Safety capacitor discharging method and apparatus for AC-to-DC converters

1. A safety capacitor discharging apparatus for AC-to-DC converters, wherein the AC-to-DC converters have a safety capacitor connected between two line voltages, the apparatus comprising:

a line detector, used for detecting at least one line voltage to generate a line-off signal, wherein the line-off signal is at a first state when a peak voltage of the at least one line voltage is above a reference voltage, and the line-off signal is at a second state when the peak voltage of the at least one line voltage is below the reference voltage; and

a discharging circuit, used for discharging the safety capacitor by generating a conduction path between two plates of the safety capacitor when the line-off signal is at the second state,

the line detector comprising:

a peak voltage detector, coupled to at least one of the two line voltages to generate the peak voltage; and

a comparator, having a first negative input coupled to the peak voltage, a first positive input coupled to the reference voltage, and a first output for generating the line-off signal, wherein the line-off signal is at the second state when the peak voltage is below the reference voltage.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the peak voltage detector comprises:

an amplifier, having a second positive input end, a second negative input end and a second output end, wherein the second positive input end is coupled to an input voltage which is a function of the two line voltages;

a transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal is coupled to a supply voltage, the second terminal is coupled to the second negative input end, and the control terminal is coupled to the second output end; and

a hold capacitor, having a first plate and a second plate, wherein the first plate is coupled to the second terminal, the second plate is coupled to a ground, and the peak voltage is taken at the first plate.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the line detector further comprises a debounce circuit coupled to the comparator to generate the line-off signal.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the discharging circuit comprises:

a pair of unilateral switches, having a pair of anodes coupled to the two line voltages, and a common cathode; and

a load circuit, coupled between the common cathode and a ground, and controlled by the line-off signal, wherein the load circuit exhibits a first impedance when the line-off signal is at the first state; the load circuit exhibits a second impedance when the line-off signal is at the second state; and the first impedance is greater than the second impedance.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the discharging circuit comprises a pair of load circuits, which have a common contact coupled to a ground, and a pair of contacts coupled to the two line voltages, and are controlled by the line-off signal, wherein the pair of load circuits exhibits a first impedance when the line-off signal is at the first state; the pair of load circuits exhibits a second impedance when the line-off signal is at the second state; and the first impedance is greater than the second impedance.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the discharging circuit comprises a load circuit, which is coupled between the two line voltages, and controlled by the line-off signal, wherein the load circuit exhibits a first impedance when the line-off signal is at the first state; the load circuit exhibits a second impedance when the line-off signal is at the second state; and the first impedance is greater than the second impedance.