# US 12,113,455 B2 · Multilevel conversion circuit having flying capacitor and method for pre-charging the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,113,455 B2 - Document ID: US12113455B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/810,639 - Filed: 2022-07-04 - Published: 2023-01-19 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2021-07-15 - Assignees: Delta Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Delta Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Yichao Wang; Kai Dong; Shuailin Du; Jinfa Zhang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12113455B2 ## CPC - H02M 7/4837: {Flying capacitor converters} - H02M 1/0085: {Partially controlled bridges} - H02M 1/4233: {using a bridge converter comprising active switches} - H02M 1/36: Means for starting or stopping converters - H02M 3/07: using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode {, e.g. charge pumps} - 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 Multilevel conversion circuit having a flying capacitor and method for pre-charging the same are provided. The multilevel conversion circuit includes: a first bridge arm including a plurality of switches connected in series; a second bridge arm including a plurality of switches connected in series and a flying capacitor group, midpoints of the two bridge arms connected to a power supply and an inductor to form a series branch; a DC bus capacitor to which the two bridge arms are connected in parallel; a first voltage clamping module connected between a first end of the flying capacitor group and a first end of the DC bus capacitor; and a second voltage clamping module connected between a second end of the flying capacitor group and a second end of the DC bus capacitor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multilevel conversion circuit having a flying capacitor, comprising: a first bridge arm comprising a plurality of switches connected in series; a second bridge arm comprising a plurality of switches connected in series and a flying capacitor group, wherein a midpoint of the second bridge arm and a midpoint of the first bridge arm are connected to a series branch, wherein the series branch is defined by a power supply and an inductor; a DC bus capacitor connected in parallel to the first bridge arm and the second bridge arm; a first voltage clamping module between a first end of the flying capacitor group and a first end of the DC bus capacitor; a second voltage clamping module between a second end of the flying capacitor group and a second end of the DC bus capacitor; an auxiliary power supply connected to the DC bus capacitor, and a controller coupled to the auxiliary power supply and the plurality of switches of the second bridge arm, the auxiliary power supply provides power for the controller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 1, wherein the power supply charges the DC bus capacitor through the corresponding switches of the first bridge arm and the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm after the multilevel conversion circuit is powered on. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 2, wherein, after the multilevel conversion circuit is powered on, when a voltage between the midpoint of the first bridge arm and the midpoint of the second bridge arm is greater than a clamping voltage of the first voltage clamping module or the second voltage clamping module, the power supply charges the flying capacitor group through the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm, the corresponding switches of the first bridge arm, and at least one of the first voltage clamping module and the second voltage clamping module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 2, wherein when a voltage of the DC bus capacitor reaches a preset value of starting voltage, the auxiliary power supply is started; when a voltage of the DC bus capacitor reaches a preset value of operating voltage, the controller controls the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm to turn on, and the power supply charges the flying capacitor group through the corresponding switches of the first bridge arm and the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 2, wherein the multilevel conversion circuit is a three-level conversion circuit; the second bridge arm comprises a first switch, a second switch, a third switch and a fourth switch connected in series; the flying capacitor group comprises a flying capacitor disposed between a junction node of the first switch and the second switch and a junction node of the third switch and the fourth switch; wherein the first voltage clamping module comprises a first voltage clamping unit, and the first voltage clamping unit is electrically connected between a first end of the flying capacitor and the first end of the DC bus capacitor; wherein the second voltage clamping module comprises a second voltage clamping unit, and the second voltage clamping unit is electrically connected between a second end of the flying capacitor and the second end of the DC bus capacitor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 5, wherein, after the multilevel conversion circuit is powered on, when a voltage between the midpoint of the second bridge arm and the midpoint of the first bridge arm is greater than a clamping voltage of the second voltage clamping unit, the power supply charges the flying capacitor through the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm, the second voltage clamping unit, and the corresponding switches of the first bridge arm; when a voltage between the midpoint of the first bridge arm and the midpoint of the second bridge arm is greater than a clamping voltage of the first voltage clamping unit, the power supply charges the flying capacitor through the corresponding switches of the first bridge arm, the first voltage clamping unit, and the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 6, wherein when a voltage of the DC bus capacitor reaches a preset value of operating voltage, a voltage of the flying capacitor is the maximum value among a difference between the preset value of operating voltage and the clamping voltage of the first voltage clamping unit, a difference between the preset value of operating voltage and the clamping voltage of the second voltage clamping unit, and zero. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 5, wherein when a voltage of the DC bus capacitor reaches a preset value of starting voltage, the auxiliary power supply is started; when a voltage of the DC bus capacitor reaches a preset value of operating voltage, the controller controls the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm to turn on, and the power supply charges the flying capacitor through the corresponding switches of the first bridge arm and the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm; or the power supply charges the flying capacitor through the corresponding switches of the first bridge arm, the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm, and the corresponding switches of the third bridge arm, when a voltage of the flying capacitor reaches a half of the preset value of operating voltage, the controller controls all switches of the second bridge arm to turn off, and the flying capacitor completes charging. