A converter includes an input capacitor, a primary-side switch circuit, a magnetic element circuit, a secondary-side switch circuit, and an output capacitor. The magnetic element circuit includes a transformer and an inductor. The input capacitor is configured to receive an input voltage. The primary-side switch circuit is coupled to the input capacitor. The magnetic element circuit is coupled to the primary-side switch circuit. The inductor is a leakage inductor of the transformer or an external inductor coupled between the transformer and the primary-side switch circuit. The secondary-side switch circuit is coupled to the magnetic element circuit. The output capacitor is coupled to the secondary-side switch circuit. The input capacitor and the inductor generate an oscillating current. The primary-side switch circuit is switched at an adjacent region of a wave trough of the oscillating current.

A power conversion device includes an input detector for detecting input parameters of the DC input to the inverter; an output detector for detecting output parameters of the DC output from the power converter device; a duty calculator for calculating a duty for the switching elements of the inverter; a frequency search range calculator for determining an upper limit and a lower limit of a frequency search range for determining the drive frequency after the operating condition is changed, using at least one parameter of the input parameters, the output parameters, and a duty parameter; and a frequency search processor for determining the drive frequency by searching the frequency search range.

A hybrid power conversion circuit includes a high-side switch, a low-side switch, a transformer, a resonance tank, a first switch, a second switch, a first synchronous rectification switch, a second synchronous rectification switch, and a third switch. The resonance tank has an external inductor, an external capacitance, and an internal inductor. The first switch is connected to the external inductor. The second switch and a first capacitance form a series-connected path, and is connected to the external capacitance. The first and second synchronous rectification switches are respectively coupled to a first winding and a second winding. The third switch is connected to the second synchronous rectification switch. When an output voltage is less than a voltage interval, the hybrid power conversion circuit operates in a hybrid flyback conversion mode, and otherwise the hybrid power conversion circuit operates in a resonance conversion mode.

Some embodiments of the invention include a pre-pulse switching system. The pre-pulsing switching system may include: a power source configured to provide a voltage greater than 100 V; a pre-pulse switch coupled with the power source and configured to provide a pre-pulse having a pulse width of T.sub.pp; and a main switch coupled with the power source and configured to provide a main pulse such that an output pulse comprises a single pulse with negligible ringing. The pre-pulse may be provided to a load by closing the pre-pulse switch while the main switch is open. The main pulse may be provided to the load by closing the main switch after a delay T.sub.delay after the pre-pulse switch has been opened.

A half bridge resonant converter comprises a half bridge inverter having a high side switch and a low side switch with an output defined from a node between the high side switch and the low side switch. The output connects to a resonant circuit. There are separate control circuits for generating the gate drive signals for controlling the switching of the high side switch and low side switch, in dependence on an electrical feedback parameter, each with different reference voltage supplies.

A variable direct current (DC) link power converter is described. In one example, the power converter includes a first converter stage configured to convert power from a power source to power at an intermediate link voltage and a second converter stage configured to convert the power at the intermediate link voltage to power for charging a battery. The power converter further includes a control system having an intermediate link voltage regulation control loop configured, in a first mode of operation, to regulate the intermediate link voltage through the first converter stage based on a voltage of the battery, and a ripple regulation control loop configured to sense a charging current for the battery and regulate a gain of the second converter stage based on the charging current to reduce ripple in the charging current. A new configuration of transformer suitable for use with the power converter is also described.

A half bridge resonant converter comprises a half bridge inverter having a high side switch and a low side switch with an output defined from a node between the high side switch and the low side switch. The output connects to a resonant circuit. There are separate control circuits for generating the gate drive signals for controlling the switching of the high side switch and low side switch, in dependence on an electrical feedback parameter, each with different reference voltage supplies.

A first DC-DC conversion circuit and a second DC-DC conversion circuit, which are connected in parallel to one casing, are caused to operate independently of each other, whereby even in the event that a semiconductor switching element which configures either the first or second DC-DC conversion circuit fails, only a DC-DC conversion circuit which carries out a normal operation is caused to operate, thereby carrying out the continuation of power supply of a power conversion device.

A switch driving circuit is provided, wherein the switch driving circuit has a function of periodically updating a simultaneous OFF time prepared to soft-switch an upper switch and a lower switch of a switching output circuit, and is configured to monitor how an output power or an input power of the switching output circuit is changed depending on previous updating of the simultaneous OFF time to determine new updated contents.

A bidirectional DC converter assembly includes two serially-arranged DC/DC converters. The first converter is a buck (or a buck/boost) converter to be connected to a high-voltage (HV) level of an electric vehicle. The second converter is a series resonant switching converter to be connected to a low-voltage (LV) of the vehicle. The series resonant switching converter of the second converter is formed by a DC/AC converter, a transformer, and an AC/DC converter, which are serially arranged in the stated order between the first converter and the LV level. A bidirectional peak current controller is associated with the first converter. The peak current controller is realized by a current measurement at an inductor of the first converter. The peak current controller uses the coil current value, which is modified with an offset value and thus has a constant sign, as a set point in controlling the first converter.