Multi-level switching power converter systems

A multi-level switching power converter system comprising:

• a multi-level switching converter arranged as a tri-active bridge (TAB) switching converter, the TAB switching converter comprising:
• a transformer comprising a first winding and a second winding;
• a first switching stage comprising a first set of switches arranged as a first H-bridge and controlled by a first set of switching signals to convert between an AC voltage and a first DC voltage;
• a second switching stage comprising a second set of switches arranged as a second H-bridge and controlled by a second set of switching signals, the second switching stage comprising a first switching node between a first pair of the second set of switches and a second switching node between a second pair of the second set of switches, the first and second switching nodes being directly coupled to the first winding to one of provide or receive a first voltage associated with the first winding in response to one of the first DC voltage and a second DC voltage;
• and
• a third switching stage comprising a third set of switches arranged as a third H-bridge and controlled by a third set of switching signals, the third switching stage comprising a third switching node between a first pair of the third set of switches and a fourth switching node between a second pair of the third set of switches, the third and fourth switching nodes being directly coupled to the second winding to one of provide or receive a second voltage associated with the second winding in response to the other of the first and second DC voltages;
• and
• a switch controller configured to generate the first, second, and third sets of switching signals, to provide at least one of the first, second, and third sets of switching signals at a variable frequency that varies as a function of a power metric associated with a frequency of the AC voltage, to provide a variable phase shift between the second and third sets of switching signals, and to provide a variable phase shift between the respective switching signals that control one switch in each of the first and second pairs of at least one of the second and third sets of switches relative to another one switch in each of the first and second pairs of the respective at least one of the second and third sets of switches.