Lear Corporation
VEHICLE ON-BOARD CHARGER WITH SNUBBER CIRCUIT

Abstract:

An on-board charger is provided with a bulk capacitor adapted to couple to a vehicle traction battery and a relay for receiving electrical power from an external power supply and to pre-charge the bulk capacitor. A power factor correction (PFC) circuit is connected between the bulk capacitor and the relay. The PFC circuit includes a switch that is adjustable between an on-position and an off-position. The switch enables current flow from the relay to the bulk capacitor in the off-position. A snubber circuit is coupled to the switch to damp a transient voltage present at the switch during a transition from the on-position to the off-position. A processor is programmed to control the switch.