Abstract: Embodiments include a power conversion circuit comprising first and second semiconductor switches, and a drive circuit configured to create a period of operational overlap for the first and second switches by setting a gate voltage of the first switch to an intermediate value above a threshold voltage of the first switch, during turn-on and turn-off operations of the second switch. Embodiments also include a method of operating first and second semiconductor devices, comprising: reducing a gate voltage of the first device to an intermediate value above a threshold voltage while the second device is off; turning off the first device after the second device is on; increasing the gate voltage of the first device to the intermediate value while the second device is on; and fully turning on the first device after the second device is off.

Abstract: Current imbalances between parallel switching devices in a power converter half leg are reduced. A gate driver generates a nominal PWM gate drive signal for a respective half leg. A first feedback loop couples the nominal PWM gate drive signal to a gate terminal of a respective first switching device. The first feedback loop has a first mutual inductance with a current path of a first parallel switching device and has a second mutual inductance with a current path of a second parallel switching device. The first and second mutual inductances are arranged to generate opposing voltages in the first feedback loop, so that when all the parallel switching devices carry equal current then the voltages cancel.

Abstract: A battery system includes a cell, and an integrated circuit and flexible circuitry on and electrically isolated from a container of the cell. The flexible circuitry is arranged with the cell and integrated circuit to form a dipole antenna that wirelessly transmits signals from the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A power system for an automotive vehicle includes a matrix transformer having two separate cores, a primary winding wound around each of the cores, a first secondary winding wound around one of the cores, and a second secondary winding galvanically isolated from the first secondary winding and wound around the other of the cores. The power system also includes circuitry that transfers power from an AC source to the primary winding, transfers power from the first secondary winding to a traction battery, and transfers power from the second secondary winding to an auxiliary battery.

Abstract: A power system includes a traction battery, and a rectifier including a pair of diodes, a pair of switches, and a pair of capacitors each in parallel with a different one of the switches such that alternating current input to the rectifier results in alternating voltage having parabolic approaches to maximum magnitude values being input to the rectifier. The maximum magnitude values correspond to a magnitude of voltage output to the traction battery.

Abstract: A battery system has a cell, a substrate mounted on the cell, and monitoring circuitry on the substrate and exclusively powered by the cell. The battery system also has a switch on the substrate electrically between the cell and monitoring circuit, and control circuitry on the substrate. The control circuitry, responsive to a value of a parameter of the cell measured by the monitoring circuitry falling outside a predefined range, opens the switch to electrically disconnect the monitoring circuit from the cell.

Abstract: A charger system and method is disclosed for providing wireless and wired charging. The charger may include a wire-charging circuit operable to receive and process a first electrical energy from a wired power source directly connected to the vehicle. The charger may also include a receiving coil operable to receive a second electrical energy received from a wireless power source external that is not directly connected to the vehicle. The charger may include a resonant circuit having a receiving coil and a DC-DC converter. The receiving coil may provide impedance matching when the charger is receiving the first electrical energy from the wired power source. The receiving coil may also be energized by a wireless power source to receive a second electrical energy. The charger may further include a rectifier circuit operable to charge the battery using the first electrical energy or the second electrical energy.

Abstract: A system and method for powering an electrical load. The system and method including a first inverter for converting a first DC power provided from a battery within a vehicle to a first AC power. The system and method also including a rectifier that includes an input connected to a secondary winding of a transformer. The rectifier also having an output connected to at least two capacitors. The rectifier and capacitors converting the first AC power to a second DC power. The system and method also including an inverter for converting the second DC power to an output AC power that is supplied to a split-phase output. The system and method also connecting one leg of the split-phase output between the at least two capacitors and to a center tap of the transformer to modify a voltage amplitude of the second DC power.

Abstract: A system for monitoring battery cells of a battery includes a capacitor, a processor, and a controller. The controller is configured to connect the capacitor with a first battery cell to charge the capacitor to a voltage of the first battery cell and then (i) connect the capacitor with a second battery cell to form a circuit having an output that is a voltage difference of the capacitor and the second battery cell and (ii) connect the output to the processor for the processor to measure the voltage difference. The voltage difference is the voltage difference between the first battery cell and the second battery cell.

Abstract: A charging system includes an inverter configured to receive rectified mains line voltage and current to power a primary coil to induce charge current in a secondary coil of a vehicle. The charging system also includes a controller configured to alter a switching frequency of the inverter based on charge voltage data from the vehicle to cause the inverter to operate to drive a voltage of an energy storage capacitor of a battery charger of the vehicle toward a constant value.

