Abstract: A DC charging circuit for an electric vehicle includes a neutral-point clamped (NPC) rectifier and a DC/DC buck converter. The NPC rectifier is configured to convert three-phase AC power to a first DC voltage at a rectifier output stage. The DC/DC buck converter includes a first DC stage coupled to the rectifier output stage, and a second DC stage configured to be coupled to the electric vehicle. The DC/DC buck converter is configured to convert the first DC voltage to a second DC voltage to be supplied to the electric vehicle.

Abstract: A customizable power conversion system (1000) is configured to operate with multiple alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) power sources (1001,1003) and supplies multiple AC and DC loads (1018,1020,1022,1024). The customizable power conversion system is also configured to be assembled from a plurality of customizable power converters (1004,1006,1008,1010,1012), each of which is configured to function as a building block of the customizable power conversion system. More particularly, each customizable power converter may be configured as any DC/DC, DC/AC, AC/DC, or AC/AC converter, such as any of i) an inverter, ii) a DC/DC converter for use with a photovoltaic (PV) array (or string of PV arrays), and iii) a DC/DC converter for use with an energy storage element (e.g., a battery or battery string).

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a soft switching topology for a direct current (DC)-DC converter. The systems and methods determine an operational status of an electric motor, and activate at least one of an upper or lower first or second semiconductor switches based on an operation of the electric motor. The first and second switching circuits are conductively coupled to a power inverter circuit. The systems and methods include deliver an adjusted voltage to one of the power inverter circuit or a power circuit based on the operational status of the electric motor.

Abstract: A system includes conductive windings extending around a magnetic core and impedance-varying windings extending around the magnetic core. The impedance-varying windings include positive windings and negative windings. The conductive windings and the impedance-varying windings conduct electric current around the magnetic core. The system includes a first impedance tap changer that is electrically coupled with the positive windings of the impedance-varying windings and a second impedance tap changer electrically coupled with the negative windings of the impedance-varying windings. A controller controls the first impedance tap changer and the second impedance tap changer to change an impedance of the system by changing which portion of the positive windings and which portion of the negative windings are conductively coupled with the conductive windings, and which portion of the positive windings and which portion of the negative windings are disconnected from the conductive windings.

Abstract: A customizable power conversion system (1000) is configured to operate with multiple alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) power sources (1001,1003) and supplies multiple AC and DC loads (1018,1020,1022,1024). The customizable power conversion system is also configured to be assembled from a plurality of customizable power converters (1004,1006,1008,1010,1012), each of which is configured to function as a building block of the customizable power conversion system. More particularly, each customizable power converter may be configured as any DC/DC, DC/AC, AC/DC, or AC/AC converter, such as any of i) an inverter, ii) a DC/DC converter for use with a photovoltaic (PV) array (or string of PV arrays), and iii) a DC/DC converter for use with an energy storage element (e.g., a battery or battery string).

Abstract: Controlling an energy storage system includes providing one or more constraints to an optimization problem algorithm, determining by the optimization problem algorithm a DC bus voltage value that results in an minimum total power dissipation for the plurality of power converters, calculating a respective control variable for each of the respective plurality of power converters based on the determined DC bus voltage value, and generating control processor executable instructions to implement control of each of the plurality of power converters to achieve the calculated respective control variable. A system for implementing the method and a non-transitory computer-readable medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: A flexible transformer system includes conductive windings extending around a magnetic core of a transformer phase and impedance-varying windings extending around the magnetic core of the transformer phase. The conductive windings and the impedance-varying windings are configured to conduct electric current around the magnetic core of the transformer phase. The system includes an impedance switch coupled with the impedance-varying windings and with the conductive windings. The impedance switch is configured to change an impedance of the system by changing which impedance-varying winding of the impedance-varying windings is conductively coupled with the conductive windings and which impedance-varying winding of the impedance-varying windings is disconnected from the conductive windings.

Abstract: A switching system includes a transformer and a switching assembly for controlling conduction of current from a power source to a first load along a power cable. The switching assembly includes a switch cell conductively coupled to the power cable. The transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding. The secondary winding is conductively coupled to the switch cell. The primary winding is conductively coupled to a switch controller via the power cable. The transformer is configured to receive an activation control signal from the switch controller at the primary winding via the power cable and convey the activation control signal to the switch cell via the secondary winding. The switch cell is configured to activate and conduct the current from the power source to the first load along the power cable responsive to receiving the activation control signal from the switch controller.

Abstract: Controlling an energy storage system includes providing one or more constraints to an optimization problem algorithm, determining by the optimization problem algorithm a DC bus voltage value that results in an minimum total power dissipation for the plurality of power converters, calculating a respective control variable for each of the respective plurality of power converters based on the determined DC bus voltage value, and generating control processor executable instructions to implement control of each of the plurality of power converters to achieve the calculated respective control variable. A system for implementing the method and a non-transitory computer-readable medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system includes conductive windings extending around a magnetic core and impedance-varying windings extending around the magnetic core. The impedance-varying windings include positive windings and negative windings. The conductive windings and the impedance-varying windings conduct electric current around the magnetic core. The system includes a first impedance tap changer that is electrically coupled with the positive windings of the impedance-varying windings and a second impedance tap changer electrically coupled with the negative windings of the impedance-varying windings. A controller controls the first impedance tap changer and the second impedance tap changer to change an impedance of the system by changing which portion of the positive windings and which portion of the negative windings are conductively coupled with the conductive windings, and which portion of the positive windings and which portion of the negative windings are disconnected from the conductive windings.

