A circuit for driving a motor of a compressor includes a microcontroller, which includes an op-amp, a comparator, a first serial interface, and a first dedicated pin. The op-amp amplifies a value indicating current in a power factor correction converter, which includes a power switch. The comparator asserts a comparison signal in response to the amplified value exceeding a reference value. The comparison signal is output on the first dedicated pin. A programmable logic device (PLD) includes a second serial interface in communication with the first serial interface and a second dedicated pin. The comparison signal is received on the second dedicated pin and the PLD receives control messages from the microcontroller via the second serial interface. The PLD sets a value in an off-time register based on a control message from the microcontroller. The PLD controls the power switch according to the comparison signal and the off-time register.

A power factor correction (PFC) system includes a PFC circuit that receives an alternating current (AC) voltage and that, using a switch, generates a direct current (DC) voltage from the AC voltage. A zero crossing module determines a zero crossing of the AC voltage based on: a first voltage and a first time when the AC voltage transitioned from less than a first predetermined voltage to greater than the first predetermined voltage; and a second voltage and a second time when the AC voltage transitioned from less than a second predetermined voltage to greater than the second predetermined voltage. The first predetermined voltage is negative, and the second predetermined voltage is positive. A reference module, based on the zero crossing, generates a sinusoidal reference signal corresponding to the AC voltage in phase and frequency. A switching control module controls switching of the switch based on the sinusoidal reference signal.

Methods, devices, and integrated circuits are disclosed for a driver controller that determines whether an input is AC or DC and controls a driver in either an AC-adapted control mode or a DC-adapted control mode. An example method includes detecting whether an input is primarily AC or DC. The method further includes controlling an output current in an AC-adapted control mode in response to detecting that the input is primarily AC, and controlling the output current in a DC-adapted control mode in response to detecting that the input is primarily DC.

The invention relates to a device (100) for charging an electric energy store (B) from a three-phase AC voltage source (W1, W2, W3), having, in each phase of the AC voltage source (W1, W2, W3):—a step-down converter (TS1 . . . TS3) with a switch (STS1 . . . STS3);—a diode (FLD) connected in parallel to the step-down converter (TS1 . . . TS3); and—a converter (U) which is connected to the step-down converter (TS1 . . . TS3) and which comprises at least one first half bridge (H1) with two serially connected switches (S1, S2), an inductor (L4) being connected between a connection point of the two switches (S1, S2) of the first half bridge (H1) and the step-down converter (TS1 . . . TS3);—wherein a current direction across the inductor (L4) is set by means of a rectifier (D11 . . . D33) in the step-down converter (TS1 . . . TS3); and—the switches (STS1 . . . STS3) of the step-down converter (TS1 . . . TS3) and at least one second switch (S2) of the first half bridge (H1) of the converter (U) can be switched by means of a controller (10) dependent on the voltages of the AC voltage source (W1, W2, W3) and a current flowing through the inductor (L4) such that a current drawn from the AC voltage source (W1, W2, W3) in order to charge the electric energy store (B) can be generated in such a manner that a substantially sinusoidal current is drawn from each phase of the AC voltage source (W1, W2, W3), the current and the corresponding voltage of the AC voltage source (W1, W2, W3) being substantially in phase in each said phase.

An external power supply system for spindles is revealed. The external power supply system includes a tool holder, a rectifier circuit, an overvoltage protection circuit. and a buck/boost converter. The tool holder receives an external power source of a spindle while the rectifier circuit converts the external power source into a rectified output signal with a power factor through step-down transformation. The overvoltage protection circuit is used to check whether the rectified output signal is larger than an overvoltage signal for outputting an operating potential or a non-operating potential. The buck/boost converter is used for receiving the rectified output signal with the power factor and converting the rectified output signal to an output voltage according to the power factor. Then the output voltage is provided to a load of a low voltage power supply, a high voltage power supply, or a constant voltage power supply.

A switched power converter (102) is arranged for supplying lighting means (108) as a load, having at least one (M40, M41) switch controlled by a control unit (106), wherein the control unit (106) comprises: a feedback controller, such as an ASIC or microcontroller, generating a switch control signal based on a feedback signal (Imeas), such as e.g. the load current (ILED), and a separate sweep block, supplied with a signal representing a characteristic of the load (LED), such as e.g. the load voltage (VLED), and modulating the switch control signal (tout-ctrl) by a cyclic sweep, wherein the modulated switch control signal (tout-sweep) is provided directly or indirectly to the at least one switch (M40, M41).

An apparatus for electric power conversion includes a converter having a regulating circuit and switching network. The regulating circuit has magnetic storage elements, and switches connected to the magnetic storage elements and controllable to switch between switching configurations. The regulating circuit maintains an average DC current through a magnetic storage element. The switching network includes charge storage elements connected to switches that are controllable to switch between plural switch configurations. In one configuration, the switches forms an arrangement of charge storage elements in which at least one charge storage element is charged using the magnetic storage element through the network input or output port. In another, the switches form an arrangement of charge storage elements in which an element discharges using the magnetic storage element through one of the input port and output port of the switching network.

Systems and methods for efficient power conversion in a power supply in a power distribution system are disclosed. In particular, a low frequency transformer having high conversion efficiency is coupled to an input from a power grid. An output from the transformer is rectified and then converted by a power factor correction (PFC) converter before passing the power to the distributed elements of the power distribution system. By placing the transformer in front of the PFC converter, overall efficiency may be improved by operating at lower frequencies while preserving a desired power factor and providing a desired voltage level. The size and cost of the cabinet containing the power conversion circuitry is minimized, and operating expenses are also reduced as less waste energy is generated.

An apparatus for electric power conversion includes a converter having a regulating circuit and switching network. The regulating circuit has magnetic storage elements, and switches connected to the magnetic storage elements and controllable to switch between switching configurations. The regulating circuit maintains an average DC current through a magnetic storage element. The switching network includes charge storage elements connected to switches that are controllable to switch between plural switch configurations. In one configuration, the switches forms an arrangement of charge storage elements in which at least one charge storage element is charged using the magnetic storage element through the network input or output port. In another, the switches form an arrangement of charge storage elements in which an element discharges using the magnetic storage element through one of the input port and output port of the switching network.

A power converter circuit includes: a direct current (DC) side; a first passive network; a first current switching network; at least one floating capacitor; a second current switching network; a second passive network; and an alternating current (AC) side. The first passive network is connected between the DC side and the first current switching network for linking the DC side and the first current switching network. The first current switching network comprises at least four serially linked switches for switching the power converter circuit between switching cycles. The at least one floating capacitor is connected to the first current switching network. The second current switching network comprises two pairs of switches for providing an interface between the first current switching network and the second passive network. The second passive network is connected between the second current switching network and the AC side.