Patent ID: 7148660

Claim:
A power converter system for supplying power to an electrical load, the power converter system comprising: a power converter circuit adapted to perform an AC to DC power conversion and comprising a plurality of semiconductor switches having reverse voltage withstand capability; a power factor control loop for regulating a power factor; a DC voltage control loop for regulating an output DC voltage; and a controller coupled to the power converter circuit for regulating switching of the plurality of semiconductor switches based on a feedback signal received from at least one of the power factor control loop and the DC voltage control loop; and an active clamp circuit coupled to the power converter circuit for regulating DC bus voltage overshoots, wherein the active clamp circuit comprises: a capacitor connected across a DC bus and charged to a DC bus voltage; a buck converter circuit for discharging the capacitor when voltage across the capacitor exceeds a reference value; and a boost converter circuit for charging the capacitor when voltage across the capacitor falls below the reference value.