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 5, wherein when a voltage of the DC bus capacitor is less than a voltage of the flying capacitor, the flying capacitor is discharged through the first voltage clamping unit and the second voltage clamping unit, or the flying capacitor is discharged through the first switch and the fourth switch. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 2, wherein the multilevel conversion circuit is a n-level conversion circuit, and the second bridge arm comprises (2n−2) switches connected in series; the flying capacitor group comprises (n−2) flying capacitors; the i-th flying capacitor is disposed between the i-th switch and the (2n−1−i)th switch of the second bridge arm, where i is 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . , n−2, and n is a natural number greater than 3; wherein the first voltage clamping module comprises (n−2) first voltage clamping units; the 1st first voltage clamping unit is disposed between a first end of the 1st flying capacitor and the first end of the DC bus capacitor, and the j-th first voltage clamping unit is disposed between a first end of the j-th flying capacitor and a first end of the (j−1)th flying capacitor; wherein the second voltage clamping module comprises (n−2) second voltage clamping units; the 1st second voltage clamping unit is disposed between a second end of the 1st flying capacitor and the second end of the DC bus capacitor, and the j-th second voltage clamping unit is disposed between a second end of the j-th flying capacitor and a second end of the (j−1)th flying capacitor, where j is 2, 3, 4, . . . , n−2. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 10, wherein the first voltage clamping circuit further comprises (n−2) first impedance circuits; the second voltage clamping circuit further comprises (n−2) second impedance circuits; each of the first impedance circuits is connected in series to the corresponding first voltage clamping unit, and each of the second impedance circuits is connected in series to the corresponding second voltage clamping unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 10, wherein the first voltage clamping circuit further comprises (n−2) first diodes; the second voltage clamping circuit further comprises (n−2) second diodes; each of the first diodes is connected in series to the corresponding first voltage clamping unit, and each of the second diodes is connected in series to the corresponding second voltage clamping unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 10, wherein, after the multilevel conversion circuit is powered on, when a voltage between the midpoint of the first bridge arm and the midpoint of the second bridge arm is greater than a sum of the clamping voltages of the 1st to the i-th first voltage clamping units, or a sum of the clamping voltages of the 1st to the i-th second voltage clamping units, the power supply charges the i-th flying capacitor through the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm, the 1st to the i-th first voltage clamping units or the 1st to the i-th second voltage clamping units, and the corresponding switches of the first bridge arm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 10, wherein when a voltage of the DC bus capacitor reaches a preset value of starting voltage, the auxiliary power supply is started; when a voltage of the DC bus capacitor reaches a preset value of operating voltage, the controller controls the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm to turn on, wherein the power supply charges the (n−2) flying capacitors through the corresponding switches of the first bridge arm and the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm; or wherein the power supply charges the (n−2) flying capacitors through the corresponding switches of the first bridge arm, the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm, and the corresponding switches of the third bridge arm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 14, wherein when a voltage of the i-th flying capacitor reaches (n−1−i)/(n−1) times of the preset value of operating voltage, the controller controls the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm to turn off, and after the (n−2) flying capacitors complete charging, the controller controls all switches of the second bridge arm to turn off. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 10, wherein when a voltage of the i-th flying capacitor is less than a voltage of the (i+1)th flying capacitor, the (i+1)th flying capacitor is discharged through the (i+1)th first voltage clamping unit and the (i+1)th second voltage clamping unit, and/or discharged through the (i+1)th switch and the (2n−2−i)th switch; or when a voltage of the DC bus capacitor is less than a voltage of the 1st flying capacitor, the 1st flying capacitor is discharged through the 1st first voltage clamping unit and the 1st second voltage clamping unit, and/or discharged through the first switch and the (2n−2)th switch. ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 2, wherein the multilevel conversion circuit is a n-level conversion circuit; the second bridge arm comprises (2n−2) switches connected in series; the flying capacitor group comprises (n−2) flying capacitors; the i-th flying capacitor is disposed between the i-th switch and the (2n−1−i)th switch of the second bridge arm, where i is 1, 2, 3, . . . , and n−2, and n is a natural number greater than 3; wherein the first voltage clamping module comprises (n−2) first voltage clamping units; each of the first voltage clamping units is disposed between a first end of the corresponding flying capacitor and the first end of the DC bus capacitor; wherein the second voltage clamping module comprises (n−2) second voltage clamping units; each of the second voltage clamping units is disposed between a second end of the corresponding flying capacitor and the second end of the DC bus capacitor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 2, wherein the multilevel conversion circuit is a n-level conversion circuit; the second bridge arm comprises (2n−2) switches connected in series; the flying capacitor group comprises (n−2) flying capacitors; the i-th flying capacitor is disposed between the i-th switch and the (2n−1−i)th switch of the second bridge arm, where i is 1, 2, 3, . . . , and n−2, and n is a natural number greater than 3; wherein the first voltage clamping module comprises at least one first voltage clamping unit; the at least one first voltage clamping unit is disposed between a first end of the corresponding flying capacitor and the first end of the DC bus capacitor; wherein the second voltage clamping module comprises at least one second voltage clamping unit; the at least one second voltage clamping unit is disposed between a second end of the corresponding flying capacitor and the second end of the DC bus capacitor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 1, further comprising a third bridge arm, wherein the third bridge arm comprises a plurality of switches connected in series, and a midpoint of the third bridge arm is connected between the power supply and the inductor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 19, wherein after the multilevel conversion circuit is powered on, the power supply charges the DC bus capacitor through the corresponding switches of the first bridge arm and the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm; and/or the power supply charges the DC bus capacitor through the corresponding switches of the third bridge arm and the corresponding switches of the first bridge arm. