US 2026/0074628 A1 · MULTI-LEVEL SWITCHING POWER CONVERTER SYSTEMS

Abstract

One example includes a multi-level switching power converter system. The system includes a switch controller configured to generate a plurality of switching signals at a variable frequency. The system also includes a multi-level switching converter comprising a plurality of switches configured to receive the respective switching signals to convert an input voltage to an output voltage. One of the input and output voltages can be an AC voltage. The switch controller can provide the switching signals at the variable frequency. The variable frequency can vary within a fundamental period of the AC voltage. The system further includes a filter coupled to the multi-level switching converter and comprising a saturable inductor.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A multi-level switching power converter system comprising:

a switch controller configured to generate a plurality of switching signals at a variable frequency;
a multi-level switching converter comprising a plurality of switches configured to receive the respective switching signals to convert an input voltage to an output voltage, one of the input and output voltages being an AC voltage, the switch controller providing the switching signals at the variable frequency, wherein the variable frequency varies within a fundamental period of the AC voltage;
and
a filter coupled to the multi-level switching converter and comprising a saturable inductor.

1 more element

A method for generating a plurality of voltage levels via a multi-level switching converter, the method comprising:

providing an input voltage to an input of the multi-level switching converter, the multi-level switching converter comprising:
a plurality of switching stages;
and
a plurality of flying capacitors each arranged between a pair of the switching stages;
controlling the switching stages via switching signals to convert the input voltage to the voltage levels, the voltage levels having a nominal quantity based on a quantity of the flying capacitors;
and
selectively adjusting a quantity of the voltage levels between the nominal quantity in a first operating mode and an adjusted quantity less than the nominal quantity in a second operating mode via at least one set of the switching signals provided to a respective at least one of the switching stages.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-level switching power converter systems

Life of this patent

Multi-level switching power converter systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15