# US 11,121,653 B2 · Inverter generator

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- Number: US 11,121,653 B2
- Document ID: US11121653B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/965,926
- Filed: 2019-01-24
- Published: 2021-02-11
- Granted: 2021-09-14
- Earliest claimed: 2018-02-16
- Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yuichi Onoe
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11121653B2

## CPC

- H02P 9/305: {controlling voltage (H02P9/302 takes precedence)}
- H02M 5/458: using semiconductor devices only
- H02M 7/12: using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode
- H02M 7/48: using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode
- H02P 9/009: {Circuit arrangements for detecting rotor position}
- H02P 2101/25: for combustion engines
- H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS
- 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)

## Abstract

In an inverter generator having a generator unit including three phase windings driven by an engine, a converter having multiple switching elements and configured to convert alternating current outputted from the generator unit to direct current, an inverter configured to convert direct current outputted from the converter to alternating current and output the alternating current to a load, and a converter control unit configured to determine PWM control ON-time period and drive the multiple switching elements so that inter-terminal voltage of direct current outputted from the converter stays constant with respect to increase/decrease of the load, the converter control unit is configured to detect, with respect to voltage waveforms occurring in the three-phase windings in cycle (t−n), crossing angle between voltage waveform of one phase and voltage waveform of a phase adjacent thereto and to drive the multiple switching elements of either the one phase and the adjacent phase in cycle (t) such that the detected crossing angle is included in the PWM control signal ON-time period.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An inverter generator comprising:
a generator unit having three phase windings driven by an engine;
a converter having multiple switching elements and configured to convert alternating current outputted from the generator unit to direct current;
an inverter configured to convert the direct current outputted from the converter to alternating current and output the alternating current to a load; and
a converter control unit configured to determine a PWM control ON-time period and drive the multiple switching elements so that inter-terminal voltage of the direct current outputted from the converter stays constant with respect to increase/decrease of the load;
wherein the converter control unit is configured to detect, with respect to voltage waveforms occurring in the three-phase windings in cycle (t−n), a crossing angle between a voltage waveform of one phase and a voltage waveform of a phase adjacent thereto and to drive the multiple switching elements of either the one phase and the adjacent phase in cycle (t) such that the detected crossing angle is included in the PWM control ON-time period.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The inverter generator according to claim 1, wherein the converter control unit drives the multiple switching elements such that the crossing angle is included in a latter half of the PWM control ON-time period.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The inverter generator according to claim 1, wherein the converter control unit drives the multiple switching elements such that the crossing angle coincides with ON-time period termination.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the engine comprises a general purpose engine.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The inverter generator according to claim 1, further including:
a rotational speed detection unit configured to output a signal corresponding to a rotational speed of the generator unit; and
the converter control unit is configured to determine the PWM control ON-time period and drive the multiple switching elements based on the signal outputted from the rotational speed detection unit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The inverter generator according to claim 1, further including:
a DC voltage detection unit configured to output a signal indicating the inter-terminal voltage between a positive side terminal and a negative side terminal of the converter; and
the converter control unit is configured to determine the PWM control ON-time period and drive the multiple switching elements so that the inter-terminal voltage of the direct current detected from the signal of the DC voltage detection unit stays constant with respect to increase/decrease of the load.