Abstract: A power system includes a DC power source having a maximum output voltage, a DC/AC inverter having an input coupled via a connection to the DC power source and an output for supplying AC power to a load, and a control circuit for controlling the DC/AC inverter. The control circuit is configured to maintain a DC voltage at the input of the DC/AC inverter above a threshold voltage to inhibit arcing as a result of a break in the connection between the DC power source and the DC/AC inverter. The threshold voltage is substantially equal to the maximum output voltage of the DC power source less a minimum arcing voltage for the connection between the DC power source and the DC/AC inverter.

Abstract: The invention is a multilevel electronic DC/AC or AC/DC power converter for n output voltage levels with a positive branch (POS) with a positive DC voltage terminal (2), a negative branch (NEG) with a negative DC voltage terminal (1), and an AC voltage terminal (3) connected to the positive branch (POS) and to the negative branch (NEG), DC bus capacitors (4) interconnected between positive (2) and negative (1) DC voltage terminals and an intermediate DC voltage terminal (5) connected between the two DC bus capacitors (4); a plurality of first external controlled semiconductors (6) and second external controlled semiconductors (7) and, at least, one high-current DC capacitor (11), at least two high-frequency and low-current capacitors (12) and one intermediate controlled semiconductor (8) connected between the intermediate DC voltage terminal (5) and an intermediate terminal (10) of an internal branch (INT) connected in parallel with each high-current DC capacitor (11).

Abstract: A Voltage Source Converter (VSC) (10) with Neutral-Point-Clamped (NPC) topology with one or more phases, comprises an intermediate DC circuit having at least a first and a second capacitance connected in series between a positive terminal and a negative terminal, providing a central tap terminal between both capacitances, and at least one sub-circuit for generating one phase of an alternating voltage, each sub-circuit comprising an AC terminal for supplying a pulsed voltage; a circuit arrangement of the form of a conventional NPC converter, with a first series connection of at least two switches between said AC terminal and said positive terminal, a second series connection of at least two switches between said AC terminal said negative terminal, and switchable connections from said central tap terminal to the centers of both two-switch series connections; and additional first and second auxiliary switches assigned to said two-switch series connections.

Abstract: To provide a power supply noise reduction circuit and a power supply noise reduction method that do not require circuit elements to be increased in size and do not cause voltage drop in a power supply voltage. A power supply noise reduction circuit 10 that reduces noise included in a constant voltage output that is output from a power supply 2 to a load includes a first resistor 20 that is inserted into a power supply line L1 extending from the power supply 2 to the load, a filter 31 that is coupled to a load terminal of the first resistor 20 and outputs a first voltage that is obtained by reducing the noise from the constant voltage output, and a unity gain amplifier 32 that drives the first voltage output from the filter 31 and outputs the driven first voltage to the load terminal of the first resistor 20.

Abstract: A switching power supply apparatus includes a voltage holding unit which holds voltage generated in an auxiliary winding of a transformer, and a voltage detecting unit which detects voltage applied to the first switching unit. When the first switching unit operates such that voltage generated in a secondary winding of the transformer may be low, voltage is supplied from the voltage holding unit to the first switching unit in accordance with the voltage detected by the voltage detecting unit to thus turn on the first switching unit.

Abstract: Power supplies and power controllers are disclosed. A disclosed power supply has a power controller, a power switch, an auxiliary winding, a first circuit and a second circuit. The power controller is a monolithic integrated circuit with a multi-function pin and a gate pin. A control node of the power switch is coupled to the gate pin. The first circuit is coupled between the multi-function pin and the auxiliary winding and has a diode. The second circuit is coupled between the multi-function pin and a ground line, and has a thermistor.

Abstract: A control method to be implemented in a power converter, the power converter including an inverter module controlled by a control rule that makes it possible to determine a control voltage to be applied to an electrical load on the basis of a reference control voltage. The control method includes determining a correction value to be applied to the reference control voltage, the correction value being determined from a first filtered voltage obtained by filtering a voltage that is representative of the real measured voltage, and a second filtered voltage obtained by filtering a voltage that is representative of the reference control voltage.

Abstract: A DC to DC converter assembly, for connecting first and second high voltage DC power transmission networks, comprising first and second modular multilevel converters, each converter including a first converter limb having first and second limb portions, each limb portion including a least one module switchable to selectively provide a voltage source and thereby vary the magnitude ratio of a DC voltage (V1, V2) across the first and second terminals of a respective converter and an AC voltage (VAC) at the third terminal of the corresponding converter, the DC to DC converter assembly further including a first link electrically connecting the third terminal of one converter, with the third terminal of the other converter, and at least one converter further including a controller configured to switch the first and second limb portions in the first converter limb of the said converter into simultaneous conduction to divert a portion (IDiV1) of current flowing within the said converter away from the first link.

Abstract: An envelope tracking power supply has a multiple-output DC/DC converter, having an alternating current generating portion and a full rectifying portion. The alternating current generating portion to receive an input voltage and operate at zero voltage switching. A full rectifying portion includes at least one secondary winding and one voltage doubler output. each having a first transistor, and a second transistor, used as rectifier devices to allow currents to flow bi-directionally and sink and source the currents from and to output capacitors to keep their voltage balance. A switch bank selects a desired voltage from series connected capacitors and connects it to an output filter. The switch bank receives an envelope tracking command from the voltage selector and provides a step voltage to the output. The output voltage is changed at switching speed to track a high bandwidth envelope signal.

