Variable-phase power converter

A method for power conversion comprising:

• receiving electrical power through four interface conductors of an electrical interface of a power factor correction circuit;
• converting an input single-phase electrical power to a first DC electrical power in the power factor correction circuit operating in a single-phase input mode, wherein
• an active phase of the input single-phase electrical power is received in parallel through a first conductor and a second conductor of the four interface conductors;
• and
• a return phase of the input single-phase electrical power is received in parallel through a third conductor and a fourth conductor of the four interface conductors;
• converting an input three-phase electrical power to the first DC electrical power in the power factor correction circuit operating in a three-phase input mode, wherein
• a first phase of the input three-phase electrical power is received through the first conductor of the four interface conductors;
• a second phase of the input three-phase electrical power is received through the second conductor of the four interface conductors;
• a third phase of the input three-phase electrical power is received through the third conductor of the four interface conductors;
• and
• the return phase of the input three-phase electrical power the fourth conductor of the four interface conductors;
• controlling the power factor correction circuit with a controller to operate in the single-phase input mode in response to a first command received via a control signal;
• and
• controlling the power factor correction circuit with the controller to operate in the three-phase input mode in response to a second command received via the control signal.

A vehicle comprising:

• a charging socket having at least four socket conductors;
• a power factor correction circuit electrically connected to the charging socket, the power factor correction circuit being configured to:
• convert an input single-phase electrical power to a first DC electrical power while operating in a single-phase input mode, wherein
• an active phase of the input single-phase electrical power is received in parallel through a first socket conductor and a second socket conductor of the four socket conductors;
• and
• a return phase of the input single-phase electrical power is received in parallel through a third socket conductor and a fourth socket conductor of the four socket conductors;
• and
• convert an input three-phase electrical power to the first DC electrical power while operating in a three-phase input mode, wherein
• a first phase of the input three-phase electrical power is received through the first socket conductor of the four socket conductors;
• a second phase of the input three-phase electrical power is received through the second socket conductor of the four socket conductors;
• a third phase of the input three-phase electrical power is received through the third socket conductor of the four socket conductors;
• and
• the return phase of the input three-phase electrical power the fourth socket conductor of the four socket conductors;
• and
• a controller configured to control the power factor correction circuit to:
• operate in the single-phase input mode in response to a first command received via a control signal;
• and
• operate in the three-phase input mode in response to a second command received via the control signal.