Abstract: A method for controlling multiple switching devices (15a-d, 75a-b) of a multilevel converter (1, 70) includes providing a plurality of carrier signals (C1-C6) and a reference signal (34, 80), the reference signal (34, 80) having a waveform range divided in a plurality of contiguous bands (B1-B6), dynamically allocating the plurality of carrier signals (C1-C6) to the multiple switching devices (15a-d, 75a-b), and generating pulse width modulation signals (18, 77) to generate switching events of the multiple switching devices (15a-d, 75a-b) based on a comparison of dynamically allocated carrier signals (C1-C6) with the reference signal (34, 80), wherein the plurality of carrier signals (C1-C6) have a phase shift between the carrier signals (C1-C6), and wherein the plurality of carrier signals (C1-C6) are dynamically allocated to the multiple switching devices (15a-d, 75a-b) such that for each switching device (15a-d, 75a-b) the plurality of carrier signals (C1-C6) are rotated and selected based on a position of

Abstract: A power conversion circuit includes: a MOSFET having a super junction structure; an inductive load; and a freewheel diode. A switching frequency of the MOSFET is 10 kHz or more. When the MOSFET is turned off, a first period during which a drain current decreases, a second period during which the drain current increases, and a third period during which the drain current decreases again appear in this order. The freewheel diode is an Si-FRD or an SiC-SBD, and current density obtained by dividing a current value of the forward current by an area of an active region of the freewheel diode falls within a range of 200 A/cm2 to 400 A/cm2 when the freewheel diode is the Si-FRD, and the current density falls within a range of 400 A/cm2 to 1500 A/cm2 when the freewheel diode is the SiC-SBD.

Abstract: A resonant power converter and a current synthesizing method therefor are provided. The resonant power converter includes a switch circuit, a resonant tank, a transformer, a rectifier circuit, and a current synthesizing module. The switch circuit receives an input voltage from an input source, and the rectifier circuit outputs an output voltage to a load. The current synthesizing module includes a sensing circuit, a peak hold circuit, and a calculation unit. The sensing circuit is configured to sense a resonant capacitor voltage on a resonant capacitor of the resonant tank. The peak hold circuit is configured to receive the resonant capacitor voltage and acquires a peak value thereof. The calculation unit is configured to receive the peak value, a switching frequency, the input voltage, the output voltage, and a resonant capacitance of the resonant power converter and generate a synthesized output current accordingly.

Abstract: When at least one of a value a detected output current to a magnet and a magnet load defined by the following formula is equal to or larger than a threshold value predetermined for the value of the detected output current or a threshold value predetermined for the magnet load, a controller constituting a control device outputs, to a control circuit, a command to decrease voltage applied to the magnet from next attracting operation. Magnet load=excitation ratio×I×V . . . ; wherein excitation ratio: excitation time/(excitation time+non-excitation time); I: value of the output current; V: voltage applied to a lifting magnet.

Abstract: Provided is a power distribution system that includes a reconfigurable DC/DC power converter configured to be connected with an energy storage device at an input end for receiving an input voltage therefrom, and a power electronics building block having a primary bridge unit, a secondary bridge unit magnetically connected with the primary bridge unit, and an outer bridge unit at an output end and connected to an output of the secondary bridge unit, configured to output an output voltage.

Abstract: Disclosed is a primary-clocked switching power supply for converting an input voltage into an output voltage, comprising: a primary side circuit branch, where the input voltage can be applied; isolated from the primary side circuit branch, a secondary side circuit branch, where the output voltage is tappable; between the primary side and the secondary side circuit branch, a galvanic isolation; a fuse or circuit breaker arranged in the primary side circuit branch; a first switchable switch element arranged in the primary side circuit branch such that switching trips the primary side fuse or circuit breaker; and a monitoring unit connected with the first switch element and arranged in the primary side circuit branch and adapted to monitor a characteristic electrical signal determined by the second primary winding and, when the characteristic electrical signal exceeds a threshold value, to switch the first switch element.

Abstract: Power cycle life of an intelligent power module that includes an IGBT is estimated by an abnormality detection circuit(s) while a chip temperature detection circuit or a case temperature detection circuit is outputting a chip overheating warning signal or a case overheating warning signal. Once the estimated power cycle life has reached a prescribed value, the abnormality detection circuit outputs an abnormality detection signal to forcedly and permanently stop operation of a driver circuit that drives an IGBT. The abnormality detection circuit may include a prescribed period calculation circuit that calculates the duration of the warning signal, a prescribed count calculation circuit that calculates the number of times the warning signal has been generated, and/or a cumulative time calculation circuit that calculates that the cumulative duration of periods in which the warning signal has been generated so as to estimate the power cycle life of the intelligent power module.

Abstract: A multi-level switched capacitor boost inverter includes a series connection of a two-switched capacitor circuit, a source module and at least one one-switched capacitor circuit. Level-shifted pulse width modulation is used to apply gate pulses to the switches. The multi-level switched capacitor boost inverter uses only three capacitors and a single DC voltage source to generate thirteen voltage levels at load terminals with a voltage gain of three. The capacitors of the two-switched capacitor circuit are self-balancing. Additional one-switched capacitor circuits can be added in series with the inverter. Each additional one-switched capacitor circuit increases the number of levels and increases the gain by one.

