Provided is a switch driving apparatus including a controller configured to individually control a first switch element and a second switch element included in a bidirectional switch, in which, when the controller stops on/off drive of the bidirectional switch, the controller turns off both the first switch element and the second switch element and then temporarily turns on one of the first switch element and the second switch element for a predetermined on time period.

Provided is a switch driving apparatus including a controller configured to individually control a first switch element and a second switch element included in a bidirectional switch, in which, when the controller stops on/off drive of the bidirectional switch, the controller turns off both the first switch element and the second switch element and then temporarily turns on one of the first switch element and the second switch element for a predetermined on time period.

Disclosed herein is an improved flyback converter that separates the magnetic components of the converter into a transformer and a separate, discrete energy storage inductor. This arrangement can improve the operating efficiency of the converter by reducing the commutation losses as compared to a conventional flyback converter. The magnetic components may be constructed on separate magnetic cores or may be constructed on magnetic cores having at least one common element, thereby allowing for at least partial magnetic flux cancellation in a portion of the core, reducing core losses.

A charge pump includes a first-stage switch, intermediate-stage switches, and a final-stage switch sequentially connected in series to a power line from an input terminal side. A snubber circuit is connected to the intermediate-stage switch. The snubber circuit includes a capacitor and first and second diodes. The capacitor is connected in series to the first diode and the series circuit of the capacitor and the first diode is connected in parallel to the intermediate-stage switch. The cathode of the second diode is connected to a node between the capacitor and the first diode and the anode of the second diode is connected to output terminal.

A switching regulator clamping the power or ground of the power switch driver is introduced. In a buck regulator, the power switch is coupled between the input terminal of the buck regulator and the first terminal of an inductor. The second terminal of the inductor is coupled to the output terminal of the buck regulator. There is a driver power clamp configured to clamp the ground terminal of the driver of the power switch. In a boost regulator, an inductor is provided which has a first terminal coupled to an input terminal of the boost regulator and has a second terminal coupled to the negative supply terminal of the power supply through a power switch. The boost regulator has a driver power clamp that is configured to clamp the power terminal of the driver of the power switch.

A switching regulator clamping the power or ground of the power switch driver is introduced. In a buck regulator, the power switch is coupled between the input terminal of the buck regulator and the first terminal of an inductor. The second terminal of the inductor is coupled to the output terminal of the buck regulator. There is a driver power clamp configured to clamp the ground terminal of the driver of the power switch. In a boost regulator, an inductor is provided which has a first terminal coupled to an input terminal of the boost regulator and has a second terminal coupled to the negative supply terminal of the power supply through a power switch. The boost regulator has a driver power clamp that is configured to clamp the power terminal of the driver of the power switch.

There is described a snubber circuit comprising an electronic switch. The circuit includes an impedance network comprising reactive circuit elements to smooth energy transients if the electronic switch is turned off and if the switch is turned on. A resistive element dissipates energy released by at least one of the reactive circuit elements. The resistive element is of a load to be driven using the electronic switch. A power supply unit may include the described snubber circuit.

A power converter includes a rectifier configured to rectify an AC voltage supplied from an AC power supply, a booster circuit configured to boost the voltage rectified by the rectifier, a smoothing capacitor configured to smooth the voltage output from the booster circuit, a power module configured to convert a DC voltage obtained by smoothing the output voltage by the smoothing capacitor into an AC voltage, and a snubber capacitor configured to absorb a surge voltage superimposed on the DC voltage to be input to the power module. The snubber capacitor is mounted in the power module.

A power converter includes a rectifier configured to rectify an AC voltage supplied from an AC power supply, a booster circuit configured to boost the voltage rectified by the rectifier, a smoothing capacitor configured to smooth the voltage output from the booster circuit, a power module configured to convert a DC voltage obtained by smoothing the output voltage by the smoothing capacitor into an AC voltage, and a snubber capacitor configured to absorb a surge voltage superimposed on the DC voltage to be input to the power module. The snubber capacitor is mounted in the power module.

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a surge voltage blocker circuit to couple between a distribution grid network and a grid-side power converter of a power conversion system. The surge voltage blocker circuit may include a plurality of series-coupled AC switch circuits, each including: a bidirectional switch formed of a first power transistor and a second power transistor; and a transient voltage suppression device coupled in parallel with the bidirectional switch.