Patent ID: 7911352

Claim:
An AC-DC converter having capability of controlling an upstream switching device having a power input, a power output, and a control input, the power input being coupled to and uncoupled from the power output in response to a status of the control input, the converter comprising: a) an AC monitor coupled to the power output of the switching device, having an output related to a quality of AC voltage on the power output of the switching device; b) a rectifier having an AC input coupled to the power output of the switching device, and a DC output; c) a load port coupled to the DC output of the rectifier, for connection of a DC load to the AC-DC converter d) a controller having an input coupled to the output of the AC monitor and an input coupled to a power on/off input; and an output coupled to the control input of the upstream switching device; the controller operating such that if the output of the AC monitor indicates a problem with the quality of the AC voltage, the controller causes the power output of the switching device to be uncoupled from the power input by controlling the output coupled to the control input of the switching device.