Abstract: A multi-level power converter and a method using first, second, third and fourth switching elements, an inductor, and a flying capacitor are presented. A first terminal of the inductor may be connected to a switching terminal connecting the second and third switching elements. A first terminal of the flying capacitor may be connected to a terminal connecting the first and second elements. A second terminal of the flying capacitor may be connected to a terminal connecting the third and fourth switching elements. The multi-level power converter may have a first feedback circuit to generate control signals for setting the switching elements in a plurality of switching states for regulating an output voltage or an output current. The converter may have a second feedback circuit to generate control signals to allow the flying capacitor to be charged or discharged using an inductor current flowing through the inductor.

Abstract: A STATCOM arrangement includes an MMC and a transformer arrangement arranged to be an interface between the MMC and an AC grid. The MMC is connected in a wye topology with a plurality of converter arms, one for each phase of the AC grid, each arm including a plurality of chain-linked converter cells. The transformer arrangement is arranged to interface each of the arms of the MMC with a respective phase of the grid, and arranged to for each of the converter arms produce leakage reactance resulting in reactance in series with the arm which obviates the need for a phase reactor connected in series with said arm.

Abstract: A clamp circuit including a power dissipation circuit having at least one transistor and a resistor which dissipates power from the surge across the resistor and the transistor by turning on the at least one transistor and forming a voltage divider between a source impedance and the resistor thereof disposed in series with a channel of the transistor; and the resistor holding a portion of transient pulse seen by the load to a low voltage and adding of the low voltage to a threshold voltage of the transistor; and a sub-circuit which tests a functionality of the power dissipation circuit.

Abstract: A power converter circuit includes an input configured to receive an input voltage and an output configured to provide an output voltage; a main converter coupled between a main converter input and the output and comprising a first winding and a second winding that are inductively coupled; and an auxiliary converter comprising an auxiliary converter input coupled to a third winding and an auxiliary converter output, wherein the third winding is inductively coupled with the first winding and the second winding. The auxiliary converter output is coupled between the input and the main converter input.

Abstract: A wireless initiation device comprises a power source, a processing module, a first housing and an initiation unit. The processing module processes wireless electromagnetic communications signals received by an electromagnetic receiver system associated with the processing module. The wireless electromagnetic communications signals includes a wireless electromagnetic communications signal representative of a FIRE command. The processing module is configured to generate an initiation signal upon receipt of the FIRE command. At least one of the power source and the processing module is disposed in the first housing, and the first housing has a first connector. The initiation unit has a second housing within which is disposed an initiation module that is configured to discharge initiation energy sufficient to initiate an explosive charge associated with the device.

Abstract: A power converter circuit includes an input configured to receive an input voltage and an output configured to provide an output voltage; a main converter coupled between a main converter input and the output and comprising a first winding and a second winding that are inductively coupled; and an auxiliary converter comprising an auxiliary converter input coupled to a third winding and an auxiliary converter output, wherein the third winding is inductively coupled with the first winding and the second winding. The auxiliary converter output is coupled between the input and the main converter input.

Abstract: A circuit structure includes: a network of clamps; sense elements in series with the clamps and configured to sense a turn-on of at least one clamp of the network of clamps; and feedback elements connected to the clamps to facilitate triggering of remaining clamps of the network of clamps.

Abstract: A system includes a current mirror coupled to a first transistor, the first transistor includes a first gate, a first current terminal, and a second current terminal, a controller coupled to the current mirror and a converter, the controller is to output a delayed signal for a second transistor, the second transistor being a part of the converter, and a source voltage coupled to the current mirror.

Abstract: Provided are a power conversion device and a system using the same, which can reduce loss of each semiconductor element in a power conversion circuit and enable high efficiency of a device controlled by the power conversion device. The power conversion device includes a direct current (DC) power source; and a full-bridge circuit having first upper and lower arms having an upper element and a lower element and second upper and lower arms having an upper element and a lower element, in which the first upper and lower arms and the second upper and lower arms are electrically connectable to a device, and ON resistances of the upper element of the first upper and lower arms and the lower element of the second upper and lower arms are smaller than ON resistances of the lower element of the first upper and lower arms and the upper element of the second upper and lower arms.

Abstract: A hybridization system for an electric device having two terminals and two states including a closed state allowing an electric current to circulate between the two terminals and an open state blocking the circulation of the electric current between the terminals, the device being suitable for an electric arc to be generated during the switching from the closed state to the open state. The hybridization system includes: two conductors connected to the two terminals of the electric device; a timer switch having two terminals connected to the two conductors and the timer switch being suitable for being in the open state by default and, after a first predetermined duration following the triggering of the electric arc, switching to the closed state for a second predetermined duration, and an electric power supply of the timer switch, connected to the two conductors in order to derive its power only from the electric energy provided by the electric arc.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for a circuit. In an example, the circuit includes an input circuit having a first output and a second output, a first timer having a first input coupled to the first output of the input circuit, a second timer having a first input coupled to the second output of the input circuit, a second input coupled to an output of the first timer, and an output coupled to a second input of the first timer, and an output circuit coupled to the output of the first timer and the output of the second timer.

