ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FOR VOLTAGE INVERSION

• US 20180041114A1
• Filed: 08/02/2017
• Published: 02/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Prong Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Smart Prong Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Sandusky, Randall L., Farooqi, Neaz E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,218,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0009 Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/007 Plural converter units in cascade push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/07 using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode , e.g. charge pumps
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/24 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/285 Single converters with a plurality of output stages connected in parallel parallel operation of a plurality of converters in dc distribution networks H02J1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/44 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/48 using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

A boost circuit receives a DC signal at a first voltage, a duty clock, a reference at a second voltage, and a second intermediate signal at a fourth voltage; compares the reference and the second intermediate signal; generates a first intermediate signal at a third voltage based on the duty clock and the comparison of the reference and the second intermediate signal; and adjusts the third voltage to cause the fourth voltage to approach the second voltage based on the comparison of the reference and the second intermediate signal. The voltage converter receives the first intermediate signal at the second voltage and a clock and generates the second intermediate signal at the fourth voltage, which may be greater than the third voltage. The voltage driver receives the second intermediate signal at the fourth voltage and generates an AC signal at an AC voltage based on the second intermediate signal.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a boost circuit configured to;

receive a direct current (DC) signal at a first DC voltage, a duty clock signal, and a reference DC signal at a second DC voltage;

receive a second intermediate DC signal at a fourth DC voltage;

compare the reference DC signal and the second intermediate DC signal; and

generate a first intermediate DC signal at a third DC voltage based on the duty clock signal and the comparison of the reference DC signal and the second intermediate DC signal, wherein the boost circuit is further configured to adjust the third DC voltage of the first intermediate DC signal to cause the fourth DC voltage of the second intermediate DC signal to approach the second DC voltage of the reference DC signal based on the comparison of the reference DC signal and the second intermediate DC signal;

a voltage converter circuit electrically coupled to the boost circuit and configured to;

receive the first intermediate DC signal at the second DC voltage;

receive a clock signal; and

generate the second intermediate DC signal at the fourth DC voltage, wherein the fourth DC voltage of the second intermediate DC signal is greater than the third DC voltage of the first intermediate DC signal; and

a voltage driver circuit electrically coupled to the voltage converter circuit and configured to;

receive the second intermediate DC signal at the fourth DC voltage; and

generate an alternating current (AC) signal at an AC voltage based on the second intermediate DC signal at the fourth DC voltage.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an LC filter circuit electrically coupled to the voltage driver circuit and configured to:

receive the AC signal at the AC voltage; and

generate a filtered AC signal based on the AC signal at the AC voltage.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a voltage/current determination circuit electrically coupled to the boost circuit and the voltage converter circuit and configured to:

determine a current of the first intermediate DC signal;

determine the fourth DC voltage of the second intermediate DC signal;

generate the duty clock signal based on the second intermediate DC signal at the fourth DC voltage, wherein the duty clock signal adjusts a duty cycle of the boost circuit; and

generate a control signal based on the current of the first intermediate DC signal and the fourth DC voltage of the second intermediate DC signal.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a maximum power point (MPPT) controller circuit electrically coupled to the voltage/current determination circuit and configured to;

receive the control signal; and

generate a clock control signal based on the control signal; and

a converter controller electrically coupled to the MPPT controller circuit and the voltage converter circuit and configured to;

receive the clock control signal;

generate the clock signal based on the clock control signal, wherein the clock signal adjusts a clock rate within the voltage converter circuit; and

transmit the clock signal to the voltage converter circuit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the clock signal comprises a pulse width modulated signal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the boost circuit comprises:

a comparator circuit electrically coupled to the voltage converter circuit and configured to;

receive the reference DC signal at the second DC voltage;

receive the second intermediate DC signal at the fourth DC voltage;

compare the reference DC signal and the second intermediate DC signal; and

generate a comparison signal based on the comparison of the reference DC signal and the second intermediate DC signal;

a servo loop control circuit electrically coupled to the comparator circuit and configured to;

receive the comparison signal; and

generate a gate driver signal based on the comparison signal; and

a switching inductive circuit electrically coupled to the servo loop control circuit and configured to;

receive the DC signal at the first DC voltage, the duty clock signal, and the gate driver signal; and

generate the first intermediate DC signal at the third DC voltage based on the duty clock signal and the gate driver signal, wherein the switching inductive circuit is further configured to adjust the third DC voltage of the first intermediate DC signal to cause the fourth DC voltage of the second intermediate DC signal to approach the second DC voltage of the reference DC signal based on the gate driver signal and the duty clock signal.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the switching inductive circuit comprises a MOSFET comprising a gate, an inductor, and a diode.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the voltage converter circuit comprises a voltage converter stage circuit comprising N-Channel devices electrically coupled to the boost circuit and the voltage driver circuit and is configured to:

receive the first intermediate DC signal at the second DC voltage;

receive the clock signal, wherein the clock signal modifies a frequency of a clock rate within the voltage converter stage circuit; and

generate the second intermediate DC signal at the fourth DC voltage, wherein the fourth DC voltage of the second intermediate DC signal is greater than the third DC voltage of the first intermediate DC signal.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the voltage converter circuit further comprises:

a plurality of first capacitive elements electrically coupled in parallel with the voltage converter stage circuit;

