Patent ID: 7583521

Claim:
A system for receiving DC power of a first level and providing DC power of a second level, the system including first, second, and third outputs, the system comprising: a transformer; a primary module configured to receive DC power of a first level and to provide a quasi-square wave to the transformer; a first rectifier bridge coupled to the transformer, and including first and second nodes, the first node being coupled to the first output; a second rectifier bridge coupled to the transformer, and including third and fourth nodes, the fourth node being coupled to the third output; and a voltage clamp arrangement coupled to the first and second rectifier bridges, the clamp arrangement comprising: a first diode coupled between the first node and the third node; and a second diode coupled between the second node and the fourth node; wherein the first diode is configured to direct energy from the first rectifier bridge to the third output if the voltage across the first rectifier bridge exceeds a first threshold; wherein the second diode is configured to direct energy from the second rectifier bridge to the first output if the voltage across the second rectifier bridge exceeds a second threshold.