Patent ID: 9257915
Filing Date: 2016-02-09
CPC Classification: H02M

Claim Text:
1. A bridge rectifier circuit comprising: first, second, third, and fourth diode groups which are bridge-connected and each of which includes a main diode and a single or a plurality of sub-diodes that are enabled to be respectively connected in parallel to the main diode via a first switch and a second switch, which are provided between anodes of the main diode and the single or the plurality of sub-diodes and between cathodes of the main diode and the single or the plurality of sub-diodes respectively; first and second input terminals to which AC power from an AC power source is supplied; a first output terminal which is connected to the first input terminal via the first diode group and which is connected to the second input terminal via the second diode group; a second output terminal which is connected to the first input terminal via the third diode group and which is connected to the second input terminal via the fourth diode group; and a control circuit configured to detect a current flowing through at least one diode group from among the first, second, third, and fourth diode groups and to control, based on the detected current, the first switch and the second switch of the diode group, wherein the control circuit is configured to turn ON the first switch and the second switch so as to increase the number of the single or the plurality of sub-diodes connected in parallel to the main diode of the diode group in accordance with an increase in the detected current.