Communication within a power inverter using transformer voltage frequency

• US 9,887,639 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2016
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enphase Energy Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sunpower Corporation (Totalenergies Se)
• Inventors: Chapman, Patrick L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NASH, GARY A
• Application Number:
  US15/355,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20170070156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 363 8, 363 17, 363 2104, 363 2105, 363 65, 363 71, 363 78
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0009 Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter
• 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 1/14 Arrangements for reducing ripples from dc input or output
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33523 with galvanic isolation between input and output of both the power stage and the feedback loop
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/458 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/53871 with automatic control of output voltage or current

Abstract

Communicating across a power transformer is provided. Processes can include outputting a cyclical voltage at an alternating frequency across a multiple winding transformer and modulating the frequency of the alternating voltage to provide communication across the transformer. Devices and systems can also be employed with applicable features and designs.

Claims

1. A controller comprising:

a first processor configured to receive a plurality of circuit operational status inputs; and

a memory in communication with the first processor,

wherein the first processor is further configured to generate command signals to convert a direct voltage to an alternating voltage, the alternating voltage sent to a first winding of a transformer,

wherein the command signals have a cyclical frequency, and

wherein the first processor is further configured to modify the cyclical frequency of the command signals within a range to encode data for communication of that encoded data across the first winding and a second winding of the transformer.

2. The controller of claim 1 wherein the command signals are gate signals for opening and closing at least one pair of switches positioned in a power circuit.

3. The controller of claim 1 wherein the operational status inputs include data signals from an analog to digital converter, the analog to digital converter

receiving a dc voltage analog input and converting the voltage input to a dc voltage digital output and

receiving a dc current input and converting the current input and dc current digital output.

4. The controller of claim 1 wherein frequency modulation of the command signals is used by the first processor to encode the data and wherein the encoded data is configured by the first processor for receipt by a second processor monitoring power operations on a secondary side of the transformer.

5. The controller of claim 4 wherein the first processor is further configured to receive frequency modulation communications from the second processor via the transformer.

6. The controller of claim 5

wherein the frequency modulation sent by the first processor includes operating conditions of a dc voltage conversion circuit, and

wherein the first processor is further configured to scale received frequency modulation communications from the second processor according to a winding ratio of the transformer.

7. The controller of claim 1 wherein the memory stores instructions for data to be encoded by the first processor, the instructions comprising operating frequency ranges for the command signals to indicate different dc voltages.

8. A controller system comprising:

a first controller configured to generate gate signals for a plurality of switches, the gate signals controlled by the first controller creating an alternating voltage at a variable frequency,

wherein the first controller is further configured to modulate the variable frequency of the alternating voltage,

wherein the modulation of the variable frequency serves to encode operational data of a power circuit to communicate the encoded data across windings of a transformer.

9. The controller system of claim 8

wherein the first controller is further configured to receive frequency modulation communications from a second controller,

wherein the frequency modulation communications are made across the transformer and,

wherein the transformer is a power conversion transformer.

10. The controller system of claim 8 wherein the first controller is further configured such that the gate signals are operated at a switching frequency and this switching frequency is varied by the first controller in a range of ±

5% of the switching frequency.

11. The controller system of claim 10 wherein the switching frequency is 50 kHz.

12. The controller system of claim 8 wherein the first controller is further configured to send encoded operational data indicative of operating points of the power circuit.

13. The controller system of claim 12 wherein the data indicative of operating points of the power circuit is encoded as pulse counts over a given time frame.

14. The controller system of claim 13 wherein the pulse counts are used to indicate operating voltage or operating current or both of the power circuit.

15. A system for power conversion comprising:

a secondary side controller, the secondary side controller configured to receive encoded data via frequency modulation of an ac voltage sent across a multiple winding transformer,

the secondary side controller configured to be on the secondary side of the multiple-winding transformer of a power conversion circuit, and

the secondary side controller configured to monitor operating conditions of the power conversion circuit.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the encoded data is indicative of operating conditions of a power circuit.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a primary side controller, the primary side controller configured to send encoded data via frequency modulation of an ac voltage across the multiple winding transformer, the encoded data indicative of the operating conditions of the power conversion; and

memory, the memory storing decoding data for use by one or both of the controllers, the decoding data providing a correlation between received encoded data and at least an operational voltage or operational current of the power circuit.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the secondary side controller is further configured to count pulses from the received encoded data and assign at least an operating voltage or an operating current to a power circuit.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the secondary side controller is further configured to communicate across a multiple winding transformer by sending encoded data via frequency modulation of operating conditions of a power conversion circuit across the multiple winding transformer.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the multiple winding transformer is a power conversion transformer.