A converter circuit converts AC electric power into DC power. An inverter circuit converts the DC power into AC power. A capacitor is connected in parallel to each of the converter circuit and the inverter circuit between these circuits. The capacitor allows variation of an output voltage from the converter circuit, and absorbs variation of an output voltage from the inverter circuit due to a switching operation. An overvoltage protection circuit includes a resistor and a semiconductor element connected in series to each other. The overvoltage protection circuit is connected in parallel to the capacitor to protect the inverter circuit from an overvoltage. First and second control units respectively control the inverter circuit and the overvoltage protection circuit.

A circuit includes a capacitor-drop power supply including a series combination of a resistor and a first capacitor. The capacitor-drop power supply includes an output and is adapted to be coupled to a light source. The circuit also includes a second capacitor, a switch, and an active clamp circuit. The second capacitor couples to the output of the capacitor-drop power supply. The switch couples in parallel with the series combination of the resistor and the first capacitor. The switch is configured to cause the light source to illuminate. The active clamp circuit couples to the capacitor-drop power supply. The active clamp circuit has an output coupled to the capacitor-drop power supply. The active clamp circuit is configured to cause current to continuously flow through at least one of the switch or the series combination of resistor and first capacitor regardless of a magnitude of the voltage across the second capacitor.

A converter has module devices each with a series connection of at least two partial modules being electrically connected in series. A central device is configured to switch module control devices, in which a sum of the transmitted voltage values or the transmitted sum value reaches a predefined voltage threshold, into a second charging phase of a charging operation by transmitting a first voltage specification relating to switched-off partial modules and a second voltage specification relating to switched-on partial modules to the module control devices. The module devices are configured to meet the first and second voltage specifications by setting none, one or more of the communication-capable partial modules thereof into a switched-on operating state and none, one or more of the other communication-capable partial modules thereof into a switched-off operating state, and to continue the charging of the energy stores which are in the switched-on and blocked operating state.

A switching converter, such as for an induction cooktop, that can be operated to deliver a power level smaller than the minimum power level for having a soft-switching. Input AC terminals are disconnected from the DC-bus capacitor to prevent it from being charged, so that the DC voltage exhibited by the DC-bus is null or smaller than a minimum nominal value when a next ON time interval T.sub.1 begins. The switching converter helps prevent ticking noise.

The present disclosure provides a conversion circuit including a power supply module, positive and negative input terminals, positive and negative output terminals, a switch, an inductor, input and output capacitors, and a controller. The power supply module converts an AC power for providing three potentials on three power supply terminals respectively. The potential on the first power supply terminal is higher than the potential on the second power supply terminal, which is higher than the potential on the third power supply terminal. The positive and negative input terminals are electrically connected to the first and third power supply terminals respectively, and a voltage therebetween is an input voltage. The negative output terminal is electrically connected to the third power supply terminal. The controller is electrically connected to the positive input terminal, the second power supply terminal and the switch. A voltage across the controller is lower than the input voltage.

A resonant converter and a voltage conversion method. The resonant converter includes a high-frequency inversion circuit, an inductor-inductor-capacitor (LLC) resonant tank network, and a hybrid rectification circuit. The LLC resonant tank network is separately coupled to the high-frequency inversion circuit and the hybrid rectification circuit. The high-frequency inversion circuit is configured to convert a first direct current voltage into a first alternating current voltage. The LLC resonant tank network is configured to adjust the first alternating current voltage to obtain a second alternating current voltage.

Capacitively isolated current-loaded or current-driven charge pump circuits and related methods transfer electrical energy from a primary side to a secondary side over a capacitive isolation boundary, using a controlled current source to charge isolation capacitors with constant current, as opposed to current impulses, while maintaining output voltage within tolerance. The charge pump circuits provide DC-to-DC converters that can be used in isolated power supplies, particularly in low-power applications and in such devices as sensor transmitters that have separate electrical ground planes. The devices and methods transfer electrical energy over an isolated capacitive barrier in a manner that is efficient, inexpensive, and reduces electromagnetic interference (EMI).

A power conversion system including: a self-excited power converter that converts power between an alternating-current (AC) power system and a direct-current (DC) line; an AC circuit breaker disposed between the AC power system and the self-excited power converter; an arrester connected between the DC line and a ground or between an AC line and the ground, the AC line connecting the AC circuit breaker and the self-excited power converter; and a control device. The control device causes the self-excited power converter to stop a switching operation when the control device detects a ground fault accident on the DC line, and opens the AC circuit breaker after the self-excited power converter stops the switching operation.

The present invention is directed to provide a semiconductor device capable of protecting a switching element even though having a capacitor connected to a control signal input terminal of the switching element. Semiconductor device includes an IGBT including a gate configured to be input a gate signal and a current detection terminal used to detect at least one of overcurrent or short-circuit current, a gate capacitor arranged between the gate and a reference potential terminal, the gate capacitor being disconnected from the gate as needed, and a disconnection unit configured to disconnect a connection between the gate capacitor and the gate when a detection current being a current output from the current detection terminal is equal to or larger than a first current set on a basis of a minimum current causing oscillation in a loop circuit formed by including the IGBT and the gate capacitor.

A power supply system includes an AC input device/DC input device connector having an AC input device sub-connector and a DC input device sub-connector, an AC power supply subsystem configured to perform first power operation(s) on first power received from the AC input device sub-connector, and a DC power supply subsystem configured to perform second power operation(s) on second power received from the DC input device sub-connector. When an AC input device is coupled to the AC input device sub-connector, an AC-or-DC power supply subsystem in the power supply system performs third power operation(s) on the first power received from the AC power supply subsystem, and supplies it to component(s). When the DC input device is coupled to the DC input device sub-connector, the AC-or-DC power supply subsystem performs the third power operation(s) on the second power received from the DC power supply subsystem, and supplies it to component(s).