A simple and efficient single-phase direct AC to AC converter with the possibility to be utilized as a voltage buck or buck-boost converter is proposed in this paper. The proposed converter offers higher efficiency than the competitors with a lower number of semiconductors. The proposed switching strategy minimizes the high frequency operation and simultaneous conduction of semiconductors during each mode of operation. Besides a higher efficiency, the other major advantages of the proposed converter can be mentioned as eliminating the risk of input source shoot-through, a lower number and total rating of semiconductors, defined by switching device power (SDP) parameter, a lower number and smaller size of reactive components, a better input current quality and lower filtering requirements. The theoretical claims are confirmed through experiments on a 480W prototype built in laboratory.

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