Patent ID: 7023714

Claim:
A voltage converter ( 1 ; 201 ) comprising: an energy storage section ( 111 ) comprising a first series combination of a storage capacitor ( 33 ) and a first inductor ( 41 ; 141 ); a controllable switch ( 51 ) coupled in parallel with said first series combination; an energy transfer section ( 112 ) comprising a second series combination of a first rectifying diode ( 43 1 ; 143 ) and a first smoothing capacitor ( 44 1 ; 144 ), the first rectifying diode being coupled to the first inductor; a first output terminal ( 45 1 ) coupled to a node between said first rectifying diode ( 43 1 ; 143 ) and a first smoothing capacitor ( 44 1 ; 144 ); feedback means ( 50 ; 53 , 52 ) coupled to said output terminal ( 45 1 ) for controlling said controllable switch ( 51 ); and voltage clamping means ( 60 ; 160 ) for clamping a voltage across the storage capacitor ( 33 ).