In some examples, a device comprises a power conversion circuit that includes: an inductor having a first end coupled to an input voltage terminal; a first switch coupled to a second end of the inductor at a first node; a second switch coupled to the second end of the inductor and the first switch at the first node; a third switch coupled to the first switch and to another input voltage terminal at a second node; and a fourth switch coupled to the second switch and to the another input voltage terminal at the second node. The device also comprises a control circuit comprising a variable delay circuit coupled to the first and second switches; and a controller coupled to the variable delay circuit, to an inductor current sensor, and to an input voltage sensor, the inductor current sensor coupled to the inductor and the input voltage sensor coupled to the input voltage terminal and the another input voltage terminal.

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.

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.

Electric power devices and control methods are provided which automatically select a line voltage or phase voltage of an AC voltage supply. The electric power device includes a switchable circuit, a sensor and a switch control. The switchable circuit connects to the AC voltage supply, and includes multiple switchable elements. The sensor ascertains a voltage level of the AC voltage supply, and the switch control automatically establishes a configuration of the switchable circuit through control of the multiple switchable elements. The switch control couples the electric power device in a line-line (delta) configuration to the AC voltage supply when the voltage level is in a first voltage range, and a line-neutral (wye) configuration when the voltage level is in a second voltage range.

Electric power devices and control methods are provided which automatically select a line voltage or phase voltage of an AC voltage supply. The electric power device includes a switchable circuit, a sensor and a switch control. The switchable circuit connects to the AC voltage supply, and includes multiple switchable elements. The sensor ascertains a voltage level of the AC voltage supply, and the switch control automatically establishes a configuration of the switchable circuit through control of the multiple switchable elements. The switch control couples the electric power device in a line-line (delta) configuration to the AC voltage supply when the voltage level is in a first voltage range, and a line-neutral (wye) configuration when the voltage level is in a second voltage range.

A power supply circuit for supplying a load, which may be a SMA component or a piezoelectric component, may use short high-voltage pulses to achieve fast heating of the load and, in order to comply with functional requirements, the SMA or piezoelectric component should not be supplied by connecting it directly to an electric line at a relatively high voltage. It is also disclosed an actuator comprising a power supply circuit of this disclosure and at least one load, comprising at least one smart materials chosen between a piezoelectric device and a a shape memory alloy (SMA) component, and a method of supplying a load comprising the steps of: connecting the AC to DC voltage converter of the power supply circuit to the AC mains by closing the input switch for charging a tank capacitor of the converter and, at the same time, opening the output switch for disconnecting the load from the tank capacitor: disconnecting the AC to DC voltage converter of the power supply circuit from the AC mains by opening the input switch and, at the same time, closing the output switch to supply the load by discharging the tank capacitor.

A rectifying circuit including: between a first terminal of application of an AC voltage and a first rectified voltage delivery terminal, at least one first diode; and between a second terminal of application of the AC voltage and a second rectified voltage delivery terminal, at least one first anode-gate thyristor, the anode of the first thyristor being connected to the second rectified voltage delivery terminal; and at least one first stage for controlling the first thyristor, including: a first transistor coupling the thyristor gate to a terminal of delivery of a potential which is negative with respect to the potential of the second rectified voltage delivery terminal; and a second transistor connecting a control terminal of the first transistor to a terminal for delivering a potential which is positive with respect to the potential of the second rectified voltage delivery terminal, the anode of the first thyristor being connected to the common potential of voltages defined by said positive and negative potentials.

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.

Electric power devices and control methods are provided which automatically select a line voltage or phase voltage of an AC voltage supply. The electric power device includes a switchable circuit, a sensor and a switch control. The switchable circuit connects to the AC voltage supply, and includes multiple switchable elements. The sensor ascertains a voltage level of the AC voltage supply, and the switch control automatically establishes a configuration of the switchable circuit through control of the multiple switchable elements. The switch control couples the electric power device in a line-line (delta) configuration to the AC voltage supply when the voltage level is in a first voltage range, and a line-neutral (wye) configuration when the voltage level is in a second voltage range.

A method of commutation in a matrix rectifier from an active vector to a zero vector includes two steps. A method of commutation in a matrix rectifier from a zero vector to an active vector includes three steps.