Universal Power Converter
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for transforming electric power between two or more portals. Any or all portals can he DC, single phase AC, or multi-phase AC. Conversion is accomplished by a plurality of bi-directional conducting and blocking semiconductor switches which alternately connect an inductor and parallel capacitor between said portals, such that energy is transferred into the inductor from one or more input portals and/or phases, then the energy is transferred out of the inductor to one or more output portals and/or phases, with said parallel capacitor facilitating “soft” turn-off, and with any excess inductor energy being returned back to the input. Soft turn-on and reverse recovery is also facilitated. Said hi-directional switches allow for two power transfers per inductor/capacitor cycle, thereby maximizing inductor/capacitor utilization as well as providing for optimum converter operation with high input/output voltage ratios. Control means coordinate the switches to accomplish the desired power transfers.
25 Citations
59 Claims
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1-26. -26. (canceled)
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27. A Buck-Boost Converter, comprising:
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first and second switch arrays, each comprising at least two bidirectional switching devices; a substantially parallel inductor-capacitor combination connected to each said switch array; wherein a first one of said switch arrays is operatively connected to a power input, and is operated to drive power into said inductor-capacitor combination with a non-sinusoidal waveform; and wherein a second one of said switch arrays is operated to extract power from said inductor-capacitor combination to an output. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A Buck-Boost Converter, comprising:
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first and second switch arrays, each comprising at least two bidirectional switching devices; an energy-transfer reactance connected to each said switch array; wherein a first one of said switch arrays is connected through respective capacitive reactances to a polyphase power input, and operated to drive power into said reactance from multiple different legs of said power input in succession with a non-sinusoidal waveform; and wherein a second one of said switch arrays is operated to extract power from said reactance to an output. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40-53. -53. (canceled)
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54. A Buck-Boost Converter, comprising:
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an energy-transfer reactance comprising at least one inductor; a plurality of input switch arrays, each said array configured to drive AC current, with no average DC current, through said reactance; and a plurality of output switch arrays, each connected to extract energy from said reactance; said arrays having no more than two switches driving or extracting energy from said reactance at any given time; wherein said input switch arrays individually drive said reactance with a nonsinusoidal voltage waveform. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58)
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59-80. -80. (canceled)
Specification