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US 7,606,053 B2Granted
DC-to-DC converter and electric motor drive system using the same
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsChingchi Chen, Michael Degner, Venkateswa Sankaran
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A DC-to-DC converter is provided and generally configured for implementation with an electric motor drive system. In at least one embodiment, the DC-to-DC converter includes first and second capacitors, an inductor, and first and second switching devices. The DC-to-DC converter is bi-directional to facilitate voltage transfer therethrough. In at least another embodiment, the electric motor drive system comprises an energy storage device, a drive unit, an electric motor and a bi-directional DC-to-DC converter. The energy storage device includes a positive and a negative terminal. The drive unit includes a first and second terminal. The electric motor is in electrical communication with the drive unit.
Claims21
A DC-to-DC converter comprising:
- a first capacitor having a first and second terminal and being rated to a first voltage rating;
- a second capacitor having a first and second terminal;
- an inductor having a first and second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the inductor is coupled to both the first terminal of the second capacitor and the second terminal of the first capacitor to form a first node;
- a first switching device having a first and second terminal and configured to electrically couple the first and second terminals of the first switching device in response to a first control signal, wherein the first terminal of the first switching device is coupled to the first terminal of the first capacitor to form a second node;
- and
- a second switching device having a first and second terminal and configured to electrically couple the first and second terminals of the second switching device in response to a second control signal, wherein:
- the first terminal of the second switching device is coupled to the second terminal of the first switching device and the second terminal of the inductor to form a third node,
- the second terminal of the second switching device is coupled to the second terminal of the second capacitor to form a fourth node,
- the DC-to-DC converter is configured to facilitate bi-directional voltage transfer therethrough, and
- the first voltage rating of the first capacitor is substantially similar to a voltage between the first and second nodes.
7 more elements
An electric motor drive system comprising:
- an energy storage device having a positive and a negative terminal;
- a drive unit having a first and second terminal;
- an electric motor in electronic communication with the drive unit;
- and
- a bi-directional DC-to-DC converter comprising:
- a first capacitor having a first and second terminal;
- a second capacitor having a first and second terminal and being rated to a first voltage rating;
- an inductor having a first and second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the inductor is coupled to both the first terminal of the second capacitor and the second terminal of the first capacitor to form a first node;
- a first switching device having a first and second terminal and configured to electrically couple the first and second terminals of the first switching device in response to a first control signal, wherein the first terminal of the first switching device is coupled to the first terminal of the first capacitor to form a second node;
- and
- a second switching device having a first and second terminal and configured to electrically couple the first and second terminals of the second switching device in response to a second control signal, wherein:
- the first terminal of the second switching device is coupled to the second terminal of the first switching device and the second terminal of the inductor to form a third node, and
- the second terminal of the second switching device is coupled to the second terminal of the second capacitor to form a fourth node, and
- the first voltage rating of the second capacitor is substantially similar to a voltage between the first and fourth nodes,
- the positive terminal of the energy storage device is coupled to the first node and the negative terminal of the energy storage device is coupled to the fourth node, and the first and second terminals of the drive unit are coupled to the second and fourth nodes, respectively.
12 more elements
An electric motor drive system comprising:
- an energy storage device having a positive and a negative terminal;
- a drive unit having a first and second terminal;
- an electric motor in electronic communication with the drive unit;
- and
- a bi-directional DC-to-DC converter comprising:
- a first capacitor having a first and second terminal and being rated to a first voltage rating;
- a second capacitor having a first and second terminal;
- an inductor having a first and second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the inductor is coupled to both the first terminal of the second capacitor and the second terminal of the first capacitor to form a first node;
- a first switching device having a first and second terminal and configured to electrically couple the first and second terminals of the first switching device in response to a first control signal, wherein the first terminal of the first switching device is coupled to the first terminal of the first capacitor to form a second node;
- and
- a second switching device having a first and second terminal and configured to electrically couple the first and second terminals of the second switching device in response to a second control signal, wherein:
- the first terminal of the second switching device is coupled to the second terminal of the first switching device and the second terminal of the inductor to form a third node,
- the second terminal of the second switching device is coupled to the second terminal of the second capacitor to form a fourth node, and
- the first voltage rating of the first capacitor is substantially similar to the voltage between the first and second nodes,
- wherein the positive terminal of the energy storage device is coupled to the second node and the negative terminal of the energy storage device is coupled to the first node, and the first and second terminals of the drive unit are coupled to the second and fourth nodes, respectively.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.