Abstract: A power converter employing a plurality of parallel high-frequency switching legs, and a low-frequency switching leg, is disclosed. A load may be coupled between the high-frequency switching legs and the low-frequency switching leg. A number of levels of a power waveform produced by the power converter may be higher than the number of levels of the high-frequency switching legs. The low-frequency switching leg may employ switches which may have low switching frequency characteristics, low conduction losses, and may be less expensive.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a first switch leg connected between a first input terminal and a first output terminal, the first switch leg comprising serially connected switches. The apparatus may also include a second switch leg connected between a second input terminal and the first output terminal, the second switch leg comprising serially connected switches. The apparatus may further include a third switch leg connected between an input voltage midpoint and the first output terminal. A control circuit may control the first switch leg, the second switch leg and the third switch leg.

Abstract: A method may include: applying a first voltage on at least one first terminal of a first direct current (DC) bus electrically connected to a power source, obtaining at least one indication that discharge of a second voltage related to the first voltage should be performed, and discharging the second voltage by electrically connecting at least one second terminal of a second DC bus to a ground in response to the at least one indication. Another method may include: injecting a current at at least one terminal of a direct current (DC) bus that is electrically connected to a power source, simultaneous to injecting the current, measuring an insulation relative to ground, obtaining an electrical parameter related to the power source, and, in response to the electrical parameter, maintaining the current injected at the terminal of the DC bus without ceasing the measuring of the insulation relative to a ground.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a first switch leg connected between a first input terminal and a first output terminal, the first switch leg comprising serially connected switches. The apparatus may also include a second switch leg connected between a second input terminal and the first output terminal, the second switch leg comprising serially connected switches. The apparatus may further include a third switch leg connected between an input voltage midpoint and the first output terminal. A control circuit may control the first switch leg, the second switch leg and the third switch leg.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first leg having a plurality of transistors connected in series between a first node and a second node. Each of the plurality of transistors includes a respective body diode. The apparatus further includes a second leg connected between the first node and the second node and in parallel to the series connection of the plurality of transistors of the first leg. The second leg includes a first transistor. The second leg has lower reverse recovery losses relative to the first leg.

Abstract: A method may include: applying a first voltage on at least one first terminal of a first direct current (DC) bus electrically connected to a power source, obtaining at least one indication that discharge of a second voltage related to the first voltage should be performed, and discharging the second voltage by electrically connecting at least one second terminal of a second DC bus to a ground in response to the at least one indication. Another method may include: injecting a current at at least one terminal of a direct current (DC) bus that is electrically connected to a power source, simultaneous to injecting the current, measuring an insulation relative to ground, obtaining an electrical parameter related to the power source, and, in response to the electrical parameter, maintaining the current injected at the terminal of the DC bus without ceasing the measuring of the insulation relative to a ground.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a first switch leg connected between a first input terminal and a first output terminal, the first switch leg comprising serially connected switches. The apparatus may also include a second switch leg connected between a second input terminal and the first output terminal, the second switch leg comprising serially connected switches. The apparatus may further include a third switch leg connected between an input voltage midpoint and the first output terminal. A control circuit may control the first switch leg, the second switch leg and the third switch leg.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first leg having a plurality of transistors connected in series between a first node and a second node. Each of the plurality of transistors includes a respective body diode. The apparatus further includes a second leg connected between the first node and the second node and in parallel to the series connection of the plurality of transistors of the first leg. The second leg includes a first transistor. The second leg has lower reverse recovery losses relative to the first leg.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a first switch leg connected between a first input terminal and a first output terminal, the first switch leg comprising serially connected switches. The apparatus may also include a second switch leg connected between a second input terminal and the first output terminal, the second switch leg comprising serially connected switches. The apparatus may further include a third switch leg connected between an input voltage midpoint and the first output terminal. A control circuit may control the first switch leg, the second switch leg and the third switch leg.

Abstract: A multi-level inverter topology is disclosed. A power converter circuit converts a DC source at its input to provide an alternating current (AC) at its output. The power converter circuit may have a controller operably attached to multiple series connections of switches. The controller may control one or more of the multiple series connections of switches to convert a DC input to provide multi-level AC voltages with DC offset across two terminals of the power converter circuit. The multi-level AC voltages with DC offset may then be converted by use of a plurality of series connections of switches to provide a single-phase AC voltage at a first output terminal with respect to at least one of a neutral potential, an earth potential, or a terminal of the power converter circuit.

