Inverter circuit and power conversion device

• US 10,211,756 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2017
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Nishikawa, Takeo, Okada, Wataru, Tawaragi, Takayoshi, Iwai, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nash, Gary A
• Application Number:
  US15/786,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20180041138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 363 40- 43, 363 55, 363 5602, 363 5603, 363 5605, 363 5612, 363131
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/122 for inverters, i.e. dc/ac converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0051 Diode reverse recovery losses
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/123 Suppression of common mode voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/34 Snubber circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/342 Active non-dissipative snubbers
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/48 using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/5387 in a bridge configuration
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

An inverter circuit provided in a power conversion device includes a full-bridge inverter, and a short circuit part. The short circuit part includes switching elements and clamp elements connected to the switching elements. The clamp elements suppress application of an excessive voltage such as a surge voltage to the switching elements.

Claims

1. An inverter circuit comprising a short circuit part configured to short-circuit output from a full-bridge inverter, wherein

the short circuit part comprises:

a rectifier element and a switching element connected in series; and

a clamp element connected between the rectifier element and the switching element, wherein

the clamp element comprises an anode side connected to a cathode side of the rectifier element, or a cathode side connected to an anode side of the rectifier element.

2. The inverter circuit according to claim 1, wherein

the clamp element further comprises a cathode side connected to a cathode side of the rectifier element, or an anode side connected to an anode side of the rectifier element.

3. The inverter circuit according to claim 1, wherein

the rectifier element and the switching element connected in series comprise two sets each comprising one of the rectifier elements and one of the switching elements, and

the two sets are wired in parallel such that respective conductive directions of each of the two sets are opposite directions.

4. The inverter circuit according to claim 1, wherein

one of the anode side or the cathode side of the clamp element not connected to the rectifier element is connected to the full-bridge inverter.

5. The inverter circuit according to claim 1, wherein

the switching element comprises a field effect transistor comprising super junction structure.

6. A power conversion device comprising:

the inverter circuit according to claim 1;

an input part; and

an output part, wherein

the input part is configured to receive an input of DC power,

the output part is configured to output AC power, and

the inverter circuit converts a DC current to an AC current.

7. An inverter circuit comprising a short circuit part configured to short-circuit an output from a full-bridge inverter, wherein

the short circuit part comprises:

two switching elements connected in series; and

a clamp element connected between the two switching elements, wherein

the clamp element comprises an anode side connected between the two switching elements, or a cathode side connected between the two switching elements.

8. The inverter circuit according to claim 7, wherein

the two switching elements are connected such that respective conductive directions of each of the two switching elements are opposite directions, and

the clamp element comprises:

a first clamp element having an anode side connected between the two switching elements and a second clamp element having a cathode side connected between the two switching elements.

9. The inverter circuit according to claim 7, wherein

one of the anode side or the cathode side of the clamp element not connected between the two switching elements is connected to the full-bridge inverter.

10. The inverter circuit according to claim 7, wherein

the two switching elements each comprise a field effect transistor having a super junction structure.

11. A power conversion device comprising:

the inverter circuit according to claim 7;

an input part; and

an output part, wherein

the input part configured to receive an input of DC power,

the output part is configured to output AC power, and

the inverter circuit converts a DC current to an AC current.