Patent ID: 8710793

Claim:
A method for converting a first electrical energy at a first voltage into a second electrical energy at a second voltage by a conversion system including at least one voltage source at the first voltage connected to a variable capacitor through a charge switch, a discharge switch being placed in parallel with the variable capacitor, an energy collector at the second voltage, and a device of transferring energy between the variable capacitor and the energy collector, the variable capacitor including a fixed plate and a mobile plate capable of moving away from and towards the fixed plate and an elastic means to return the mobile plate to its initial position, the method comprising, for one complete conversion cycle: a) closing the charge switch, while the discharge switch remains open, to charge the variable capacitor at the first voltage, and inducing a displacement of the mobile plate increasing capacitance of the variable capacitor; b) subsequent to step a, opening the charge switch while keeping the discharge switch open to allow operation of the variable capacitor at constant charge, the capacitance of the variable capacitor continuing to increase; c) subsequent to step b, closing the discharge switch to allow at least partial discharge of the variable capacitor and to invert movement of the mobile plate, wherein the device of transferring energy provides energy transfer from the variable capacitor to the energy collector during movement of the mobile plate.