Patent ID: 8830704

Claim:
A power converter comprising: a first power supply line; a second power supply line applied with a potential lower than that of said first power supply line; a switch circuit including a switching element arranged between said first and second power supply lines, and a power supply unit having both ends between which a DC voltage is supported, one end on a low potential side of said ends being connected to said switching element on said second power supply line side, and serving as an operation power supply for outputting a switch signal to said switching element; and a power conversion unit including a one-directional conduction switching element including a first electrode and a second electrode, renders only electric current flowing from said second electrode to said first electrode conducting, and being arranged between said first and second power supply lines with said first electrode directed towards said first power supply line side; a diode connected in parallel with said one-directional conduction switching element with an anode directed towards said first power supply line side; and a capacitor including one end connected to said first electrode and another end electrically connected to another end of said power supply unit and serving as an operation power supply for outputting a switch signal to said one-directional conduction switching element when charged.