Abstract: An electrical DC-to-AC power conversion apparatus is disclosed that is primarily intended for use with solar photovoltaic sources in electric utility grid-interactive applications. The invention improves the conversion efficiency and lowers the cost of DC-to-AC inverters. The enabling technology is a novel inverter circuit topology, where throughput power, from DC source to AC utility, is processed a maximum of 1½ times instead of 2 times as in prior-art inverters. The AC inverter output configuration can be either single-phase, split-phase or poly-phase.

Abstract: An electrical DC-to-AC power conversion apparatus is disclosed that is primarily intended for use with solar photovoltaic sources in electric utility grid-interactive applications. The invention improves the conversion efficiency and lowers the cost of DC-to-AC inverters. The enabling technology is a novel inverter circuit topology, where the bulk of the throughput power, from DC source to AC utility, is processed only once. The inverter does not require an isolation transformer and can be connected directly to a 480/277 Vac utility grid. The invention also allows the power converter to start into photovoltaic array having higher open circuit voltages. The invention also uses active ripple current cancellation to substantially reduce the cost, size and weight of the main filter inductors.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for supplying both positive and negative gate drive power supply potentials to the top switch, in a typical half-bridge semiconductor power topology, from the bottom switch gate drive power supplies and without the use of transformer, capacitive or optical isolation. A known method of providing the positive top switch gate drive supply is enhanced and used in conjunction with a new and novel method for providing the negative top switch gate drive supply. The negative top switch gate drive supply is provided by an additional, lower power semiconductor switch, which is substantially synchronized with the bottom semiconductor switch, except for a slight turn-on delay. When this additional switch is gated “on” and conducting, the negative bottom switch gate drive power is connected to the negative top switch gate drive supply energy storage capacitors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of control for converting DC (direct current) power from a solar photovoltaic source to AC (alternating current) power. A novel DC-to-AC power converter topology and a novel control method are disclosed. This combination of topology and control are very well suited for photovoltaic microinverter applications. Also, a novel variant of this control method is illustrated with a number of known photovoltaic DC-to-AC power converter topologies. The primary function of both control methods is to seek the maximum power point (MPP) of the photovoltaic source with novel, iterative, perturb and observe control algorithms. The control portion of this invention discloses two related control methods, both an improvement over prior art by having greatly improved stability, dynamic response and accuracy.

Abstract: This invention is a multi-port power converter where all ports are coupled through different windings of a high frequency transformer. Two or more, and typically all, ports have synchronized switching elements to allow the use of a high frequency transformer. This concept and type of converter is known. This invention mitigates a number of limitations in the present art and adds new capabilities that will allow applications to be served that would otherwise not have been practical. A novel circuit topology for a four-quadrant AC port is disclosed. A novel circuit topology for a unidirectional DC port with voltage boost capabilities is disclosed. A novel circuit topology for a unidirectional DC port with voltage buck capabilities is disclosed. A novel circuit for a high efficiency, high frequency, bi-directional, AC semiconductor switch is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention improves the performance and lowers the cost of DC to AC inverters and the systems where these inverters are used. The performance enhancements are most valuable in renewable and distributed energy applications where high power conversion efficiencies are critical. The invention allows a variety of DC sources to provide power thru the inverter to the utility grid or directly to loads without a transformer and at very high power conversion efficiencies. The enabling technology is a novel boost converter stage that regulates the voltage for a following DC to AC converter stage and uses a single semiconductor switching device. The AC inverter output configuration is either single-phase or three-phase.

Abstract: This invention improves the performance and lowers the cost of DC to AC inverters and the systems where these inverters are used. The performance enhancements are most valuable in renewable and distributed energy applications where high power conversion efficiencies are critical. The invention allows a variety of DC sources to provide power thru the inverter to the utility grid without a transformer and at very high power conversion efficiencies. The enabling technology is a novel inverter circuit topology where the DC source is connected directly to the positive bus of the DC to AC converter and where a negative bus is generated from the positive bus with a flyback converter. The inverter power topology does include or require a transformer. The AC inverter output configuration can be either single-phase or three-phase. The AC inverter output can be either utility interactive or directly supply loads.

Abstract: The invention is an electrical power converter using multiple, high frequency switching elements where the individual switching elements are operated in a synchronous, time-skewed arrangement to provide optimum ripple current cancellation.

Abstract: The invention is an electromechanical packaging method for high power, high reliability, high frequency, switch mode power converters where high power density is required. An Insulated Metal Substrate (IMS) Printed Circuit Board (PCB) assembly, with a plurality of surface mount semiconductor power devices, is interfaced to a heatsink. Low profile bus bars are used between the IMS PCB and a fiberglass PCB. The fiberglass PCB has a laminated DC bus structure and a plurality of filter capacitors electrically connected across the DC bus structure. Clamp bars, substantially following the footprint of the bus bars, are installed on top of the fiberglass PCB and are used to pull the heatsink-IMS-bus bar-fiberglass PCB-clamp bar sandwich together. The clamping action provides low contact resistance between the bus bars and the two printed circuit boards. The clamping action also supplies the pressure needed between the IMS substrate and the heatsink for good heat transfer across this interface.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for supplying both positive and negative gate drive power supply potentials to the top switch, in a typical half-bridge semiconductor power topology, from the bottom switch gate drive power supplies and without the use of transformer, capacitive or optical isolation. A known method of providing the positive top switch gate drive supply is enhanced and used in conjunction with a new and novel method for providing the negative top switch gate drive supply. The negative top switch gate drive supply is provided by an additional, lower power semiconductor switch, which is substantially synchronized with the bottom semiconductor switch, except for a slight turn-on delay. When this additional switch is gated “on” and conducting, the negative bottom switch gate drive power is connected to the negative top switch gate drive supply energy storage capacitors.

Abstract: The invention is an electrical power conversion apparatus for converting DC voltage to poly-phase AC current where the AC current is supplied directly to the electric utility grid for power transfer into the grid. The power conversion apparatus has two or more separate, pulse modulated, high frequency power converters per phase. The outputs of the power converters are summed at a common connection point substantially on the load side of the main pulse filter inductors. The high frequency pulse train of each separate power converter is skewed or phase delayed with respect to the other converters on the same AC power phase for the purpose of reducing the amount of high frequency ripple current injected into the electric utility grid.