System, Apparatus And Method For Improving Input Power Quality In A Modular Power Inverter

A drive system comprising:

• a first slice having a first transformer, a first slice controller, and first, second, and third power cells, wherein the first power cell is to receive reference signals from the first slice controller at a first phase, the second power cell is to receive reference signals from the first slice controller at a second phase, and the third power cell is to receive reference signals from the first slice controller at a third phase;
• a second slice having a second transformer, a second slice controller, and first, second, and third power cells, wherein the first power cell of the second slice is positioned in correspondence with the first power cell of the first slice, the second power cell of the second slice is positioned in correspondence with the second power cell of the first slice, and the third power cell of the second slice is positioned in correspondence with the third power cell of the first slice, and the first power cell of the second slice is to receive reference signals from the second slice controller at the second phase, the second power cell of the second slice is to receive reference signals from the second slice controller at the third phase, and the third power cell of the second slice is to receive reference signals from the second slice controller at the first phase;
• a first phase output line to couple the first power cell of the first slice and the third power cell of the second slice to a load;
• a second phase output line to couple the second power cell of the first slice and the first power cell of the second slice to the load;
• and
• a third phase output line to couple the third power cell of the first slice and the second power cell of the second slice to the load.

A method comprising:

• receiving first reference signals from a first controller of a drive system in a first slice controller of a first slice having a first transformer and first, second, and third power cells, generating first, second and third pulse width modulation (PWM) reference signals therefrom, and providing the first PWM reference signal to the first power cell at a first phase, providing the second PWM reference signal to the second power cell at a second phase, and providing the third PWM reference signal to the third power cell at a third phase;
• receiving second reference signals from the first controller in a second slice controller of a second slice having a second transformer and first, second, and third power cells, generating first, second and third PWM reference signals therefrom, and providing the first PWM reference signal to the first power cell of the second slice at the second phase, providing the second PWM reference signal to the second power cell of the second slice at the third phase, and providing the third PWM signal to the third power cell of the second slice at the first phase, wherein the first power cell of the second slice is positioned in correspondence with the first power cell of the first slice, the second power cell of the second slice is positioned in correspondence with the second power cell of the first slice, and the third power cell of the second slice is positioned in correspondence with the third power cell of the first slice;
• and
• coupling, via a first phase output line, the first power cell of the first slice and the third power cell of the second slice to a load, coupling via a second phase output line, the second power cell of the first slice and the first power cell of the second slice to the load, and coupling, via a third phase output line, the third power cell of the first slice and the second power cell of the second slice to the load.