IP Library Granted Patent US 9,479,048
Granted Patent B2
US 9,479,048 · App. 14/481,585 · Granted Oct 25, 2016

Resonant isolated active power factor correction (PFC) rectifier

Inventors: Peter Erik Gabrielsson (Pasadena, CA); Nader Michael Lotfy (Pasadena, CA); Alexander Nelson Brooks (Pasadena, CA)
Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
H02M1/4241H02M3/33507Y02B70/126
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,479,048
App. No.
14/481,585
Granted
Oct 25, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of driving an isolated converter includes opening a first bi-directional switch on an input side of a transformer, accepting current into a resonant capacitor connected across the first bi-directional switch to reduce voltage across the first bi-directional switch in response to said opening the first bi-directional switch, reversing current out of the resonant capacitor, and closing the first bi-directional switch as voltage across the first bi-directional switch is approximately zero volts.

Claims (21)

1. A method of driving an isolated converter, comprising:

opening a first bi-directional switch on an input side of a transformer;

accepting current into a resonant capacitor connected across the first bi-directional switch to reduce voltage across the first bi-directional switch (SW) in response to the opening of the first bi-directional switch;

reversing current out of the resonant capacitor; and

closing the first bi-directional switch as voltage across the first bi-directional switch crosses zero volts.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

inducing current to flow through a transformer; and

rectifying alternating current (AC) output from the transformer to create direct current (DC).

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the rectifying AC output to create DC current is accomplished using a full bridge rectifier connected across an output of the transformer.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein current to a load, when the load is present, is supplied entirely by an output capacitor connected across the load when the first bi-direction switch is closed.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

increasing current in a first input resonant inductor in a first rotational current direction in response to the closing of the first bi-directional switch.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

increasing current in a second input resonant inductor in a second rotational current direction that is opposite from the first rotational current direction in response to the closing of the first bi-directional switch.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

opening a second bi-directional switch connected in series with the first bi-directional switch at approximately the same time as the opening of the first bi-directional switch.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

accepting current into a second resonant capacitor connected across the second bi-directional switch in response to the opening of the second bi-directional switch.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the closing of the first bi-directional switch is in response to a positive gate voltage applied to the first bi-directional switch.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

shorting the resonant capacitor in response to closing the first bi-directional switch.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2026
From: WEBASTO CHARGING SYSTEMS, INC.
To: WEBASTO CHARGING SYSTEMS SHELF HOLDING GERMANY GMBH
Reel/Frame 074858/0099 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2026
From: WEBASTO CHARGING SYSTEMS SHELF HOLDING GERMANY GMBH
To: AMPURE GERMAN HOLDING GMBH
Reel/Frame 074858/0122 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2026
From: AMPURE GERMAN HOLDING GMBH
To: AMPURE CHARGING SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 074858/0169 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 29, 2018
From: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
To: WEBASTO CHARGING SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 046970/0124 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2016
From: GABRIELSSON, PETER ERIK; LOTFY, NADER MICHAEL; BROOKS, ALEXANDER NELSON
To: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 038286/0709 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61875606 · Sep 9, 2013
Related Publication 20150131337A1 · May 14, 2015