Power converter capable of outputting a plurality of different levels of voltages
AssigneeToshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Sys. Corp.
InventorShinzo TAMAI
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power converter includes a group of serial three-level inverters including 2n (n=2) three-level inverters connected in series, two switch circuits for selecting an output from either one of two of the three-level inverters in the group of serial three-level inverters, and a switch circuit for selecting an output from either one of the switch circuits. Each three-level inverter includes two switch elements connected in series, two capacitors connected in series, and a switch element for connecting the first node to the second node, the switch elements being connected in parallel to the capacitors.
Claims3
A power converter comprising:
- a group of serial three-level inverters including 2n three-level inverters each capable of outputting three levels of voltages connected in series, n being an integer of 2 or more;
- and
- a switch circuit for selecting an output from either one of two of said three-level inverters in said group of serial three-level inverters,
- said three-level inverters each including
- a first switch element and a second switch element connected in series,
- a first charge storage element and a second charge storage element connected in series, and
- a third switch element for connecting a first node between said first switch element and said second switch element to a second node between said first charge storage element and said second charge storage element,
- said first switch element and said second switch element being connected in parallel to said first charge storage element and said second charge storage element,
- said three-level inverter being configured to be able to output three levels of voltages by a combination of on states and off states of said first switch element to said third switch element,
- said group of serial three-level inverters including 2n said three-level inverters connected in series by repeated connection of a fourth node between said second switch element and said second charge storage element in one of said three-level inverters to a fifth node between said first switch element and said first charge storage element in another of said three-level inverters adjacent to said one of said three-level inverters,
- 2n-1 said switch circuits being connected to be able to select an output from either one of the two adjacent said three-level inverters in said group of serial three-level inverters,
- when there are two or more said switch circuits, said switch circuit in a following stage being connected to be able to select an output from either one of two said switch circuits connected in a previous stage, thereby providing one output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.