# US 11,451,091 B2 · Converter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,451,091 B2 - Document ID: US11451091B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/498,535 - Filed: 2018-03-28 - Published: 2020-04-02 - Granted: 2022-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-28 - Assignees: Auckland Uniservices Limited - Applicants: Auckland UniServices Limited; Duleepa Jayanath Thrimawithana; Udaya Kumara Madawala; Gaurav Rajesh Kalra; Baljit Singh Riar; Martin Neuburger; Steven Ian Ruddell; Regan Andrew Zane - Inventors: Duleepa Jayanath Thrimawithana; Udaya Kumara Madawala; Gaurav Rajesh Kalra; Baljit Singh Riar; Martin Neuburger; Steven Ian Ruddell; Regan Andrew Zane - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11451091B2 ## CPC - H04B 5/79: for data transfer in combination with power transfer - H02J 50/05: using capacitive coupling - H02J 50/12: of the resonant type - H04B 5/22: Capacitive coupling - H04B 5/24: Inductive coupling - B60L 50/64: Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles - B60L 53/12: Inductive energy transfer - B60L 53/22: Constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging electric vehicles - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES ## Abstract A converter including a bridge circuit having a first leg and a second leg, each leg including a high switch and a low switch, the high switches being connected to a first energy source and the low switches being connected to ground, a coupling network(s) having a first connection between the switches of the first leg and a second connection between the switches of the second leg, and a second (or multiple secondary) energy source(s) connected between the coupling network(s) and ground, wherein the coupling network comprises a first inductive element connected between the second energy source and the switches of the first leg, and a second inductive element connected between the second energy source and the switches of the second leg. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A converter comprising: a bridge circuit having a first leg and a second leg, each leg including a high switch and a low switch, the high switches being connected to a first energy source and the low switches being connected to ground; a coupling network(s) having a first connection between the switches of the first leg and a second connection between the switches of the second leg; and a second (or multiple secondary) energy source(s) connected between the coupling network(s) and ground, wherein the coupling network comprises a first inductive element connected between the second energy source and the switches of the first leg, and a second inductive element connected between the second energy source and the switches of the second leg. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The converter of claim 1, wherein a third energy source is connected in parallel with the coupling network. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The converter of claim 2, wherein the converter is controlled to transfer energy between the second and third energy source to manage efficiency and power transfer of the converter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The converter of claim 2, wherein the third energy source is an AC energy source, and is the only AC energy source of the converter. ### Claim 5 A converter comprising: a bridge circuit having a first leg and a second leg, each leg including a high switch and a low switch, the high switches being connected to a first energy source and the low switches being connected to ground; a coupling network(s) having a first connection between the switches of the first leg and a second connection between the switches of the second leg; and a second (or multiple secondary) energy source(s) connected between the coupling network(s) and ground, wherein: the converter is a boost active bridge converter that includes a capacitor, the capacitor being the first energy source; and the converter includes a DC energy source having a positive terminal electrically located between the first leg and the second leg, wherein the DC energy source is the second energy source. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The converter of claim 5, wherein the coupling network comprises one or more inductors or capacitors arranged to interface the second or third energy source effectively with the first and second legs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The converter of claim 5, further comprising a control circuit to control the switches of the converter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The converter of claim 7, wherein the control circuit is also configured to control the duty cycle and/or phase of the switches. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The converter of claim 8, wherein the control of the duty cycle of the switches can control two output variables of the converter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The converter of claim 7, wherein the control circuit includes one or more input control variables as inputs for controlling the switches. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The converter of claim 7, wherein the control circuit is configured to control energy transfer between each energy source(s) to optimise the efficiency and power transfer of the converter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The converter of claim 5, wherein the converter is configured for bi-directional power transfer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The converter of claim 5, wherein: the converter is part of an IPT system, wherein the IPT system includes an IPT primary circuit and an IPT secondary circuit, and wherein the converter is part of the IPT secondary circuit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 5) The converter of claim 5, wherein the coupling network receives direct current from the first leg and the second leg, and wherein input into the bridge circuit is alternating current, and wherein output of the bridge circuit is direct current. ### Claim 15 (depends on 5) The converter of claim 5, wherein the converter charges the DC energy source. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The converter of claim 15, wherein the converter is an AC-AC converter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 5) The converter of claim 5, wherein the converter is configured for bi-directional power transfer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 5) The converter of claim 5, wherein the converter includes the capacitor and a second capacitor, the first leg being electrically connected to the capacitor, and the second leg being electrically connected to the second capacitor. ### Claim 19 A converter comprising: a bridge circuit having a first leg and a second leg, each leg including a high switch and a low switch, the high switches being connected to a first energy source and the low switches being connected to ground; a coupling network(s) having a first connection between the switches of the first leg and a second connection between the switches of the second leg; and a second (or multiple secondary) energy source(s) connected between the coupling network(s) and ground, wherein the converter is controlled so that there is a difference in DC voltage on the first leg relative to the second leg, wherein the first leg in combination with the second leg converts AC power to DC power or visa-versa. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The converter of claim 19, wherein the first energy source comprises a capacitive member. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The converter of claim 19, wherein a separate energy source is connected between each high switch and ground. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The converter of claim 19, wherein: the converter includes only one bridge circuit, the bridge circuit being the only one bridge circuit; and the first energy source is, in totality, a capacitor. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The converter of claim 19, wherein the converter is part of an LCL tuned system. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The converter of claim 19, wherein: wherein the first leg in combination with the second leg converts AC power to DC power. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The converter of claim 19, wherein: wherein the first leg in combination with the second leg converts DC power to AC power.