Abstract: A method of monitoring condition of a modular multilevel converter, wherein the modular multilevel converter includes submodules having a capacitor and controllable switches. The method including selecting a submodule, controlling the controllable switches of the selected submodule to form a current path through the submodule by controlling at least one controllable switch to a conducting state and at least one controllable switch to a blocking state, disconnecting the voltage of the capacitor of the selected submodule from the submodule, performing measurements on at least one controllable switch that was controlled to a blocking state.

Abstract: A converter includes an inductor and a transistor. A sense circuit couples to the transistor. The sense circuit generates a sense signal responsive to a current through the first transistor. A comparator has first and second comparator inputs and a comparator output. The comparator output controls a signal to the transistor's control input. An error amplifier has an error amplifier input and an error amplifier output coupled to the first comparator input. A slope compensation circuit couples to at least one of the error amplifier output or the sense circuit and generates a slope signal. A peak detection sample/hold (PK-S/H) tracks the slope signal and, responsive to the transistor being turned off, samples the slope signal and provides the sampled slope signal on its output. The PK-S/H output couples to whichever of the error amplifier or sense circuit to which the slope compensation circuit is not coupled.

Abstract: A power supply includes a first (main) power converter and a second (auxiliary) power converter disposed in parallel with the first power converter to produce an output voltage to power a dynamic load. The second power converter includes a primary inductive path magnetically coupled to a secondary inductive path. A controller controls a flow of first current through the primary inductive path of the second power converter to control flow of second current supplied by the secondary inductive path to the dynamic load. During steady state conditions, the first power converter produces the output voltage while the second power converter is deactivated. During transient load conditions, the second power converter provides current boost capability to maintain a magnitude of the output voltage within a desired range.

Abstract: An electric power conversion apparatus includes: an electric power conversion circuit that allows a DC terminal to be connected to a DC power source via a DC bus line, and performs at least one of converting DC power of the DC power source into AC power to output, or converting AC power into DC power to output; a DC switch turned on when the electric power conversion circuit performs electric power conversion; an AC switch provided on a side of the AC terminal, and turned on when the electric power conversion circuit performs the electric power conversion; a DC voltmeter that measures a potential at a predetermined portion, on a side of the DC terminal; a ground connection portion that connects the DC bus line and ground potential; and a control circuit connected to the electric power conversion circuit, the DC switch, the AC switch, and the DC voltmeter.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein provides systems and techniques for the integration of TLVR technology in a vertical power VR module. A multiple-secondary TLVR topology using a controlled leakage inductance in the place of a separate compensation inductor, Lc, may be employed for the vertical power VR module. In addition, the capacitance inside the device to which the TLVR based vertical power VR module supplies power, rather than an output capacitance board, may be used in order to allow the module to be a single layer. Example structures that may include one or more primary windings and/or one or more secondary windings for each of possibly multiple linked phases of the TLVR based module are provided. The windings may be formed using traditional copper windings or printed circuit board (PCB) copper trace winding.

Abstract: An overcurrent detection device of the present disclosure has two charge storage circuits, a control module and a counter circuit. The control module controls and provides charge paths of the two charge storage circuits, so that the two charge storage circuits are charged by a reference current and a sensed current respectively, wherein the sensed current is generated by an output current of a low-dropout regulator. The counter circuit obtains a voltage of the charge storage circuit charged by the sensed current, and counts accordingly. When the counting of the counter circuit reaches a specific value, the counter circuit outputs an overcurrent detection signal. When the output current is an overcurrent, the counter circuit first counts to the specific value before the charge storage circuit which is charged by the reference current is charged to a specific voltage.

Abstract: A power system including an inverter comprising an LCL filter is disclosed. The LCL filter includes a first inductor, a capacitor, and a second inductor. The power system further includes a controller. The controller is configured to determine an electrical characteristic of an output of the inverter. It is further configured to, based at least in part on the determined characteristic of the output of the inverter, dynamically adjust damping of the LCL filter.

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 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: Techniques to limit electrical power when forming an electrical grid using an active front end unit having an inverter that is coupled to a capacitor (and inductor) that is coupled to an electrical grid. For example, to limit power, the integration of a commanded frequency of the system can be limited to be within a specified phase delta of a measured phase angle of an electrical grid voltage vector. The calculation from power limit to phase delta can be done when the phase of the electrical grid voltage vector has been determined to be accurate and is calculated based on the measured capacitor voltage, grid voltage, and the estimated voltage drop across the output components of the system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptive power factor correction are described that utilize a circuit that senses a current or frequency of a line and controls one or more switches to vary the capacitance of the circuit based on the measured current or frequency. Two or more branches can be used to allow for the capacitance of the circuit to be varied over time in response to a change in the measured current or frequency. Using such systems and methods, a high power factor can be maintained even for higher line frequencies and lighter loads.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a nitride-based bidirectional switching device with substrate potential management capability. The device has a control node, a first power/load node, a second power/load node and a main substrate, and comprises: a nitride-based bilateral transistor and a substrate potential management circuit configured for managing a potential of the main substrate. By implementing the substrate potential management circuit, the substrate potential can be stabilized to a lower one of the potentials of the first source/drain and the second source/drain of the bilateral transistor no matter in which directions the bidirectional switching device is operated. Therefore, the bilateral transistor can be operated with a stable substrate potential for conducting current in both directions.

Abstract: A method for precharging half bridge modules and full bridge modules of a modular multilevel converter includes providing the modular multilevel converter with at least one phase module branch with half bridge modules and full bridge modules connected electrically in a series circuit, and each of the half bridge modules and full bridge modules having at least first and second module connections, two electronic switching elements and an electrical energy store. In a first charging phase after connecting the multilevel converter to an energy supply network with the electronic switching elements of the half bridge modules and the full bridge modules not actuated, the energy stores of the half bridge modules and the full bridge modules are charged in an uncontrolled manner. In a second charging phase, the electronic switching elements of at least some full bridge modules are actuated such that the half bridge modules are charged further.

Abstract: A power module has a printed circuit board (PCB) having an output inductor substrate layer and an output capacitor substrate layer. Power converters of the power module are implemented using monolithic integrated circuit (IC) switch blocks that are mounted on a surface of the power module. Output voltages of the power converters are provided at output voltage nodes. The power converters include output inductors that are embedded within the output inductor substrate layer and output capacitors that are embedded within the output capacitor substrate layer. Embedded output inductors and capacitors are connected to corresponding output voltage nodes.

Abstract: Isolated direct DC/DC converter topology structure for fuel cell system includes: Boost converter topology structure and bidirectional full-bridge converter topology structure connected in sequence. Input of the Boost converter topology structure is connected to fuel cell, and output of the Boost converter topology structure is connected to other key components of the fuel cell system and input of the bidirectional full-bridge converter topology structure. Output of the bidirectional full-bridge converter topology structure is connected to power cell. Usage of the Boost converter topology structure and usage of the bidirectional full-bridge converter topology structure change under different operating states of the fuel cell system. Based on insulation performance and high efficiency of the fuel cell system, the usage of the Boost converter topology structure and the usage of the bidirectional full-bridge converter topology structure change.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controllable networks to vary inter-stage power transfer in a multi-stage power conversion system are disclosed herein. By using controllable networks (111-113) within the first power converter stage (102), intermediate power delivered to a subsequent or second power converter stage (104) can be varied so that the multi-stage power conversion system (100) may respond to a full load step while offering improved light load power conversion efficiency. A power estimation circuit (122) within the second power converter stage (104) can provide a control signal (C1-CN) to each of the controllable networks (111-113); the controllable networks (111-113), in turn, can provide network signals (SI, S2) to control the intermediate power delivered to the second power converter stage (104).

Abstract: A flyback converter, a constant-current control method, and a lighting system are provided. The constant-current control method includes: sampling a loop current in a resonant loop to obtain a first sampling signal; obtaining zero crossing time of an excitation current in the resonant loop; and turning off a first switch tube when the first sampling signal reaches a reference value, and turning off a second switch tube after the zero crossing time of the excitation current in the resonant loop to control an average value of the excitation current to keep constant. The present disclosure can achieve a constant average value of an excitation current in each switching cycle based on a loop current in a resonant loop on the primary side of the converter, thereby realizing constant-current control of an output current of the converter.

Abstract: The controller for a system including a power converter may be configured to cause the system to operate in one of a low-power mode and the high-power mode based on power demand from a load at the output of the power converter and when in the low-power mode, monitor the output of the power converter to detect an occurrence of a load transient from the load and in response to detecting the occurrence of the load transient, transition from the low-power mode to the high-power mode via a transition mode to minimize undershoot and overshoot of the output voltage.

Abstract: A regulator circuit is presented. The regulation circuit (530) has a regulation switch (131), a voltage comparator (537) with predetermined offset voltage and an adjuster. The regulation switch (131) has a first terminal coupled to a current source (132), a second terminal connectable to a load (110), and a control terminal. The voltage comparator (537) compares a sum voltage of the offset voltage added to a voltage at the second terminal with a control voltage at the control terminal, and generates a comparison signal. The adjuster adjusts the voltage at the second terminal based on the comparison signal to control a difference voltage between the control terminal and the second terminal of the regulation switch and to maintain the regulation switch operating in a desired region of operation.

Abstract: A method for operating a multi-level bridge power converter of an electrical power system connected to a power grid includes receiving a commanded state for one or more switching devices thereof. The method also includes receiving a gate-emitter voltage of one or more of the switching devices. Further, the method includes comparing, via at least one comparator, the gate-emitter voltage of the one or more switching devices to a reference voltage range corresponding to the commanded state of the one or more switching devices. In addition, the method includes determining an actual state of the one or more switching devices based on the comparison. Thus, the method also includes implementing a control action based on the actual state of the one or more switching devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing electric power to a load includes a power converter that accepts electric power in a first form and provides electric power in a second form. The power converter comprises a control system, a first stage, and a second stage in series. The first stage accepts electric power in the first form. The control system controls operation of the first and second stage. The first stage is either a switching network or a regulating network. The second stage is a regulating circuit when the first stage is a switching network, and a switching network otherwise.