Abstract: A power converter circuit includes a chopper circuit configured to receive an input voltage and generate a chopper voltage with an alternating voltage level based on the input voltage, an autotransformer including at least one tap, the autotransformer being coupled to the chopper circuit and configured to generate a tap voltage at the at least one tap, and a selector circuit configured to receive a plurality of voltage levels. At least one of these the voltage levels is based on the at least one tap voltage. The selector circuit is further configured to generate a selector output voltage based on the plurality of voltage levels such that the selector circuit selects two of the plurality of voltage levels and switches at a switching frequency between the two voltage levels.

Abstract: A method includes converting power by a power converter comprising a plurality of converter cells and at least one filter cell, receiving a cell input power at a cell input and providing a cell output power at a cell output of at least one of the plurality of converter cells, and operating the filter cell in one of an input power mod, in which the filter cell receives an input power, and an output power mode, in which the filter cell provides an output power.

Abstract: A power converter circuit includes a switching circuit with at least one electronic switch, a capacitor configured to provide or receive a voltage with a predefined voltage level, at least one first inductor, and a snubber circuit. The snubber circuit includes at least one second inductor inductively coupled to the at least one first inductor and electrically coupled to the capacitor.

Abstract: A method includes converting power by a power converter comprising a plurality of converter cells, and selectively operating at least one converter cell of the plurality of converter cells in one of an active and an inactive mode based on a level of a power reference signal.

Abstract: A power converter includes a plurality of first converter cells, a plurality of second converter cells, and a plurality of DC link capacitors. Each DC link capacitor links one of the plurality of first converter cells and one of the plurality of second converter cells. A failure management unit is configured to detect a faulty converter cell, and to deactivate the faulty converter cell while maintaining a power conversion operation of the power converter.

Abstract: A power converter circuit includes a switching circuit with at least one electronic switch, a capacitor configured to provide or receive a voltage with a predefined voltage level, at least one first inductor, and a snubber circuit. The snubber circuit includes at least one second inductor inductively coupled to the at least one first inductor and electrically coupled to the capacitor.

Abstract: A method includes converting power by a power converter comprising a plurality of converter cells, and selectively operating at least one converter cell of the plurality of converter cells in one of an active and an inactive mode based on a level of a power reference signal.

Abstract: A power converter includes a plurality of first converter cells, a plurality of second converter cells, and a plurality of DC link capacitors. Each DC link capacitor links one of the plurality of first converter cells and one of the plurality of second converter cells. A failure management unit is configured to detect a faulty converter cell, and to deactivate the faulty converter cell while maintaining a power conversion operation of the power converter.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a periodic voltage by a power converter comprising a plurality of converter cells and, in a series of time frames of equal duration, alternating an average power level of power converted by at least one converter cell of the plurality of converter cells. Each of the series of time frames corresponds to a time period between sequential zero crossings of the periodic voltage.

Abstract: A method includes converting power by a power converter comprising a plurality of converter cells, and selectively operating at least one converter cell of the plurality of converter cells in one of an active and an inactive mode based on a level of a power reference signal.

Abstract: A power converter circuit includes a plurality of converter cells. At least a first converter cell of the plurality of converter cells has a first operational characteristic. At least a second converter cell of the plurality of converter cells has a second operational characteristic different than the first operational characteristic.

Abstract: A method includes converting power by a power converter comprising a plurality of converter cells and at least one filter cell, receiving a cell input power at a cell input and providing a cell output power at a cell output of at least one of the plurality of converter cells, and operating the filter cell in one of an input power mod, in which the filter cell receives an input power, and an output power mode, in which the filter cell provides an output power.

Abstract: An electric current measurement method is provided with: a first controlling process of sweeping a sensing current in a negative magnetization direction in a condition that a core is saturated magnetically in a positive magnetization direction; a second controlling process of sweeping the sensing current in the positive magnetization direction in a condition that the core is saturated magnetically in the negative magnetization direction; a first specifying process of specifying a value of the sensing current if the core is demagnetized in the first controlling process; a second specifying process of specifying a value of the sensing current if the core is demagnetized in the second controlling process; and a calculating process of calculating a value of a target electric current on the basis of the specified current values, the first and second controlling processes being performed repeatedly.

Abstract: An exemplary gate drive circuit and method are disclosed for controlling a gate-controlled component, the gate drive circuit having a PI controller adapted to receive an input reference signal and to control a gate voltage of the gate-controlled component. The gate drive circuit can include a first feedback loop for the PI controller, the first feedback loop having a first gain (kv), a second feedback loop for the PI controller, the second feedback loop having a second gain (ki), and a clipping circuit adapted to modify a feedback signal in the second feedback loop during turn-on of the gate-controlled component when the time derivative of the collector current is negative. The first feedback loop can include a first blanking circuit adapted to cut the feedback loop when the gate-controlled component is in a blocking state.

Abstract: An exemplary gate drive circuit and method are disclosed for controlling a gate-controlled component, the gate drive circuit having a PI controller adapted to receive an input reference signal and to control a gate voltage of the gate-controlled component. The gate drive circuit can include a first feedback loop for the PI controller, the first feedback loop having a first gain (kv), a second feedback loop for the PI controller, the second feedback loop having a second gain (ki), and a clipping circuit adapted to modify a feedback signal in the second feedback loop during turn-on of the gate-controlled component when the time derivative of the collector current is negative. The first feedback loop can include a first blanking circuit adapted to cut the feedback loop when the gate-controlled component is in a blocking state.

Abstract: An electric current measurement method is provided with: a first controlling process of sweeping a sensing current in a negative magnetization direction in a condition that a core is saturated magnetically in a positive magnetization direction; a second controlling process of sweeping the sensing current in the positive magnetization direction in a condition that the core is saturated magnetically in the negative magnetization direction; a first specifying process of specifying a value of the sensing current if the core is demagnetized in the first controlling process; a second specifying process of specifying a value of the sensing current if the core is demagnetized in the second controlling process; and a calculating process of calculating a value of a target electric current on the basis of the specified current values, the first and second controlling processes being performed repeatedly.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first, stationary system, in particular a stator, and a second system which is provided for moving relative to the first system, in particular an armature, a first and second electrical reference potentials which are assigned to the first system and the second system, respectively, and a coupler for potential coupling of the two reference potentials. The coupler is used for the potential coupling of a ground of the moving system to a ground of the stationary system in order to ensure a reliable data transmission between the systems. In order to achieve a coupling with a maximal service life and requires minimal maintenance, the coupler has a field coupling component for mechanically contactless potential coupling.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first, stationary system, in particular a stator, and a second system which is provided for moving relative to the first system, in particular an armature, a first and second electrical reference potentials which are assigned to the first system and the second system, respectively, and a coupler for potential coupling of the two reference potentials. The coupler is used for the potential coupling of a ground of the moving system to a ground of the stationary system in order to ensure a reliable data transmission between the systems. In order to achieve a coupling with a maximal service life and requires minimal maintenance, the coupler has a field coupling component for mechanically contactless potential coupling.