Power converter

• US 5,864,475 A
• Filed: 12/02/1997
• Issued: 01/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Ikawa, Eiichi, Kawaguchi, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MATTHEW VAN
• Application Number:
  US08/982,354
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 363/50, 363/54, 363/57, 363/85, 363/96, 363/128, 363/135, 363/136
• US Class Current: 363/57
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0006 Arrangements for supplying an adequate voltage to the control circuit of converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0085 Partially controlled bridges
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/088 for the simultaneous control of series or parallel connected semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/34 Snubber circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/346 Passive non-dissipative snubbers
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/4835 comprising two or more cells, each including a switchable capacitor, the capacitors having a nominal charge voltage which corresponds to a given fraction of the input voltage, and the capacitors being selectively connected in series to determine the instantaneous output voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/0081 Power supply means, e.g. to the switch driver
• 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

The power converter extracts the accumulated energy accumulated in a snubber capacitor (a first capacitor) from the second capacitor in a series circuit, composed of a second capacitor and a diode, which is provided in parallel with that snubber capacitor, and uses it as the driving power source for a self-turn-off-semiconductor device.

Claims

1. A power converter having a plurality of switch units, each of the switch units comprising:

a first series circuit in which the anode of a first diode is connected to a cathode of a first self-turn-off-semiconductor device;

a second series circuit in which an anode of a second self-turn-off-semiconductor device is connected to a cathode of a second diode;

a first capacitor which is connected between the series connection point of said first series circuit and a series connection point of said second series circuit;

a third diode which is connected so that the series connection point second series circuit becomes the cathode side;

a second capacitor of which one end is connected in series to the anode side of said of said third diode and the other end is connected to series connection point of said first series circuit

a first power source system which is connected in parallel with the said second capacitor;

the anode of said first self-turn-off semiconductor device of said first series circuit being connected to the anode of said second diode of said second series circuit; and

the cathode of said first diode of said first series circuit being connected to the cathode of said second self-turn-off semiconductor device of said second series circuit.

2. A power converter according to claim 1, and further comprising:

a fourth diode which is connected so that the series connection point of said first series circuit becomes the anode side;

a third capacitor of which one end is connected to the cathode side of said fourth diode, and the other end is connected to the series connection point of said second series circuit; and

a second power source system which is connected in parallel with said third capacitor.

3. A power converter according to claim 1, and further comprising:

a fourth diode which is inserted and connected on the connection line between the series connection point of said first series circuit and said second capacitor, taking the series connection point of said first series circuit as anode side;

a first resistor which is connected to the anode side of said fourth diode and the anode side of said third diode; and

a second resistor which is connected to the cathode side of the said fourth diode and the cathode side of said third diode.

4. A power converter having a plurality of switch units, each of the switch units comprising:

a first series circuit in which one end of a first reactor is connected to a cathode of a first self-turn-off-semiconductor device, while the anode of a first diode is connected to the other end of said first reactor;

a second series circuit in which one end of a second reactor is connected to a cathode of a second diode, while an anode of a second self-turn-off-semiconductor device is connected to the other end of said second reactor;

a first capacitor which is connected between a first series connection point of the cathode of said first self-turn-off-semiconductor device and said first reactor and a second series connection point of the cathode of said second diode and said second reactor;

a second capacitor which is connected between a third series connection point of the anode of said first diode and said first reactor and a fourth series connection point of the anode of said second self-turn-off-semiconductor device and said second reactor;

a third diode which is connected so that said second series connection point becomes cathode side;

a third capacitor of which one end is connected in series with the anode side of said third diode, and the other end is connected to the said first series connection point;

a first power source system which is connected in parallel with said third capacitor;

a fourth diode which is connected so that said third series connection point becomes the anode side;

a fourth capacitor of which one end is connected in series with the cathode of said fourth diode, and the other end is connected to said fourth series connection point;

a second power source system which is connected in parallel with said fourth capacitor,

the anode of said first self-turn-off semiconductor device of said first series circuit being connected to the anode of said second diode of said second series circuit; and

the cathode of said first diode of said first series circuit being connected to the cathode of said second self-turn-off semiconductor device of said second series circuit.

5. A power converter according to claim 4, and further comprising:

a fifth diode which is inserted and connected on the connection line between said first series connection point and said third capacitor, taking said first series connection point as the anode side;

a first resistor which is connected to the anode side of said fifth diode and the anode side of said third diode;

a second resistor which is connected to the cathode side of said fifth diode and the cathode side of said third diode;

a sixth diode which is inserted and connected on the connection line between said fourth series connection point and said fourth capacitor, taking said fourth series connection point as the cathode side;

a third resistor which is connected to the anode side of said sixth diode and the anode side of said fourth diode; and

a fourth resistor which is connected to the cathode side of the said sixth diode and the cathode side of said fourth diode.

6. A power converter according to claim 5, and further comprising:

a third power source system which receives electric energy from at least said first power source system or said second power source system cross-wisely.