Power-Packet-Switching Circuits Using Stacked Bidirectional Switches
AssigneeIdeal Power Inc.
InventorWilliam C. Alexander
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Power-packet-switching circuits (and methods and systems) in which at least one port uses series-connected combinations of bidirectional switches to connect a link inductor (or transformer), with selectable polarity, to an outside line. Optionally, series-connected combinations of bidirectional switches are used for phase legs in some ports, while single bidirectional switches are used for the phase legs in other ports. This can be particularly advantageous where the converter interfaces between lines at significantly different operating voltages. By using B-TRANs as the series-combined elements of the combinations of switches, voltage-dividing circuitry is not needed to equalize the voltages seen by the individual devices in each combination.
Claims17
A power conversion method, comprising the repeated actions of:
- a1) totally disconnecting a link inductor from external connections, to thereby change the voltage of the link inductor;
- and then
- a2) driving energy into the link inductor using a first phase leg, which includes a bidirectional switch selectably connecting a respective outside line to a first terminal of the link inductor, and also another bidirectional switch selectably connecting the same outside line to a second terminal of the link inductor;
- b1) totally disconnecting the link inductor from external connections, to thereby again change the voltage of the link inductor;
- and then
- b2) extracting energy from the link inductor through a second phase leg, which includes bidirectional switches selectably connecting another respective outside line to the first or second terminals of the link inductor;
- wherein step a1 is prolonged sufficiently that turn-on at the start of step a2 happens under approximately zero voltage;
- and wherein step b1 is prolonged sufficiently that turn-off at the start of step b2 happens under approximately zero voltage;
- wherein at least one of the phase legs includes two series-connected combinations of bidirectional switches, which are connected to be switched in synchrony.
A power conversion method, comprising the repeated actions of:
- a1) totally disconnecting a link transformer from the outside world, to thereby change the voltage across windings of the link transformer;
- and then
- a2) driving energy into the link transformer using a first phase leg, which includes a bidirectional switch selectably connecting a respective outside line to a first terminal of the link transformer, and also another bidirectional switch selectably connecting the same outside line to a second terminal of the link transformer;
- b1) totally disconnecting the link transformer from the outside world, to thereby again change the voltage of the link transformer;
- and then
- b2) extracting energy from the link transformer through a second phase leg, which includes two bidirectional switches selectably connecting another respective outside line to selectable terminals of the link transformer;
- wherein step a1 is prolonged sufficiently that turn-on at the start of step a2 happens under approximately zero voltage;
- and wherein step b1 is prolonged sufficiently that turn-off at the start of step b2 happens under approximately zero voltage;
- and wherein at least one of the phase legs, but not both, includes two series-connected combinations of bidirectional switches, which are connected to be switched in synchrony with each other to thereby operate as a single bidirectional switch.
A power conversion method, comprising the repeated actions of:
- a) totally disconnecting a link transformer from the outside world, to thereby change the voltage across windings of the link inductor;
- and then driving energy into the link transformer using a first phase leg, which includes two bidirectional switches which each comprise a series combination of multiple double-independent-base contact bipolar transistors;
- b) totally disconnecting the link transformer from the outside world, to thereby again change the voltage of the link transformer;
- and then extracting energy from the link transformer through a second phase leg, which includes two bidirectional switches which each comprise a series combination of double-independent-base-contact bipolar transistors;
- wherein both phase legs are turned on and turned off under approximately zero voltage.
17-21. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.