# US 9,438,098 B2 · Apparatus and method for controlling module switching of power converting system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,438,098 B2 - Document ID: US9438098B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/364,494 - Filed: 2012-12-12 - Published: 2014-12-25 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-12 - Assignees: Hyosung Corporation - Applicants: Hyosung Corporation - Inventors: June-Sung Kim; Jong-Yun Choi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9438098B2 ## CPC - H02M 1/082: {with digital control} - H02M 1/081: {wherein the phase of the control voltage is adjustable with reference to the AC source} - H02M 1/0845: {digitally controlled (or with digital control)} - H02M 1/088: for the simultaneous control of series or parallel connected semiconductor devices - H02M 7/483: Converters with outputs that each can have more than two voltages levels - H02M 7/4835: {comprising two or more cells, each including a switchable capacitor, the capacitors having a nominal charge voltage which corresponds to a given fraction of the input voltage, and the capacitors being selectively connected in series to determine the instantaneous output voltage} - H02M 1/0043: {Converters switched with a phase shift, i.e. interleaved (non-isolated DC/DC converters H02M3/1586)} - H02M 1/007: {Plural converter units in cascade (push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826)} - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) ## Abstract A technology is disclosed for controlling switching of power converters included in a power converting system. Phase angles are allocated to a plurality of sub-units corresponding to the power converters, and the respective sub-units create local switching carriers based on the allocated phase angles. The sub-units compare a reference AC voltage with the local switching carriers, and switch the power converters according to the result of the comparison. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for converting power comprising: a central controller that generates a reference AC voltage; a phase leg including a plurality of power converters; and a plurality of sub-units, wherein the central controller allocates respective different phase angles to the respective sub-units, and the respective sub-units individually create local switching carriers based on the allocated phase angles, and controls switching of the power converters corresponding to the respective sub-units according to a result of a comparison of the individually created local switching carriers and the reference AC voltage, wherein the local switching carriers created by the respective sub-units are sinusoidal waves each having a same frequency and the respective different phase angle from each other allocated by the center controller, and wherein, when the number of the power converters is M, a difference between any two of the allocated phase angles is a multiple of 2π/M. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power converters included in the phase leg are connected in series with each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the phase leg is arranged between a DC connection terminal and an AC connection terminal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the respective sub-units control the switching of the power converters corresponding to the respective sub-unit when the local switching carriers intersect with the reference AC voltage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power converters comprise a plurality of power electronic switches connected in series with each other, and a capacitor connected in parallel with the power electronic switches. ### Claim 6 A method of converting power, comprising: allocating different phase angles to a plurality of sub-units, respectively, by a central controller; individually creating local switching carriers based on the allocated phase angles, by the respective sub-units; and controlling switching of power converters included in a phase leg and corresponding to the respective sub-units according to a result of a comparison of the individually created local switching carriers and a reference AC voltage, by the respective sub-units, wherein the local switching carriers created by the respective sub-units are sinusoidal waves each having a same frequency and the respective different phase angle from each other allocated by the center controller, and wherein, when the number of the power converters is M, a difference between any two of the allocated phase angles is a multiple of 2π/M. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the power converters included in the phase leg are connected in series with each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A non-transitory computer readable recording medium in which a program for executing the method of claim 7 is recorded. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the phase leg is arranged between a DC connection terminal and an AC connection terminal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A non-transitory computer readable recording medium in which a program for executing the method of claim 9 is recorded. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the controlling of the switching comprises: controlling the switching of the power converters corresponding to the respective sub-unit when the local switching carriers intersect with the reference AC voltage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A non-transitory computer readable recording medium in which a program for executing the method of claim 11 is recorded. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the power converters comprise a plurality of power electronic switches connected in series with each other, and a capacitor connected in parallel with the power electronic switches. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A non-transitory computer readable recording medium in which a program for executing the method of claim 13 is recorded. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) A non-transitory computer readable recording medium in which a program for executing the method of claim 6 is recorded.