INDUCTION ENERGY TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

Abstract

An induction energy transmission system includes a receiving unit having a first receiving induction element for receiving an inductively provided energy, and a voltage converter unit connected to the first receiving induction element and configured to convert an electrical voltage of the first receiving induction element for supply of energy to an additional unit.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. An induction energy transmission system, in particular an induction cooking system, said induction energy transmission system comprising a receiving unit comprising a first receiving induction element for receiving an inductively provided energy, and a voltage converter unit connected to the first receiving induction element and configured to convert an electrical voltage of the first receiving induction element for supply of energy to an additional unit.

16. The induction energy transmission system of claim 15, wherein the voltage converter unit comprises a voltage cascade with at least one stage.

17. The induction energy transmission system of claim 15, wherein the receiving unit comprises a control unit which includes a voltage regulator configured to adjust a supply voltage for the additional unit.

18. The induction energy transmission system of claim 16, wherein the voltage cascade includes a plurality of stages for conversion of the electrical voltage, said receiving unit comprising a control unit which includes a switching unit configured to activate a corresponding one of the stages of the voltage cascade as a function of a supply voltage required by the additional unit.

19. The induction energy transmission system of claim 15, wherein the voltage converter unit is configured to convert an electrical alternating voltage into a first electrical direct voltage.

20. The induction energy transmission system of claim 19, wherein the voltage converter unit is configured to convert the electrical alternating voltage into a second electrical direct voltage with a polarity opposing a polarity of the first electrical direct voltage.

21. The induction energy transmission system of claim 15, wherein the voltage converter unit comprises a Cockcroft-Walton circuit.

22. The induction energy transmission system of claim 15, wherein the receiving unit includes a second receiving induction element which is part of a common secondary coil with the first receiving induction element.

23. The induction energy transmission system of claim 15, further comprising a supply unit comprises a supply induction element configured to provide a magnetic alternating field for the first receiving induction element.

24. The induction energy transmission system of claim 23, wherein the supply unit is configured as a cooking appliance.

25. The induction energy transmission system of claim 15, wherein the receiving unit is configured as an item of cookware.

26. The induction energy transmission system of claim 15, wherein the receiving unit is configured as a support unit for positioning an item of cookware.

27. An item of cookware or support unit for positioning an item of cookware, comprising an induction energy transmission system, said induction energy transmission system comprising a receiving unit which includes a first receiving induction element for receiving an inductively provided energy, and a voltage converter unit connected to the first receiving induction element and configured to convert an electrical voltage of the first receiving induction element for supply of energy to an additional unit.

28. The item of cookware or support unit of claim 27, wherein the receiving unit comprises a control unit which includes a voltage regulator configured to adjust a supply voltage for the additional unit.

29. The item of cookware or support unit of claim 27, wherein the voltage converter unit comprises a voltage cascade including a plurality of stages for conversion of the electrical voltage, said receiving unit comprising a control unit which includes a switching unit configured to activate a corresponding one of the stages of the voltage cascade as a function of a supply voltage required by the additional unit.

30. The item of cookware or support unit of claim 27, wherein the voltage converter unit is configured to convert an electrical alternating voltage into a first electrical direct voltage.

31. The item of cookware or support unit of claim 30, wherein the voltage converter unit is configured to convert the electrical alternating voltage into a second electrical direct voltage with a polarity opposing a polarity of the first electrical direct voltage.

32. The item of cookware or support unit of claim 27, wherein the receiving unit includes a second receiving induction element which is part of a common secondary coil with the first receiving induction element.

33. The item of cookware or support unit of claim 27, wherein the induction energy transmission system comprises a supply unit which includes a supply induction element configured to provide a magnetic alternating field for the first receiving induction element.

34. A method for operating an induction energy transmission system which includes a receiving induction element which in an operating state receives inductively provided energy, said method comprising converting an electrical voltage of the receiving induction element for supplying energy to an additional unit.

Description

[0035] In the drawing:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows an induction energy transmission system with a receiving unit configured as an item of cookware in a schematic plan view,

[0037] FIG. 2 shows the induction energy transmission system in a schematic sectional view,

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a circuit diagram of the receiving unit with a voltage converter unit in a schematic view,

[0039] FIG. 4 shows two exemplary activation sequences of the induction energy transmission system in three respective diagrams, in which a power, an electromagnetic field and a voltage are plotted in each case over a frequency, in a schematic view,

[0040] FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of an induction energy transmission system with a receiving unit configured as a support unit in a schematic view and

[0041] FIG. 6 shows a circuit diagram of a voltage converter unit of a further exemplary embodiment of an induction energy transmission system in a schematic view.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows an induction energy transmission system 10a which is configured as an induction cooking system. In the present exemplary embodiment, the induction energy transmission system 10a is configured as an induction hob-type cooking system. The induction energy transmission system 10a has a receiving unit 12a which is configured as an item of cookware 42a.

