Abstract: A uniform converter input voltage distribution power system evenly controls the individual input voltages of DC-to-DC series-input parallel-output connected converters using a uniform input voltage distribution controller including a generator for generating respective error signals from the converter input voltages using a common distribution reference signal for providing respective converter control signals connected to the converters through respective shared-bus controls for evenly distributing the power delivered by the converters that are shared-bus current-mode converters for preferably providing a low output voltage. Employing a common regulation control signal, the controller can also provide system output voltage regulation, system input current limiting, proportional-voltage control, relaxed voltage uniformity, and fault-tolerant power control.

Abstract: An inverter for use in connecting a DC power source to the utility grid includes a single DC-AC conversion stage, maximum (source) power tracking, and current control based on feed-forward compensation as a function of input power voltage error, rectified utility line voltage, and a scaled inverse of RMS utility line voltage. Various topologies of the inverter power stage are developed for bi-directional power-flow operation after those developed for unidirectional power-flow operation. Various embodiments also include over-voltage protection, over-current protection, under-voltage protection, over-temperature protection, and stand-by battery with battery management control, while still others are adapted for a multiple-channel front-end distributed power system with distributed maximum power tracking for serving as a single DC power source input to the inverter system downstream with controllers, emergency or auxiliary loads, and alternative current feedback control systems.

Abstract: An inverter for use in connecting a DC power source to the utility grid includes a single DC-AC conversion stage, maximum (source) power tracking, and current control based on feed-forward compensation as a function of input power voltage error, rectified utility line voltage, and a scaled inverse of RMS utility line voltage. Various topologies of the inverter power stage are developed for bi-directional power-flow operation after those developed for unidirectional power-flow operation. Various embodiments also include over-voltage protection, over-current protection, under-voltage protection, over-temperature protection, and stand-by battery with battery management control, while still others are adapted for a multiple-channel front-end distributed power system with distributed maximum power tracking for serving as a single DC power source input to the inverter system downstream with controllers, emergency or auxiliary loads, and alternative current feedback control systems.

Abstract: An inverter for use in connecting a DC power source to the utility grid includes a single DC-DC conversion stage, maximum (source) power tracking, and current control based on feed-forward compensation as a function of an input power commanding voltage, rectified utility line voltage, and either a scaled and squared inverse or a scaled inverse of RMS utility line voltage.

Abstract: A uniform converter output voltage distribution power system evenly controls the individual output voltages of DC-to-DC parallel-input series-output connected converters using a uniform output voltage distribution controller including a generator for generating respective error signals from the converter output voltages using a common distribution reference signal for providing respective converter control signals connected to the converters through respective shared-bus controls for evenly distributing the power delivered by the converters that are shared-bus current-mode converters for preferably providing high output voltages. Employing a common regulation control signal, the controller can also provide system output voltage regulation, system input current limiting, proportional-voltage control, relaxed voltage uniformity, and fault-tolerant power control.

Abstract: A uniform converter output voltage distribution power system evenly controls the individual output voltages of DC-to-DC parallel-input series-output connected converters using a uniform output voltage distribution controller including a generator for generating respective error signals from the converter output voltages using a common distribution reference signal for providing respective converter control signals connected to the converters through respective shared-bus controls for evenly distributing the power delivered by the converters that are shared-bus current-mode converters for preferably providing high output voltages. Employing a common regulation control signal, the controller can also provide system output voltage regulation, system input current limiting, proportional-voltage control, relaxed voltage uniformity, and fault-tolerant power control.

Abstract: An inverter for use in connecting a DC power source to the utility grid includes a single DC-DC conversion stage, maximum (source) power tracking, and current control based on feed-forward compensation as a function of an input power commanding voltage, rectified utility line voltage, and either a scaled and squared inverse or a scaled inverse of RMS utility line voltage.

Abstract: A power and control architecture employing circuitry that sequentially regulate power flows from independent solar-array sources or a mixture of power sources providing power to a common load. The device may be used on a satellite with solar-array sources; however it may also be used on ground based systems. Stiff bus voltage regulation is obtained by tightly controlling the most recently activated power-processing channel while keeping the previously activated power-processing channels in the Maximum Power Tracking mode to supply maximum power to a common load. The remaining power-processing channels are turned off or operated in stand-by mode. In an alternative system, with primary design goal of uniform power sharing among solar-array sources, all solar array sources are activated with uniform power sharing at light load and, as load demand increases, sequentially controlled to operate in the Maximum Power Tracking mode one solar array source at a time as necessary.

