# US 10,122,276 B2 · Method for operating a power converter circuit and power converter circuit

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,122,276 B2
- Document ID: US10122276B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/468,917
- Filed: 2017-03-24
- Published: 2017-07-06
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-13
- Assignees: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
- Applicants: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
- Inventors: Gerald Deboy; Kennith Kin Leong
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122276B2

## CPC

- H02M 3/158: including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
- H02M 1/083: {for the ignition at the zero crossing of the voltage or the current}
- H02M 1/0074: {Plural converter units whose inputs are connected in series}
- H02M 3/1584: {with a plurality of power processing stages connected in parallel}
- Y02B 70/10: Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes
- H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P)
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes converting power by a power converter circuit having a plurality of converter cells coupled to a supply circuit. Converting the power includes a plurality of successive activation sequences and, in each activation sequence, activating at least some of the plurality of converter cells at an activation frequency. The activation frequency is dependent on at least one of an output power and an output current of the power converter circuit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
converting power by a power converter circuit that comprises a plurality of converter cells coupled to a supply circuit, the supply circuit comprising a first plurality of capacitors connected in series between input nodes of the power converter circuit, wherein converting power comprises successively activating each converter cell of the plurality of converter cells in a drive cycle at an activation frequency, wherein each converter cell of the plurality of converter cells is activated one at a time; and
adjusting the activation frequency dependent on at least one of an output power or an output current of the power converter circuit, wherein adjusting the activation frequency comprises changing a pause period between at least two of the successive activations of the plurality of converter cells in the drive cycle, and none of the converter cells of the plurality of converter cells are activated during the pause period, wherein
changing the pause period comprises changing a number of predetermined time periods T between each successive activation in which none of the plurality of converter cells is active, and
activating each converter cell of the plurality of converter cells comprises activating each of converter cell of the plurality of converter cells for the predetermined time period T.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the activation frequency decreases as the at least one of the output power or the output current decreases.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the supply circuit further comprises:
a second plurality of capacitors, wherein each of the second plurality of capacitors is coupled to one of the first plurality of capacitors, and wherein each of the plurality of converter cells is connected to one of the plurality of second capacitors.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of converter cells comprises a buck converter topology.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of converter cells include a ground switch connected between a converter cell input node and a ground node.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising charging the supply circuit in a charging cycle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the number of predetermined of time periods T is zero when each converter cell of the plurality of converter cells is operated at a highest activation frequency.

### Claim 8

A power converter circuit, comprising:
a plurality of converter cells coupled to a supply circuit, the supply circuit comprising a first plurality of capacitors connected in series between input nodes of the power converter circuit; and
a control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to
successively activate each converter cell of the plurality of converter cells in a drive cycle at an activation frequency, wherein each converter cell of the plurality of converter cells is activated one at a time,
adjust the activation frequency dependent on at least one of an output power or an output current of the power converter circuit, wherein
the activation frequency is adjusted by changing a pause period between at least two of the successive activations of the plurality of converter cells in the drive cycle,
none of the converter cells of the plurality of converter cells are activated during the pause period,
the control circuit is configured to change the pause period by changing a number of predetermined time periods T between each successive activation in which none of the plurality of converter cells is active, and
the control circuit is configured to activate each converter cell of the plurality of converter cells for the predetermined time period T.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The power converter circuit of claim 8, wherein the control circuit is configured to decrease the activation frequency as the at least one of the output power or the output current decreases.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The power converter circuit of claim 8, wherein the supply circuit further comprises:
a second plurality of capacitors, wherein each of the second plurality of capacitors coupled to one of the first plurality of capacitors, and wherein each of the plurality of converter cells is connected to one of the plurality of second capacitors.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The power converter circuit of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of converter cells comprises a buck converter topology.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The power converter circuit of claim 8, wherein at least some of the plurality of converter cells include a ground switch connected between a converter cell input node and a ground node.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The power converter circuit of claim 8, wherein the control circuit is further configured to charge the supply circuit in a charging cycle.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The power converter circuit of claim 8, wherein the number of predetermined of time periods T is zero when each converter cell of the plurality of converter cells is operated at a highest activation frequency.