Patent ID: 8513928
Filing Date: 2013-08-20
Classification: H02M

Abstract:
1. A bidirectional buck-boost converter comprising: a first set of capacitors, where the first set of capacitors has positive, negative, and mid terminals, and where the positive and negative terminals of the first set of capacitors are configured to operably connect to positive and negative rails, respectively, of a first source; a second set of capacitors, where the second set of capacitors has positive, negative, and mid terminals, where the positive and negative terminals of the second set of capacitors are configured to operably connect to positive and negative terminals, respectively, of a second source, and where the mid terminal of the first set of capacitors is operably connected to the mid terminal of the second set of capacitors; a set of buck switching elements including a first buck switching element and a second buck switching element and configured to switch on and off periodically in buck mode and configured to remain off in boost mode, where the first buck switching element is operably connected to the positive terminal of the first set of capacitors and the second buck switching element is operably connected to the negative terminal of the first set of capacitors; a set of inductors including a first inductor and a second inductor, where the first inductor has one terminal operably connected to the positive terminal of the second set of capacitors and another terminal operably connected to the first buck switching element, and where the second inductor has one terminal operably connected to the negative terminal of the second set of capacitors and another terminal operably connected to the second buck switching element; a boost switching element configured to switch on and off periodically in boost mode and to remain off in buck mode and having one terminal operably connected to the first buck switching element and the first inductor, and a second terminal operably connected to the second buck switching element and the second inductor; a set of unidirectionally conducting elements including first, second, and third unidirectionally conducting elements operably connected in antiparallel to the first buck switching element, the second buck switching element, and the boost switching element, respectively; and at least one current sensor configured to sense current through at least one of the first inductor and the second inductor.