Patent ID: 8384248

Claim:
A power control apparatus comprising: an input terminal and an output terminal to connect to an AC source; a DC removing capacitor connected between the input terminal and a control terminal to remove DC currents flowing between the input terminal and the output terminal; and a variable capacitor connected between the control terminal and the output terminal, a capacitance of the variable capacitor varying according to a control signal continuously applied between the control terminal and the output terminal, one of a current and a voltage of an AC signal supplied by the AC source being controlled by changing the capacitance of the variable capacitor using the control signal, wherein dielectrics that form the DC removing capacitor and the variable capacitor as a serially connected row of capacitors are integrally laminated, and the DC removing capacitor and the variable capacitor are connected in series between the input terminal and the output terminal, and wherein a thickness between the dielectrics that form the row of capacitors and a distance between electrodes of the dielectrics are changed to change a combined capacitance, a withstand voltage, and a variable range of the combined capacitance of the DC removing capacitor and the variable capacitor.