Abstract: Electrical converters of the present disclosure feature a boost circuit that is fully integrated with a three phase bridge rectifier to allow for obtaining a pulsed voltage at the rectifier output. Actively switchable semiconductor switches of the boost circuit are controlled by pulse width modulation (PWM) control signals to obtain the pulsed voltage. PWM of this pulsed voltage allows control of two out of three currents at the three input terminals of the rectifier, i.e., the currents at the phase inputs having the highest and the lowest voltage levels of the three phase input voltage.

Abstract: An electrical converter for conversion between a three-phase AC signal and a DC signal may include a phase selector for connecting the three phase terminals to a first, a second, and a third intermediate node, a first buck circuit having a first switch-node terminal connected to the first DC terminal, and a second buck circuit having a second switch-node terminal connected to the second DC terminal. The first and second buck circuits convert a voltage at the first, second, and third intermediate node to a voltage between the first and second DC terminal. The first and second buck circuits are connected in series between the first and second intermediate node, and include at least one actively switchable device connected between the common node and the third intermediate node.

Abstract: An electrical converter may include AC terminals, a first and second DC terminal, and converter modules. Each of the converter modules has an AC node. The second DC terminal forms a common node of the converter modules. A connection between the AC nodes of the converter modules and the AC terminals is reconfigurable allowing the electrical converter to operate according to a first mode of operation converting between a first AC signal having a first plurality of phase voltages and the DC signal, in which the converter modules are grouped in first groups, and according to a second mode of operation converting between a second AC signal having a single-phase voltage and the DC signal, in which the converter modules are rearranged in second groups. The electrical converter is configured to operate multiple converter modules assigned to a same group of the first groups and the second groups in parallel.

Abstract: A voltage waveform generator includes a common node, a voltage waveform generation circuit and a current source. The voltage waveform generation circuit is operably connected to the common node and is configured to apply a voltage signal at the common node. The current source is operably connected to the common node and configured to apply a DC current at the common node. The current source has a first switch node connected to the common node through a first inductor, and a first power supply connected to the first switch node. The power supply includes at least two first voltage nodes, and the current source is operable to switch between the at least two first voltage nodes at the first switch node.

Abstract: A voltage waveform generator for a plasma assisted processing apparatus includes a common node, a voltage supply circuit operable to switch between at least two voltage levels at a first switch node, a first inductor connected between the first switch node and the common node, and a control unit configured to operate the voltage supply circuit.

Abstract: An AC-DC converter may include three phase terminals, two DC terminals, a first converter stage to convert between an AC current at the phase terminals and a first DC current at the first and second intermediate nodes, a second converter stage operable to convert between a first DC signal at third and fourth intermediate nodes and a second DC signal at the DC terminals, a first filter stage comprising a capacitor network having a star-point, a DC link connecting the first intermediate node to the third intermediate node and the second intermediate node to the fourth intermediate node. The second converter stage includes a middle voltage node between the DC terminals and a boost circuit having a midpoint node at the same electrical potential as the middle voltage node. The DC link includes a common mode filter having a common mode capacitor connecting the middle voltage node to the star-point.

Abstract: An AC-DC converter includes three phase terminals, first and second DC terminals, a first converter stage for converting between the AC signal and a first signal at first and second intermediate nodes, a second converter stage to convert between a second signal at third and fourth intermediate nodes and the DC signal at the first and second DC terminals. The second converter stage has a first active switch. A link connects the first and third intermediate nodes and the second and fourth intermediate nodes. A current injection circuit has second active switches. In a first mode, the first active switch and the second active switches are operated through PWM. In a second mode, the third and fourth intermediate nodes are continuously connected to the first and second DC terminals such that the second converter stage is inoperative and the second active switches are operated through PWM.

Abstract: An electrical three-phase AC-DC converter includes first and second converter stages and a controller. The first converter stage converts between three phase AC terminals and first and second intermediate nodes. The second converter stage has a boost circuit to convert between fourth and fifth intermediate nodes and first and second DC terminals. A link connects the first and second intermediate nodes to the fourth and fifth intermediate nodes. A phase selector selectively connects the three phase terminals to a third intermediate node and a current injection circuit connects the third intermediate node to the first and second DC terminals. In a mode, a current path through the third intermediate node is obtained acting parallel to a current path through the first intermediate node, through the second intermediate node, or through the first and the second intermediate nodes in alternation.

Abstract: A three-phase AC to DC converter includes a first converter stage for converting between three phase voltages at three phase terminals and a first signal at a first intermediate node and a second intermediate node. A phase selector is configured to selectively connect the three phase terminals to a third intermediate node. The converter includes a second converter stage, a DC link connecting the first and second converter stages, and a galvanically isolated DC/DC converter stage having a first side connected to output nodes of the second converter stage and a first common node. A second side of the DC/DC converter stage is galvanically isolated from the first side. The first common node is connected to the third intermediate node. The difference of a first current applied to the DC/DC converter at output nodes of the second converter stage is provided at the third intermediate node.

Abstract: An electrical converter includes first and second converter stages, an output filter, and a controller having a first mode for converting a three-phase AC signal into a DC signal. The first converter stage has a three-phase bridge rectifier connecting three phase terminals to an upper intermediate node and a lower intermediate node, and a phase selector having first switches connecting the terminals to a middle intermediate node. The second converter stage includes a switch node connected to the middle intermediate node and a pair of second switches connecting the switch node to one of the DC terminals. In a second mode, the first switches are operated while keeping the upper or lower intermediate node disconnected from all the phase terminals to allow a current to flow between the middle intermediate node and the output filter, allowing for stepwise increasing a voltage across the DC terminals during start-up.

