Patent ID: 8299398

Claim:
A welding-type power source comprising: a primary inverter configured to generate a first AC power; a transformer having a primary side configured to receive the first AC power and a secondary side configured to deliver a second AC power; a converter configured to convert the second AC power to DC power; a half-bridge inverter configured to receive the DC power and provide a switched current path for a negative portion and a positive portion of an AC welding-type power, the half-bridge inverter having a first switch and a second switch and a first output and a second output configured to deliver the negative portion and the positive portions of the AC welding-type power to a welding output to generate a welding-type arc during a welding-type process; an inductance connected at a first end to the first output and the second output of the half-bridge inverter and connected at a second end to the welding output, the inductance to store energy, and deliver an energy stored in the inductance during the negative portion and the positive portion of the AC welding-type power; a circuit configured to receive the energy stored in the inductance during delivery of one portion of the AC welding-type power and deliver the energy back to the inductance during delivery of another portion of the AC welding-type power; wherein during the negative portion, the first switch is switched on to provide a first current path from the secondary side, through the converter, through the first switch, and through the inductance to form the welding-type arc, and to reverse the first current path, the first switch is switched off to provide a second current path through a first resonant circuit including the inductance; and wherein during the positive portion, the second switch is switched on to provide a third current path from the secondary side, through the converter, through the second switch, and through the inductance to form the welding-type arc, and to reverse the third current path, the second switch is switched off to provide a fourth current path through a second resonant circuit including the inductance.