IP Library Granted Patent US 10,476,370
Granted Patent B2
US 10,476,370 · App. 14/471,998 · Granted Nov 12, 2019

Split rail PFC and AC inverted architecture

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,476,370
App. No.
14/471,998
Granted
Nov 12, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power conversion system including power factor correction circuitry and power inversion circuitry. The power factor correction circuitry has a split-rail configuration and includes a bidirectional switch used to produce intermediate direct current power. The power inversion circuitry selectively operates switches to produce sinusoidal alternating current output power. The output power and the intermediate power are regulated together.

Claims (21)

1. A power conversion system, comprising: an AC power source;

a power factor correction (PFC) stage including:

a first inductor directly connected to the power source via a first electrical path and directly connected to a first node via a second electrical path,

a first diode directly connected the first node via a third electrical path and directly connected to a second node via a fourth electrical path,

a second diode directly connected to the first node via a fifth electrical path and directly connected to a third node via a six electrical path,

a bidirectional switch directly connected to the first node via a seventh electrical path and directly connected to a fourth node via an eighth electrical path, a filter stage including:

a first capacitor directly connected to the second node via a ninth electrical path and directly connected to a fifth node via a tenth electrical path,

a second capacitor directly connected to the third node via an eleventh electrical path and directly connected to the fifth node via a twelfth electrical path,

the fourth node directly connected to the fifth node via a thirteenth electrical path and directly connected to a common AC return line via a fourteenth electrical path, a power inversion phase including:

a first switch directly connected to the second node via a fifteenth electrical path and directly connected to a sixth node via a sixteenth electrical path,

a second switch directly connected to the third node via a seventeenth electrical path and directly connected to the sixth node via an eighteenth electrical path,

the sixth node directly connected to a second inductor via a nineteenth electrical path,

the second inductor directly connected to a seventh node via a twentieth electrical path,

a third capacitor directly connected to the seventh node via a twenty first electrical path and directly connected to the common AC return line via a twenty second electrical path;

wherein the forth electrical path and fifteenth electrical path together constitute a positive distribution rail and the sixth electrical path and seventeenth electrical path constitute a negative distribution rail;

wherein the power factor correction stage is configured to receive input AC power from the AC power source and produce intermediate DC power by alternately producing a positive intermediate DC output voltage along the positive distribution rail and a negative intermediate DC output voltage along the negative distribution rail through operation of the bidirectional switch;

wherein the power inversion phase is configured to create output AC power through alternating operation of the first switch and the second switch; and

wherein the common AC return is connected to the AC power source such that the input AC power, the intermediate DC power and the output AC power are connected to the common AC return line so as to prevent common mode fluctuations and harmonics.

2. The power conversion system of claim 1 wherein the AC power source is a generator on an aircraft.

3. The power conversion system of claim 1 wherein the AC input power is 360-800 Hz 115 VAC and the output AC power is 50/60 Hz 115 VAC.

4. The power conversion system of claim 1 wherein the PFC stage draws current directly proportional to a waveform of an applied voltage of the AC input power.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2025
From: ASTRONICS CORPORATION; ASTRONICS ADVANCED ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS CORP.; ASTRONICS TEST SYSTEMS INC.; ASTRONICS AEROSAT CORPORATION; ASTRONICS CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS & CERTIFICATION CORP.; PECO, INC.; DIAGNOSYS INC.
To: HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 073580/0550 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2025
From: HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
To: ASTRONICS CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS & CERTIFICATION CORP.; ASTRONICS AEROSAT CORPORATION; ASTRONICS CORPORATION; PECO, INC.; ASTRONICS ADVANCED ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS CORP.; ASTRONICS TEST SYSTEMS INC.; DIAGNOSYS INC.; LUMINESCENT SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 073227/0325 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2024
From: HSBC BANK USA, N.A., AS AGENT
To: ASTRONICS CORPORATION; ASTRONICS ADVANCED ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS CORP.; ASTRONICS AEROSAT CORPORATION; ASTRONICS TEST SYSTEMS INC.; LUMINESCENT SYSTEMS, INC.; ASTRONICS CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS & CERTIFICATION CORP.; PECO, INC.; DIAGNOSYS INC.
Reel/Frame 069491/0184 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 4, 2024
From: ASTRONICS ASEROSTAT CORPORATION; ASTRONICS ADVANCED ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS CORP.; ASTRONICS TEST SYSTEMS INC.
To: HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 068478/0769 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2024
From: GREAT ROCK CAPITAL PARTNERS MANAGEMENT, LLC
To: ASTRONICS AEROSAT CORPORATION; ASTRONICS CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS & CERTIFICATION CORP.; PECO, INC.; ASTRONICS ADVANCED ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS CORP.; ASTRONICS CORPORATION; ASTRONICS TEST SYSTEMS INC.; DIAGNOSYS INC.; LUMINESCENT SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 068311/0938 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2024
From: ASTRONICS CORPORATION; ASTRONICS ADVANCED ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS CORP.; ASTRONICS AEROSAT CORPORATION; ASTRONIC TEST SYSTEMS INC.; LUMINESCENT SYTEMS, INC.; ASTRONICS CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS & CERTIFICATION CORP.; PECO, INC.; DIAGNOSYS INC.
To: HSBC BANK USA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 068283/0900 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2014
From: WAMBSGANSS, WARREN; JOUPER, JEFFREY A.
To: ASTRONICS ADVANCED ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS CORP.
Reel/Frame 034099/0662 →