# US 11,444,463 B2 · Low voltage, low frequency, multi level power converter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,444,463 B2 - Document ID: US11444463B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/129,350 - Filed: 2020-12-21 - Published: 2021-06-17 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-14 - Assignees: Jabil Inc. - Applicants: Jabil Inc. - Inventors: Salman Talebi Rafsanjan; David Michael Eckerson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11444463B2 ## CPC - H02M 7/49: Combination of the output voltage waveforms of a plurality of converters - H02J 3/38: Arrangements for feeding a single network from two or more generators or sources in parallel; Arrangements for feeding already energised networks from additional generators or sources in parallel - H02J 3/388: Arrangements for the handling of islanding, e.g. for disconnection or for avoiding the disconnection of power - H02J 7/00: Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries - H02M 1/12: Arrangements for reducing harmonics from AC input or output - H02M 7/5387: in a bridge configuration - H02S 40/32: comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules - H02M 1/007: {Plural converter units in cascade (push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826)} - H02M 3/1582: {Buck-boost converters (H02M3/1584 takes precedence)} - Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers - 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) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A low voltage, low frequency multi-level power converter capable of power conversion is disclosed. The power converter may include a low voltage, low frequency circuit that includes a plurality of phase-shifting inverters in series; a plurality of low voltage source inputs, and a plurality of phase-shifting inverters in series. Each of the plurality of phase-shifting inverters may be configured to receive at least one of the plurality of low voltage source inputs; and generate at least one square wave output. A semi-sine wave output may be derived from the generated at least one square wave output. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A low voltage, low frequency multi-level power converter capable of power conversion, comprising: a low voltage, low frequency circuit, comprising: a plurality of low voltage source inputs; a plurality of phase-shifting inverters in series, each of the plurality of phase-shifting inverters being configured to: receive at least one of the plurality of low voltage source inputs, and generate at least one square wave output; and at least one secondary smoothing voltage regulator that derives and smooths a semi-sine wave output from the generated at least one square wave output. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power converter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the low voltage source inputs is a semi-direct current (DC) power source. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The power converter of claim 1, further comprising at least one series voltage regulator in series with at least one of the plurality inverters. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The power converter of claim 1, wherein a level of total harmonic distortion of the power converter is less dependent on a load driven by the power converter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The power converter of claim 3, further comprising a grid interconnection circuit including an output filter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The power converter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of low voltage source inputs comprises a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) modules, each of the plurality of PV modules being coupled to a photovoltaic panel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The power converter of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of PV modules comprises at least one of a maximum power point tracking system, a rapid shut down circuit, and an arc fault protection circuit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The power converter of claim 7, wherein the PV module includes an operational mode with a maximum power point voltage value substantially matching an inverter desired input voltage. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The power converter of claim 8, wherein the PV module stores energy at an inverter dc bus capacitor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The power converter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of the low voltage source inputs consists of one selected from at least one battery, fuel cells, and solar cells. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The power converter of claim 1, further comprising integration circuitry capable of electrically integrating at least one of the plurality of low voltage source inputs with the plurality of inverters. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The power converter of claim 9, wherein the PV module further comprises a dedicated module-level controller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The power converter of claim 12, further comprising integration circuitry capable of integrating a plurality of the PV modules. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The power converter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of the low voltage sources is a residential power source. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The power converter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of low voltage sources is a commercial power source. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The power converter of claim 1, wherein the semi-sine wave output is coupled to a utility grid. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The power converter of claim 1, wherein ones of the plurality of inverters comprise single inductor buck-boost converters. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The power converter of claim 17, wherein the power converter is bi-directional. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The power converter of claim 1, wherein ones of the plurality of inverters comprise a half bridge topology. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The power converter of claim 1, wherein ones of the plurality of inverters comprise an H-bridge topology.