Patent ID: 8094475

Claim:
An inverter, comprising: a half-bridge circuit, comprising: four switches connected in series between first and second DC input terminals of the inverter, wherein the four switches further comprise: first and second inner switches connected together at an output node of the inverter, wherein the first and second inner switches are configured to switch at a first frequency associated with a mains frequency; first and second outer switches, wherein the first outer switch is coupled between the first inner switch and the first DC input terminal, and wherein the second outer switch is coupled between the second inner switch and the second DC input terminal, and wherein the first and second outer switches are configured to switch at a second frequency that is greater than the first frequency; an intermediate circuit comprising two series-connected capacitances coupled across the first and second DC input terminals, and coupled together at a center node that is coupled to a predetermined potential, wherein the half-bridge circuit further comprises: a first free-wheeling diode coupled between a node connecting the first inner switch and the first outer switch, and the predetermined potential; and a second free-wheeling diode coupled between a node connecting the second inner switch and the second outer switch, and the predetermined potential, wherein the first and second inner switches are thermally isolated from the first and second outer switches.