Westinghouse Electric Corporation

David L Stechschulte

David A Fox

Kenneth C Shuey

A single phase rectifier circuit produces a full wave rectified voltage by rectifying an AC input voltage, couples the rectified voltage to a filter capacitor through an inductor, and repeatedly switches the sum of the rectified voltage and the voltage on the capacitor across the inductor, thereby reducing input current distortion and improving the power factor of the circuit. When the rectified voltage is of a sufficient magnitude to drive current through the inductor, switching of the capacitor voltage across the inductor can be eliminated. The switching function is performed by a half bridge boost converter.

Single phase rectifier circuit

A transistor base drive circuit achieves optimum base current levels to avoid unnecessary transistor power dissipation by including means for diverting excessive base drive from the transistor base to the transistor collector. A capacitor in series with the transistor base decreases switch transition time. Increasing capacitance of the capacitor results in a decrease in transistor saturation voltage, thereby decreasing power dissipation in the transistor.

Growing community of inventors

Pleasant Township, Putnam County, OH, United States of America

David L Stechschulte