Universal Power Converter

• US 20120033464A1
• Filed: 08/08/2011
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CE+T Group SA
• Original Assignee: Ideal Power Converters, Inc.
• Inventors: Alexander, William C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,395,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/37
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1582 Buck-boost converters H02M3/1584 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33584 Bidirectional converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/10 using transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/225 comprising two stages of AC-AC conversion, e.g. having a high frequency intermediate link
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/293 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/297 for conversion of frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/4807 having a high frequency intermediate AC stage
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/4815 Resonant converters H02M7/4811 and H02M7/4826 take precedence
• 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

Abstract

Methods and systems for transforming electric power between two or more portals. Any or all portals can be 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 bi-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.

Claims

1-50. -50. (canceled)

51. A Buck-Boost Converter, comprising:

an energy-transfer reactance comprising at least one inductor;

an input switch array configured to drive AC current, with no average DC current, through said reactance; and

an output network connected to extract energy from said reactance.

52. The converter of claim 51, wherein said switch arrays are full-bridge arrays.

53. The converter of claim 51, wherein said reactance comprises a transformer.

54-58. -58. (canceled)

59. A power conversion circuit, comprising:

an input stage which repeatedly, at various times, drives current into the parallel combination of an inductor and a capacitor, and immediately thereafter temporarily disconnects said parallel combination from external connections, to thereby transfer some energy from said inductor to said capacitor;

wherein said action of driving current is performed in opposite senses and various times, and wherein said disconnecting operation is performed substantially identically for both directions of said step of driving current; and

an output stage which extracts energy from said parallel combination, to thereby perform power conversion.

60. The converter of claim 59, wherein said input stage comprises a full-bridge array of switches.

61. The converter of claim 59, wherein said wherein said input and output stages each comprise a full-bridge array of switches, and are symmetrically connected to said energy-transfer reactance.

62. The converter of claim 59, wherein said stages each selectably connect said reactance to a low-impedance voltage source/sink.

63. The converter of claim 59, wherein said reactance comprises a transformer.

64. A power conversion circuit, comprising:

an input stage which repeatedly drives current into the parallel combination of an inductor and a capacitor, and immediately thereafter temporarily disconnects said parallel combination from external connections, to thereby transfer some energy from said inductor to said capacitor;

wherein said input stage drives current in different senses at different times; and

an output stage which repeatedly couples power out of said parallel combination, and immediately thereafter temporarily disconnects said parallel combination from external connections, to thereby transfer some energy from said inductor to said capacitor;

wherein said output stage couples power out of said combination during two opposite directions of current therein;

wherein said input and output stages both disconnect said parallel combination substantially identically for both directions of current in said combination.

65. The circuit of claim 64, wherein each said driving action is performed using multiple different drive pulses from different legs of a polyphase power line.

66-80. -80. (canceled)