Abstract: A DC voltage step-down converter, includes at least one first resistive element in series with a first switch between a first terminal and a second terminal of application of a first DC voltage; and a capacitive element between a third terminal and a fourth terminal for supplying a second DC voltage smaller than the first one, the node between said first resistive element and the first switch being coupled by a diode to said third terminal, said first switch being turned on when the second voltage is greater than a reference voltage of the second voltage.

Abstract: An earthing switch circuit is provided and is connected to a direct current (DC) link including a positive terminal and a negative terminal having capacitance or energy storage capability. The earthing switch circuit includes a dynamic braking circuit having a single or plurality of dynamic braking (DB) switches, and at least one dynamic braking (DB) resistor disposed between the plurality of DB switches, and an earthing switch connected between the DB circuit and ground. The at least one DB resistor dissipates energy thermally when performing a dynamic braking operation and simultaneously decreases in-rush current for the earthing switch circuit upon closure of the earthing switch.

Abstract: A protective device for protection of a semiconductor switch against overvoltages during a deactivation process. A compensation signal is provided at an input of a driver stage for a semiconductor switch to be deactivated if the voltage at the output of the semiconductor switch exceeds a specified threshold, and simultaneously a request to open the semiconductor switch is detected at an input of the driver stage for the semiconductor switch. The compensation signal is limited to a specified duration. On the basis of the compensation signal provided in the aforementioned manner, the driver stage for the semiconductor switch partly controls the semiconductor switch in order to prevent an excessively quick opening of the semiconductor switch.

Abstract: Distributions of on-chip inductors for monolithic voltage regulation are described. On-chip voltage regulation may be provided by integrated voltage regulators (IVRs), such as a buck converter with integrated inductors. On-chip inductors may be placed to ensure optimal voltage regulation for high power density applications. With this technology, integrated circuits may have many independent voltage domains for fine-grained dynamic voltage and frequency scaling that allows for higher overall power efficiency for the system.

Abstract: A voltage subtracter includes a first charge storage device and a second charge storage device. The first charge storage device receives a first voltage and a second voltage during a first time period, and storages a first difference voltage between the first voltage and the second voltage. The second charge storage device receives a reference ground voltage and the first voltage during a second time period, and storages a second difference voltage between the reference ground voltage and the first voltage. The first charge storage device and the second charge storage device are coupled to an output end during a second time period, and a charge sharing operation is operatedon the first charge storage device and the second charge storage device to generate an output voltage on the output end.

Abstract: An eMarker device is used in a cable electrically connected between a first port and a second port, wherein the cable includes a configuration channel communication wire. The eMarker device comprises: a first eMarker disposed near the first port and including a first active protection module coupled to the configuration channel communication wire, wherein the first eMarker is electrically connected to a first power pin of the first port and a second power pin of the second port; and a second eMarker disposed near the second port and including a second active protection module coupled to the configuration channel communication wire, wherein either of the first active protection module and the second active protection module changes an electric characteristic of the configuration channel communication wire to have the first port detect a disconnecting status of the second port when a specified event happens.

Abstract: A modular multilevel converter (MMC) includes multiple converter arms, each converter arm having: N submodules connected to each other in series, N being an integer equal to or greater than 2; and a circuit opening unit connected to the N submodules in series to open a circuit of the converter arm, wherein the N submodules has n submodules including full-bridge circuits and N?n submodules including half-bridge circuits, n being less than N.

Abstract: The photovoltaic installation being intended to supply an electric current (i), the method comprises the steps of measuring (e0) values representative of the electric current (i) supplied by the photovoltaic installation; adjusting (e2) a variable current jump threshold (s(ti)) according to measured values; detecting (e3) a current jump with an amplitude greater than a current jump threshold adjusted according to values measured before the jump; and detecting (e5) an electric arc based on the detection of a current jump.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the systems and methods of CCM primary-side regulation disclosed herein subtract an estimate of the secondary IR drop from each output voltage sample. This allows a fixed sample instant to be set (with regard to the beginning of the off or flyback interval), and removes the need to hunt for or adjust to an optimum sample instant, or one with minimum IR drop error. The estimate of the IR drop may be adjusted on a cycle-by-cycle basis, based on the commanded primary peak current, knowing that the peak secondary current will be directly proportional by the turns ratio of the transformer. For improved accuracy, an adjustment may be made for the decay of secondary current during the delay to the sample instant, if the inductance value is known.