[0043] According to FIG. 2 the receiving unit 12a has a housing unit 110a. The housing unit 110a is configured as an external housing unit and in the operating state forms an external housing of the receiving unit 12a. The receiving unit 12a has a receiving space 120a for receiving food.

[0044] The receiving unit 12a has a plurality of receiving induction elements 14a, 32a, 46a. A first receiving induction element 14a, a second receiving induction element 32a and a third receiving induction element 46a of the receiving unit 12a are provided in each case for receiving an inductively provided energy. The first receiving induction element 14a, the second receiving induction element 32a and the third receiving induction element 46a are part of a common secondary coil 34a (see FIG. 3). Additionally, the receiving unit 12a has a further receiving induction element 116a which is part of a further secondary coil 118a and is also provided for receiving an inductively provided energy. Alternatively, the receiving unit 12a could have a larger number of receiving induction elements 14a, 32a, 46a, such as for example at least five, advantageously at least six and preferably a plurality of receiving induction elements 14a, 32a, 46a. In these and the following exemplary embodiments, in each case the three receiving induction elements 14a, 32a, 46a are described by way of example, but any number may be selected and the description transferred, in particular, to a different number of receiving induction elements.

[0045] The receiving induction element 14a forms a first coil portion of the secondary coil 34a. The second receiving induction element 32a has the first receiving induction element 14a and additionally a second coil portion of the secondary coil 34a which, in particular, is electrically connected in series with the first coil portion. The third receiving induction element 46a has the first receiving induction element 14a and the second receiving induction element 32a and additionally a third coil portion of the secondary coil 34a which, in particular, is electrically connected in series with the first coil portion and the second coil portion.

[0046] In at least one operating state, the receiving induction elements 14a, 32a, 46a supply an additional unit 18a. In the operating state, the receiving induction elements 14a, 32a, 46a are provided for supplying energy to an additional unit 18a. The additional unit 18a is part of the receiving unit 12a.

[0047] The additional unit 18a is partially integrated in the housing unit 110a. The additional unit 18a is partially arranged on the housing unit 110a. The additional unit 18a is an electronics unit which is different from a control unit 24a of the receiving unit 12a of the induction energy transmission system 10a.

[0048] In the present exemplary embodiment the additional unit 18a has a user interface 106a. The additional unit 18a, and in particular the user interface 106a, have an input unit 108a which is provided for an input of operating parameters. The additional unit 18a, and in particular the user interface 106a, have an output unit 112a which is provided for an output of operating parameters to a user. The additional unit 18a, and in particular the user interface 106a, have a control electronics unit 114a which is provided for processing operating parameters. The input unit 108a and the output unit 112a are partially configured in one piece.

[0049] The induction energy transmission system 10a has a supply unit 36a. The supply unit 36a is configured as a cooking appliance 40a and namely as an induction hob. The supply unit 36a is provided to provide energy inductively for heating food located in the receiving space 120a of the receiving unit 12a.

[0050] The supply unit 36a has a supply induction element 38a. The supply induction element 38a is provided for providing a magnetic alternating field for the first receiving induction element 14a, the second receiving induction element 32a, the third receiving induction element 46a and the further receiving induction element 116a. In at least one operating state, an energy may be received inductively by the receiving induction elements 14a, 32a, 46a and by the further receiving induction element 116a by the magnetic alternating field provided inductively by the supply induction element 38a. The receiving unit 12a comprises at least one electrical heating element (not shown) which is operated by a part of the energy received by the receiving induction elements 14a, 32a, 46a and is provided for heating at least one food located in the receiving space 120a.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows an electrical circuit diagram of the receiving unit 12a in a schematic view. The receiving unit 12a comprises a voltage converter unit 16a which is provided for a conversion of an electrical voltage for supplying energy to the additional unit 18a. The voltage converter unit 16a is provided to convert at least one electrical alternating voltage into at least one electrical direct voltage. The receiving unit 12a comprises the control unit 24a with a voltage regulator 26a. The voltage regulator 26a is provided to adjust at least one supply voltage for the additional unit 18a. The control unit 24a comprises a switching unit 30a. The receiving induction element 14a is connected in an electrically conductive manner to the voltage converter unit 16a. The receiving induction elements 14a, 32a, 46a are connected in an electrically conductive manner in each case via the switching unit 30a to the voltage regulator 26a and the control unit 24a. The receiving induction element 14a is connected in an electrically conductive manner to the voltage converter unit 16a.

