Patent ID: 7342768

Claim:
A module having inductor-free circuitry for controlling voltage imbalances between a pair of capacitors connected in a series arrangement, comprising: a first terminal configured for connection to a positive plate of the first capacitor; a second terminal configured for connection to a negative plate of the first capacitor and to a positive plate of the second capacitor; a third terminal configured for connection to a negative plate of the second capacitor; and an active element integrated within the inductor-free circuitry between the first, second, and third terminals and adapted to substantially balance the voltage imbalances between the pair of capacitors, the active element having power connections to the first and third terminals, wherein the active element is an op amp, the op amp having an input an output, and a feedback loop, the input being connected to two voltage dividing resistors, the output being connected to the second terminal through a current limiting resistor, wherein an end of the feedback loop is connected between the output and the current limiting resistor.