Communication Within A Power Inverter Using Transformer Voltage Frequency
First Claim
1. A power inverter comprising:
- a bridge circuit configured to convert an output voltage of a direct-current (DC) power source to an alternating-current (AC) output voltage having an output frequency;
a transformer having a primary side winding and a secondary side winding magnetically coupled to one another, wherein the primary side winding is configured to receive the AC output voltage; and
a first controller having a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is configured to;
determine at least one operating condition of the DC power supply; and
control the output frequency of the AC output voltage in response to the at least one operating condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power inverter may include a transformer serving as an isolation barrier. The power inverter may include a first controller on one side of the isolation barrier. The first controller may encode the frequency of an input voltage of the transformer with one or more operating conditions of a direct current power supply electrically coupled to the inverter. As second controller on the other side of the isolation barrier may determine a frequency associated with an output voltage of the transformer. The second controller may decode the frequency associated with the output voltage of the transformer to determine the encoded operating conditions.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A power inverter comprising:
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a bridge circuit configured to convert an output voltage of a direct-current (DC) power source to an alternating-current (AC) output voltage having an output frequency; a transformer having a primary side winding and a secondary side winding magnetically coupled to one another, wherein the primary side winding is configured to receive the AC output voltage; and a first controller having a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is configured to; determine at least one operating condition of the DC power supply; and control the output frequency of the AC output voltage in response to the at least one operating condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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9. A method of conveying information through a power converter configured to supply power from a direct current (DC) power source to an alternating current (AC) load, the method comprising:
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determining at least one condition; encoding the at least one condition in a first alternating-current (AC) voltage applied to a first winding of a transformer of the power inverter; receiving a second AC voltage of a second winding magnetically coupled to the first winding; and decoding from the second AC voltage the at least one condition. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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17. A computer-readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions executable by a processor, the computer-readable medium comprising:
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instructions to determine at least one operating condition of a DC power source; instructions to determine a first frequency of a first voltage applied to a first winding of a transformer based on the at least one operating condition; instructions to determine a second frequency of a second voltage of a second winding of the transformer, wherein the second voltage is induced by application of the first voltage to the first winding; and instructions to determine the at least one operating condition from the second frequency. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification