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.

Abstract: A digital-to-analog converter circuit that creates an analog waveform from an input digital waveform. Operating the circuit comprises using the input digital waveform to 1) operate a charge control switch to set a charge time period, 2) operate a discharge control switch to set a discharge time period, 3) set a charge current magnitude using a charge gain, and 4) set a discharge current magnitude using a discharge gain. A charge source electrically charges a load capacitor during the charge time period (i.e., the charge mode). A discharge source electrically discharges the load capacitor during the discharge time period (i.e., the discharge mode). A circuit output transmits the analog waveform defined by the charge mode and the discharge mode. A charge current magnitude greater than the discharge current magnitude produces an upward-sloping analog waveform. A charge current magnitude less than the discharge current magnitude produces a downward-sloping analog waveform.

Abstract: Provided are a soft-start method, a power converter system, and a household energy storage system, which are applied to the field of household energy storage technology and are used to improve the soft-start effect of a full-bridge resonant converter. The method includes the following manners: A soft-start process is configured as multiple operating periods, and a duty cycle is adjusted in periods and gradually increases; and in the soft-start process, according to the conversion of the duty cycle, a voltage is slowly output, and the value of the output voltage is gradually increased, so that the operating current in the soft-start process can be effectively controlled, thereby reducing the voltage stress of a power switch transistor when the power switch transistor is hard turned off.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a switching control method for a three-level flying-capacitor converter. An example method includes sending constant HIGH drive signals to two middle power switches when an input voltage of the converter is lower than a predetermined proportion of a maximum input voltage value. The three-level flying-capacitor converter comprises an input capacitor, a first discharge resistor, a flying capacitor, four power switches, four diodes, an output inductor, and an output capacitor. The two middle power switches consist of the second power switch and the third power switch. The flying capacitor is connected in parallel with the two middle power switches. The HIGH drive signals cause the two middle power switches to be continuously switched on and thereby cause the flying capacitor to be short-circuited.

Abstract: A multi-converter power supply system includes a plurality of cell converters, a common node to which an individual output terminal of each of the plurality of cell converters is connected, a current waveform signal generation circuit that generates a current waveform signal corresponding to a current waveform flowing through an individual inductor, and a first instrumentation amplifier that receives input of an individual output voltage signal obtained from the individual output terminal and the current waveform signal and that outputs a signal for comparison with a current common signal shared by a plurality of switching control circuits. The current waveform signal and the individual output voltage signal that are input to the first instrumentation amplifier are formed with reference to a potential of the common node.

Abstract: A method for controlling an electric energy converter, which includes, for at least one first physical quantity of the converter having a variable maximum that is a function of a plurality of possible operating points, each possible operating point being associated with a value of the variable maximum and being defined by a value of at least one operating parameter of the converter: determining a current operating point of the converter from the plurality of possible operating points; determining the value of the variable maximum associated with the current operating point, referred to as a first value; determining a current value of the at least one first physical quantity, referred to as a second value; and activating or not activating a limiter circuit, which limits the at least one first physical quantity, as a function of a result of a comparison between the first value and the second value.

Abstract: A power module has a substrate with a bottom side and a component side. Power converters of the power module are implemented using monolithic integrated circuit (IC) switch blocks that are mounted on the component side of the substrate. The power converters include output inductors that are disposed within the substrate. An end of an output inductor is connected to a switch node of a monolithic IC switch block and another end of the output inductor is connected to an output voltage node of the power module.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a T-shaped three-level overload operating system, including a three-level topology and an overload mode switching system. The topology is connected with a first device group and a second device group which form a T shape; the first device group is designed with an overload capacity, and the second device group is designed with a rated capacity; and the overload mode switching system is configured for being connected to the topology to control the first device group to perform overload two-level operation on the topology, or to control the second device group to perform normal three-level operation on the topology, so that the number of device groups of the overload design can be effectively reduced, and then the cost of the system can be reduced. A working method of the T-shaped three-level overload operating system is further disclosed. The topology can be rapidly switched among working modes according to an output current of the topology.

Abstract: An AC to DC conversion system is described. The conversion system consists of an electronic switch and control circuitry employed to provide controlled pulsed power to a storage device that provides power to a load at either a preselected or manually or automatic selectable voltages while ensuring the voltage drop across the switch is minimized to reduce power dissipated through the switch itself, thereby significantly increasing the efficiency and reducing thermal losses. The AC to DC converter in one minimal version consists of a pair of N-MOSFET transistors, a voltage divider, a storage element and a pair of diodes. The design enables high efficiency with minimal components that may be fully integrated onto silicon.

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: The present disclosure provides an electronic circuit having one reference current terminal arranged to connect to a reference current generator, an MOS current mirror stage, an MOS push-pull amplifier stage operatively coupled to the current mirror stage and the current mode amplifier stage.

Abstract: A power detect circuit is disclosed. A power detect circuit includes a voltage multiplier that receives an external supply voltage and generates a second supply voltage that is greater than the former. A voltage regulator is coupled to receive the second supply voltage and outputs a regulated supply voltage. A bandgap circuit is coupled to receive the second supply voltage when a first switch is closed, and the regulated supply voltage when a second switch is closed. The bandgap circuit generates a reference voltage for the voltage regulator, as well as one or more output voltages. A comparator circuit is coupled to receive the one or more output voltages from the bandgap circuit, and may compare these one or more output voltages to the regulated supply voltage.