A Nonlinear Resonant Switch

A new resonant switch is introduced which employs non-linear tank elements. Zero current switching is obtained yet the peak transistor voltage and current stresses can approach those of an equivalent ideal pulsewidth-modulated converter. Reduced switching loss without a substantial increase in conduction loss is therefore possible. An approximate analysis is outlined, and transistor peak voltage and current stresses are shown to be much lower than those of linear resonant switch technologies. Single-transistor implementations of the buck, boost, and buck-boost nonlinear resonant switch converters are given. The validity of the nonlinear resonant switch concept, as well as that of the approximate analysis, is proven experimentally.