a second capacitive element electrically coupled to the boost circuit, the voltage converter stage circuit, and ground; and

a third capacitive element electrically coupled to the voltage converter stage circuit, the voltage driver circuit, and ground.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the boost circuit and the voltage converter circuit operate in a regulated state.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the voltage converter circuit comprises a first voltage converter circuit, the system further comprising a second voltage converter circuit electrically coupled in parallel with the first voltage converter circuit.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving a DC signal at a first DC voltage, a duty clock signal, and a reference DC signal at a second DC voltage;

receiving a second intermediate DC signal at a fourth DC voltage;

comparing the reference DC signal and the second intermediate DC signal;

generating a first intermediate DC signal at a third DC voltage based on the duty clock signal and the comparison of the reference DC signal and the second intermediate DC signal, wherein the third DC voltage of the first intermediate DC signal is adjusted to cause the fourth DC voltage of the second intermediate DC signal to approach the second DC voltage of the reference DC signal based on the comparison of the reference DC signal and the second intermediate DC signal;

receiving the first intermediate DC signal at the second DC voltage;

receiving a clock signal;

generating the second intermediate DC signal at the fourth DC voltage, wherein the fourth DC voltage of the second intermediate DC signal is greater than the third DC voltage of the first intermediate DC signal;

receiving the second intermediate DC signal at the fourth DC voltage; and

generating an AC signal at an AC voltage based on the second intermediate DC signal at the fourth DC voltage.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving the AC signal at the AC voltage; and

generating a filtered AC signal based on the AC signal at the AC voltage.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining a current of the first intermediate DC signal;

determining the fourth DC voltage of the second intermediate DC signal;

generating the duty clock signal based on the second intermediate DC signal at the fourth DC voltage, wherein the duty clock signals adjusts a duty cycle at which the first intermediate DC signal is generated; and

generating a control signal based on the current of the first intermediate DC signal and the fourth DC voltage of the second intermediate DC signal.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving the control signal;

generating a clock control signal based on the control signal; and

generating the clock signal based on the clock control signal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein generating the clock signal based on the clock control signal comprises adjusting a clock rate at which the second intermediate DC signal is generated.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein generating the clock signal comprises generating a pulse width modulated signal.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

generating a comparison signal based on the comparison of the reference DC signal and the second intermediate DC signal;

generating a gate driver signal based on the comparison signal; and

generating the first intermediate DC signal at the third DC voltage based on the duty clock signal and the gate driver signal, wherein the third DC voltage of the first intermediate DC signal is adjusted to cause the fourth DC voltage of the second intermediate DC signal to approach the second DC voltage of the reference DC signal based on the gate driver signal and the duty clock signal.

19. A system, comprising:

a boost circuit comprising;

a comparator circuit configured to;

receive a reference DC signal at a second DC voltage;

receive a second intermediate DC signal at a fourth DC voltage;

compare the reference DC signal and the second intermediate DC signal; and

generate a comparison signal based on the comparison of the reference DC signal and the second intermediate DC signal;

a servo loop control circuit electrically coupled to the comparator circuit and configured to;

receive the comparison signal; and

generate a gate driver signal based on the comparison signal; and

a switching inductive circuit electrically coupled to the servo loop control circuit and a voltage converter circuit and configured to;

receive a DC signal at a first DC voltage and a duty clock signal; and

generate a first intermediate DC signal at a third DC voltage based on the duty clock signal and the gate driver signal;

a voltage converter circuit electrically coupled to the switching inductive circuit and the comparator circuit and configured to;

receive the first intermediate DC signal at the second DC voltage;

receive a clock signal; and

generate the second intermediate DC signal at the fourth DC voltage, wherein the fourth DC voltage of the second intermediate DC signal is greater than the third DC voltage of the first intermediate DC signal, and wherein the switching inductive circuit is configured to adjust the third DC voltage of the first intermediate DC signal to cause the fourth DC voltage of the second intermediate DC signal to approach the second DC voltage of the reference DC signal based on the gate driver signal and the duty clock signal;

a voltage driver circuit electrically coupled to the voltage converter circuit and configured to;

receive the second intermediate DC signal at the fourth DC voltage; and

generate an AC signal at an AC voltage based on the second intermediate DC signal at the fourth DC voltage; and

an LC filter circuit electrically coupled to the voltage driver circuit and configured to;

receive the AC signal at the AC voltage; and

generate a filtered AC signal based on the AC signal at the AC voltage.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a voltage/current determination circuit electrically coupled to the boost circuit and the voltage converter circuit and configured to;

determine a current of the first intermediate DC signal;

determine the fourth DC voltage of the second intermediate DC signal;

generate the duty clock signal based on the second intermediate DC signal at the fourth DC voltage, wherein the duty clock signal adjusts a duty cycle of the switching inductive circuit; and

generate a control signal based on the current of the first intermediate DC signal and the fourth DC voltage of the second intermediate DC signal;

an MPPT controller circuit electrically coupled to the voltage/current determination circuit and configured to;

receive the control signal; and

generate a clock control signal based on the control signal; and

a converter controller electrically coupled to the MPPT controller circuit and the voltage converter circuit and configured to;

receive the clock control signal;

generate the clock signal based on the clock control signal, wherein the clock signal adjusts a clock rate within the voltage converter circuit; and

transmit the clock signal to the voltage converter circuit.