Abstract: A switching device includes a first leg having a plurality of transistors connected in series. The switching device also includes a second leg having a transistor, where the second leg is connected in parallel to plurality of transistors of the first leg. The switching device further includes a third leg having a diode, and the third leg has lower reverse recovery losses relative to the first leg and/or the second leg.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a first switch leg connected between a first input terminal and a first output terminal, the first switch leg comprising serially connected switches. The apparatus may also include a second switch leg connected between a second input terminal and the first output terminal, the second switch leg comprising serially connected switches. The apparatus may further include a third switch leg connected between an input voltage midpoint and the first output terminal. A control circuit may control the first switch leg, the second switch leg and the third switch leg.

Abstract: A switching device includes a first leg having a plurality of transistors connected in series. The switching device also includes a second leg having a transistor, where the second leg is connected in parallel to plurality of transistors of the first leg. The switching device further includes a third leg having a diode, and the third leg has lower reverse recovery losses relative to the first leg and/or the second leg.

Abstract: A method may include: applying a first voltage on at least one first terminal of a first direct current (DC) bus electrically connected to a power source, obtaining at least one indication that discharge of a second voltage related to the first voltage should be performed, and discharging the second voltage by electrically connecting at least one second terminal of a second DC bus to a ground in response to the at least one indication. Another method may include: injecting a current at at least one terminal of a direct current (DC) bus that is electrically connected to a power source, simultaneous to injecting the current, measuring an insulation relative to ground, obtaining an electrical parameter related to the power source, and, in response to the electrical parameter, maintaining the current injected at the terminal of the DC bus without ceasing the measuring of the insulation relative to a ground.

Abstract: A method may include: applying a first voltage on at least one first terminal of a first direct current (DC) bus electrically connected to a power source, obtaining at least one indication that discharge of a second voltage related to the first voltage should be performed, and discharging the second voltage by electrically connecting at least one second terminal of a second DC bus to a ground in response to the at least one indication. Another method may include: injecting a current at at least one terminal of a direct current (DC) bus that is electrically connected to a power source, simultaneous to injecting the current, measuring an insulation relative to ground, obtaining an electrical parameter related to the power source, and, in response to the electrical parameter, maintaining the current injected at the terminal of the DC bus without ceasing the measuring of the insulation relative to a ground.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a first switch leg connected between a first input terminal and a first output terminal, the first switch leg comprising serially connected switches. The apparatus may also include a second switch leg connected between a second input terminal and the first output terminal, the second switch leg comprising serially connected switches. The apparatus may further include a third switch leg connected between an input voltage midpoint and the first output terminal. A control circuit may control the first switch leg, the second switch leg and the third switch leg.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a first switch leg and a controller. The first switch leg may include a first switch and a second switch. The second switch may be connected in series to the first switch. For a first half of a switching cycle, the controller may control the first switch and the second switch to be OFF. For a second half of the switching cycle, the controller may control the first switch to alternate between being ON and being OFF and to control the second switch to be ON.

Abstract: A multi-level inverter topology is disclosed. A power converter circuit converts a DC source at its input to provide an alternating current (AC) at its output. The power converter circuit may have a controller operably attached to multiple series connections of switches. The controller may control one or more of the multiple series connections of switches to convert a DC input to provide multi-level AC voltages with DC offset across two terminals of the power converter circuit. The multi-level AC voltages with DC offset may then be converted by use of a plurality of series connections of switches to provide a single-phase AC voltage at a first output terminal with respect to at least one of a neutral potential, an earth potential, or a terminal of the power converter circuit.

Abstract: A switching device includes a first leg having a plurality of transistors connected in series. The switching device also includes a second leg having a transistor, connected in parallel to the first leg. The switching device further includes a controller controlling the plurality of transistors and the transistor. The controller is configured to turn the switching device from a first state to a second state by first turning the transistor from the first state to the second state and then turning the plurality of transistors from the first state to the second state.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a first switch leg and a controller. The first switch leg may include a first switch and a second switch. The second switch may be connected in series to the first switch. For a first half of a switching cycle, the controller may control the first switch and the second switch to be OFF. For a second half of the switching cycle, the controller may control the first switch to alternate between being ON and being OFF and to control the second switch to be ON.