Tridirectional inverter

• US 6,052,292 A
• Filed: 08/30/1999
• Issued: 04/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Podlesak, Thomas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laxton, Gary L.
• Application Number:
  US09/393,064
• Time in Patent Office: 232 Days
• Field of Search: 363/34, 363/37, 363/125, 363/131
• US Class Current: 363/34
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/008 Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/10 using transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/458 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/797 using semiconductor devices only

Abstract

A tridirectional inverter is disclosed which converts power from the single source into two different widely types of power outputs. This conversions done by utilizing a magnetic element, i.e., a transformer, alternatively as a filter and as a voltage changing transformer. The function that the magnetic element provides is accomplished by selecting the frequency of the signal that is applied to the magnetic element.

Claims

1. An inverter having an input stage and first and second outputs and being responsive to signals generated by an external gating circuit, said input stage receiving excitation having a fixed, variable or selectable frequency and said inverter providing different levels of power separately to each of said first and second outputs dependent upon the frequency of said received excitation, said inverter comprising:

a first rectifier having an input and an output and having switches arranged in a first configuration and being responsive to said signals of said external gating circuit, said input of said first rectifier having first and second ends and arranged to receive said variable frequency excitation and said output of said first rectifier having first and second ends and providing a first DC output;

a transformer-inductor (T1-L1) element having a primary winding and a secondary winding and a magnetic core having a selectable amount of magnetic material, said primary and secondary windings having first and second ends and with the first end of said primary winding connected to said first end of said output of said first rectifier;

a second rectifier having an input and an output and having switches arranged in a second configuration so as to provide a symmetrical operation between said first and second rectifiers, said switches of said second rectifier being responsive to said signals of said external gating circuit, said input of said second rectifier having first and second ends and having its first end connected to said second end of said primary winding, said output of said second rectifier having first and second ends and arranged to provide a first AC output; and

a third rectifier having an input and an output and having switches arranged in a configuration identical to said first and second configurations so as to provide symmetrical operation between said first, second and third rectifiers, said switches of said third rectifier being responsive to said signals of said external gating circuit, said input and said output of said third rectifier each having first and second ends and said input of said third rectifier arranged to be connected across said first and second ends of said secondary winding.

2. The inverter according to claim 1, wherein said switches of said third rectifier comprise a first bank and a first control switch each having opened and closed states and wherein when said first control switch is in its open state said third rectifier operates as an inverter to provide a second AC output and, conversely, when said first control switch is in its closed state said third rectifier operates as a rectifier to provide a DC output.

3. The inverter according to claim 1 wherein said magnetic material is selected from the group consisting of iron and iron alloy.

4. The inverter according to claim 1, further comprising a first serial arrangement of a first switch and a first filter capacitor with the first switch being responsive to said signals of said external gating circuit, said first serial arrangement connected across said first and second ends of said output of said first rectifier.

5. The inverter according to claim 1, further comprising a second serial arrangement of a second switch and a second filter capacitor with the second switch being responsive to said signals of said external gating circuit, said second serial arrangement connected between said first and second ends of input of said second rectifier.

6. The inverter according to claim 1, further comprising a third serial arrangement including a first control switch, and a third filter capacitor with the first control switch being responsive to said signals of said external gating circuit, said third serial arrangement being connected across said first and second ends of said output of said third rectifier.

7. The inverter according to claim 1, further comprising a fourth switch having first and second ends with the first end thereof being connected to said first end of said secondary winding, said fourth switch being responsive to said signals of said external gating circuit.

8. The inverter according to claim 1, wherein said primary and secondary windings are respectively arranged to be stationary and rotatable.