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 20, wherein when a voltage of the DC bus capacitor reaches a preset value of starting voltage, the auxiliary power supply is started; when a voltage of the DC bus capacitor reaches a preset value of operating voltage, the controller controls the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm to turn on, and the power supply charges the flying capacitor group through the corresponding switches of the first bridge arm and the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm, or the power supply charges the flying capacitor group through the corresponding switches of the first bridge arm, the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm, and the corresponding switches of the third bridge arm. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 1, further comprising a current limiting circuit, wherein the current limiting circuit is electrically connected in series to the series branch, and the current limiting circuit comprises a current limiting resistor and a switch connected in parallel. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 1, further comprising a current limiting circuit, wherein the current limiting circuit is electrically connected in series to the DC bus capacitor, and the current limiting circuit comprises a current limiting resistor and a switch connected in parallel. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 1, wherein the first voltage clamping module comprises at least one first voltage clamping unit and at least one first impedance circuit, and the at least one first impedance circuit is electrically connected in series to the corresponding first voltage clamping unit; and wherein the second voltage clamping module comprises at least one second voltage clamping unit and at least one second impedance circuit, and the at least one second impedance circuit is electrically connected in series to the corresponding second voltage clamping unit. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The multilevel conversion circuit of claim 1, wherein the first voltage clamping module comprises at least one first voltage clamping unit and at least one first diode connected in series to the corresponding first voltage clamping unit, a forward conduction direction of the first diode is opposite to a forward conduction direction of the corresponding first voltage clamping unit; wherein the second voltage clamping module comprises at least one second voltage clamping unit and at least one second diode connected in series to the corresponding second voltage clamping unit, a forward conduction direction of the second diode is opposite to a forward conduction direction of the corresponding second voltage clamping unit. ### Claim 26 A method for pre-charging a multilevel conversion circuit having a flying capacitor, comprising: providing a multilevel conversion circuit, comprising: a first bridge arm comprising a plurality of switches connected in series; a second bridge arm comprising a plurality of switches connected in series and a flying capacitor group, wherein a midpoint of the second bridge arm and a midpoint of the first bridge arm are connected to a power supply and an inductor to form a series branch; a DC bus capacitor connected to both the first bridge arm and the second bridge arm in parallel; a first voltage clamping module connected between a first end of the flying capacitor group and a first end of the DC bus capacitor; a second voltage clamping module connected between a second end of the flying capacitor group and a second end of the DC bus capacitor; an auxiliary power supply connected to the DC bus capacitor, and a controller coupled to the auxiliary power supply and the plurality of switches of the second bridge arm, the auxiliary power supply provides power for the controller; powering the multilevel conversion circuit; charging the DC bus capacitor through the corresponding switches of the first bridge arm and the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26, wherein the multilevel conversion circuit further comprises a third bridge arm, and the third bridge arm comprises a plurality of switches connected in series, and a midpoint of the third bridge arm is connected with the power supply and the inductor; after the multilevel conversion circuit is powered on, the power supply charges the DC bus capacitor through the corresponding switches of the first bridge arm and the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm; and/or the power supply charges the DC bus capacitor through the corresponding switches of the third bridge arm and the corresponding switches of the first bridge arm. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method according to claim 27, wherein when a voltage of the DC bus capacitor reaches a preset value of starting voltage, the auxiliary power supply is started; when a voltage of the DC bus capacitor reaches a preset value of operating voltage, the controller controls the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm to turn on, wherein the power supply charges the flying capacitor group through the corresponding switches of the first bridge arm and the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm, or the power supply charges the flying capacitor group through the corresponding switches of the first bridge arm, the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm and the corresponding switch of the third bridge arm. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26, wherein after the multilevel conversion circuit is powered on, when a voltage between the midpoint of the first bridge arm and the midpoint of the second bridge arm is greater than a clamping voltage of the first voltage clamping module or the second voltage clamping module, the power supply charges the flying capacitor group through the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm, the first voltage clamping module or the second voltage clamping module, and the corresponding switches of the first bridge arm. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26, wherein when a voltage of the DC bus capacitor reaches a preset value of starting voltage, the auxiliary power supply is started; when a voltage of the DC bus capacitor reaches a preset value of operating voltage, the controller controls the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm to turn on, and the power supply charges the flying capacitor group through the corresponding switches of the first bridge arm and the corresponding switches of the second bridge arm.