Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bidirectional power converter capable of receiving and delivering AC and DC power from and to multiple ports in accordance to its different embodiments. The AC or DC input receives power and at least two power conversion circuits work with a plurality of switches for connecting provides DC or AC current at multiple ports. The power conversion circuits may be rectifier inverters and have module form that connect to the AC and DC ports via a backplane having multiple connectors. The apparatus may also provide DC to DC conversion using a buck/boost circuit.

Abstract: A battery charger capable of receiving AC power and delivering both AC and DC power to an electric power storage battery in accordance to different embodiments disclosed herein using a rectifier circuit supplying the DC load and absorbing power as a five-level active rectifier with low harmonics on the AC input. In one aspect, the battery charger may have a bidirectional rectifier/inverter converter providing power conversion between a DC source and AC enabling the user to not only charge an electrical vehicle (“EV”) but also convert the energy charged in the EV/battery or solar panel to AC for use.

Abstract: A system for optimizing dead time of switches, for example in power converters, using software. The system is first calibrated. The system determines the state that switches should be in. If the switch state needs to be changed, the system determines an optimized dead time which needs to be waited between turning one switch off and a complimentary switch on. The system controls the switches to turn on or off switches and waiting only the duration of the optimized dead time.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing power output of a converter has been provided by present disclosure having an electrical entry power sensor for measuring power drawn by an electrical entry of a household, a power drawn increase prediction module, a power budget controller managing power allocation to restrict a current level output by the power converter so as to prevent power drawn by the electrical entry from exceeding a predefined limit should the greatest probable jump in power drawn occur, a user interface allowing a user to request changes to said current level output by the power converter to charge an electric vehicle, wherein the power budget controller makes suggestions to said user to adjust said power drawn and has the user confirm said changes in order to reallocate said allocation according to said user's adjustments.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for providing electrical isolation using a converter comprising a first converter working in a rectifier mode receiving AC current and providing DC current, a second converter working in an inverter mode receiving said DC current from said first converter and providing AC current, a transformer receiving said AC current from said second converter having an input and output, said transformer providing electric isolation between said input and output, a third converter working in a rectifier mode receiving AC current from said transformer and providing DC current, wherein at least one of said first, second and third converters is a multilevel converter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing power output of a converter has been provided by present disclosure having an electrical entry power sensor for measuring power drawn by an electrical entry of a household, a power drawn increase prediction module, a power budget controller managing power allocation to restrict a current level output by the power converter so as to prevent power drawn by the electrical entry from exceeding a predefined limit should the greatest probable jump in power drawn occur, a user interface allowing a user to request changes to said current level output by the power converter to charge an electric vehicle, wherein the power budget controller makes suggestions to said user to adjust said power drawn and has the user confirm said changes in order to reallocate said allocation according to said user's adjustments.

Abstract: A power conversion apparatus with modified cooling properties has been disclosed. The apparatus comprises an AC port, at least one DC port, a chassis, at least one power conversion module mounted in said chassis connectable to off-board conductors and said AC and said at least one DC ports, a module heat sink attached to each one of said at least one power conversion module for cooling said module, wherein said off-board inductors are mounted in said chassis together and separate from modules with one or more of an inductor heat sink and cooling fluid circulator for cooling said inductors.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for providing electrical isolation using a converter comprising a first converter working in a rectifier mode receiving AC current and providing DC current, a second converter working in an inverter mode receiving said DC current from said first converter and providing AC current, a transformer receiving said AC current from said second converter having an input and output, said transformer providing electric isolation between said input and output, a third converter working in a rectifier mode receiving AC current from said transformer and providing DC current, wherein at least one of said first, second and third converters is a multilevel converter.