[0052] The voltage converter unit 16a contains a voltage cascade 20a. The voltage cascade 20a comprises a first stage 22a, a second stage 28a and a third stage 48a. The first stage 22a, the second stage 28a and the third stage 48a in each case are connected in an electrically conductive manner via the switching unit 30a to the voltage regulator 26a and to the control unit 24a. The switching unit 30a controls a suitable stage of the stages 22a, 28a, 48a of the voltage cascade 20a as a function of a supply voltage required by the additional unit 18a.

[0053] In the present exemplary embodiment, the voltage converter unit 16a comprises a Cockcroft-Walton circuit. The voltage cascade 20a of the voltage converter unit 16a is configured as a three-stage Cockcroft-Walton circuit voltage cascade with the first stage 22a, the second stage 28a and the third stage 48a. The function of a voltage conversion in the first stage 28a using the voltage cascade 20a of the voltage converter unit 16a is to be described hereinafter, wherein for simplicity an ideal loss-free voltage converter unit 16a is considered hereinafter. The first stage 22a comprises a first capacitor element 50a, a second capacitor element 52a, a first diode element 54a and a second diode element 56a.

[0054] With a part of the inductively received energy, the receiving induction element 14a provides an alternating voltage for the voltage converter unit 16a and may be considered as an alternating voltage source 62a. The alternating voltage source 62a has a first connection point 58a and a second connection point 60a. In an operating state, an electrical potential difference, which corresponds to a value of a voltage of the alternating voltage source 62a, is present between the first connection point 58a and the second connection point 60a. During a first half oscillation of a first half period of a first alternating voltage interval, the first connection point 58a is at a reference potential and the second connection point 60a is at a potential of a first electrical polarity. During a second half oscillation of a second half period of the first alternating voltage interval of the alternating voltage source 62a, the first connection point 58a is at a reference potential and the second connection point 60a is at a potential of a second electrical polarity opposing the first electrical polarity. The first diode element 54a of the first stage 22a is connected in an electrically conductive manner with its anode via the first connection point 58a to the alternating voltage source 62a. A first electrode of the first capacitor element 50a of the first stage 22a is connected in an electrically conductive manner via a second connection point 60a to the receiving induction element 14a. The first diode element 54a is connected in an electrically conductive manner with its cathode to a second electrode of the first capacitor element 50a. During the first half oscillation of the first alternating voltage interval, a current of the first electrical polarity flows from the first connection point 58a of the alternating voltage source 62a in the forward direction through the first diode element 54a and charges the first capacitor element 50a. A potential difference is present between the electrodes of the first capacitor element 50a, the value of said potential difference corresponding to the voltage of the alternating voltage source 62a. During the second half oscillation of the first alternating voltage interval, a current of the second electrical polarity flows from the second connection point 60a of the alternating voltage source 62a in the direction of the first capacitor element 50a. During this second half oscillation the first diode element 54a blocks the flow of current of the second polarity in a reverse direction, and the potential of the alternating voltage source 62a and the potential between the electrodes of the first capacitor element 50a are added up. After a first alternating voltage interval, the second electrode of the first capacitor element 50a is at a greater electrical potential, the value thereof corresponding to double the value of the voltage of the alternating voltage source 62a.

[0055] The anode of the second diode element 56a is connected in an electrically conductive manner to the second electrode of the first capacitor element 50a. The cathode of the second diode element 56a is connected in an electrically conductive manner to a first electrode of the second capacitor element 52a. A second electrode of the second capacitor element 52a is connected in an electrically conductive manner to the first connection point 58a of the alternating voltage source 62a. During the second half oscillation the second capacitor element 52a is charged to the greater potential of the second electrode of the first capacitor element 50a. The voltage provided by the receiving induction element 14a as an input alternating voltage for the voltage converter unit 16a is converted by the first stage 22a of the voltage cascade 20a into an output direct voltage of a larger value. If the first stage 22a of the voltage cascade 20a is connected in an electrically conductive manner to the switching unit 30a via a third connection point 122, the output direct voltage of the first stage 22a of the voltage converter unit 16a may be tapped for supplying the additional unit 18a. At the third connection point 122a the value of the output direct voltage of the first stage 22a corresponds to double the value of the input alternating voltage of the voltage converter unit 16a.

