Patent ID: 7586760

Claim:
A DC-to-DC converter comprising: a first low node and a second low node for a low DC voltage; a first high node and a second high node for a high DC voltage; a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding; a first switch coupled between a first end of the primary winding and the second low node; a second switch coupled between a second end of the primary winding and the second low node; a first switched diode element coupled between the first high node and a first end of the secondary winding; a second switched diode element coupled between the first high node and a second end of the secondary winding; a third switched diode element coupled between the first end of the secondary winding and the second high node; a fourth switched diode element coupled between the second end of the secondary winding and the second high node; a first capacitance element coupled between the first high node and the second end of the secondary winding; a second capacitance element coupled between the second end of the secondary winding and the second high node; and a switch controller coupled to the first switch, the second switch, the first switched diode element, the second switched diode element, the third switched diode element, and the fourth switched diode element, the switch controller being configured to control discharging of the first capacitance element and the second capacitance element through the secondary winding during a buck mode of operation for the DC-to-DC converter.