Abstract: A battery charger capable of receiving AC power and delivering both AC and DC power to an electric power storage battery in accordance to different embodiments disclosed herein using a rectifier circuit supplying the DC load and absorbing power as a five-level active rectifier with low harmonics on the AC input. In one aspect, the battery charger may have a bidirectional rectifier/inverter converter providing power conversion between a DC source and AC enabling the user to not only charge an electrical vehicle (“EV”) but also convert the energy charged in the EV/battery or solar panel to AC for use.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a charger comprising an AC port, a variable voltage DC power supply connected to said AC port and comprising a controller having an input to receive charging parameters, a charge cable connector connectable to a battery, an interface connectable to said connectors and to said input of said DC power supply wherein said interface performs either translating a battery management system voltage command regarding charging parameters of said battery received via said charge cable connector into said input for said variable voltage DC power supply, or generating said input for said variable voltage DC power supply defining said charging parameters for said battery from measured information about said battery.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bidirectional power converter capable of receiving and delivering AC and DC power from and to multiple ports in accordance to its different embodiments. The AC or DC input receives power and at least two power conversion circuits work with a plurality of switches for connecting provides DC or AC current at multiple ports. The power conversion circuits may be rectifier inverters and have module form that connect to the AC and DC ports via a backplane having multiple connectors. The apparatus may also provide DC to DC conversion using a buck/boost circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing power output of a converter has been provided by present disclosure having an electrical entry power sensor for measuring power drawn by an electrical entry of a household, a power drawn increase prediction module, a power budget controller managing power allocation to restrict a current level output by the power converter so as to prevent power drawn by the electrical entry from exceeding a predefined limit should the greatest probable jump in power drawn occur, a user interface allowing a user to request changes to said current level output by the power converter to charge an electric vehicle, wherein the power budget controller makes suggestions to said user to adjust said power drawn and has the user confirm said changes in order to reallocate said allocation according to said user's adjustments.

Abstract: A battery charger capable of receiving AC power and delivering both AC and DC power to an electric power storage battery in accordance to different embodiments disclosed herein using a rectifier circuit supplying the DC load and absorbing power as a five-level active rectifier with low harmonics on the AC input. In one aspect, the battery charger may have a bidirectional rectifier/inverter converter providing power conversion between a DC source and AC enabling the user to not only charge an electrical vehicle (“EV”) but also convert the energy charged in the EV/battery or solar panel to AC for use.

Abstract: In one aspect the present disclosure provides a system for charging electric vehicles both AC and DC using only two conductors comprising a cable having two ends one of which is attached to a connector and the other end to a plug and only two charging conductors that extend from one end of the cable to the other and either, one or more switches to receive the current from an AC or DC input and direct it based on a type of the current to an AC or DC output and to stop the current if the corresponding port is not available. The system also has a control mechanism for preventing the delivery of the current to the wrong port of the connector.

Abstract: A battery charger capable of receiving AC power and delivering both AC and DC power to an electric power storage battery in accordance to different embodiments disclosed herein using a rectifier circuit supplying the DC load and absorbing power as a five-level active rectifier with low harmonics on the AC input. In one aspect, the battery charger may have a bidirectional rectifier/inverter converter providing power conversion between a DC source and AC enabling the user to not only charge an electrical vehicle (“EV”) but also convert the energy charged in the EV/battery or solar panel to AC for use.

Abstract: A battery charger capable of receiving AC power and delivering both AC and DC power to an electric power storage battery in accordance to different embodiments disclosed herein using a rectifier circuit supplying the DC load and absorbing power as a five-level active rectifier with low harmonics on the AC input. In one aspect, the battery charger may have a bidirectional rectifier/inverter converter providing power conversion between a DC source and AC enabling the user to not only charge an electrical vehicle (“EV”) but also convert the energy charged in the EV/battery or solar panel to AC for use.

Abstract: A battery charger capable of receiving AC power and delivering both AC and DC power to an electric power storage battery in accordance to different embodiments disclosed herein using a rectifier circuit supplying the DC load and absorbing power as a five-level active rectifier with low harmonics on the AC input. In one aspect, the battery charger may have a bidirectional rectifier/inverter converter providing power conversion between a DC source and AC enabling the user to not only charge an electrical vehicle (“EV”) but also convert the energy charged in the EV/battery or solar panel to AC for use.

Abstract: A controller for operating a multilevel electric power inverter circuit. The controller is configured to generate and apply to the plurality of switching elements switch signal waveforms, the switch signal waveforms comprising a first control signal for causing an energy storage device to be series connected with a direct current source and a load or an alternating current source and charged to a predetermined value proportional to a voltage of the direct current source, and a second control signal for causing the energy storage device to be disconnected from the direct current source and series connected with the load or the alternating current source, thereby causing the energy storage device to be discharged.

Abstract: A controller for operating a multilevel electric power inverter circuit. The controller is configured to generate and apply to the plurality of switching elements switch signal waveforms, the switch signal waveforms comprising a first control signal for causing an energy storage device to be series connected with a direct current source and a load or an alternating current source and charged to a predetermined value proportional to a voltage of the direct current source, and a second control signal for causing the energy storage device to be disconnected from the direct current source and series connected with the load or the alternating current source, thereby causing the energy storage device to be discharged.