Patent ID: 8184421

Claim:
A power converter comprising a first input-output portion comprising a first positive terminal and a first negative terminal, a second input-output portion comprising a second positive terminal and a second negative terminal, a first capacitor comprising a first positive capacitor electrode electrically connected with the second positive terminal and a first negative capacitor electrode, a second capacitor electrically connected in series with the first capacitor and comprising a second positive capacitor electrode electrically connected with the first negative capacitor electrode and a second negative capacitor electrode electrically connected with the second negative terminal, a first current control block, a second current control block, a third current control block, a fourth current control block and a switching controller for switching each of the first, second, third and fourth current control blocks for an electrical current to flow therethrough, wherein the first input-output portion is electrically connected with the second input-output portion through the first capacitor, the second capacitor, the first current control block, the second current control block, the third current control block and the fourth current control block, wherein the first current control block is electrically connected with the first positive terminal and the second positive terminal, the second current-control block is electrically connected with the first positive terminal and the first negative capacitor electrode, the third current control block is electrically connected with the first negative terminal and the first negative capacitor electrode, and the fourth current control block is electrically connected with the first negative terminal and the second negative terminal, and wherein each of the first current control block, the second current control block, the third current control block and the fourth current control block comprises a first current control element through which an electrical current flows exclusively in a first direction between the first input-output portion and the second input-output portion and a second current control element through which an electrical current flows exclusively in a second direction between the first input-output portion and the second input-output portion, the first direction being opposite to the second direction, wherein the first current control element is configured to shut off the electrical current flowing in the first direction and the second current control element is configured to shut off the electrical current in the second direction.