Abstract: A multilevel converter including, in particular, a voltage source, a current source, and a capacitor for each of its cells, and a controller. The controller evaluates any current difference between an observed current through the current source and a current requested by the current source. The controller also includes ON-time controller for taking into account the current difference, if any, and altering accordingly a duration of the first conduction state of all of the cells in the converter in a direction suitable for reducing the current difference. The controller also maintains all of the floating capacitors at their equilibrium voltage values.

Abstract: A multilevel converter including, in particular, a capacitor for each of its cells, and control means comprising means for evaluating the mean voltage across the terminals of each of the capacitors, means for measuring any difference on each of said capacitors between the evaluated mean charge voltage and the nominal mean charge voltage of the capacitor, and additional control means changing the time positions of the converter control signals in a direction such that the measured difference is reduced.

Abstract: A multilevel converter comprising, in particular, one capacitor (C1, C2, . . . , Cn) and two switches (T1, T'1; for example) in each of its cells. The cells operate successively in a period that repeats at a converter frequency. In parallel with the load (C), a filter circuit (CF) is provided to dissipate the energy of any component having a fundamental frequency that corresponds to said converter period. The filter comprises one or more RLC type series circuits.

Abstract: A multilevel converter including, in particular, a capacitor (C1, C2, . . . , Cn) for each of its cells, and control means comprising means (VMO1, VMO2, . . . , VMOn) for evaluating the mean voltage across the terminals of each of the capacitors (C1, C2, . . . , Cn), means (VE1, VE2, . . . , VEn) for measuring any difference on each of said capacitors (C1, C2, . . . , Cn) between the evaluated mean charge voltage and the nominal mean charge voltage of the capacitor, and additional control means (MCC1, MCC2, . . . , MCCn) changing the duration of said first conduction state of the cell associated with said capacitor in a direction such that the measured difference is reduced.

Abstract: A multilevel converter including, in particular, a capacitor (C1, C2, . . . , Cn) for each of its cells. The capacitors have nominal charge voltages proportional to their respective ranks in the converter. It also includes control means (BT, DA1, . . . , DAn, pe2, . . . , pen) organized to evaluate said voltage of the voltage source (VECn), and whenever it is insufficient, to suspend said nominal operation of the converter (SE) and to act on said switches (T1, T'1; T2; T'2; . . . ; Tn, T'n) in such a manner that initially, while said voltage of the voltage source is being established, it begins by charging all of the capacitors of the converter (C1, C2, . . . , Cn), after which said control means establish said nominal operation of the converter.