# US 2013/0152624 A1 · Power converter and refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0152624 A1 - Document ID: US20130152624A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/819,374 - Filed: 2010-11-04 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-27 - Assignees: MitsubishiI Electric Corporation - Inventors: Koichi Arisawa; Takuya Shimomugi; Yosuke Shinomoto; Masato Handa; Mitsuo Kashima; Shigeo Umehara; Katsuhiko Saito; Norikazu Ito; Hitoshi Tanifuji; Makoto Tanikawa; Tomomi Higashikawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130152624A1 ## CPC - H02M 1/4225: {using a non-isolated boost converter} - H02M 1/44: Circuits or arrangements for compensating for electromagnetic interference in converters or inverters - H02M 3/155: using semiconductor devices only - H02M 3/158: including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load - H02M 1/342: {Active non-dissipative snubbers} - 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 A power converter includes step-up means for varying a voltage applied by a power supply to a predetermined voltage, commutating means for performing a commutation operation for allowing a current flowing through the step-up means to flow through a second path, smoothing means for smoothing a voltage related to outputs of the step-up means and the commutating means to produce power and supplying the power to a load side, and control means for performing control related to voltage varying, such as stepping up, by the step-up means and controlling the commutation operation of the commutating means on the basis of at least one of a voltage and a current related to the step-up means. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power converter comprising: voltage varying means for varying an applied voltage to a predetermined voltage; commutating means for performing a commutation operation for allowing a current flowing through the voltage varying means to flow through a second path; smoothing means for smoothing a voltage related to outputs of the voltage varying means and the commutating means to produce power and supplying the power to a load side; and a controller for performing control related to voltage varying by the voltage varying means and controlling the commutation operation of the commutating means on the basis of at least one of a voltage and a current related to the voltage varying means. ### Claim 2 A power converter comprising: voltage varying means for varying an applied voltage to a predetermined voltage; commutating means for performing a commutation operation for allowing a current flowing through the voltage varying means to flow through a second path; smoothing means for smoothing a voltage related to outputs of the voltage varying means and the commutating means to produce power and supplying the power to a load side; a first controller for performing control related to voltage varying by the voltage varying means on the basis of at least one of a voltage and a current related to the voltage varying means; and a second controller for controlling the commutation operation of the commutating means on the basis of at least one of the voltage and the current related to the voltage varying means. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The power converter of claim 1, wherein the voltage varying means includes a reactor, a voltage varying switch that is opened or closed to allow the reactor to discharge or charge power, and a voltage varying rectifier. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The power converter of claim 1, wherein the commutating means includes: commutation operation means for performing the commutation operation in accordance with an instruction from the controller; and a commutation rectifier that rectifies a current related to commutation from the voltage varying means. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The power converter of claim 4, wherein the commutation operation means includes: a transformer that allows a secondary winding on the second path to be applied with a voltage on the basis of a voltage applied to a primary winding such that the commutation operation is performed; and a transformer driving device that controls application of the voltage to the primary winding of the transformer in accordance with an instruction from the controller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The power converter of claim 5, wherein a voltage applied to the transformer is lower than an output voltage of the voltage varying means. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The power converter of claim 4, wherein the commutation rectifier is a device using a wide band gap semiconductor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The power converter of claim 7, wherein the wide band gap semiconductor includes silicon carbide, a gallium nitride material, or diamond. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The power converter of claim 3, wherein the controller allows the commutating means to start the commutation operation before closing of the voltage varying switch. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The power converter of claim 3, wherein the controller allows the commutating means to terminate the commutation operation within a predetermined period including the time when the voltage varying switch is closed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The power converter of claim 3, wherein the controller includes: reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal as a reference for generation of a PWM signal on the basis of at least one of the voltage and the current related to the voltage varying means; first triangular-wave signal generating means for generating a first triangular-wave signal; PWM signal generating means for generating a PWM signal on the basis of the reference signal and the first triangular-wave signal; and PWM signal producing means for transmitting the PWM signal, and wherein the controller controls opening and closing of the voltage varying switch. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The power converter of claim 1, wherein the commutating means includes a commutation switch for controlling the commutation operation by being opened and closed, wherein the controller includes: reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal as a reference for generation of a commutation signal which is a PWM signal on the basis of at least one of the voltage and the current related to the voltage varying means; first triangular-wave signal generating means for generating a first triangular-wave signal; second triangular-wave signal generating means for generating a second triangular-wave signal; commutation signal generating means for generating a commutation signal on the basis of the reference signal, the first triangular-wave signal, and the second triangular-wave signal; and commutation signal producing means for transmitting the commutation signal, and wherein the controller controls opening and closing of the commutation switch. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The power converter of claim 1, wherein the commutating means includes a commutation switch for controlling the commutation operation by being opened and closed, wherein the controller includes: reference signal generating means for generating a first reference signal as a reference for generation of a commutation signal which is a PWM signal and a second reference signal having a predetermined offset relative to the first reference signal on the basis of at least one of the voltage and the current related to the voltage varying means; first triangular-wave signal generating means for generating a first triangular-wave signal; commutation signal generating means for generating a commutation signal on the basis of the first reference signal, the second reference signal, and the first triangular-wave signal; and commutation signal producing means for transmitting the commutation signal, and wherein the controller controls opening and closing of the commutation switch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The power converter of claim 1, wherein a power supply for allowing the commutating means to perform the commutation operation is used as a power supply for allowing the voltage varying means to perform a voltage varying operation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The power converter of claim 1, wherein a power supply for allowing the commutating means to perform the commutation operation is used as a power supply for operating the controller. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus comprising: the power converter of claim 1, the power converter being used to drive at least one of a compressor and an air-sending device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) The power converter of claim 2, wherein the voltage varying means includes a reactor, a voltage varying switch that is opened or closed to allow the reactor to discharge or charge power, and a voltage varying rectifier. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) The power converter of claim 2, wherein the commutating means includes: commutation operation means for performing the commutation operation in accordance with an instruction from the controller; and a commutation rectifier that rectifies a current related to commutation from the voltage varying means.