Parallel resonant DC linked inverter arrangement and method utilizing antiferroelectric dielectric material

• US 6,141,228 A
• Filed: 06/02/1999
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electric Boat Corporation (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Electric Boat Corporation (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Inventors: Maurio, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley, Shawn
• Application Number:
  US09/323,801
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 363/35, 363/34, 363/560, 363/131
• US Class Current: 363/56.05
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/4826 operating from a resonant DC source, i.e. the DC input voltage varies periodically, e.g. resonant DC-link inverters

Abstract

In the parallel resonant DC link inverter described in the specification, a DC voltage is applied to a plurality of semiconductor switches to provide an AC driving voltage for an AC motor by way of an LC tank circuit containing a nonlinear capacitance device having an antiferroelectric material as its dielectric. As a result of the increase in capacitance with increased voltage, the voltage peak of the link voltages produced by the circuit is reduced without a corresponding reduction in the volt-second product applied to the motor load.

Claims

1. A parallel resonant DC link inverter arrangement for converting DC voltage to an AC voltage comprising a DC voltage source, a plurality of semi-conductor switch elements for switching the DC voltage from the voltage source, and an LC tank circuit including a resonant capacitor having an antiferroelectric material as a dielectric.

2. A parallel resonant DC link inverter arrangement according to claim 1 in which the resonant capacitor has a capacitance that increases with increasing applied voltage.

3. A parallel resonant DC linked inverter arrangement according to claim 1 in which the antiferroelectric material is lead zirconium oxide.

4. A parallel resonant DC linked inverter arrangement according to claim 1 in which the peak voltage of the inverter does not change with load current.

5. A method for inverting a DC voltage comprising applying a DC voltage to a plurality of semiconductor switches by way of a tank circuit containing a nonlinear capacitor in which the capacitance increases with increasing applied voltage.