Nestable single cell structure for use in a power conversion system
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a capacitor module having a plurality of connecting terminals;
a plurality of switch elements, each having at least one switch terminal coupled to a corresponding one of the connecting terminals; and
a control device to control the plurality of switch elements, wherein the switch elements are configured for mutually exclusive operation via the control device,a first cell structure and a second cell structure cooperatively producing a multi-level output voltage having at least five levels, wherein the first cell structure and the second cell structure each include three switch elements of the plurality of switch elements, wherein only one switch element of the switch elements of the first cell structure is activated at a time while the other of the switch elements of the first cell structure are deactivated, and wherein only one switch element of the switch elements of the second cell structure is activated at a time while the other of the switch elements of the second cell structure are deactivated, and wherein the first cell structure is an inner cell having at least three voltage levels and the second cell structure is an outer cell having at least three voltage levels, wherein the first cell structure and the second cell structure comprise components with an S-level designation for the first cell structure and with a T-level designation for the second cell structure, wherein the control device coordinates control signals to the first cell structure and the second cell structure to transition from one switching state to another switching state, within the respective S and T levels, and wherein the control device uses redundant switching states to charge and discharge the capacitor module to produce a selectable output voltage pattern and balance thermal stress of the plurality of switch elements in different switch positions.
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Abstract
Provided is an apparatus, including a capacitor module having a plurality of connecting terminals and a plurality of switch elements. Each switch element has at least one switch terminal coupled to a corresponding connecting terminal, wherein the switch elements are configured for mutually exclusive operation via a control device.
68 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a capacitor module having a plurality of connecting terminals; a plurality of switch elements, each having at least one switch terminal coupled to a corresponding one of the connecting terminals; and a control device to control the plurality of switch elements, wherein the switch elements are configured for mutually exclusive operation via the control device, a first cell structure and a second cell structure cooperatively producing a multi-level output voltage having at least five levels, wherein the first cell structure and the second cell structure each include three switch elements of the plurality of switch elements, wherein only one switch element of the switch elements of the first cell structure is activated at a time while the other of the switch elements of the first cell structure are deactivated, and wherein only one switch element of the switch elements of the second cell structure is activated at a time while the other of the switch elements of the second cell structure are deactivated, and wherein the first cell structure is an inner cell having at least three voltage levels and the second cell structure is an outer cell having at least three voltage levels, wherein the first cell structure and the second cell structure comprise components with an S-level designation for the first cell structure and with a T-level designation for the second cell structure, wherein the control device coordinates control signals to the first cell structure and the second cell structure to transition from one switching state to another switching state, within the respective S and T levels, and wherein the control device uses redundant switching states to charge and discharge the capacitor module to produce a selectable output voltage pattern and balance thermal stress of the plurality of switch elements in different switch positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification