US 12,261,531 B2
Buck-boost converter for contactor drive
Brennan Fox, Machesney Park, IL (US); Ronald J. Gadow, Stillman Valley, IL (US); and Christopher D. Thornton, St. Charles, IL (US)
Assigned to Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on Dec. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/080,479.
Prior Publication US 2024/0195303 A1, Jun. 13, 2024
Int. Cl. H02M 3/158 (2006.01); H02M 1/32 (2007.01)
CPC H02M 3/1582 (2013.01) [H02M 1/32 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A voltage driver comprising:
a voltage input; and
a voltage regulation controller operatively connected to receive input voltage from the voltage input and including an on/off input, the voltage regulation controller configured to control a switching converter in a first mode, a second mode, at least one buck mode, and at least one boost mode;
wherein the switching converter is configured to operate as an open pass switch in the first mode, configured to operate as a closed pass switch in the second mode, configured to operate as an overcurrent and overvoltage protection switch in the at least one buck mode, and configured to operate as an undercurrent and undervoltage protection switch in the at least one boost mode; and
wherein the switching converter is configured to supply to a contactor at least a minimum contactor turn on voltage of the contactor even when voltage supplied to the switching converter is below the minimum contactor turn on voltage.