Controllers for regulated power inverters, AC/DC, and DC/DC converters

• US 10,205,401 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2018
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alexei V. Nikitin
• Original Assignee: Alexei V. Nikitin
• Inventors: Nikitin, Alexei V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Emily P
• Application Number:
  US15/961,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20190044453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 294 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/126 using passive filters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/4233 using a bridge converter comprising active switches
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/44 Circuits or arrangements for compensating for electromagnetic interference in converters or inverters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/3376 with automatic control of output voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/217 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/23 arranged for operation in parallel H02M7/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/53871 with automatic control of output voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/53873 with digital control
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/53875 with analogue control of three-phase output
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/539 with automatic control of output wave form or frequency H02M7/5375 - H02M7/5387 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/5395 by pulse-width modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/797 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and corresponding apparatus for regulation, control, and management of DC-to-AC, AC-to-DC, and/or DC-to-DC switching power conversion.

Claims

1. A switching converter capable of converting a 3-phase AC source voltage into a DC output voltage and providing a DC power output, wherein said 3-phase AC source voltage is characterized by three AC voltages, wherein an AC voltage is one of said three AC voltages, wherein said DC output voltage is characterized by a DC common mode voltage, wherein said switching converter comprises a 3-phase bridge comprising three pairs of switches and capable of providing three switching voltages, wherein a switching voltage is provided by a pair of switches controlled by a controller providing a 1st control signal and a 2nd control signal, and wherein a 1st switch of said pair of switches is controlled by said 1st control signal and a 2nd switch of said pair of switches is controlled by said 2nd control signal, said switching converter further comprising a digital signal processing apparatus performing numerical functions including:

a) a numerical integrator function operable to receive an integrator input and to produce an integrator output, wherein said integrator output is proportional to a numerical antiderivative of said integrator input;

b) a digital lowpass filter operable to receive a filter input and to produce a filter output;

c) a 1st numerical Schmitt trigger characterized by a hysteresis gap and a 1st reference level, and operable to receive a Schmitt trigger input and to produce said 1st control signal; and

d) a 2nd numerical Schmitt trigger characterized by said hysteresis gap and a 2nd reference level, and operable to receive said Schmitt trigger input and to produce said 2nd control signal;

wherein said integrator input comprises a sum of a 1-bit digital representation of said AC voltage and a 1-bit digital representation of a difference between said switching voltage and said DC common mode voltage, wherein said filter input comprises said integrator output, and wherein said Schmitt trigger input comprises said filter output.

2. The switching converter of claim 1 wherein said DC output voltage is characterized by a desired DC voltage value, wherein said filter input further comprises a component proportional to said 1-bit digital representation of said AC voltage, and wherein a magnitude of said component proportional to said 1-bit digital representation of said AC voltage is chosen to provide said desired DC voltage value.

3. The switching converter of claim 1 wherein said DC power output is characterized by a desired DC power value, wherein said filter input further comprises a component proportional to said 1-bit digital representation of said AC voltage, and wherein a magnitude of said component proportional to said 1-bit digital representation of said AC voltage is chosen to provide said desired DC power value.

4. The switching converter of claim 1 further comprising an LC EMI filtering network, wherein said filter input further comprises a component proportional to a 1-bit digital representation of an LC damping voltage, and wherein said LC damping voltage is chosen to provide resonance damping of said LC EMI filtering network.

5. A switching converter capable of converting a DC source voltage into a 3-phase AC output voltage and providing an AC power output, wherein said 3-phase AC output voltage is characterized by three AC voltages indicative of respective AC setting voltages, wherein an AC voltage is one of said three AC voltages, wherein said DC source voltage is characterized by a DC common mode voltage, wherein said switching converter comprises a 3-phase bridge comprising three pairs of switches and capable of providing three switching voltages, wherein a switching voltage is provided by a pair of switches controlled by a controller providing a 1st control signal and a 2nd control signal, and wherein a 1st switch of said pair of switches is controlled by said 1st control signal and a 2nd switch of said pair of switches is controlled by said 2nd control signal, said switching converter further comprising a digital signal processing apparatus performing numerical functions including:

a) a numerical integrator function operable to receive an integrator input and to produce an integrator output, wherein said integrator output is proportional to a numerical antiderivative of said integrator input;

b) a digital lowpass filter operable to receive a filter input and to produce a filter output;

c) a 1st numerical Schmitt trigger characterized by a hysteresis gap and a 1st reference level, and operable to receive a Schmitt trigger input and to produce said 1st control signal; and

d) a 2nd numerical Schmitt trigger characterized by said hysteresis gap and a 2nd reference level, and operable to receive said Schmitt trigger input and to produce said 2nd control signal;

wherein said integrator input comprises a sum of a 1-bit digital representation of said AC setting voltage and a 1-bit digital representation of a difference between said switching voltage and said DC common mode voltage, wherein said filter input comprises said integrator output, and wherein said Schmitt trigger input comprises said filter output.

6. The switching converter of claim 5 wherein said AC voltage is characterized by a desired AC voltage and wherein said AC setting voltage is proportional to said desired AC voltage.

