Patent ID: 8937402
Filing Date: 2015-01-20
Classification: H02M

Abstract:
1. A converter circuit to be connected to an electrical energy source capable of major fluctuations, said circuit comprising: a chopper circuit comprising an energy accumulation inductor and at least one chopping switch, and having an input terminal capable of being connected to said electrical energy source, a first output circuit comprising a first switch connected on one side to an output terminal of the chopper circuit, and on the other side to an output terminal of the first output circuit which is connected to a load, a second output circuit comprising a second switch connected on one side to the output terminal of the chopper circuit and on the other side to an output terminal of the second output circuit which is connected to an electrical energy accumulator, wherein said first and second switches are independent, and a control circuit adapted to determine the operating voltage at terminals of said electrical energy source at successive instants, to control the duty cycle of the chopper circuit as a function of the variation in voltage of said electrical energy source, between two successive instants, such that the derivative of the operative voltage as a function of the duty cycle is maximized; the control circuit is further adapted to determine the output voltage on the output terminal of the first circuit, compare the output voltage to a range of output voltage values, and command the first and second switches in order to provide the electrical power either to the load through the first switch, if the output voltage is included in the range, or to the electrical energy accumulator through the second switch if the output voltage is outside the range, wherein said major fluctuations are fluctuations by a factor of 100 between lowest power and highest power provided by said source.