Abstract: Current imbalances between parallel switching devices in a power converter half leg are reduced. A gate driver generates a nominal PWM gate drive signal for a respective half leg. A first feedback loop couples the nominal PWM gate drive signal to a gate terminal of a respective first switching device. The first feedback loop has a first mutual inductance with a current path of a first parallel switching device and has a second mutual inductance with a current path of a second parallel switching device. The first and second mutual inductances are arranged to generate opposing voltages in the first feedback loop, so that when all the parallel switching devices carry equal current then the voltages cancel.

Abstract: A vehicle power system includes a traction battery, a non-isolated power converter, a current sensor that measures phase current input to the non-isolated power converter during charging of the traction battery with grid power, and a controller. The controller interrupts an electrical connection between the traction battery and a source of the grid power responsive to a magnitude of a 3rd harmonic component of the phase current exceeding a threshold value to prevent further charging of the traction battery.

Abstract: Embodiments include a power conversion circuit comprising first and second semiconductor switches, and a drive circuit configured to create a period of operational overlap for the first and second switches by setting a gate voltage of the first switch to an intermediate value above a threshold voltage of the first switch, during turn-on and turn-off operations of the second switch. Embodiments also include a method of operating first and second semiconductor devices, comprising: reducing a gate voltage of the first device to an intermediate value above a threshold voltage while the second device is off; turning off the first device after the second device is on; increasing the gate voltage of the first device to the intermediate value while the second device is on; and fully turning on the first device after the second device is off.

Abstract: A system for monitoring battery cells of a battery includes a capacitor, a processor, and a controller. The controller is configured to connect the capacitor with a first battery cell to charge the capacitor to a voltage of the first battery cell and then (i) connect the capacitor with a second battery cell to form a circuit having an output that is a voltage difference of the capacitor and the second battery cell and (ii) connect the output to the processor for the processor to measure the voltage difference. The voltage difference is the voltage difference between the first battery cell and the second battery cell.

Abstract: A multiphase inverter for an electric vehicle drive has a plurality of drivers to provide drive signals to respective gate loops of upper and lower transistors in the phase legs. A transformer has a secondary winding in a first gate loop of a first transistor in one phase leg and a primary winding connecting a Kelvin-emitter of the first transistor to a Kelvin-emitter of a second transistor in the other phase leg. Switching transients of transistors are shortened because when gate signal is toggled to change a conduction state of a transistor in a first phase leg, a rate of current change in the first leg is sensed in a transformer primary winding connected across a stray inductance of the first leg. A voltage proportional to the sensed rate is added to the gate signal via a transformer secondary winding, thereby increasing a common source inductance of the transistor.

Abstract: A system for testing a phase leg of an inverter includes a load coupled to an output terminal of the phase leg. A test circuit includes a capacitor coupled between an inverter power input and a switch module operative to couple the capacitor to the load. The circuit further includes a switch operative to select a polarity of a voltage across the capacitor. The circuit also includes a pair of switching elements operative to selectively couple the first terminal to the inverter power input and the inverter power return. The components can be operated by a controller configured to selectively couple the load to the inverter power and return terminals, selectively charge and couple the capacitor to the load, and interface with the inverter to control a path of current flow through active and passive elements of the phase leg.

Abstract: A battery system has a battery cell including a can and tabs, flexible circuits on and electrically isolated from the can, and electrically connected with the tabs, and a monolithic integrated circuit. The monolithic integrated circuit is mounted to the can via thermally conductive adhesive such that the can and monolithic integrated circuit are electrically isolated from one another. The monolithic integrated circuit is also wire bonded to the flexible circuits, and configured to measure and transmit data about the battery cell.

Abstract: A system includes a surge protection circuit electrically connected via a signal transmission line between a source and an oscilloscope, and including a diode configured to be reverse biased, responsive to a voltage of the source being less than a threshold, to decouple an impedance of the circuit from the transmission line and forward biased, responsive to the voltage being greater than the threshold, to couple the impedance to absorb excess energy of the voltage.

Abstract: A testing apparatus includes a holster including a jack defining a conductive periphery configured to connect with a reference lead of the voltage probe to form a common ground. The apparatus includes a shunt defining first and second regions of different potential having predetermined difference. The second region is configured to connect with a reference lead of the shunt probe. The apparatus includes a bridge configured to connect the shunt probe lead with the common ground.

Abstract: A multiphase inverter for an electric vehicle drive has a plurality of drivers to provide drive signals to respective gate loops of upper and lower transistors in the phase legs. A transformer has a secondary winding in a first gate loop of a first transistor in one phase leg and a primary winding connecting a Kelvin-emitter of the first transistor to a Kelvin-emitter of a second transistor in the other phase leg. Switching transients of transistors are shortened because when gate signal is toggled to change a conduction state of a transistor in a first phase leg, a rate of current change in the first leg is sensed in a transformer primary winding connected across a stray inductance of the first leg. A voltage proportional to the sensed rate is added to the gate signal via a transformer secondary winding, thereby increasing a common source inductance of the transistor.