A power conversion device includes a low-pass filter, a second inductor, a first switch, a third switch, a second capacitor, and a controller. The low-pass filter is configured for direct coupling to an alternating current power source. The first switch is connected in series with a second switch, a first connection point. The third switch is connected in series with a fourth switch, a second connection point. The second capacitor is coupled to the first switch, the second switch, the third switch, and the fourth switch. The controller turns on and off the first, the second, the third, and the fourth switches based on a voltage of the alternating current power source directly coupled to the low-pass filter, a circuit current through the second inductor, a voltage across the second capacitor, and an average output voltage of the load circuit.

In a device for operating a rectifier, in particular a semi-controlled rectifier bridge, and a method for operating a rectifier, in particular a power converter, the rectifier is supplied from system phases, in particular from a three-phase AC voltage system, and supplies a unipolar voltage on the output side, the rectifier including controllable switches, in particular semiconductor switches such as thyristors, etc., a respective system phase supplying a respective current source, the current generated in each case being used as trigger signal for the controllable switch allocated to the respective system phase as a function of the state of a controllable switch unit.

A power converter includes an energy transfer element, a cascode circuit including a low voltage switch and a normally-on switch coupled to the energy transfer element, and a controller coupled to control switching of the cascode circuit. The controller includes a current sense circuit to generate a current limit signal and an overcurrent signal in response to a source signal and first and second sense finger signals from the cascode circuit, a control circuit to generate a control signal in response to the current limit signal and the overcurrent limit signal, and a drive circuit to generate a drive signal in response to the control signal to control the switching of the low voltage switch. The drive signal provided by a first stage is coupled not to fully enhance the low voltage switch, and provided by a second stage is coupled to fully enhance the low voltage switch.

A new converter is disclosed, for reducing current harmonics in three phase AC network, during the conversion of AC to DC for power supplying the high-power electrochemical and other non-linear apparatus.

A power supply apparatus for providing electrical power to a power consuming device or a power conversion device from at least one of a first AC power source and a second AC power source. The power supply apparatus comprises controllable rectifier devices associated with each of the first and second AC power sources. The controllable rectifier devices are controllable to simultaneously rectify and control the power provided by the first and second AC power sources.

An electrical power conversion and distribution device consists of a power input terminal, a user control unit, an AC/DC converter, and a plurality of circuit breakers. The power input terminal is electrically connected to the AC/DC converter, and transmits AC received from an external power supply to the AC/DC converter. The AC/DC converter is configured to convert the AC received through the power input terminal into DC and output the DC to the plurality of circuit breakers. A variety of electrical appliances may be connected to the circuit breakers and operated by the DC output. 120 volt AC may be converted into 24 volt DC for energy savings in applications such as lighting.

A power converter includes an energy transfer element, a cascode circuit including a low voltage switch and a normally-on switch coupled to the energy transfer element, and a controller coupled to control switching of the cascode circuit. The controller includes a current sense circuit to generate a current limit signal and an overcurrent signal in response to a source signal and first and second sense finger signals from the cascode circuit, a control circuit to generate a control signal in response to the current limit signal and the overcurrent limit signal, and a drive circuit to generate a drive signal in response to the control signal to control the switching of the low voltage switch. The drive signal provided by a first stage is coupled not to fully enhance the low voltage switch, and provided by a second stage is coupled to fully enhance the low voltage switch.

An AC-DC conversion device that includes a major circuit portion and a control circuit is provided. The major circuit portion includes a converter in which multiple switch portions in a bridge connection include separately-excited switching elements and snubber circuits connected in parallel with the switching elements; and the major circuit portion is connected to an alternating current power supply and a direct current circuit and applies, to the direct current circuit, an alternating current voltage applied from the alternating current power supply by an ON of the multiple switch portions. The control circuit controls the voltage applied to the direct current circuit by controlling the ON timing of the multiple switch portions by inputting a control pulse to each of the multiple switch portions.

A new converter is disclosed, for reducing current harmonics in three phase AC network, during the conversion of AC to DC for power supplying the high-power electrochemical and other non-linear apparatus.

A converter includes a transformer including primary windings and secondary windings, switches connected to the primary windings, an output inductor connected to the secondary windings, and a controller connected to the switches. The controller turns the switches on and off based on dwell times calculated using space vector modulation with a reference current .sub.ref whose magnitude changes with time.