Switching device, and solar power generation system and vehicle driving system using the same

• US 9,479,158 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2013
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Keisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOMINIQUE, EMMANUEL
• Application Number:
  US13/770,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20130162023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/60 using power supplied by batteries in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/122 in field-effect transistor switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/687 the devices being field-effect transistors
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/6874 in a symmetrical configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/0036 Means reducing energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/0054 Gating switches, e.g. pass gates
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]

Abstract

A series-parallel switch circuit is constituted by connecting, in parallel, multiple series switch circuits in which a first switch receiving electric current and a second switch outputting the electric current are connected in series. Middle points of the multiple series switch circuits are joined. When the series-parallel switch circuit is turned on, the second switches constituting the series-parallel switch circuit are turned on, and thereafter, the first switches constituting the series-parallel switch circuit are turned on.

Claims

1. A switching apparatus comprising:

an input terminal configured to receive current;

an output terminal configured to output the current;

a first switch including a first-first terminal, and a first-second terminal which is connected with the input terminal;

a second switch including a second-first terminal which is connected with the first-first terminal of the first switch, and a second-second terminal which is connected with the output terminal;

a third switch including a third-first terminal which is connected with the first-first terminal of the first switch, and a third-second terminal which is connected with the input terminal;

a fourth switch including a fourth-first terminal which is connected with the third-first terminal of the third switch, and a fourth-second terminal which is connected with the output terminal; and

a controller configured to turn on and off the first to fourth switches, wherein

the first switch has a higher maximum current rating than the second switch, the third switch, and the fourth switch,

the controller turns off the first to fourth switches,

in a state that the first to fourth switches are in an off state, the controller turns on the second switch and the fourth switch,

in a state that the second switch and the fourth switch are in an on state and the first and third switch are in an off state, the controller turns on the first switch, and

in a state that the first switch, the second switch and the fourth switch are in an on state and the third switch is in an off state, the controller turns on the third switch.

2. The switching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

in a state that the first to fourth switches are in an on state, the controller turns off the third switch,

in a state that the first switch, the second switch and the fourth switch are in an on state and the third switch is in an off state, the controller turns off the first switch,

in a state that the second switch and the fourth switch are in an on state and the first and third switch are in an off state, the controller turns off the second switch and the fourth switch.

3. The switching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first switch is a transistor having a trench gate structure, and

the second switch, the third switch, and the fourth switch each are a transistor having a planar gate structure.

4. The switching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first switch is a first Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor having a first body diode,

the second switch is a second Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor having a second body diode,

the third switch is a third Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor having a third body diode,

the fourth switch is a fourth Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor having a fourth body diode,

the first body diode and the second body diode are reversely connected with each other, and

the third body diode and the fourth body diode are reversely connected with each other.

5. The switching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes a gate driver.

6. A solar power generation system comprising:

a storage battery configured to discharge a first DC power;

a solar power generation module configured to generate a second DC power;

a DC-DC converter configured to convert the first DC power or the second DC power into a third DC power;

a DC-AC converter configured to convert the third DC power into an AC power; and

the switching apparatus according to claim 1 connected between the storage battery and the DC-DC converter.

7. A vehicle driving system comprising:

a storage battery configured to discharge a first DC power;

an AC-DC converter configured to convert an AC power supplied from a commercial system to a second DC power;

a DC-DC converter configured to convert the first DC power or the second DC power into a third DC power;

an inverter configured to generate a driving power from the third DC power to drive a motor; and

the switching apparatus according to claim 1 connected between the storage battery and the DC-DC converter.

8. A switching apparatus comprising:

an input terminal configured to receive current;

an output terminal configured to output the current;

a first switch including a first-first terminal, and a first-second terminal which is connected with the input terminal;

a second switch including a second-first terminal which is connected with the first-first terminal of the first switch, and a second-second terminal which is connected with the output terminal;

a third switch including a third-first terminal which is connected with the first-first terminal of the first switch, and a third-second terminal which is connected with the input terminal;

a fourth switch including a fourth-first terminal which is connected with the third-first terminal of the third switch, and a fourth-second terminal which is connected with the output terminal; and

a controller configured to turn on and off the first to fourth switches, wherein

the first switch has a higher maximum current rating than the second switch, the third switch, and the fourth switch,

the controller turns on the first to fourth switches,

in a state that the first to fourth switches are in an on state, the controller turns off the third switch,

in a state that the first switch, the second switch and the fourth switch are in an on state and the third switch is in an off state, the controller turns off the first switch, and

in a state that the second switch and the fourth switch are in an on state and the first and third switch are in an off state, the controller turns off the second switch and the fourth switch.

9. The switching apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

the first switch is a transistor having a trench gate structure, and

the second switch, the third switch, and the fourth switch each are a transistor having a planar gate structure.

10. The switching apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

the first switch is a first Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor having a first body diode,

the second switch is a second Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor having a second body diode,

the third switch is a third Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor having a third body diode,

the fourth switch s a fourth Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor having a fourth body diode,

the first body diode and the second body diode are reversely connected with each other, and

the third body diode and the fourth body diode are reversely connected with each other.

11. The switching apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the controller includes a gate driver.

12. A solar power generation system comprising:

a storage battery configured to discharge a first DC power;

a solar power generation module configured to generate a second DC power;

a DC-DC converter configured to convert the first DC power or the second DC power into a third DC power;

a power conditioner configured to convert the third DC power into an AC power; and

the switching apparatus according to claim 8 connected between the storage battery and the DC-DC converter.

13. A vehicle driving system comprising:

a storage battery configured to discharge a first DC power;

an AC-DC converter configured to convert an AC power supplied from a commercial system to a second DC power;

a DC-DC converter configured to convert the first DC power or the second DC power into a third DC power;

an inverter configured to generate a driving power from the third DC power to drive a motor; and

the switching apparatus according to claim 8 connected between the storage battery and the DC-DC converter.