Electric circuit, in particular for a medium-voltage power converter

• US 7,471,532 B1
• Filed: 04/12/2000
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Converteam GmbH (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Converteam GmbH (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Jakob, Roland, Beinhold, Georg, Salama, Samir
• Primary Examiner(s): Han; Jessica
• Application Number:
  US10/048,799
• Time in Patent Office: 3,184 Days
• Field of Search: 323/282, 323/283, 323/284, 363/41, 363/43, 363/98, 363/132
• US Class Current: 363/98
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/483 Converters with outputs that each can have more than two voltages levels
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/4837 Flying capacitor converters
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/16 Modifications for eliminating interference voltages or currents
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/163 Soft switching
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 4/02 having stepped portions, e.g. staircase waveform

Abstract

Disclosed is an electric circuit, in particular for a medium voltage power converter. The circuit has at least four semiconductor switches which form a series connection and which are connected to poles of a direct current voltage (Ud). A diode is connected in parallel in an inverse direction to each semiconductor switch. A capacitor is connected in parallel to the two semiconductors in the middle of the series connection. The circuit is provided with a pole of an output potential (Ua) which is connected centrally in the series connection. The circuit has a control device for successively controlling the semiconductor switches. The time interval between the transition of two of the semiconductor switches into their respective controlling states is minimal.

Claims

1. An electric circuit for a medium-voltage power converter, comprising:

at least four semiconductor switches that form a series circuit and are connected to poles of a direct voltage;

a diode being connected in antiparallel with each of the semiconductor switches; and

a capacitor being connected in parallel with two middle semiconductor switches of the semiconductor switches of the series circuit,

wherein a pole of an output voltage is connected to the middle of the series circuit, and a control unit is provided for sequentially driving the semiconductor switches, wherein a time period between a transition of two semiconductor switches into a respectively conducting state is very short, wherein the time period between the transition of two semiconductor switches is between approximately 0.01 microseconds and approximately 10 microseconds.

2. The circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the time period between the transition of two semiconductor switches is selected as a function of a switching time of one of the semiconductor switches.

3. The circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein by corresponding further semiconductor switches, diodes and capacitors, it is possible for the control unit to control the semiconductor switches of the series circuit into a conducting state one after another.

4. The circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the capacitance of the capacitor is very small.

5. The circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the time period between the transition of two neighboring semiconductor switches into the respectively conducting state is between approximately 100 microseconds and approximately 1000 microseconds.

6. The circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the time period between the transition of two semiconductor switches is selected as a function of a resonant frequency of a load.

7. The circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the time period between the transition of two semiconductor switches is approximately 2 microseconds.

8. The circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the time period between the transition of two neighboring semiconductor switches into the respectively conducting state is approximately 250 microseconds.

9. A method for operating an electric circuit, comprising:

providing a plurality of semiconductor switches that form a series circuit and are connected to poles of a direct voltage,

providing a diode being connected in antiparallel to each of the semiconductor switches, a capacitor being connected in parallel in each case starting from two middle semiconductor switches,

wherein the circuit is provided with a pole of an output voltage that is connected in the middle of the series circuit, and wherein the semiconductor switches are controlled into a conducting state one after another, wherein a time period between a transition of two semiconductor switches into a respectively conducting state is very short, wherein the time period between the transition of two semiconductor switches is between approximately 0.01 microseconds and approximately 10 microseconds.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the time period between the transition of two semiconductor switches is selected as a function of a switching time of one of the semiconductor switches.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the time period between the transition of two neighboring semiconductor switches into the respectively conducting state is between approximately 100 microseconds and approximately 1000 microseconds.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein a sequence of driving the semiconductor switches is carried out as a function of a charge state of the capacitor.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the time period between the transition of two semiconductor switches is selected as a function of a resonant frequency of a load.

14. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the time period between the transition of two neighboring semiconductor switches into the respectively conducting state is approximately 250 microseconds.