DC Capacitor Balancing
First Claim
1. A device for balancing voltages of capacitors in an electronic circuit, the device comprising:
- a chopper circuit including a chopper inductor, the chopper circuit measuring a first voltage of a first capacitor of the electronic circuit, a second voltage of a second capacitor of the electronic circuit, and an output current of the electronic circuit; and
a chopper control unit receiving the output current and generating a signal representing charging of the chopper inductor based on the output current, the signal having a switching frequency and a duty cycle, the chopper control unit receiving the first voltage and the second voltage and detecting an imbalance between the first voltage and the second voltage based on a polarity of the output current, the chopper control unit controlling transfer of charge between the first capacitor and the second capacitor using the chopper inductor based on the imbalance between the first voltage and second voltage and based on the signal representing charging of the chopper inductor.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and devices for balancing voltages of capacitors in an electronic circuit are provided. The device includes a chopper circuit having a chopper inductor. Further, the chopper circuit may detect voltages across capacitors as well as an output current of the electronic circuit. In addition, the device may include a chopper control unit receiving the output current then generating a signal representing charging of the chopper inductor based on the output current. Also, the chopper control unit may receive the voltages across the capacitors and detect an imbalance between the voltages based on a polarity of the output current. Additionally, the chopper control unit may transfer of charge between the two capacitors, using the chopper inductor. Further, the chopper inductor is substantially discharged, during the transfer of charge between the capacitors.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for balancing voltages of capacitors in an electronic circuit, the device comprising:
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a chopper circuit including a chopper inductor, the chopper circuit measuring a first voltage of a first capacitor of the electronic circuit, a second voltage of a second capacitor of the electronic circuit, and an output current of the electronic circuit; and a chopper control unit receiving the output current and generating a signal representing charging of the chopper inductor based on the output current, the signal having a switching frequency and a duty cycle, the chopper control unit receiving the first voltage and the second voltage and detecting an imbalance between the first voltage and the second voltage based on a polarity of the output current, the chopper control unit controlling transfer of charge between the first capacitor and the second capacitor using the chopper inductor based on the imbalance between the first voltage and second voltage and based on the signal representing charging of the chopper inductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for balancing voltages of capacitors in an electronic circuit, the method comprising:
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receiving a first voltage of a first capacitor of the electronic circuit, a second voltage of a second capacitor of the electronic circuit, and an output current of the electronic circuit; generating a signal representing charging of an inductor based on the output current, the signal having a switching frequency and a duty cycle; detecting an imbalance between the first voltage and the second voltage based on a polarity of the output current; and based on the imbalance between the first voltage and the second voltage and based on the signal representing charging of the inductor, causing transfer of charge between the first capacitor and the second capacitor using the inductor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a device, cause the device to perform functions comprising:
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receiving a first voltage of a first capacitor of an electronic circuit, a second voltage of a second capacitor of the electronic circuit, and an output current of the electronic circuit; generating a signal representing charging of an inductor based on the output current, the signal having a switching frequency and a duty cycle; detecting an imbalance between the first voltage and the second voltage based on a polarity of the output current; based on the imbalance between the first voltage and the second voltage and based on the signal representing charging of the inductor, causing transfer of charge between the first capacitor and the second capacitor using the inductor, wherein the inductor is substantially discharged based on the switching frequency and the duty cycle during transfer of charge between the first capacitor and the second capacitor; wherein the signal representing charge of the inductor is a substantially triangular carrier waveform. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification