Patent ID: 8508964

Claim:
A power converter comprising: a switching circuit, the switching circuit having a first switch with an associated antiparallel diode, a second switch with an associated antiparallel diode, a third switch with an associated antiparallel diode, and a fourth switch with an associated antiparallel diode, the first switch, the second switch, the third switch, and the fourth switch, configured to be electrically coupled to a direct current source, the first switch, the second switch, the third switch, and the fourth switch operable to be selectively switched on and off in order to send current, from a direct current source, in an alternating fashion, to a load, and; a comparator circuit, the comparator circuit configured to receive a first signal, the first signal representing the value of current flowing from the switching circuit, the comparator circuit configured to receive a second signal, the second signal representing a variable commanded current from the switching circuit; the comparator circuit configured to compare the first signal and the second signal and output an indicator representing whether the first signal has exceeded the value of the second signal; a switch logic device configured to receive input from the comparator circuit and a logic signal, and to send gate drive signals to each of the four switches, wherein the variable commanded current defines a duty-cycle boundary that introduces delay in switching a switch in the switching circuit for a duration that provides for the dissipation of charge in the antiparallel diode associated with the switch being switched, before the switch is switched.