Tri-level inverter
First Claim
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1. A power module, comprising:
- a module housing;
a set of DC terminals accessible from an exterior of the module housing;
at least three pairs of AC terminals accessible from the exterior of the module housing; and
an inverter circuit contained within the module housing, the inverter circuit configurable to selectively switch between at least three output states and electrically coupled between the set of DC terminals and at least one of the pairs of AC terminals.
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Abstract
A tri-level inverter power module has an architecture employing a high degree of modularity that allows a base power module to be quickly, easily, and cost effectively configured to address a large variety of applications.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A power module, comprising:
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a module housing;
a set of DC terminals accessible from an exterior of the module housing;
at least three pairs of AC terminals accessible from the exterior of the module housing; and
an inverter circuit contained within the module housing, the inverter circuit configurable to selectively switch between at least three output states and electrically coupled between the set of DC terminals and at least one of the pairs of AC terminals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A power module, comprising:
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a housing;
an inverter, the inverter comprising;
a first node for electrically coupling to a first supply voltage;
a second node;
a first transistor electrically coupled between the first node and the second node, the first transistor comprising a control terminal for electrically coupling to a first control signal;
a first diode electrically coupled in anti-parallel across the first transistor;
a third node for providing an output;
a second transistor electrically coupled between the second node and the third node, the second transistor comprising a control terminal for electrically coupling to a second control signal;
a second diode electrically coupled in anti-parallel across the second transistor;
a fourth node;
a third transistor electrically coupled between the third node and the fourth node, the third transistor comprising a control terminal for electrically coupling to a third control signal;
a third diode electrically coupled in anti-parallel across the third transistor;
a fifth node for electrically coupling to a second supply voltage;
a fourth transistor electrically coupled between the fourth node and the fifth node, the fourth transistor comprising a control terminal for electrically coupling to a fourth control signal;
a fourth diode electrically coupled in anti-parallel across the fourth transistor;
a sixth node for providing an output;
a fifth diode electrically coupled between the second node and the sixth node; and
a sixth diode electrically coupled between the sixth node and the fourth node;
a first DC terminal accessible from an exterior of the housing and electrically coupled to the first node;
a second DC terminal accessible from the exterior of the housing and electrically coupled to the fifth node;
a first output terminal accessible from the exterior of the housing and electrically coupled to the third node; and
a second output terminal accessible from the exterior of the housing and electrically coupled to the sixth node. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A power module, comprising:
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an inverter, comprising at least three phase circuits, each of the phase circuits comprising;
a first node for electrically coupling to a first supply voltage;
a second node;
a first transistor electrically coupled between the first node and the second node, the first transistor comprising a control terminal for electrically coupling to a first control signal;
a first diode electrically coupled in anti-parallel across the first transistor;
a third node for providing a phase output;
a second transistor electrically coupled between the second node and the third node, the second transistor comprising a control terminal for electrically coupling to a second control signal;
a second diode electrically coupled in anti-parallel across the second transistor;
a fourth node;
a third transistor electrically coupled between the third node and the fourth node, the third transistor comprising a control terminal for electrically coupling to a third control signal;
a third diode electrically coupled in anti-parallel across the third transistor;
a fifth node for electrically coupling to a second supply voltage;
a fourth transistor electrically coupled between the fourth node and the fifth node, the fourth transistor comprising a control terminal for electrically coupling to a fourth control signal;
a fourth diode electrically coupled in anti-parallel across the fourth transistor;
a sixth node for providing a neutral output;
a fifth diode electrically coupled between the second node and the sixth node; and
a sixth diode electrically coupled between the sixth node and the fourth node;
a housing;
a first DC terminal accessible from an exterior of the housing and electrically coupled to the first node of each phase circuit;
a second DC terminal accessible from the exterior of the housing and electrically coupled to the fifth node of each phase circuit;
a first AC terminal accessible from the exterior of the housing and electrically coupled to the third node of a first phase circuit;
a second AC terminal accessible from the exterior of the housing and electrically coupled to the sixth node of the first phase circuit;
a third AC terminal accessible from the exterior of the housing and electrically coupled to the third node of a second phase circuit;
a fourth AC terminal accessible from the exterior of the housing and electrically coupled to the sixth node of the second phase circuit;
a fifth AC terminal accessible from the exterior of the housing and electrically coupled to the third node of a third phase circuit; and
a sixth AC terminal accessible from the exterior of the housing and electrically coupled to the sixth node of the third phase circuit. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A power system, comprising:
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a DC power supply;
a power module, comprising;
a housing;
a pair of input terminals accessible from an exterior of the housing, the input terminals electrically coupled to the DC power supply;
a DC bus electrically coupled to the pair of input terminals;
three pairs of output terminals accessible from the exterior of the housing;
an AC bus electrically coupled to at least one of the three pairs of output terminals; and
an inverter circuit configurable to selectively operate in one of at least three output states and electrically coupled between the DC bus and the AC bus; and
a controller to generate control signals to control the inverter circuit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A power module, comprising:
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a housing;
multi-level inverter means for selectively converting a direct current to an alternating current, the multi-level inverter means configurable to provide at least three nominal output voltage levels;
means for externally coupling a DC power source to the multi-level inverter means;
means for externally coupling the multi-level inverter means to a first, a second, and a third load. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method of supplying AC power to a load, comprising:
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electrically coupling a DC power supply to a DC bus of a power module;
electrically coupling the DC bus to an inverter contained within the power module;
converting the DC power to AC power by selectively switching the inverter between at least three nominal output voltage levels;
electrically coupling the inverter to an AC bus of the power module; and
electrically coupling the AC bus to at least two exterior terminals of the power module. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification