Dc-to-dc voltage converter employing a common transistor in both

Abstract

In this converter, a common transistor Q2 is one of the two transistors Q1 and Q2 of a multivibrator and is also one of a pair of power switching transistors Q2 and Q3 that are connected in series across an input port receiving an input voltage-V of one polarity. The other transistor Q1 of the multivibrator is also connected across the input port. The multivibrator causes the switching transistors Q2 and Q3 to be alternately conducting and nonconducting. A pair of capacitors C3 and C4 and unidirectional diodes D4, D5, and D6 are connected to the switching transistors Q2 and Q3 in such a manner that only one capacitor C3 is charged in one direction during conduction of the common transistor Q2, and that this one capacitor C3 discharges through the other capacitor C4 to charge the latter and produce an output voltage of the other polarity across it and an output port only during conduction of the other switching transistor Q3. A fourth transistor Q4 operating as a current amplifier is connected between the multivibrator transistors Q1 and Q2 for providing a current drive to the common transistor Q2.