System and method of power conversion
First Claim
1. A system for converting power having a plurality of current channels comprising:
- a first channel configured to conduct current for power conversion, wherein the first channel comprises a first plurality of switches, wherein at least one of the first plurality of switches is configured to block current through the first channel when current is conducted through remaining channels of the plurality of current channels, and wherein one or more remaining switches of the first plurality of switches is configured to reduce voltage stress on the at least one of the first plurality of switches by coupling the at least one of the first plurality of switches to an intermediate voltage during blocking to enable the first plurality of switches to block a first blocked voltage that is smaller than a first possible input voltage to the first plurality of switches during blocking; and
a second channel configured to conduct current for power conversion, wherein the second channel comprises a second plurality of switches, wherein at least one of the second plurality of switches is configured to block current through the second channel when current is conducted through remaining channels of the plurality of current channels, and wherein one or more remaining switches of the second plurality of switches is configured to reduce voltage stress on the at least one of the second plurality of switches by coupling the at least one of the second plurality of switches to an intermediate voltage during blocking to enable the second plurality of switches to block a second blocked voltage that is smaller than a second possible input voltage to the second plurality of switches during blocking.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for converting power are presented. The power conversion includes conducting load current through a first current path of multiple current paths in a power conversion unit using switches, diodes, or a combination thereof. The power conversion also includes blocking one or more additional current paths of the multiple current paths in the power conversion unit using one or more of the switches, one or more of the diodes, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, the power conversion includes reducing potential voltage stress on the one or more switches by using one or more voltage stress reduction switches to reduce a voltage that is blocked by the one or more blocking switches or diodes by connecting an end of each of the one or more switches opposite to a blocking edge to an intermediate voltage node.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for converting power having a plurality of current channels comprising:
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a first channel configured to conduct current for power conversion, wherein the first channel comprises a first plurality of switches, wherein at least one of the first plurality of switches is configured to block current through the first channel when current is conducted through remaining channels of the plurality of current channels, and wherein one or more remaining switches of the first plurality of switches is configured to reduce voltage stress on the at least one of the first plurality of switches by coupling the at least one of the first plurality of switches to an intermediate voltage during blocking to enable the first plurality of switches to block a first blocked voltage that is smaller than a first possible input voltage to the first plurality of switches during blocking; and a second channel configured to conduct current for power conversion, wherein the second channel comprises a second plurality of switches, wherein at least one of the second plurality of switches is configured to block current through the second channel when current is conducted through remaining channels of the plurality of current channels, and wherein one or more remaining switches of the second plurality of switches is configured to reduce voltage stress on the at least one of the second plurality of switches by coupling the at least one of the second plurality of switches to an intermediate voltage during blocking to enable the second plurality of switches to block a second blocked voltage that is smaller than a second possible input voltage to the second plurality of switches during blocking. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for converting power, comprising:
a plurality of channels each comprising a plurality of diode-switch pairs, wherein a first subset of the diode-switch pairs are configured conduct current during a conducting state for a respective channel of the plurality of channels, a second subset of the diode-switch pairs are configured to block current through the respective channel during a blocking state, and at least one switch of the plurality of diode-switch pairs is configured to couple the second subset of diode-switch pairs to an intermediate voltage of multiple input voltages during a blocking state for the channel, wherein coupling the second subset of diode-switch pairs to the intermediate voltage reduces voltage stress on the second subset of diode-switch pairs by enabling the one or more if the diode-switch pairs to block a blocked voltage that is smaller than a possible input voltage to the second subset of diode-switch pairs during blocking. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for converting power, comprising:
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conducting load current through a first current path of a plurality of current paths in a power conversion unit using a plurality of switches, a plurality of diodes, or a combination thereof; blocking one or more additional current paths of the plurality of current paths in the power conversion unit using one or more switches of the plurality of switches, one or more diodes of the plurality of diodes, or a combination thereof; and reducing potential voltage stress on the one or more switches by using one or more voltage stress reduction switches to reduce a voltage that is blocked by the one or more blocking switches or diodes by connecting an end of each of the one or more switches opposite to a blocking edge to an intermediate voltage node, wherein reducing the potential voltage stress on the one or more switches comprises enabling the one or more switches to block a blocked voltage that is smaller than a possible input voltage to the one or more switches during blocking. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification