voltage of the input AC voltage source is above the voltage of the second energy storage element the second output port voltage turns on the second transistor and current flows from the input AC voltage source to the second energy storage element.

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