Inverter control using current mode slope modulation

• US 6,282,111 B1
• Filed: 06/18/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avionic Instruments LLC (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Avionic Instruments LLC (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Illingworth, Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Rajnikant B.
• Application Number:
  US09/335,977
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 363/98, 363/95, 363/97, 363/131, 363/132, 363/71, 363/54, 363/37, 323/281, 323/275, 323/222
• US Class Current: 363/98
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/53871 with automatic control of output voltage or current

Abstract

A power inverter capable of both DC-AC and DC-DC conversion is disclosed. Said inverter features a novel current mode slope modulation scheme to regulate output while eliminating stability problems commonly held by current mode systems. Furthermore, an embodiment is disclosed utilizing three state modulation to reduce switching losses in the power stage thereby increasing efficiency. Additionally, a novel sine wave compression circuit is disclosed to prevent output wave clipping under low DC supply conditions.

Claims

1. A DC to AC inverter control system comprising:

input means accepting a DC signal;

output means for providing an AC output signal having a voltage amplitude and a current amplitude;

a power input stage coupled to said input means comprising switching transistors and commutating diodes;

output filter means interfaced with said power input stage to convert output of said power input stage to an AC sine wave;

multivibrator structure for generating a square wave of variable duty cycle;

drive means coupled to said multivibrator means for controlling said switching transistors;

sine wave generation means for producing a sine wave reference signal, said sine wave reference signal having a voltage amplitude indicative of the desired AC voltage amplitude of said AC output signal;

error means for comparing the voltage amplitude of said AC output signal to said sine wave reference signal voltage amplitude and thereafter producing an error signal having a current amplitude;

difference means for comparing said current amplitude of said AC output signal to said current amplitude of said error signal and thereafter producing a difference signal;

sawtooth generator means for generating a sawtooth signal; and

modulation means responsive to said difference signal and coupled to said sawtooth generator means and said multivibrator structure to modulate the slope of said sawtooth signal, wherein said sawtooth signal varies the duty cycle of said square wave generated by said multivibrator structure.

2. An inverter control system in accordance with claim 1, wherein positive and negative current sources control said multivibrator.

3. An inverter control system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said positive and negative current sources are controlled by a plurality of logic inverters.

4. An inverter control system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said drive means of said switching transistors operate in a three state switching arrangement.

5. An inverter control system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sine wave reference signal is replaced by a DC signal.

6. Sine wave reference compression means for use with a DC to AC inverter, said inverter outputting a desired AC signal, said sine wave reference means comprising:

inverter means for converting a DC signal to an AC signal further comprising a reference input means to receive a second AC reference signal indicative of said desired AC signal;

isolated reference input means for determining voltage amplitude of said DC signal;

reference output means for receiving a first sine wave reference signal indicative of said desired AC signal;

analysis means for analyzing the amplitude of said DC signal to determine its sufficiency to generate said desired AC signal;

attenuation means, coupled to said analysis means, to attenuate said first sine wave reference signal in cases of insufficient amplitude of said DC signal, wherein said cases said attenuation means generates said second AC reference signal, wherein said second AC reference signal is substantially identical to said first sine wave reference signal with attenuated amplitude; and

output means coupled to said reference input means and said attenuation means for providing said second AC reference signal;

wherein said sine wave compression means function to limit the amplitude of said first AC reference signal in cases of insufficient amplitude of said DC signal to improve the quality of said AC signal by providing said second AC reference signal having reduced amplitude.

7. Sine wave reference compression means in accordance with claim 6, wherein said isolated reference input means comprises:

a drive circuit;

a switching transistor controlled by said drive circuit;

a transformer controlled by said switching transistor;

a DC output reference across the primary of said transformer;

a clamping diode connected at anode to secondary of said transformer;

a filter capacitor connected in series between secondary of said transformer and cathode of said clamping diode; and

a DC output across said filter capacitor.

8. Sine wave reference compression means in accordance with claim 7, wherein said filter capacitor is replaced by an emitter follower.

9. A DC to AC inverter comprising:

input means accepting a DC signal;

output means for providing an AC signal having a voltage amplitude and a current amplitude;

a power input stage coupled to said input means comprising switching transistors and commutating diodes;

output filter means interfaced with said power input stage to convert output of said power input stage to an AC sine wave;

multivibrator structure for generating a square wave of variable duty cycle;

drive means coupled to said multivibrator means for controlling said switching transistors;

reference input means to receive a second AC reference signal indicative of the desired AC signal;

isolated reference input means for determining voltage amplitude of said DC signal;

reference output means for receiving a first sine wave reference signal indicative of said desired AC signal;

analysis means, coupled to said input means, for analyzing the amplitude of said DC signal to determine its sufficiency to generate said desired AC signal;

attenuation means, coupled to said analysis means, to attenuate said first sine wave reference signal in cases of insufficient amplitude of said DC signal, wherein said cases said attenuation means generates said second AC reference signal, wherein said second AC reference signal is substantially identical to said first sine wave reference signal with attenuated amplitude;

output structure coupled to said reference input means and said attenuation means for providing said second AC reference signal, wherein the amplitude of said first AC reference signal is limited in cases of insufficient amplitude of said DC signal to improve the quality of said AC signal by providing said second AC reference signal having reduced amplitude;

error means for comparing the voltage amplitude of said AC signal to said second sine wave reference signal voltage amplitude and thereafter producing an error signal having a current amplitude;

difference means for comparing said current amplitude of said second AC output signal to said current amplitude of said error signal and thereafter producing a difference signal;

sawtooth generator means for generating a sawtooth signal; and

modulation means responsive to said difference signal and coupled to said sawtooth generator means and said multivibrator structure to modulate the slope of said sawtooth signal, wherein said sawtooth signal varies the duty cycle of said square wave generated by said multivibrator structure.

10. A DC to AC inverter in accordance with claim 9, wherein positive and negative current sources control said multivibrator.

11. A DC to AC inverter in accordance with claim 10, wherein said positive and negative current sources are controlled by a plurality of logic inverters.

12. A DC to AC inverter in accordance with claim 9, wherein said drive means of said switching transistors operate in a three state switching arrangement.

13. A DC to AC inverter in accordance with claim 9, wherein said isolated reference input means comprises:

a drive circuit;

a switching transistor controlled by said drive circuit;

a transformer controlled by said switching transistor;

a DC output reference across the primary of said transformer;

a clamping diode connected at anode to secondary of said transformer;

a filter capacitor connected in series between secondary of said transformer and cathode of said clamping diode; and

a DC output across said filter capacitor.

14. A DC to AC inverter in accordance with claim 13, wherein said filter capacitor is replaced by an emitter follower.