Patent attributes
A snubber circuit and corresponding power converter topology for controlling the voltage across the resonant capacitor at turn on of a control switch so as to suppress a spike at the switch caused by the large current pulse and parasitic inductance of the power converter. The suppression of the spike reduces conduction losses and increases efficiency. According to one embodiment, the snubber circuit in a boost converter topology includes a second winding tapped from the main boost inductor and connected in series with a first diode and a second diode. A resonant capacitor and the second diode are connected in a series combination which is in parallel with the main boost diode. The second winding is connected in series with the first diode and the second diode between the output terminals of the converter. Alternatively, the snubber circuit is used in flyback, buck, and forward converter topologies.