Abstract: A power recycling system receives input power at an input and feeds back through an auxiliary output recycled power to the input for supplementing the input power for recycling energy of the recycled power that would normally be wasted so as to provide improved power efficiency. The system can have several configurations, including a system for testing power supplies under test, or can be any electrical device, system, appliance or electronic load having a power input and auxiliary output for feeding back recycled energy to the power input.

Abstract: A power recycling system receives input power at an input and feeds back through an auxiliary output recycled power to the input for supplementing the input power for recycling energy of the recycled power that would normally be wasted so as to provide improved power efficiency. The system can have several configurations, including a system for testing power supplies under test, or can be any electrical device, system, appliance or electronic load having a power input and auxiliary output for feeding back recycled energy to the power input.

Abstract: A maximum power tracker maximizes the power deliverable from a power source, such as a solar array using increasing, decreasing and maintaining states controlled by a set point signal modulated by a dither signal for stabilized regular power tracking during under demand conditions and maximum power tracking during periods with over demand conditions of a load. For multiple power sources, respective multiple sets of parallel-connected converters and respectively maximum power trackers can be coupled in parallel using shared bus and control signals for fault tolerant equalized power conversion among the parallel-connected converters.

Abstract: A maximum power tracker maximizes the power deliverable from a power source, such as a solar array using increasing, decreasing and maintaining states controlled by a set point signal modulated by a dither signal for stabilized regular power tracking during under demand conditions and maximum power tracking during periods with over demand conditions of a load. Multiple converters and respectively maximum power trackers can be coupled in parallel using shared bus control signal for fault tolerant equalized power conversion through the converters.

Abstract: A maximum power tracker maximizes the power deliverable from a power source, such as a solar array using increasing, decreasing and maintaining states controlled by a set point signal modulated by a dither signal for stabilized regular power tracking during under demand conditions and maximum power tracking during periods with over demand conditions of a load. Multiple converters and respectively maximum power trackers can be coupled in parallel using shared bus control signal for fault tolerant equalized power conversion through the converters.

Abstract: An improved power converter employs two conventional charging and discharging switches operating in a complimentary mode and driven by a switch driver controlled by a power factor correction controller. The power converter is firstly improved with a blocking diode for blocking cross coupled short circuit paths to enable multiple converters to drive respective primary windings of an output isolation transformer, and is further modified with an absorption capacitor for providing a discharge path for a switching capacitor connected across the discharging switch so as to enable zero voltage switching of the discharging switch while employing conventional power factor correction, over voltage protection and current limiting. A plurality of improved power converters can be connected between respective input power sources and respective primary windings of the transformer with each converter independently providing power factor correction without cross coupling short circuit paths.

Abstract: A power system consisting of parallel connected current-mode power converters combined with a voltage error signal on a shared-bus used in common for controlling all of the power stages for improved consistency, reliability, and performance in both transient and steady states. Near uniform current sharing is achievable without sacrificing the voltage regulation performance. The improved system offers faster settling time under step loads, consistent small signal characteristics and large signal responses regardless of mismatches of components values such as reference voltages, and reduced output impedance variations in magnitude and phase even during various modes of operation.

Abstract: A modified DC-to-AC power converter accomplishes power transfer to a load with electrical isolation, zero-voltage and zero-current switching, using a transformer core resetting mechanism. The power converter contains two switching devices, a main device connected in parallel and a secondary device connected in series with a transformer primary winding. A secondary winding of the transformer is connected through a two-port resonant link circuit to a resistive load. Zero-voltage switching and proper transformer-core resetting are achieved from the resonance that exists between the parasitic capacitance of the secondary switching device and the magnetization inductance of the transformer. A transformer leakage inductance facilitates zero-current switching; thus, reducing the turn-on switching loss in the conventional main switching device.

Abstract: A modified boost converter accomplishes power transfer to a load with an electrical isolation, a zero-voltage and a zero-current switching, a transformer core resetting mechanism, and component stresses identical to those in the conventional boost converters. The power converter contains two switching devices, a main one connected in parallel and a secondary one connected in series with a transformer primary winding. A secondary winding of the transformer is connected through an output rectifier to the load. Zero-voltage switching and proper transformer-core resetting are achieved from the resonance that exists between the parasitic capacitance of the secondary switching device and the magnetization inductance of the transformer. A transformer leakage inductance facilitates zero-current switching; thus, reducing the recovery time and current in the output rectifier, and the turn-on switching loss in the conventional main switching device.

Abstract: A parallel resonant converter as disclosed having in one embodiment a variable inductance and having a control circuit which operates the switches of the converter under zero voltage switching conditions and under continuous conduction mode by maintaining the quality factor of the resonant circuit generally equal to the DC conversion ratio.