A power converter provides constant load power while achieving a high power factor
in a single stage configuration with reduced component count and ratings. The power
converter takes a rectified line input to a switching half-bridge that supplies
current to a load. A series combination of shunt switch and capacitor is connected
across the load to store energy from the input and supply energy to the load. The
switches are operated with conduction angles that achieve constant power supplied
to the load while drawing a sinusoidal current in phase with the input voltage
to achieve high power factor. The circuit provides a simplified configuration over
prior power converters that may be used with a resonant load as part of an electronic
ballast or an AC-to-DC converter. The power converter configuration and operation
also achieves a low total harmonic distortion on the input line power.