Abstract: An electrical converter may include (i) m=3 phase input terminals, a neutral terminal and two output terminals, (ii) a first power stage comprising a bridge rectifier connected to each of the m phase input terminals and an output connected to an upper intermediate node and a lower intermediate node, (iii) a second power stage comprising an upper boost stage connected between the upper intermediate node and a common node, and a lower boost stage connected between the common node and the lower intermediate node, and (iv) a controller configured to operate according to a first mode of operation for converting the multi-phase AC input to the DC output or vice versa and according to a second mode of operation for converting a single phase AC input applied to at least one of the m phase input terminals and the neutral terminal to the DC output.

Abstract: A converter for conversion between three-phase AC and a DC signal may include three phase terminals, a first and second DC terminal, conversion circuitry for conversion between three phase voltages of the three-phase AC signal and a first and second intermediate voltage at first and second intermediate nodes, and first and second buck circuits. The buck circuits each have three devices that are actively switchable for connecting switch-node terminals to any one of the three phase terminals. The first buck circuit includes a second switching device connected between the first intermediate node and the first switch-node terminal, and a first filter inductor connected between the first switch-node terminal and the first DC terminal. The second buck circuit has another second switching device connected between the second intermediate node and the second switch-node terminal, and a second filter inductor connected between the second switch-node terminal and the second DC terminal.

Abstract: A converter for converting a three-phase AC input into a DC output may include three phase input terminals and two output terminals, a phase selector for connecting the three-phase AC input to an upper intermediate node, a lower intermediate node, and a middle intermediate node. The phase selector includes semiconductor switches for selectively connecting the middle intermediate node to the three phase input terminals, and a controller. The electrical converter includes a boost circuit and a buck-boost circuit. The boost circuit includes an upper boost circuit, a lower boost circuit, and a common node. The buck-boost circuit has an output connected to the two output terminals in parallel with an output of the boost circuit, and includes at least two semiconductor switches that are actively switchable and connected in series across the output terminals. The middle intermediate node is connected to a common node of the two second semiconductor switches.

Abstract: An electrical converter for conversion between a three-phase AC signal and a DC signal may include a phase selector for connecting the three phase terminals to a first, a second, and a third intermediate node, a first buck circuit having a first switch-node terminal connected to the first DC terminal, and a second buck circuit having a second switch-node terminal connected to the second DC terminal. The first and second buck circuits convert a voltage at the first, second, and third intermediate node to a voltage between the first and second DC terminal. The first and second buck circuits are connected in series between the first and second intermediate node, and include at least one actively switchable device connected between the common node and the third intermediate node.

Abstract: A converter for converting a three-phase AC input into a DC output may include three phase input terminals and two output terminals, a phase selector for connecting the three-phase AC input to an upper intermediate node, a lower intermediate node, and a middle intermediate node. The phase selector includes semiconductor switches for selectively connecting the middle intermediate node to the three phase input terminals, and a controller. The electrical converter includes a boost circuit and a buck-boost circuit. The boost circuit includes an upper boost circuit, a lower boost circuit, and a common node. The buck-boost circuit has an output connected to the two output terminals in parallel with an output of the boost circuit, and includes at least two semiconductor switches that are actively switchable and connected in series across the output terminals. The middle intermediate node is connected to a common node of the two second semiconductor switches.

Abstract: Electrical converters of the present disclosure feature a boost circuit that is fully integrated with a three phase bridge rectifier to allow for obtaining a pulsed voltage at the rectifier output. Actively switchable semiconductor switches of the boost circuit are controlled by pulse width modulation (PWM) control signals to obtain the pulsed voltage. PWM of this pulsed voltage allows control of two out of three currents at the three input terminals of the rectifier, i.e., the currents at the phase inputs having the highest and the lowest voltage levels of the three phase input voltage.

Abstract: A voltage clamp circuit for reflecting a voltage at an input node includes a circuit for providing at least two currents at its output terminal, and at least two diodes each being connected to an output terminal of the circuit for providing at least two currents. The diodes also are connected to a line of a ground voltage and to the input node respectively. The circuit includes an alternative current path connected to an output terminal of the circuit for providing at least two currents and to a current sinking node. The voltage at the input node thus is reflected as the voltage between two output nodes when the voltage at the input node is lower than a clamping voltage and so that the voltage is fixed between the two output nodes to the clamping voltage when the voltage at the input node is higher than the clamping voltage.

Abstract: A voltage clamp circuit for reflecting a voltage at an input node includes a circuit for providing at least two currents at its output terminal, and at least two diodes each being connected to an output terminal of the circuit for providing at least two currents. The diodes also are connected to a line of a ground voltage and to the input node respectively. The circuit includes an alternative current path connected to an output terminal of the circuit for providing at least two currents and to a current sinking node. The voltage at the input node thus is reflected as the voltage between two output nodes when the voltage at the input node is lower than a clamping voltage and so that the voltage is fixed between the two output nodes to the clamping voltage when the voltage at the input node is higher than the clamping voltage.