An AC/DC converter includes a first terminal and a second terminal to receive an AC voltage and a third terminal and a fourth terminal to deliver a DC voltage. A rectifying bridge is provided in the converter. A controllable switching or rectifying element has a control terminal configured to receive a control current. A first switch is coupled between a supply voltage and the control terminal to inject the control current. A second switch is coupled between the control terminal and a reference voltage to extract the control current. The first and second switches are selectively actuated by a control circuit.

According to one embodiment, a power converting device includes a rectifier bridge configured to pulsate an AC voltage to generate a pulsating voltage, a first smoothing capacitor configured to smooth the pulsating voltage to generate a DC voltage, a primary winding connected to the first smoothing capacitor, a switch circuit configured to switch the DC voltage supplied from the first smoothing capacitor to the primary winding, and a first discharge circuit. The first discharge circuit includes a first discharge resistor configured to discharge electric charges remaining on the first smoothing capacitor and a first switch element configured to release the first discharge resistor from the first smoothing capacitor if the AC voltage is supplied and to connect the first discharge resistor to the first smoothing capacitor if the AC voltage is not supplied and the electric charges remain on the first smoothing capacitor.

According to one embodiment, a power converting device includes a rectifier bridge configured to pulsate an AC voltage to generate a pulsating voltage, a first smoothing capacitor configured to smooth the pulsating voltage to generate a DC voltage, a primary winding connected to the first smoothing capacitor, a switch circuit configured to switch the DC voltage supplied from the first smoothing capacitor to the primary winding, and a first discharge circuit. The first discharge circuit includes a first discharge resistor configured to discharge electric charges remaining on the first smoothing capacitor and a first switch element configured to release the first discharge resistor from the first smoothing capacitor if the AC voltage is supplied and to connect the first discharge resistor to the first smoothing capacitor if the AC voltage is not supplied and the electric charges remain on the first smoothing capacitor.

A circuit for controlling an anode-gate thyristor includes a first transistor that couples a thyristor gate to a first terminal to receive a potential lower than a potential of a second terminal connected to the thyristor anode. A control terminal of the first transistor is driven by a control signal which is positive with respect to the potential of the first terminal.

A bypass thyristor device includes a semiconductor device providing a thyristor with a cathode electrode on a cathode side, a gate electrode on the cathode side surrounded by the cathode electrode and an anode electrode on an anode side; an electrically conducting cover element arranged on the cathode side and in electrical contact with the cathode electrode on a contact side; and a gate contact element electrically connected to the gate electrode and arranged in a gate contact opening in the contact side of the cover element; wherein the cover element has a gas expansion volume in the contact side facing the cathode side, which gas expansion volume is interconnected with the gate contact opening for gas exchange.

A bypass thyristor device includes a semiconductor device providing a thyristor with a cathode electrode on a cathode side, a gate electrode on the cathode side surrounded by the cathode electrode and an anode electrode on an anode side; an electrically conducting cover element arranged on the cathode side and in electrical contact with the cathode electrode on a contact side; and a gate contact element electrically connected to the gate electrode and arranged in a gate contact opening in the contact side of the cover element; wherein the cover element has a gas expansion volume in the contact side facing the cathode side, which gas expansion volume is interconnected with the gate contact opening for gas exchange.

A converter assembly (10; 60) comprises a converter (12; 62) for interconnecting first and second electrical networks (14, 18). The converter (12; 62) includes at least one control module (22) that is programmed to control directly in accordance with a control program stored therein the switching of one or more switches (24) in a switching module (26) of the converter (12; 62). The converter (12; 62) also includes at least one energy storage device(28)which is configured to store energy to at least in part supply power to at least one corresponding control module (22). The converter assembly (10; 60) additionally includes a high-level controller (48) which is arranged in communication with the converter (12; 62) and the or each control module (22) therein. The high-level controller (48) is programmed to transition the converter (12; 62) from an on-line condition to an off-line condition during which transition the or each energy storage device (28) within the converter (12; 62) discharges the energy stored therein. The high-level controller (48) is also further programmed to replace the control program of at least one control module (22) of the converter (12; 62) during the said transition from an on-line condition to an off-line condition.

A converter assembly (10; 60) comprises a converter (12; 62) for interconnecting first and second electrical networks (14, 18). The converter (12; 62) includes at least one control module (22) that is programmed to control directly in accordance with a control program stored therein the switching of one or more switches (24) in a switching module (26) of the converter (12; 62). The converter (12; 62) also includes at least one energy storage device(28)which is configured to store energy to at least in part supply power to at least one corresponding control module (22). The converter assembly (10; 60) additionally includes a high-level controller (48) which is arranged in communication with the converter (12; 62) and the or each control module (22) therein. The high-level controller (48) is programmed to transition the converter (12; 62) from an on-line condition to an off-line condition during which transition the or each energy storage device (28) within the converter (12; 62) discharges the energy stored therein. The high-level controller (48) is also further programmed to replace the control program of at least one control module (22) of the converter (12; 62) during the said transition from an on-line condition to an off-line condition.

A power converter includes an energy transfer element coupled between an input of the power converter and an output of the power converter. A control switch is coupled to a normally-on switch. The normally-on switch is coupled to the energy transfer element. A controller is coupled to control switching of the control switch to control a transfer of energy from the input of the power converter to the output of the power converter. The controller includes a drive circuit coupled to generate a drive signal in response to a control signal to control switching of the control switch. The drive signal in a first stage of a multiple stage gate drive is coupled not to fully enhance the control switch. The drive signal provided by a second stage of the multiple stage gate drive is coupled to fully enhance the control switch.

An AC input power converter comprising a rectifier circuit (D3, D4, D5, D6) for rectifying an AC input signal, a first unidirectional device (D1) coupled in series with a first capacitor (C1) for charging the first capacitor (C1) and wherein the first unidirectional device (D1) and the first capacitor (C1) are arranged in parallel to an output of the rectifier circuit (D3, D4, D5, D6), a second unidirectional device (D2) coupled in series with a second capacitor (C2) for charging the second capacitor (C2) and wherein the second unidirectional device (D2) and the second capacitor (C2) are arranged in parallel to an output of the rectifier circuit (D3, D4, D5, D6), a first output (OUT1) for providing a first power and a first average voltage to a first power converter, wherein the first output (OUT1) s coupled to a first node between the first capacitor (C1) and the first unidirectional device (D1) and a second output (OUT2) for providing a second power and a second average voltage to a second power converter, wherein the second output (OUT2) is coupled to a second node between the second capacitor (C2) and the second unidirectional device (D2), wherein the first capacitor (C1) has a first value and the second capacitor (C2) has a second value, and wherein the first value of the first capacitor and the second value of the second capacitor are selected such that when the first power is lower than the second power, the first average voltage is larger than the second average voltage, and when the first power is larger than the second power, the first average voltage is lower than the second average voltage.