Circuit Topology for a Phase Connection of an Inverter

A method for producing a phased output voltage of an inverter by a circuit bridge having upper and lower bridge halves and upper and lower bridge segments respectively associated with the upper and lower bridge halves, each bridge half having an outer switch and an inner switch connected in series, each bridge segment having a diode and the inner switch of the associated bridge half connected in series, an output of the circuit bridge respectively connected to upper and lower potentials through the outer switches and further connected to a center potential applied between the upper and lower potentials through each of the bridge segments, each of the bridge halves further having a parallel power switch, the parallel switch of each bridge half being connected in parallel to the series-connected outer and inner switches of the bridge half, and the output of the circuit bridge being further respectively connected to the upper and lower potentials through the parallel switches, the method comprising:

• initiating a sequence of a switching pulse over a time period at whose beginning and end the inner switch of the upper bridge half is closed and all of the other switches are opened with the bridge output being connected to the center potential through upper bridge segment via the diode of the upper bridge segment and the inner switch of the upper bridge half;
• closing the outer switch of the upper bridge half;
• closing the parallel switches after a delay time that is a fraction of the time period of the switching pulse;
• opening the parallel switches shortly before the end of the switching pulse;
• and
• opening the outer switch of the upper bridge half after a delay time that is a fraction of the time period of the switching pulse.