Circuit for switching an AC voltage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11418124-B2
Application number	US-201917259423-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 10, 2019
Priority date	Jul 10, 2018
Publication date	Aug 16, 2022
Grant date	Aug 16, 2022

Abstract

The present invention relates to a circuit for switching an AC voltage. It contains an input terminal able to be connected to an AC voltage source, an output terminal able to be connected to a load impedance, and a first series circuit. This series circuit comprises a diode and a circuit for storing electrical charges. The series circuit has a first end connection that is connected to the input terminal and a second end connection that is connected to the output terminal. The circuit for switching an AC voltage furthermore contains a DC voltage source, which is connected to an electrical connection between the diode and the input terminal or to an electrical connection between the diode and the output terminal and is designed to impress a DC current in the diode. The circuit for switching an AC voltage finally contains a first switch that is connected to an electrical connection between the diode and the circuit for storing electrical charges at one terminal. The first switch is designed to switch between a switching state in which a potential dependent on a reference potential is present at the electrical connection between the diode and the circuit for storing electrical charges, and a switching state in which an electrical floating potential is present in the electrical connection between the diode and the circuit for storing electrical charges.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An assembly comprising:
a first switchable AC circuit;
a second switchable AC circuit;
a first switchable DC circuit; and
a second switchable DC circuit, wherein
said first switchable AC circuit comprises an AC power source, a first diode, a first node, and a first charge storage arrangement in serial arrangement,
said second switchable AC circuit comprises said AC power source, a second diode, a second node, and a second charge storage arrangement in serial arrangement,
said first switchable DC circuit comprises a DC power source, said first diode, said first node, and a first switching element in serial arrangement,
in an closed-circuit state of said first switchable DC circuit, said first switchable DC circuit comprises a first current path between said DC power source and said first diode, said first current path comprising said first node and said first switching element,
in an open-circuit state of said first switchable DC circuit, said first switchable AC circuit comprises a second current path between said first diode and said first charge storage arrangement, said second current path comprising said first node,
said second switchable DC circuit comprises said DC power source, said second diode, said second node, and a second switching element in serial arrangement,
in an closed-circuit state of said second switchable DC circuit, said second switchable DC circuit comprises a third current path between said DC power source and said second diode, said third current path comprising said second node and said second switching element,
in an open-circuit state of said second switchable DC circuit, said second switchable AC circuit comprises a fourth current path between said second diode and said second charge storage arrangement, said fourth current path comprising said second node,
said first diode constituting, a switch of said first switchable AC circuit,
said second diode constituting a switch of said second switchable AC circuit,
in an open-circuit state of said first switchable DC circuit, all current-conducting paths that comprise said first node comprise said first diode and at least one pole of said first charge storage arrangement, and
in an open-circuit state of said second switchable DC circuit, all current-conducting paths that comprise said second node comprise said second diode and at least one pole of said second charge storage arrangement.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
in said closed-circuit state of said first switchable DC circuit, a first DC current through said first diode effects a forward bias of said first diode that closes said first switchable AC circuit.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
in said open-circuit state of said first switchable DC circuit, said AC power source effects an increase of a cathode voltage at a first cathode of said first diode relative to an anode voltage at a first anode of said first diode, which effects a reverse bias of said first diode that opens said first switchable AC circuit.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
in said closed-circuit state of said second switchable DC circuit, a second DC current through said second diode effects a forward bias of said second diode that closes said second switchable AC circuit, and
in said open-circuit state of said second switchable DC circuit, said AC power source effects an increase of a cathode voltage at a second cathode of said second diode relative to an anode voltage at a second anode of said second diode, which effects a reverse bias of said second diode that opens said second switchable AC circuit.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
in a closed-circuit state of said first switchable DC circuit, said DC power source induces a first DC current that flows through said first diode and said first switching element,
in a closed-circuit state of said second switchable DC circuit, said DC power source induces a second DC current that flows through said second diode and said second switching element,
said first switchable AC circuit is configured to inhibit a flow of said first DC current to said AC power source, and
said first switchable AC circuit is configured to inhibit a flow of said second DC current to said C power source.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein:
said second switchable AC circuit is configured to inhibit a flow of said first DC current to said AC power source, and
said second switchable AC circuit is configured to inhibit a flow of said second DC current to said AC power source.

7. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein:
said first switchable AC circuit comprises a first spark plug,
said second switchable AC circuit comprises a second spark plug,
said first switchable AC circuit is configured to inhibit a flow of said first DC current to said first spark plug,
said first switchable AC circuit is configured to inhibit a flow of said second DC current to said first spark plug,
said second switchable AC circuit is configured to inhibit a flow of said first DC current to said second spark plug, and
said second switchable AC circuit is configured to inhibit a flow of said second DC current to said second spark plug.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:
said first switchable DC circuit is configured to inhibit a flow of AC current from said AC power source to said DC power source, and
said second switchable DC circuit is configured to inhibit a flow of AC current from said AC power source to said DC power source.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , comprising:
a first plurality of capacitors; and
a first plurality of switching elements, wherein
in said closed-circuit state of said first switchable DC circuit, said first plurality of switching elements are configured such that said first plurality of capacitors are connected in parallel, and
in said open-circuit state of said first switchable DC circuit, said first plurality of switching elements are configured such that said first plurality of capacitors are connected in series.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein:
in said open-circuit state of said first switchable DC circuit, said first plurality of capacitors connected in series contributes to a reverse bias of said first diode.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , comprising:
a second plurality of capacitors; and
a second plurality of switching elements, wherein
in said closed-circuit state of said second switchable DC circuit, said second plurality of switching elements are configured such that said second plurality of capacitors are connected in parallel, and
in said open-circuit state of said second switchable DC circuit, said second plural ii of switching elements are configured such that said second plurality of capacitors are connected in series.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein:
in said open-circuit state of said second switchable DC circuit, said second plurality of capacitors connected in series contributes to a reverse bias of said second diode.

13. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
said first switchable AC circuit comprises a first spark plug; and
said second switchable AC circuit comprises a second spark plug.

14. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein:
said first charge storage arrangement comprises:
a first plurality of capacitors; and
a first plurality of switching elements,

in said closed-circuit state of said first switchable DC circuit, said first plurality of switching elements are configured such that said first plurality of capacitors are connected in parallel between a first cathode of said first diode and a first pole of said first spark plug, and
in said open-circuit state of said firs

Assignees

• Rosenberger Hochfrequenztechnik Gmbh & Co Kg
• Rosenberger Hochfrequenztechnik Gmbh

Inventors

• Fuchs Martin
• Huber Christoph
• Winkler Johannes
• Gröger Sven
• Van Delden Marcel
• Notzon Gordon
• Musch Thomas

Classifications

• H02M5/458

  using semiconductor devices only · CPC title

• F02P3/01

  Electric spark ignition installations without subsequent energy storage, i.e. energy supplied by an electrical oscillator (with magneto- or dynamo-electric generators F02P1/00; piezoelectric ignition F02P3/12; with continuous electric spark F02P15/10) · CPC title

• H02M7/25

  arranged for operation in series, e.g. for multiplication of voltage · CPC title

• H02M5/20 Primary

  using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode · CPC title

• H02M7/10 Primary

  arranged for operation in series, e.g. for multiplication of voltage · CPC title