Circuit for correcting the power factor

Abstract

The invention relates to a circuit for power-factor correction having a rectifier (,) which can be connected on the input side to an AC voltage source (,) and which is connected on the output side to at least one series circuit comprising a capacitor (CS,) and a diode (DS,), with the diode (DS,) being arranged such that the capacitor (CS,; CS,) cannot be charged through the diode (DS,; DS,) by the output signal from the rectifier (,), a first and a second electronic switch (T,, T,) connected in series as part of a half bridge or full bridge, each having a freewheeling diode (DF,; DF,) connected in parallel with the switch (T,; T,) and, with the [lacuna] formed by the junction point between the first and second switches (T,, T,) [lacuna] an output connection of the half bridge or full bridge is on the one hand connected via an inductance (L) to a point on the connection of the capacitor (CS,) and diode (DS,) of each series circuit comprising a capacitor (CS,) and a diode (DS,), and on the other hand forms a connection for a load (LD), and the signal at this connection during operation is at a considerably higher frequency than the output signal from the AC voltage source (,), an energy-storage capacitor (CS) which is connected in parallel with the two switches (T,, T,) and at least one further diode (DP,; DP,) which is arranged between the energy-storage capacitor (CS) and the rectifier (,) in such a manner that the energy-storage capacitor (CS) cannot be discharged through the rectifier (,).