Patent ID: 6870355

Claim:
A power converter for providing an electric power from an AC source to a load, said power converter comprising: a plurality of switching elements which turns on and off repetitively to interrupt an input current from said AC source to provide an output current to said load; an inductor provided in a path of said input current from said AC source to said load; a smoothing capacitor which smoothens said input current to said load; a control circuit for controlling said switching elements to turn on and off; said inductor and said load being connected in series across said AC source; said inductor and said load being connected in series across said smoothing capacitor; said control circuit controlling the plurality of said switching elements to turn on and off in different patterns to give a first current supplying mode and a second current supplying mode; said first current supplying mode supplying said input current from said AC source to a closed loop including said inductor and said load, during which the current from said AC source is fed directly to said load, said second current supplying mode supplying said output current to said load in a closed loop including said inductor and said load but excluding said AC source, during which energy stored in said inductor supplying a current to said load, said control circuit repeating said first current supplying mode and said second current supplying mode alternately during each half cycle of the AC current being supplied from said AC source, thereby constantly passing the current to said inductor and said load.