Abstract: A modular electronics package is disclosed that includes a first and second electronics packages, with each of the first and second electronics packages including a metallized insulating substrate and a solid-state switching device positioned on the metallized insulating substrate, the solid-state switching device comprising a plurality of contact pads electrically coupled to the first conductor layer of the metallized insulating substrate. A conductive joining material is positioned between the first electronics package and the second electronics package to electrically connect them together. The first electronics package and the second electronics package are stacked with one another to form a half-bridge unit cell, with the half-bridge unit cell having a current path through the solid-state switching device in the first electronics package and a close coupled return current path through the solid-state switching device in the second electronics package in opposite flow directions.

Abstract: A modular electronics package is disclosed that includes a first and second electronics packages, with each of the first and second electronics packages including a metallized insulating substrate and a solid-state switching device positioned on the metallized insulating substrate, the solid-state switching device comprising a plurality of contact pads electrically coupled to the first conductor layer of the metallized insulating substrate. A conductive joining material is positioned between the first electronics package and the second electronics package to electrically connect them together. The first electronics package and the second electronics package are stacked with one another to form a half-bridge unit cell, with the half-bridge unit cell having a current path through the solid-state switching device in the first electronics package and a close coupled return current path through the solid-state switching device in the second electronics package in opposite flow directions.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a DC/DC conversion system is disclosed. The DC/DC conversion system includes a boost converter coupled to a plurality of parallel buck converters. The boost converter and plurality of buck converters each include an inductor, where the inductors are magnetically coupled to each other. The DC/DC conversion system further includes a control system configured to control the boost converter and plurality of buck converters such that combined duty cycles of the plurality of buck converters are about equal to a duty cycle of the boost converter and the duty cycles of the plurality of buck converters are modulated out of phase.

Abstract: A DC charging circuit for an electric vehicle includes a neutral-point clamped (NPC) rectifier and a DC/DC buck converter. The NPC rectifier is configured to convert three-phase AC power to a first DC voltage at a rectifier output stage. The DC/DC buck converter includes a first DC stage coupled to the rectifier output stage, and a second DC stage configured to be coupled to the electric vehicle. The DC/DC buck converter is configured to convert the first DC voltage to a second DC voltage to be supplied to the electric vehicle.

Abstract: A power electronics circuit is disclosed that includes a switching circuit comprising a first solid-state device coupled in series with a second solid-state device, with at least the first solid-state device comprising a solid-state switch having a gate terminal. The power electronics circuit also includes a current sense transformer positioned between the first and second solid-state devices and configured to sense a current flowing on a conductive trace connecting the first and second solid-state devices, and a controller coupled to the switching circuit and the current sense transformer so as to be in operable communication therewith. The controller is programmed to receive a current sense signal from the current sense transformer indicative of the current flowing on the conductive trace and modulate a gate voltage to the gate terminal of the first solid-state device based on the received current sense signal, so as to control switching thereof.

Abstract: A switching system includes a switching assembly and a transformer. The switching assembly includes multiple sets of switch cells conductively coupled to different power conductors that extend between a power source and a load and conduct different phases of current. Each set of switch cells controls conduction of a different phase of current to the load. The transformer has a primary winding and multiple secondary windings that are conductively coupled to the sets of switch cells. Responsive to receiving an activation control signal from the transformer via the secondary windings, the sets of switch cells are configured to activate to conduct the multiple phases of current from the power source to the load along the power conductors.

Abstract: A system and method for conditioning DC power received from hybrid DC power sources is disclosed. A power conversion circuit is coupled to a respective DC power source to selectively condition the output power generated thereby to a DC bus voltage. The power conversion circuit includes a switch arrangement and capacitors arranged to provide a charge balancing in the power conversion circuit. A controller in operable communication with the switch arrangement receives inputs on a DC bus voltage and at least one parameter related to operation of the DC power source, and determines an adjustable voltage to be output from the conversion circuit to the DC bus based on the received inputs. The controller then selectively controls operation of the switch arrangement in order to generate the determined adjustable voltage.

Abstract: Systems and methods provided herein relate to a gate drive circuit for controlling operation of a wide bandgap semiconductor switch. The systems and methods receive a control signal and configuring an operation signal configured to activate a wide bandgap switch (WBG switch). A profile of the operation signal being based on electrical characteristics of first and second shaping circuits. The systems and methods further deliver the operation signal to the WBG switch.

Abstract: A power electronics circuit is disclosed that includes a switching circuit comprising a first solid-state device coupled in series with a second solid-state device, with at least the first solid-state device comprising a solid-state switch having a gate terminal. The power electronics circuit also includes a current sense transformer positioned between the first and second solid-state devices and configured to sense a current flowing on a conductive trace connecting the first and second solid-state devices, and a controller coupled to the switching circuit and the current sense transformer so as to be in operable communication therewith. The controller is programmed to receive a current sense signal from the current sense transformer indicative of the current flowing on the conductive trace and modulate a gate voltage to the gate terminal of the first solid-state device based on the received current sense signal, so as to control switching thereof.

Abstract: The DC leakage current detector for detecting leakage current in a DC bus includes a pair of transformers each comprising a magnetic core and excitation and detection windings would about the magnetic core, with the magnetic core positionable about a pair of conductors that create a magnetic field that is a sum of currents in the conductors. An excitation and biasing circuit is connected to the excitation winding in each transformer to inject a current signal thereto that creates a changing magnetic flux in the core of each transformer and a detector output connected to the detection winding in each transformer to receive a voltage therefrom generated responsive to the magnetic flux in the core of each transformer, wherein the voltage on the detection windings provides a net voltage at the detector output whose value is indicative of a presence of a leakage current on the DC bus.