[0056] The second stage 28a has a third capacitor element 64a, a fourth capacitor element 66a, a third diode element 68a and a fourth diode element 70a. The third diode element 68a is connected on the anode side to the second capacitor element 52a of the first stage 22a. The diode elements 68a, 70a and the capacitor elements 64a, 66a of the second stage 28a are connected together in the same manner as the diode elements 54a, 56a and the capacitor elements 50a, 52 of the first stage 22a. If the second stage 28a is connected in an electrically conductive manner via a fourth connection point 124a to the switching unit 30a, the second capacitor element 52a of the first stage 22a may be considered as a voltage source for the second stage 28a. A value of the direct voltage provided by the first stage 22a may be further increased in the second stage 28a, wherein this further increase takes place in a manner similar to the above-described increase by the first stage 22a. At the fourth connection point 124a the output direct voltage of the second stage 28a corresponds to three times the value of the input alternating voltage of the first stage 22a. The third stage 48a has a fifth diode element 76a, a sixth diode element 78a, a fifth capacitor element 72a and a sixth capacitor element 74a which are connected together in a manner similar to the first stage 22a and the second stage 28a. If the third stage 48a is connected via a fifth connection point 126a to the switching unit 30a, a value of the voltage may be further increased by electrical processes corresponding to the stages 22a and 28a. The output direct voltage of the third stage 48a of the voltage cascade 20a corresponds to four times the value of the input alternating voltage of the first stage 22a.

[0057] FIG. 4 shows on the left-hand side a first overall view of three diagrams for showing a first exemplary activation sequence of the induction energy transmission system 10a. An electrical power is plotted on an ordinate axis 80a of a first diagram, a frequency is plotted on an abscissa axis 82a of the first diagram. An electromagnetic field is plotted on an ordinate axis 84a of a second diagram, a frequency is plotted on an abscissa axis 86a of the second diagram. An electrical voltage is plotted on an ordinate axis 88a of a third diagram, a frequency is plotted on an abscissa axis 90a of the third diagram. The three diagrams represent a first exemplary activation sequence. A first voltage curve 92a in the third diagram describes a voltage induced in the first receiving induction element 14a. A second voltage curve 94a describes a voltage induced in the second receiving induction element 32a. A third voltage curve 96a describes a voltage induced in the third receiving induction element 46a. A fourth voltage curve 98a describes a voltage which is induced in the third receiving induction element 46a and which is converted by the first stage 22a of the voltage converter unit 16a. A fifth voltage curve 100a describes a voltage which is induced in the third receiving induction element 46a and which is converted by the second stage 28a of the voltage converter unit 16a. In the first exemplary activation sequence of the induction energy transmission system 10a, for supplying energy to the additional unit 18a the control unit 24a activates via the switching unit 30a initially the first receiving induction element 14a, then the second receiving induction element 32a, then the third receiving induction element 46a, subsequently the first stage 22a of the voltage converter unit 16a and finally the second stage 28a of the voltage converter unit 16a (see FIG. 3). By activating a different number of receiving induction elements 14a, 32a and 46a of the common secondary coil 34a and/or by activating the different stages 22a, 28a and 48a, in the operating state the control unit 24a maintains an energy provided for supplying energy to the additional unit 18a within an energy supply voltage interval 102a, which in particular corresponds to an optimal supply voltage of the additional unit 18a.

