Multiple inverter system with single controller and related operating method

A multiple DC-to-AC inverter system, said inverter system comprising:

• a plurality of inverters, each having a DC input and an AC output, and each being configured to generate, at its AC output, a respective AC output signal in response to a DC input signal applied to said DC input, wherein:
• said plurality of inverters comprises a first inverter, a second inverter, a third inverter, and a fourth inverter;
• said AC output of said first inverter is coupled to said AC output of said fourth inverter to provide a first combined AC output signal;
• and
• said AC output of said second inverter is coupled to said AC output of said third inverter to provide a second combined AC output signal;
• a plurality of gate drives, each having a gate drive input and a gate drive output coupled to a respective one of said inverters, and each being configured to produce, at its gate drive output, an inverter drive signal set in response to a gate drive signal set;
• and
• a controller having a plurality of gate drive signal outputs, each being coupled to a respective one of said gate drives, said controller being configured to:
• generate, at said gate drive signal outputs, a plurality of gate drive signal sets for said gate drives;
• detect a fault status for a faulty inverter among said plurality of inverters;
• if said faulty inverter is said first inverter, determine new operating parameters for said fourth inverter and generate, in response thereto, an updated gate drive signal set for said fourth inverter;
• if said faulty inverter is said second inverter, determine new operating parameters for said third inverter and generate, in response thereto, an updated gate drive signal set for said third inverter;
• if said faulty inverter is said third inverter, determine new operating parameters for said second inverter and generate, in response thereto, an updated gate drive signal set for said second inverter;
• and
• if said faulty inverter is said fourth inverter, determine new operating parameters for said first inverter and generate, in response thereto, an updated gate drive signal set for said first inverter.

A multiple DC-to-AC inverter controller comprising:

• a plurality of gate drive input/output groups for control signal outputs and gate drive status inputs corresponding to a plurality of inverters controlled by the inverter controller;
• a signal generator coupled to said gate drive input/output groups, said signal generator being configured to generate a plurality of gate drive signal sets for driving a plurality of gate drives corresponding to the inverters;
• and
• a processor coupled to said signal generator, said processor being configured to:
• detect a fault status for a faulty inverter among the inverters;
• produce, in response to detection of said fault status, a disabling gate drive signal set for said faulty inverter;
• determine new operating parameters for a non-faulty inverter among the inverters;
• and
• produce an updated gate drive signal set for said non-faulty inverter, said updated gate drive signal set being influenced by said new operating parameters.