Patent ID: 7116085

Claim:
DC—DC converter having the following: a first switching element connected between a voltage input terminal and a first terminal of an inductance element; a second switching element connected between a reference potential and said first terminal; a third switching element connected between a voltage output terminal and a second terminal of said inductance element; a fourth switching element connected between the reference potential and said second terminal; and a control unit, which controls the switching of the aforementioned first, second, third, and fourth switching elements such that in a first state, the first switching element is off, the second switching element is on, the third switching element is on, and the fourth switching element is off; in a second state, the first switching element is on, the second switching element is off, the third switching element is off, and the fourth switching element is on; in a third state, the first switching element is on, the second switching element is off, the third switching element is on, and the fourth switching element is off, and in a fourth state, the first switching element is off, the second switching element is on, the third switching element is off, and the fourth switching element is on; and the state transitions are from first state to third state, from third state to second state, from second state to fourth state, and from fourth state to first state.