[0058] A further overall view of three further diagrams of a further exemplary activation sequence of the induction energy transmission system 10a is shown on the right-hand side in FIG. 4. An electrical power is plotted on an ordinate axis 180a of a further first diagram, a frequency is plotted on an abscissa axis 182a of the further first diagram. An electromagnetic field is plotted on an ordinate axis 184a of a further second diagram, a frequency is plotted on an abscissa axis 186a of the further second diagram. An electrical voltage is plotted on an ordinate axis 188a of a further third diagram, a frequency is plotted on an abscissa axis 190a of the further third diagram. A further first voltage curve 192a describes a further voltage induced in the first receiving induction element 14a. A further second voltage curve 194a describes a further voltage induced in the second receiving induction element 32a. A further third voltage curve 196a describes a further voltage induced in the third receiving induction element 46a. A further fourth voltage curve 198a describes a further voltage which is induced in the third receiving induction element 46a and which is amplified by the first stage 22a of the voltage converter unit 16a. A further fifth voltage curve 200a describes a further voltage which is induced in the third receiving induction element 46a and which is amplified by the second stage 28a of the voltage converter unit 16a. In the further exemplary activation sequence of the induction energy transmission system 10a, for supplying energy to the additional unit 18a the control unit 24a activates via the switching unit 30a initially the first receiving induction element 14a, then the third receiving induction element 46a and subsequently the first stage 22a of the voltage converter unit 16a, in order to maintain the energy provided for supplying energy to the additional unit 18a within a further energy supply voltage interval 202.

[0059] The voltage intervals 104a and 204a are shown in the third diagram and the further third diagram in comparison with the energy supply voltage intervals 102a and 202a, in the case of a direct activation of the third stage 48a by the control unit 24a. It may be identified that in each case the voltage intervals 104a and 204a in both examples shown have a substantially greater amplitude than the energy supply voltage intervals 102a and 202a and thus, in particular, this would result in greater stress on the electronic and/or electrical objects of the receiving unit 12a, in particular of the voltage regulator 26a.

[0060] In a method for operating the induction energy transmission system 10a, the at least one receiving induction element 14a receives an inductively provided energy, wherein an electrical voltage of the receiving induction element 14a is converted for supplying energy to the at least one additional unit 18a. In the present case, the supply induction element 38a provides energy inductively to be received by the at least one receiving induction element 14a (see FIG. 2). An electrical voltage of the receiving induction element 14a is converted by the voltage converter unit 16a for supplying energy to the additional unit 18a (see FIG. 3).

[0061] In FIGS. 5 and 6 two further exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The following descriptions are substantially limited to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, wherein relative to components, features and functions remaining the same, reference may be made to the description of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4. For differentiating between the exemplary embodiments, the letter a is replaced in the reference characters of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 4 by the letters b and c in the reference characters of the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6. Relative to components which are denoted the same, in particular relative to components with the same reference characters, in principle reference may also be made to the drawings and/or the description of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0062] FIG. 5 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an induction energy transmission system 10a. A receiving unit 12b of the induction energy transmission system 10b is configured as a support unit 44b for positioning an item of cookware 42b. Apart from an inductive heating, the receiving unit 12b has the functionality of the receiving unit 12a of the previous exemplary embodiment. In the present case the inductive heating takes place directly in a cookware base of the item of cookware 42b.

[0063] FIG. 6 shows an electrical circuit diagram of a further alternative exemplary embodiment of an induction energy transmission system 10c. The induction energy transmission system 10c of the present exemplary embodiment is configured in a manner which is substantially identical to the induction energy transmission system 10a of the first exemplary embodiment and differs only relative to a voltage converter unit 16c of the induction energy transmission system 10c. The voltage converter unit 16c is provided to convert at least one electrical alternating voltage into an electrical direct voltage of a first electrical polarity and into at least one further electrical direct voltage with a second electrical polarity opposing the first electrical polarity.