Abstract: A load control device (such as, a dimmer switch) for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load (such as, a high-efficiency lighting load) includes a thyristor (such as, a triac) coupled between the source and the load, a gate coupling circuit arranged to conduct current through a gate terminal of the thyristor, and a control circuit configured to control the gate coupling circuit. The control circuit may control the gate coupling circuit to conduct a pulse of current through the gate terminal to render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a present half cycle of the AC power source, and allow the gate coupling circuit to conduct at least one other pulse of current after the firing time during the present half cycle.

Abstract: A load control device for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load includes a thyristor, a gate coupling circuit for conducting a gate current through a gate of the thyristor, and a control circuit for controlling the gate coupling circuit to conduct the gate current through a first current path to render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half cycle. The gate coupling circuit is able to conduct the gate current through the first current path again after the firing time, but the gate current is not able to be conducted through the gate from a transition time before the end of the half-cycle until approximately the end of the half-cycle. The load current is able to be conducted through a second current path to the electrical load after the transition time until approximately the end of the half-cycle.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for operating a switched-mode power supply (SMPS). One example method generally includes comparing a signal representative of an amount of current across an inductive element of the SMPS with at least three thresholds, selecting a configuration of the SMPS based on the comparison, and configuring the SMPS based on the selection.

Abstract: A current distributor for a vehicle, having an input and a plurality of load channels which connect the input to a connected load via a safety fuse and a line in each case, and to a protection system for a vehicle having such a current distributor. In this case, a standby channel connects the input to the connected loads via an electronic fuse, wherein an evaluation and control unit checks the safety fuses for functionality and switches on a semiconductor switch of the electronic fuse and forms a redundant current path between the input and the connected loads via the standby channel if at least one of the safety fuses is identified as having been tripped.

Abstract: A modular residential circuit breaker comprises an assembly including an operation module and a first application module. The operation module includes an operation mechanism, a trip system, and an arc suppression system except a specific mounting and a current application. The first application module is configured to mate with the operation module to form a complete circuit breaker and define a replacement breaker frame for having an external modularity for the modular residential circuit breaker.

Abstract: A system and method of protecting measurement circuits from a potentially energized device under test (DUT). In one embodiment, the DUT is a capacitor that has acquired a charge though some means prior to needing to test it. In this embodiment, a circuit is provided that protects the measurement circuit by both limiting the current to the measurement circuit while simultaneously dissipating the energy stored in the DUT. In a further embodiment, a detection circuit is provided to measure the voltage at the terminal of the DUT. Only when the magnitude of the voltage is lower than a specific threshold will the measurement circuit be switched to and connected with the DUT.

Abstract: System and method for regulating a power conversion system. An example system controller for regulating a power conversion system includes a first controller terminal associated with a first controller voltage and coupled to a first transistor terminal of a first transistor, the first transistor further including a second transistor terminal and a third transistor terminal, the second transistor terminal being coupled to a primary winding of a power conversion system, a second controller terminal associated with a second controller voltage and coupled to the third transistor terminal, and a third controller terminal associated with a third controller voltage. The first controller voltage is equal to a sum of the third controller voltage and a first voltage difference. The second controller voltage is equal to a sum of the third controller voltage and a second voltage difference.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, there is provided an apparatus which can hold down an energy loss and can avoid an increase in size. The apparatus includes a cell including a floating capacitor connected in parallel to an upper-side switching element and a lower-side switching element; an upper arm include including first switch circuits, each including a first switching element, a first diode and a first capacitor, are connected in series; a lower arm including second switch circuits, each including a second switching element, a second diode and a second capacitor, are connected in series; and a circuit which connects a low-side terminal of the cell and a low-side terminal of the first capacitor and connects a high-side terminal of the cell and a high-side terminal of the second capacitor.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge assembly for a vehicle includes a conductive plastic tether and a pipe connector. The conductive plastic tether has a first end and a second end. The first end is configured to be connected to a vehicle frame. The pipe connector is configured to connect the second end of the conductive plastic tether to a first fuel pipe of the vehicle.

Abstract: An internal parallelization based active neutral point clamped (IP-ANPC) converter is provided having a low switching frequency (LSF) part and a plurality of high switching frequency (HSF) modules. The HSF modules are connected in parallel and the converter is modular. The converter provides the benefits of modularity, improved reliability and efficiency, interleaving operation, and reasonable utilization of wide band gap (WBG) devices. A logic based flying capacitor voltage balancing scheme is also provided. The balancing scheme includes naturally balancing the voltage of the converter with phase shift pulse width modulation and redundantly balancing the voltage of the converter with redundant switching states.

Abstract: A system includes a low dropout regulator (LDO) circuit. The LDO circuit includes an error amplifier with an input node, a reference node, and an output node. The LDO circuit also includes a pass transistor with a control terminal, a first current terminal, and a second current terminal. The control terminal is coupled to the output node of the error amplifier, the first current terminal is coupled to a voltage source node, and the second current terminal is coupled to an LDO output node. The LDO output node is coupled to the input node of the error amplifier. The LDO circuit also includes a switched-capacitor network coupled between error amplifier and the pass transistor. The switched-capacitor network comprises a pair of switches and a current-controlled oscillator coupled to control terminals of the switches.

Abstract: In the field of electrical power systems there is provided a method of supervising the operation of a plurality of current transformers that are arranged in respective current transformer within differing protection zones of a multi-phase electrical power system. The method of supervising comprises the steps of: (a) identifying a faulty protection zone within the electrical power system; (b) identifying a faulty current transformer group within the faulty protection zone; and (c) identifying faulty phase(s) within the faulty current transformer group within the faulty protection zone.