Patent ID: 9584026
Date: 2017-02-28
CPC Classifications: G06F,H01L,H02M,H03K,Y02B

Claim:
1. A multi-cell power converter comprising: a plurality of input cells having inputs connected in parallel with an input, and connected to drive parallel respective primary windings of a transformer with power received from the input, the input cells forming a power-sharing array of cells in which if one of the input cells fails, the converter continues to process power through remaining functional input cell or cells; a plurality of output circuits to receive power from respective secondary windings of the transformer, the output circuits having outputs that are connected in parallel to provide an output voltage to a load, the output circuits forming a power-sharing array in supplying power to the output in which if one of the output circuits fails, the converter continues to process power through remaining functional output circuit or circuits; and a switch control circuit; wherein each of the output circuits comprises a first series circuit having a first switch and a second switch each adapted to block current flow in an OFF state in at least one direction, the first switch is connected to the second switch at a first junction, the first series circuit has two end terminals, the first junction is connected to a first terminal of the respective secondary winding, the first series circuit is connected across an output of the converter with each of the two end terminals connected to a respective terminal of the output and with each of the first and second switches being arranged in the OFF state to block current flow through the first series circuit in a direction that would short the output, and a short across one of the first or second switches does not short the output; and wherein the switch control circuit is configured to sense an output of the second switch in each output circuit and prevent the first switch in the output circuit from turning ON if the sensing indicates that the second switch in the output circuit is not open, and to sense an output of the first switch in the output circuit and prevent the second switch in the output circuit from turning ON if the sensing indicates that the first switch in the output circuit is not open.