Method and apparatus for implementing a power converter input terminal voltage discharge circuit
First Claim
1. A circuit for use in a power converter, comprising:
- a control circuit coupled to detect whether an electrical energy source is coupled to an input of the power converter; and
a switch coupled to the control circuit and coupled to transfer energy from the input of the power converter to an output of the power converter during a first operating mode, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in the first operating mode when the electrical energy source is coupled to the input of the power converter, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a second operating mode when the electrical energy source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter, wherein the control circuit is further coupled to drive the switch in the second operating mode to discharge a capacitance coupled between input terminals of the power converter to a threshold voltage in less than a maximum period of time.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit for use in a power converter includes a control circuit coupled to detect whether an electrical energy source is coupled to an input of the power converter. A switch is coupled to the control circuit, and is coupled to transfer energy from the input of the power converter to an output of the power converter during a first operating mode. The control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in the first operating mode when the electrical energy source is coupled to the input of the power converter. The control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a second operating mode when the electrical energy source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter to drive the switch to discharge a capacitance coupled between input terminals of the power converter to a threshold voltage in less than a maximum period of time.
145 Citations
50 Claims
-
1. A circuit for use in a power converter, comprising:
-
a control circuit coupled to detect whether an electrical energy source is coupled to an input of the power converter; and a switch coupled to the control circuit and coupled to transfer energy from the input of the power converter to an output of the power converter during a first operating mode, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in the first operating mode when the electrical energy source is coupled to the input of the power converter, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a second operating mode when the electrical energy source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter, wherein the control circuit is further coupled to drive the switch in the second operating mode to discharge a capacitance coupled between input terminals of the power converter to a threshold voltage in less than a maximum period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A circuit, comprising:
-
a control circuit coupled to detect whether an electrical energy source is coupled to an input of a power converter; and a switch coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the switch to transfer energy from the input of the power converter to an output of the power converter when the electrical energy source is coupled to the input of the power converter, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the switch to discharge a capacitance coupled between input terminals of the power converter through the switch to a threshold voltage in less than a maximum period of time when the electrical energy source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A circuit for use in a power converter, comprising:
-
a control circuit capable of detecting whether an AC voltage source is coupled to an input of the power converter; and a switch coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is capable of detecting whether the AC voltage source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter within a first predetermined maximum period of time, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a first operating mode when the AC voltage source is coupled to the input of the power converter, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a second operating mode when the control circuit detects the AC voltage source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter and is capable of discharging a capacitance coupled between input terminals of the power converter to a threshold voltage level through a discharge path and through the switch within a second predetermined maximum period of time, and wherein an RC time constant of the discharge path is less than or equal to one second and the threshold voltage level is less than or equal to ten volts. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 46)
-
-
22. A circuit for use in a power converter, comprising:
-
a control circuit capable of detecting whether an AC voltage source is coupled to an input of a power converter; and a switch coupled to the control circuit and coupled to the input of the power converter, wherein the switch is coupled to provide a starting current for operation of the circuit during a start up phase of the circuit, wherein the control circuit is capable of detecting whether the AC voltage source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter within a first predetermined maximum period of time, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a first operating mode when the AC voltage source is coupled to the input of the power converter, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a second operating mode when the control circuit detects the AC voltage source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter and is capable of discharging a capacitance coupled between input terminals of the power converter to a threshold voltage level through a discharge path and through the switch within a second predetermined maximum period of time, and wherein an RC time constant of the discharge path is less than or equal to one second and the threshold level is less than or equal to ten volts. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 47)
-
-
27. A circuit for use in a power converter, comprising:
-
a control circuit capable of detecting whether an AC voltage source is coupled to an input of the power converter; and a bidirectional switch comprising a first transistor coupled to a second transistor, the bidirectional switch further coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is capable of detecting whether the AC voltage source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter within a first predetermined maximum period of time, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the bidirectional switch in a first operating mode when the AC voltage source is coupled to the input of the power converter, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the bidirectional switch in a second operating mode when the control circuit detects the AC voltage source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter and is capable of discharging a capacitance coupled between input terminals of the power converter to a threshold voltage level through a discharge path and through the bidirectional switch within a second predetermined maximum period of time, and wherein an RC time constant of the discharge path is less than or equal to one second and the threshold voltage level is less than or equal to ten volts. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 48)
-
-
33. A circuit for use in a power converter, comprising:
-
a control circuit capable of detecting whether an AC voltage source is coupled to the control circuit by determining whether a voltage of the AC voltage source has reversed in polarity; and a switch coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is capable of detecting whether the AC voltage source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter within a first predetermined maximum period of time, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a first operating mode when the AC voltage source is coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a second operating mode when the control circuit detects the AC voltage source is uncoupled from the control circuit to discharge a capacitance coupled between input terminals of the power converter to a threshold voltage level through a discharge path and through the switch within a second predetermined maximum period of time, and wherein an RC time constant of the discharge path is less than or equal to one second and the threshold voltage level is less than or equal to ten volts. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 49)
-
-
38. A circuit for use in a power converter, comprising:
-
a control circuit capable of detecting whether an AC voltage source is coupled to the control circuit; and a switch coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a first operating mode when the AC voltage source is coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is capable of detecting whether the AC voltage source is uncoupled from the control circuit within a first predetermined maximum period of time, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a second operating mode when the control circuit detects the AC voltage source is uncoupled from the control circuit and is capable of discharging one or more x-capacitors to a threshold voltage through a discharge path and through the switch within a second predetermined maximum period of time, and wherein an RC time constant of the discharge path is less than or equal to one second and the threshold voltage level is less than or equal to ten volts. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 50)
-
-
43. A circuit for use in a power converter, comprising:
-
a control circuit; and one or more switches coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is capable of detecting whether an AC input voltage is coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive at least one of the one or more switches in a first operating mode when the control circuit detects that the AC input voltage is coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is capable of detecting whether the AC voltage source is uncoupled from the control circuit within a first predetermined maximum period of time, wherein the control circuit is coupled to drive at least one of the one or more switches in a second operating mode when the control circuit detects that the AC input voltage is uncoupled from the control circuit, wherein the one or more switches is capable of discharging one or more x-capacitors through a discharge path and the one or more switches to a threshold voltage level within a second predetermined maximum time period, and wherein an RC time constant of the discharge path is less than or equal to one second and the threshold voltage level is less than or equal to 10 volts. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
-
Specification