Universal power converter with two input drive operations during each half-cycle
First Claim
1. A power converter, comprising:
- an energy-transfer reactance, comprising at least one inductor which has at least two terminals;
an input switch array comprising multiple switch pairs, each connected to one phase of a polyphase connection, and each configured to selectably source or sink current to each of said terminals of said inductor at various different times; and
an output network connected to extract energy from said reactance when said input switch array is not active;
wherein said input switch array performs at least two drive operations, in the same direction but from different ones of said phases, during a single half-cycle of said reactance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for transforming electric power between two or more portals. Any or all portals can be DC, single phase AC, or multi-phase AC. Conversion is accomplished by a plurality of bi-directional conducting and blocking semiconductor switches which alternately connect an inductor and parallel capacitor between said portals, such that energy is transferred into the inductor from one or more input portals and/or phases, then the energy is transferred out of the inductor to one or more output portals and/or phases, with said parallel capacitor facilitating “soft” turn-off, and with any excess inductor energy being returned back to the input. Soft turn-on and reverse recovery is also facilitated. Said bi-directional switches allow for two power transfers per inductor/capacitor cycle, thereby maximizing inductor/capacitor utilization as well as providing for optimum converter operation with high input/output voltage ratios. Control means coordinate the switches to accomplish the desired power transfers.
50 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A power converter, comprising:
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an energy-transfer reactance, comprising at least one inductor which has at least two terminals; an input switch array comprising multiple switch pairs, each connected to one phase of a polyphase connection, and each configured to selectably source or sink current to each of said terminals of said inductor at various different times; and an output network connected to extract energy from said reactance when said input switch array is not active; wherein said input switch array performs at least two drive operations, in the same direction but from different ones of said phases, during a single half-cycle of said reactance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A power converter, comprising:
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an energy-transfer reactance having at least two terminals, comprising at least one inductor, and operating at a primary AC magnetic field frequency which is less than half of the reactance'"'"'s resonant frequency; an input switch array configured to selectably source and sink current at various times, to each of two terminals of said reactance;
said inductor being shunt-connected across said two terminals; andan output network switch array connected to extract energy from said reactance when said input switch array is not active; wherein said input switch array performs at least two drive operations, in the same direction but from different sources, during a single half-cycle of said reactance. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A power converter, comprising:
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an energy-transfer reactance having at least two terminals, comprising at least one inductor, which operates at a primary AC magnetic field frequency which is less than half of the reactance'"'"'s resonant frequency; an input switch array configured to both source and sink current to multiple respective ones of said terminals of said reactance; and an output switch array connected and configured to extract energy from said reactance when said input switch array is not active; wherein said input switch array performs at least two different drive operations to each said terminal of said reactance at different times during a single cycle of said reactance, and wherein said output switch array performs at least two different drive operations to each said terminal of said reactance at different times during a single cycle of said reactance. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification