Snubber circuit for rectifying diodes and method of operation thereof

U.S. Patent Number: 5731966

Abstract: For use in a power supply having a rectifying diode, a snubber circuit for, and method of moderating a reverse recovery current that flows from the rectifying diode as the rectifying diode transitions from a conducting state to a non-conducting state. The snubber circuit includes: (1) a saturable reactor, coupled in electrical series with the rectifying diode and providing a first conductive path for a first portion of the reverse recovery current from the rectifying diode and (2) a saturable reactor resetting circuit, coupled in electrical parallel with the saturable reactor and providing a second conductive path for a second portion of the reverse recovery current from the rectifying diode, the second conductive path reducing the reverse recovery current through the saturable reactor, thereby decreasing a thermal dissipation of the saturable reactor as the rectifying diode transitions from the conducting state to the non-conducting state.

Inventors: Liu; Rui (Plano, TX)

Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc. (Murray Hill, NJ)

Application Number: 08/664,754

Issued: 1998-03-24

Expired: 2006-03-24

Classes: 363/53 ; 363/17

Field of search: 363/56,17,53

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