Power converter

• US 9,166,494 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2010
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daikin Industries Ltd
• Original Assignee: Daikin Industries Ltd
• Inventors: Satou, Toshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Dole, Timothy J
• Assistant Examiner(s): LABOY ANDINO, IVAN A
• Application Number:
  US13/516,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20120257425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 323/271, 323285-285, 323/351, 363 15- 17, 363 34- 37, 363 40- 41, 363 52- 55, 363 5601- 5605, 363/84, 363/89, 363 95- 98, 363108-109, 363/125, 363/127, 363131-132, 363135-136, 326 82- 92
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/08 Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/4585 having a rectifier with controlled elements
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/6871 the output circuit comprising more than one controlled field-effect transistor
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/0009 AC switches, i.e. delivering AC power to a load
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/0081 Power supply means, e.g. to the switch driver
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/009 Resonant driver circuits

Abstract

A power supplying section is an operation power supply for a switching element for an inverter, and one end on a low potential side is connected to one end of the switching element on a DC power supply line side. A boot capacitor is connected to one end of the switching element on a DC power supply line side, where the other end is electrically connected to one end of the power supply section on the high potential side. A diode is provided in a path extending from one end of the power supply section on the high potential side to the DC power supply line via the boot capacitor. The diode makes only the current, which is flowing from the power supply section to the boot capacitor, flow.

Claims

1. A power converter comprising:

a first power supply line;

a second power supply line applied with a potential lower than said first power supply line;

an output end;

a power converting section including a first switching element arranged between said output end and said first power supply line, and a power supply section having both ends between which a DC voltage is supported, one end on a low potential side of said ends being connected to said first switching element on said second power supply line side and serving as an operation power supply for outputting a switch signal to said first switching element;

a second switching element arranged between said first and second power supply lines;

a boot capacitor including one end connected to the second switching element on said first power supply line side and another end electrically connected to the other end of said power supply section, and serving as an operation power supply for outputting a switch signal to said second switching element when charged; and

a diode, arranged between the other end of said power supply section and said first power supply line through said boot capacitor, for flowing current only in a direction from said power supply section towards said boot capacitor.

2. The power converter according to claim 1, further comprising

a third switching element connected in series with said second switching element on said second power supply line side between said first and second power supply lines;

a second boot capacitor including one end connected to said third switching element on said first power supply line side and another end, and serving as an operation power supply for outputting a switch signal to said third switching element when charged; and

a second diode arranged with a cathode directed towards said second boot capacitor between said other end of said boot capacitor or said other end of the power supply section and said other end of said second boot capacitor.

3. The power converter according to claim 2, wherein

said second switching element has a reverse blocking structure.

4. The power converter according to claim 1, wherein

said second switching element has a reverse blocking structure.

5. The power converter according to claim 1, further comprising

a second diode connected in series with said second switching element on said second power supply line side and arranged with an anode directed towards said second power supply line;

a third switching element connected in series on said second power supply line side with respect to a serial body of said second switching element and said second diode;

a third diode connected in series with said third switching element on said second power supply line side with respect to said serial body; and

a second boot capacitor including one end connected to said third switching element on said first power supply line side and another end connected to said other end of said boot capacitor and serving as an operation power supply for outputting a switch signal to said third switching element when charged.

6. The power converter according to claim 5, wherein

said third diode is positioned on said second power supply line side with respect to said third switching element.

7. The power converter according to claim 1, wherein

said diode is arranged between said second switching element and said first power supply line.

8. The power converter according to claim 1, further comprising

a second diode arranged between said first power supply line and a connecting point of said second switching element and said boot capacitor, wherein

said diode is arranged between said power supply section and said connecting point.

9. The power converter according to claim 1, further comprising

a second diode connected in series with said second switching element and arranged with a cathode directed towards said first power supply line;

a third switching element;

a third diode connected in series with said third switching element and arranged with a cathode directed towards said second power supply line, a serial body of said third diode and said third switching element being connected in parallel with a serial body of said second switching element and said second diode;

a second boot capacitor including one end connected to said third switching element on said second power supply line side and another end connected to said other end of said boot capacitor and serving as an operation power supply for outputting a switch signal to said third switching element when charged; and

a fourth diode arranged with a cathode directed towards said second boot capacitor between said boot capacitor and said second boot capacitor.

10. The power converter according to claim 1, further comprising

a second diode connected in series with said second switching element and arranged with a cathode directed towards said first power supply line;

a third switching element;

a third diode connected in series with said third switching clement and arranged with a cathode directed towards said second power supply line, a serial body of said third diode and said third switching element being connected in parallel with a serial body of said second switching element and said second diode;

a bidirectional switching element connected in series with said serial body on said second power supply line side;

a fourth switching element arranged between said output end and said second power supply line;

a second power supply section having one end connected to said fourth switching element on said second power supply line side and serving as an operation power supply for outputting a switch signal to said fourth switching element;

a second boot capacitor including one end connected to said third switching element on said second power supply line side and another end connected to another end of said second power supply section and being an operation power supply for outputting a switch signal to said third switching element when charged; and

a fourth diode arranged with a cathode directed towards said second boot capacitor between said second boot capacitor and said second power supply section.

11. The power converter according to claim 1, further comprising

a third switching element connecting to said second switching element on said first power supply line side;

a second diode connected in parallel to said third switching element with a cathode directed towards said first power supply line; and

a third diode connected in parallel with said second switching element with a cathode directed towards said second power supply line, wherein

said boot capacitor is commonly connected to a connecting point of said second switching element and said third switching element, and functions as an operation power supply for outputting a switch signal to said second switching element and said third switching element.

12. The power converter according to claim 1, wherein

said second switching element is arranged in plurals, all of said second switching elements are directly connected to said first power supply line, and said boot capacitor functions as an operation power supply for outputting a switch signal to two or more second switching elements of said plurality of second switching elements.

13. The power converter according to claim 1, wherein

said power converting section further includes a voltage adjustment unit for lowering voltage of said voltage supplying section to function as an operation power supply of said first switching element.

14. The power converter according to claim 1, wherein

said first switching element and said power supply section are arranged in plurals, one end of said plurality of power supply sections respectively being connected to said plurality of first switching elements on said second power supply line side;

said diode is arranged between other end of one of said plurality of power supply sections and other end of said boot capacitor; and

a boot diode arranged with a cathode directed towards said boot capacitor between other end of another one of said plurality of power supply sections and other end of said boot capacitor is further arranged.

15. The power converter according to claim 1, wherein

said first switching elements and said power supply section are arranged in plurals, one end of said plurality of power supply sections being connected to said plurality of first switching elements on said second power supply line side, and said diode is arranged between said second switching element and said first power supply line.

16. The power converter according to claim 1, wherein

said power supply section is a third boot capacitor, and

a fourth switching element arranged between said output end and said second power supply line;

a DC power supply having one end connected to the fourth switching element on said second power supply line side and another end, and serving as an operation power supply for outputting a switch signal to said fourth switching element; and

a diode arranged with an anode directed towards said DC power supply and a cathode directed towards said boot capacitor between said other end of said boot capacitor and said other end of said DC power supply are further arranged.