7. The switching converter of claim 5 wherein said AC power output is characterized by a desired AC power output, wherein said AC setting voltage is proportional to said AC voltage, wherein said filter input further comprises a component proportional to a 1-bit digital representation of said AC voltage, and wherein a magnitude of said component proportional to said 1-bit digital representation of said AC voltage is chosen to provide said desired AC power output.

8. The switching converter of claim 5 further comprising an LC EMI filtering network, wherein said filter input further comprises a component proportional to a 1-bit digital representation of an LC damping voltage, and wherein said LC damping voltage is chosen to provide resonance damping of said LC EMI filtering network.

9. An AC/DC converter capable of converting an AC source voltage into a DC output voltage and providing a DC power output, wherein said DC output voltage is characterized by a DC common mode voltage, wherein said AC source voltage is characterized by two AC line voltages, wherein an AC voltage is one of said two AC line voltages, wherein said AC/DC converter comprises an H bridge comprising two pairs of switches and capable of providing two switching voltages, wherein a switching voltage is provided by a pair of switches controlled by a controller providing a 1st control signal and a 2nd control signal, and wherein a 1st switch of said pair of switches is controlled by said 1st control signal and a 2nd switch of said pair of switches is controlled by said 2nd control signal, said switching converter further comprising a digital signal processing apparatus performing numerical functions including:

a) a numerical integrator function operable to receive an integrator input and to produce an integrator output, wherein said integrator output is proportional to a numerical antiderivative of said integrator input;

b) a digital lowpass filter operable to receive a filter input and to produce a filter output;

c) a 1st numerical Schmitt trigger characterized by a hysteresis gap and a 1st reference level, and operable to receive a Schmitt trigger input and to produce said 1st control signal; and

d) a 2nd numerical Schmitt trigger characterized by said hysteresis gap and a 2nd reference level, and operable to receive said Schmitt trigger input and to produce said 2nd control signal;

wherein said integrator input comprises a sum of a 1-bit digital representation of said AC voltage and a 1-bit digital representation of a difference between said switching voltage and said DC common mode voltage, wherein said filter input comprises said integrator output, and wherein said Schmitt trigger input comprises said filter output.

10. The AC/DC converter of claim 9 wherein said DC output voltage is characterized by a desired DC voltage value, wherein said filter input further comprises a component proportional to said 1-bit digital representation of said AC voltage, and wherein a magnitude of said component proportional to said 1-bit digital representation of said AC voltage is chosen to provide said desired DC voltage value.

11. The AC/DC converter of claim 9 wherein said DC power output is characterized by a desired DC power value, wherein said filter input further comprises a component proportional to said 1-bit digital representation of said AC voltage, and wherein a magnitude of said component proportional to said 1-bit digital representation of said AC voltage is chosen to provide said desired DC power value.

12. The AC/DC converter of claim 9 further comprising an LC EMI filtering network, wherein said filter input further comprises a component proportional to a 1-bit digital representation of an LC damping voltage, and wherein said LC damping voltage is chosen to provide resonance damping of said LC EMI filtering network.

13. A DC/AC converter capable of converting a DC source voltage into an AC output voltage and providing an AC power output, wherein said AC output voltage is characterized by two AC line voltages indicative of respective AC setting voltages, wherein an AC voltage is one of said two AC voltages, wherein said DC source voltage is characterized by a DC common mode voltage, wherein said DC/AC converter comprises an H bridge comprising two pairs of switches and capable of providing two switching voltages, wherein a switching voltage is provided by a pair of switches controlled by a controller providing a 1st control signal and a 2nd control signal, and wherein a 1st switch of said pair of switches is controlled by said 1st control signal and a 2nd switch of said pair of switches is controlled by said 2nd control signal, said switching converter further comprising a digital signal processing apparatus performing numerical functions including:

a) a numerical integrator function operable to receive an integrator input and to produce an integrator output, wherein said integrator output is proportional to a numerical antiderivative of said integrator input;

b) a digital lowpass filter operable to receive a filter input and to produce a filter output;

c) a 1st numerical Schmitt trigger characterized by a hysteresis gap and a 1st reference level, and operable to receive a Schmitt trigger input and to produce said 1st control signal; and

d) a 2nd numerical Schmitt trigger characterized by said hysteresis gap and a 2nd reference level, and operable to receive said Schmitt trigger input and to produce said 2nd control signal;

wherein said integrator input comprises a sum of a 1-bit digital representation of said AC setting voltage and a 1-bit digital representation of a difference between said switching voltage and said DC common mode voltage, wherein said filter input comprises said integrator output, and wherein said Schmitt trigger input comprises said filter output.

14. The DC/AC converter of claim 13 wherein said AC voltage is characterized by a desired AC voltage and wherein said AC setting voltage is proportional to said desired AC voltage.

15. The DC/AC converter of claim 13 wherein said AC power output is characterized by a desired AC power output, wherein said AC setting voltage is proportional to said AC voltage, wherein said filter input further comprises a component proportional to a 1-bit digital representation of said AC voltage, and wherein a magnitude of said component proportional to said 1-bit digital representation of said AC voltage is chosen to provide said desired AC power output.

16. The DC/AC converter of claim 13 further comprising an LC EMI filtering network, wherein said filter input further comprises a component proportional to a 1-bit digital representation of an LC damping voltage, and wherein said LC damping voltage is chosen to provide resonance damping of said LC EMI filtering network.