[0064] The voltage converter unit 16c comprises a voltage cascade 20c and a further voltage cascade 220c. The voltage cascade 20c comprises a first stage 22c with the diode elements 54c, 56c and the capacitor elements 50c, 52c; a second stage 28c with the diode elements 68c, 70c and the capacitor elements 64c, 66c and a third stage 48c with the diode elements 76c, 78c and the capacitor elements 72c, 74c. The construction and mode of operation of the voltage cascade 20c correspond to the above-described view of the voltage cascade 20a of FIG. 3. The further voltage cascade 220c is constructed symmetrically to the voltage cascade 20c. The further voltage cascade 220c comprises a further first stage 222c with the further diode elements 254c, 256c and the further capacitor elements 250c, 252c; a further second stage 228c with the further diode elements 268c, 270c and the further capacitor elements 264c, 266c and a further third stage 248c with the further diode elements 276c, 278c and the further capacitor elements 272c and 274c. The elements of the further voltage cascade 220c are arranged relative to one another in a manner which is at least substantially the same as the elements of the voltage cascade 20c, wherein the respective forward directions of the diode elements 254c, 256c, 268c, 270c, 276c, 278c of the further voltage cascade 220c are reversed relative to the respective forward directions of the diode elements 54c, 56c, 68c, 70c, 76c, 78c of the voltage cascade 20c. For example, a current flows through the first diode element 54c in the first voltage cascade 20c during a first half oscillation of a half period of an alternating voltage interval of an alternating voltage source 62c which is connected via the connection points 58c and 60c to the voltage cascades 20c and 220c, and charges the first capacitor element 50c, while during this first half oscillation the further first diode element 254c of the further voltage cascade 220c blocks a flow of current in the direction of the further first capacitor element 250c. As a result, the electrical processes in the voltage cascade 20c and in the further voltage cascade 220 are temporally offset in each case by half a period. The further first stage 222c of the further voltage cascade 220c may be connected via a further third connection point 208c, the further second stage 228c may be connected via a further fourth connection point 210c and the further third stage 248c may be connected via a further fifth connection point 212c to a switching unit (not shown) of the induction energy transmission system 10c. Depending on the switching state, a further electrical direct voltage converted by the voltage converter unit 16d, with a second electrical polarity opposing the first electrical polarity of the direct voltage converted by the first voltage cascade 20c, may be tapped at the further connection points 208c, 210c and 212c. In the present case, this second polarity corresponds to a negative electrical polarity.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0065] 10 Induction energy transmission system [0066] 12 Receiving unit [0067] 14 Receiving induction element [0068] 16 Voltage converter unit [0069] 18 Additional unit [0070] 20 Voltage cascade [0071] 22 First stage [0072] 24 Control unit [0073] 26 Voltage regulator [0074] 28 Second stage [0075] 30 Switching unit [0076] 32 Second receiving induction element [0077] 34 Secondary coil [0078] 36 Supply unit [0079] 38 Supply induction element [0080] 40 Cooking appliance [0081] 42 Item of cookware [0082] 44 Support unit [0083] 46 Third receiving induction element [0084] 48 Third stage [0085] 50 First capacitor element [0086] 52 Second capacitor element [0087] 54 First diode element [0088] 56 Second diode element [0089] 58 First connection point [0090] 60 Second connection point [0091] 62 Alternating voltage source [0092] 64 Third capacitor element [0093] 66 Fourth capacitor element [0094] 68 Third diode element [0095] 70 Fourth diode element [0096] 72 Fifth capacitor element [0097] 74 Sixth capacitor element [0098] 76 Fifth diode element [0099] 78 Sixth diode element [0100] 80 Ordinate axis [0101] 82 Abscissa axis [0102] 84 Ordinate axis [0103] 86 Abscissa axis [0104] 88 Ordinate axis [0105] 90 Abscissa axis [0106] 92 First voltage curve [0107] 94 Second voltage curve [0108] 96 Third voltage curve [0109] 98 Fourth voltage curve [0110] 100 Fifth voltage curve [0111] 102 Energy supply voltage interval [0112] 104 Voltage interval [0113] 106 User interface [0114] 108 Input unit [0115] 110 Housing unit [0116] 112 Output unit [0117] 114 Control electronics unit [0118] 116 Further receiving induction element [0119] 118 Further secondary coil [0120] 120 Receiving space [0121] 122 Third connection point [0122] 124 Fourth connection point [0123] 126 Fifth connection point [0124] 180 Ordinate axis [0125] 182 Abscissa axis [0126] 184 Ordinate axis [0127] 186 Abscissa axis [0128] 188 Ordinate axis [0129] 190 Abscissa axis [0130] 192 Further first voltage curve [0131] 194 Further second voltage curve [0132] 196 Further third voltage curve [0133] 198 Further fourth voltage curve [0134] 200 Further fifth voltage curve [0135] 202 Further energy supply voltage interval [0136] 204 Further voltage interval [0137] 208 Further third connection point [0138] 210 Further fourth connection point [0139] 212 Further fifth connection point [0140] 220 Further voltage cascade [0141] 222 Further first stage [0142] 228 Further second stage [0143] 248 Further third stage [0144] 250 Further first capacitor element [0145] 252 Further second capacitor element [0146] 254 Further first diode element [0147] 256 Further second diode element [0148] 264 Further third capacitor element [0149] 266 Further fourth capacitor element [0150] 268 Further third diode element [0151] 270 Further fourth diode element [0152] 272 Further fifth capacitor element [0153] 274 Further sixth capacitor element [0154] 276 Further fifth diode element [0155] 278 Further sixth diode element