Loss minimized PWM for voltage source inverters taking into account inverter non-linearity

• US 7,391,181 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2006
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Hiti, Silva, Schulz, Steven E., Welchko, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan; Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brandt; Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/376,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20070216344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 318/811
• US Class Current: 318/811
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0048 Circuits or arrangements for reducing losses using snubbers H02M1/34
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 27/04 using variable-frequency supply voltage, e.g. inverter or converter supply voltage
• 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

A dynamic pulse width modulation (PWM) selection device automatically switches between discontinuous PWM (DPWM) control methods. The PWM selection device comprises a PWM control module. The PWM control module determines a desired pulse width of a switching control signal according to a desired output signal. The PWM control module controls an actual pulse width of the switching control signal according to the desired pulse width and a first PWM control method. A selection module determines whether the desired pulse width exceeds a pulse width threshold. The selection module selects a second PWM control method when the desired pulse width exceeds the pulse width threshold.

Claims

1. A pulse width modulation (PWM) selection device comprising:

a PWM control module that determines a desired pulse width of a switching control signal according to a desired output signal, and that controls an actual pulse width of the switching control signal according to the desired pulse width and a first PWM control method;

a selection module that determines whether the desired pulse width exceeds a pulse width threshold, and that selects a second PWM control method when the desired pulse width exceeds the pulse width threshold.

2. The PWM selection device of claim 1 wherein the PWM control module is a discontinuous PWM (DPWM) control module.

3. The PWM selection device of claim 2 wherein the PWM control module is operable to control the actual pulse width according to at least one of a DPWM0, a DPWM1, and a DPWM2 control method.

4. The PWM selection device of claim 1 wherein the desired output signal is at least one of a desired output voltage and a desired output current.

5. The PWM selection device of claim 4 wherein the selection module determines whether the desired pulse width exceeds the pulse width threshold according to at least one of the desired output voltage, the desired output current, an electrical angle of the desired output signal, a power factor of a load associated with the PWM selection device, and a modulation index.

6. The PWM selection device of claim 1 wherein the selection module determines that the desired pulse width exceeds the pulse width threshold when the desired pulse width is at least one of greater than a maximum pulse width threshold and less than a minimum pulse width threshold.

7. A voltage source inverter (VSI) that comprises the PWM selection device of claim 1.

8. The VSI of claim 7 wherein the VSI provides current to an AC motor.

9. A pulse width modulation (PWM) selection device comprising:

a first PWM control module that determines a first desired pulse width of a first switching control signal according to a desired output signal, and that controls an actual pulse width of the first switching control signal according to the desired pulse width and a first PWM control method;

a second PWM control module that determines a second desired pulse width of a second switching control signal according to the desired output signal, and that controls an actual pulse width of the second switching control signal according to the second desired pulse width and a second PWM control method;

a selection module that receives the first switching control signal and the second switching control signal, that determines whether the first desired pulse width exceeds a pulse width threshold, that outputs the first switching control signal when the first desired pulse width does not exceed the pulse width threshold, and that outputs the second switching control signal when the first desired pulse width exceeds the pulse width threshold.

10. The PWM selection device of claim 9 wherein at least one of the first PWM control method and the second PWM control method is a discontinuous PWM (DPWM) control method.

11. The PWM selection device of claim 10 wherein the DPWM control method is at least one of a DPWM0, a DPWM1, and a DPWM2 control method.

12. The PWM selection device of claim 9 wherein the desired output signal is at least one of a desired output voltage and a desired output current.

13. The PWM selection device of claim 12 wherein the selection module determines whether the first desired pulse width exceeds the pulse width threshold according to at least one of the desired output voltage, the desired output current, an electrical angle of the desired output signal, a power factor of a load associated with the PWM selection device, and a modulation index.

14. The PWM selection device of claim 9 wherein the selection module determines that the first desired pulse width exceeds the pulse width threshold when the first desired pulse width is at least one of greater than a maximum pulse width threshold and less than a minimum pulse width threshold.

15. A voltage source inverter (VSI) that comprises the PWM selection device of claim 9.

16. The VSI of claim 15 wherein the VSI provides current to an AC motor.