The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 29, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 06, 2000
Milan Zarko Ilic, Clifton Park, NY (US);
Warren Ralph Germer, Hampton, NH (US);
Richard Alan Balch, North Hampton, NH (US);
General Electric Company, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Abstract
A dc-to-dc converter is provided with overvoltage protection circuitry while still providing normal output voltage. Such overvoltage protection circuitry does not require resetting. The overvoltage protection circuitry includes a first switching device connected between the input bridge and a dc output voltage bus and further includes an overvoltage current path. The overvoltage current path includes a complementary switching device in series with Zener diode circuitry having a predetermined breakdown voltage, and further has a transition current path. The first switching device is closed for nominal input voltage and is open for overvoltages. When the input voltage exceeds the Zener diode breakdown voltage, the transition current path conducts current. When the threshold voltage of the complementary switching device is exceeded, the complementary switching device turns on and conducts current through the overvoltage current path. After the overvoltage transient condition subsides and the input voltage decreases back to the nominal range, the complementary switching device turns off, and normal converter operation resumes.