Method and system for determing current in an electrical component in a power conversion system

A method for determining a current flowing through an electrical component within a direct current-to-direct current (DC/DC) converter in an automobile comprising:

• generating an acquisition signal having at least one acquisition duty cycle having a beginning-point, a mid-point, and an end-point;
• generating a switch signal having at least one switch duty cycle having a beginning-point, a mid-point, and an end-point, the mid-point of the switch duty cycle occurring substantially simultaneously with the end-point of the at least one acquisition duty cycle;
• activating a switch electrically coupled to the electrical component and two voltage sources substantially simultaneously with the beginning point of the switch duty cycle, said activating the switch causing the current to flow through the electrical component after an amount of time;
• determining the amount of time between said activating the switch and the flow of current through the electrical component;
• measuring the current flowing through the electrical component substantially simultaneously with the mid-point of the switch duty cycle to determine a measured current value;
• and
• modifying the measured current value based at least in part on the amount of time between said activating the switch and the flow of current through the electrical component.

An automotive drive system comprising:

• a power converter configured to be coupled to a first voltage source and a second voltage source, the power converter comprising a switch and an inductor having an inductance;
• an electric motor coupled to the power converter;
• and
• a microprocessor in operable communication with the power converter, the microprocessor being configured to:
• activate the switch to cause current to flow through the inductor after an amount of time;
• determine the amount of time between the activation of the switch and the flow of current through the inductor;
• determine a measured current value of the current flowing through the inductor;
• and
• modify the measured current value based at least in part on the amount of time between the activation of the switch and the flow of current through the inductor.