Power inverter with optical isolation

• US 6,972,972 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2003
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alrak, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Airak, Inc.
• Inventors: Schroeder, John Alan, Duncan, Paul G.
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US10/413,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20040024937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 363/50, 363/55, 363/56.01, 363/56.03, 363/56.05, 363/131
• US Class Current: 363/56.01
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections

Abstract

An optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit that includes an input electrical power source, a heat pipe, a power electronic switch or plurality of interconnected power electronic switches, a mechanism for connecting the switch to the input power source, a mechanism for connecting comprising an interconnecting cable and/or bus bar or plurality of interconnecting cables and/or input bus bars, an optically isolated drive circuit connected to the switch, a heat sink assembly upon which the power electronic switch or switches is mounted, an output load, a mechanism for connecting the switch to the output load, the mechanism for connecting including an interconnecting cable and/or bus bar or plurality of interconnecting cables and/or output bus bars, at least one a fiber optic temperature sensor mounted on the heat sink assembly, at least one fiber optic current sensor mounted on the load interconnection cable and/or output bus bar, at least one fiber optic voltage sensor mounted on the load interconnection cable and/or output bus bar, at least one fiber optic current sensor mounted on the input power interconnection cable and/or input bus bar, and at least one fiber optic voltage sensor mounted on the input power interconnection cable and/or input bus bar.

Claims

1. An optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit comprising:

an input electrical power source;

a power electronic switch;

a means for connecting said switch to said input power source, said means for connecting comprising an interconnecting cable and/or bus bar;

an optically isolated drive circuit operatively connected to said switch;

a heat sink assembly;

an output load;

means for connecting said switch to said output load comprising at least one interconnecting cable and/or bus bar; and

,

at least one optical sensor for sensing conditions in a high-power stage of the converter.

2. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 1, wherein said at least one optical sensor comprises a fiber optic temperature sensor.

3. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 2, wherein said fiber optic temperature sensor is mounted on said heat sink assembly.

4. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 1, wherein said at least one optical sensor comprises a fiber optic current sensor.

5. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 4, wherein said fiber optic current sensor is mounted on a load interconnection cable.

6. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 4, wherein said fiber optic cuurent sensor is mounted on an output bus bar.

7. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 4, wherein said fiber optic current sensor is mounted on an input bus bar.

8. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 4, wherein said fiber optic current sensor is mounted on an input power interconnection cable.

9. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 1, wherein said at least one optical sensor comprises a fiber optic voltage sensor.

10. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 9, wherein said fiber optic voltage sensor is mounted on the load interconnection cable.

11. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 9, wherein said fiber optic voltage sensor is mounted on the output bus bar.

12. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 9, wherein said at fiber optic voltage sensor is mounted on an input power interconnection cable.

13. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 9, wherein said at fiber optic voltage sensor is mounted on an input bus bar.

14. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 1, further comprising a heat pipe.

15. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 1, wherein said at least one power electronic switch comprises a plurality of interconnected power electronic switches.

16. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 1, wherein said at least one power electronic switch is mounted upon said heat sink assembly.

17. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 1, wherein said means for connecting said switch to said input power source comprises a plurality of interconnecting cables and/or input bus bars.

18. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 1, wherein said means for connecting said switch to said output load comprises a plurality of interconnecting cables and/or output bus bars.

19. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 1, wherein the power conversion circuit is a power inverter.

20. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 1, wherein the power conversion circuit is a rectifier.