Abstract: The invention concerns a voltage source converter (26) comprising a group of phase legs, at least three connection terminals (AC1, AC2, AC3, DC+, DC?) for connecting the phase legs to power transmission elements, a first group of cells (C1p1, C2p1, C1n1, C2n1, C1p2, C2p2, C1n2, C2n2, C1p3, C2p3, C1n3, C2n3) in each phase leg and a second group of cells (C3p1, C3n1, C3p2, C3n2 C3p3, C3n3). The cells (C1p1, C2p1, C1n1, C2n1, C1p2, C2p2, C1n2, C2n2, C1p3, C2p3, C1n3, C2n3) in the first group are only capable of providing unipolar voltage contributions to the converter and connected for only being capable of such unipolar voltage contributions, while the cells (C3p1, C3n1, C3p2, C3n2 C3p3, C3n3) in the second group are connected to the corresponding cells of the first group and arranged to have bipolar voltage contribution capability.

Abstract: A five-level rectifier includes at least one phase bridge arm that includes an upper-half and a lower-half bridge arm circuit modules. The upper-half bridge arm circuit module includes a first power semiconductor switch unit, a second power semiconductor switch unit, a first diode unit, a second diode unit, a first connecting busbar, a first insulated wire and a first transfer busbar; the lower-half bridge arm circuit module includes a third power semiconductor switch unit, a fourth power semiconductor switch unit, a third diode unit, a fourth diode unit, a second connecting busbar, a second insulated wire and a second transfer busbar. The two modules are disposed side by side and facing each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing multi-phase power. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a cycloconverter controller for determining a charge ratio based on a reference waveform; and a cycloconverter, coupled to the cycloconverter controller and to a multi-phase AC line, for selectively coupling an alternating current to each line of the multi-phase AC line based on the charge ratio.

Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter assembly includes an inverter having first and second terminals connectable to a power transmission network. The inverter has a modular multilevel converter including a first inverter limb extending between the first and second terminals with first and second inverter limb portions separated by a third terminal. Each inverter limb portion includes at least one rationalized module having first and second sets of series-connected current flow control elements connected in parallel with an energy storage device. The current flow control elements include an active switching element directing current through the energy storage device and a passive current check element limiting current flow to one direction. The current flow control elements and energy storage device provide a voltage source to synthesize an AC voltage at the third terminal. A rectifier is electrically connected to the third terminal and connectable to a second power transmission network.

Abstract: It is presented a converter cell (10a; 10b) arranged to be used in a high voltage multilevel converter. The converter cell comprises: an energy storage element (16a; 16b) and a plurality of switching elements (S1, . . . , S8). The plurality of switching elements comprises at least one thyristor (S3; S8) and a plurality of transistors (S1, S2, S4; S5, S6, S7). Each one of the at least one thyristor (S3; S8) is provided in a position for a switching element in the converter cell where, during normal operation of the converter cell, the at least one thyristor is in a continuous conducting state. This reduces the power losses of the converter cell. A corresponding multilevel converter and a method are also presented.

Abstract: An offline power converter provides low EMI and quick reaction by slowly turning off a power switch at normal operation, and fast turning off the power switch when surge event happens.

Abstract: A multilevel converter cell includes a first section with a first group of series connected switching units in parallel with a first energy storage element, where a junction between a first and second switching units of the first group of series connected switching units forms one cell connection terminal, a second section with a second group of series connected switching units in parallel with a second energy storage element, where a junction between a third and fourth switching units of the second group of series connected switching units forms another cell connection terminal, and an interconnecting section with a third group of series-connected switching units comprising a fifth, sixth and seventh switching unit, with the fifth and sixth switching units connected in parallel with the first energy storage element and the sixth and seventh switching units connected in parallel with the second energy storage element.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transition control in a hybrid Switched-Mode Power Supply (SMPS). In some embodiments, a hybrid SMPS may include linear circuitry configured to produce an output voltage proportional to a variable duty cycle when the SMPS operates in linear mode and hysteretic circuitry coupled to the linear circuitry, the hysteretic circuitry configured to cause the duty cycle to assume one of two predetermined values when the SMPS operates in hysteretic mode. The hybrid SMPS may also include transition circuitry coupled to the linear circuitry and to the hysteretic circuitry, the transition circuitry configured to bypass at least a portion of the linear circuitry in response to the hybrid SMPS transitioning from the hysteretic mode to the linear mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing AC power. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a cycloconverter controller for determining a DC value based on a reference waveform and a three-phase cycloconverter, coupled to the cycloconverter controller, for selectively coupling, based on the DC value, an alternating current to an AC line to generate a single-phase AC output.

Abstract: A converter control circuit for converting an input voltage to an output voltage comprises: an error amplifier, coupled to an output voltage or a feedback output signal from the output voltage, and a reference signal, operable to generate an error signal accordingly; a ramp signal generator, generating a first ramp signal and a second ramp signal; a first comparator, coupled to the error signal and the first ramp signal, operable to generate a first comparing signal accordingly; a second comparator, coupled to the error signal and the second ramp signal, operable to generate a second comparing signal accordingly; and a control signal generator, coupled to the first comparing signal and the second comparing signal, operable to generate a control signal to turn switches in the converter circuit ON and OFF accordingly.

Abstract: An embodiment multilevel inverter comprises a first boost apparatus having an input coupled to a positive dc bus and a second boost apparatus having an input coupled to a negative dc bus. The multilevel inverter further comprise a first switch coupled to an input of an L-C filter and the first boost apparatus, a second switch coupled to the input of the L-C filter and the second boost apparatus, a third switch coupled between the positive dc bus and the first switch and a fourth switch coupled between the negative dc bus and the second switch.