Abstract: A device includes a plurality of phase legs configured to be coupled to a motor and arranged into at least two groups. Each group has more than one phase leg, and each phase leg has at least two power switches coupled between a positive dc rail and a negative dc rail of the group. The motor has a stator and a rotor configured to be magnetically coupled through an air gap and a plurality of phase windings distributed along a perimeter of the stator. Each of the plurality of phase windings is coupled to one of the plurality of phase legs. The device also has a first dc link switch placed between the dc rails of a group and the dc rails of another group, and a controller configured to close the first dc link switch for the device to operate in a motor drive mode, or open the dc link switch for the device to operate in a power conversion mode.

Abstract: An apparatus has a plurality of poles facing an air gap, and the poles are configured to generate a magnetic field in the air gap. The poles include a group of unchanged poles and a group of reversible poles, where a polarity of each reversible pole is configured to be changed during an operation mode, and after the polarity has been changed, each reversible pole and at least an adjacent unchanged pole in effect merged into one augmented pole, such that the pole number of the magnetic field in the air gap is changed.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a switch-capacitor network, a power-switch network and a controller. The switch-capacitor network has a plurality of control switches and a plurality of flying capacitors, where the control switches are configured to connect two of the flying capacitors in series in a first configuration and in parallel in a second configuration. The power-switch network has a plurality of power switches and is coupled between an input port having an input voltage and an output port having an output voltage, where the power switches are configured to couple the switch-capacitor network to the input port and the output port in different ways during a charging phase and a discharging phase. The controller is configured to operate the control switches to configure the switch-capacitor network into different configurations during the charging phase or the discharging phase such that a ratio of the output voltage over the input voltage is changed in an operation mode.

Abstract: A method includes adjusting currents of a plurality of windings of a motor through a plurality of power converters coupled to the plurality of windings so that the number of poles and the number of phases of the motor are dynamically adjustable, and injecting a plurality of high-order harmonic currents into the plurality of windings of the motor through controlling the plurality of power converters to improve a performance index of the motor.

Abstract: A system includes a first device, a second device, and a power control block. The first device has a first power converter and a first resonator which has a first resonant capacitor and a first coil. The second device has a second power converter and a second resonator which has a second resonant capacitor and a second coil. The second power converter is coupled to a ratio-controllable power converter, and the first coil and the second coil are magnetically coupled. The power control block is configured to adjust the system frequency, the second power converter output voltage and the current in the first coil in coordination.

Abstract: A device comprises a plurality of power converters, a resonator block and a connection block. The plurality of power converters is coupled to a power port having a voltage. Each power converter comprises a plurality of switch networks, and each switch network has a plurality of power switches. The resonator block comprises a plurality of resonators. Each resonator has a resonant capacitor and is coupled to one of the plurality of power converters. The connection block comprises a switching component and is coupled to one of the plurality of resonators, and the connection block and the said resonator are configured such that the device operates in a wireless charging mode with the resonator block activated or a wired charging mode with the connection block activated.

Abstract: A device comprises a rotor magnetically coupled to a stator, a plurality of slots for accommodating a plurality of conductors, wherein the plurality of slots is evenly spaced, and each slot is configured to accommodate at least one conductor of the plurality of conductors, and wherein each conductor has a first end and a second end, and wherein the second end is configured to be coupled to a power converter and a plurality of connection apparatuses connected to first ends of the plurality of conductors.

Abstract: A device comprises a plurality of power converters, a resonator block and a connection block. The plurality of power converters is coupled to a power port having a voltage. Each power converter comprises a plurality of switch networks, and each switch network has a plurality of power switches. The resonator block comprises a plurality of resonators. Each resonator has a resonant capacitor and is coupled to one of the plurality of power converters. The connection block comprises a switching component and is coupled to one of the plurality of resonators, and the connection block and the said resonator are configured such that the device operates in a wireless charging mode with the resonator block activated or a wired charging mode with the connection block activated.

Abstract: A motor system comprises a device having a plurality of conductors coupled to a plurality of isolated connection bars, wherein the plurality of conductors is divided symmetrically into a plurality of conductor groups, and all conductors in a conductor group are connected to a connection bar, a first power converter group connected between a first power source and a first conductor group, a second power converter group connected between a second power source and a second conductor group, wherein the first group of conductors and the second group of conductors are configured such that a charge balance between the first power source and a second power source is achieved and a rotor magnetically coupled to a stator.

Abstract: A device has a plurality of coils arranged along a perimeter within the device, where each coil has a winding configured to be coupled to a power converter through a resonant capacitor, and forms a resonator with the resonant capacitor. The device has also a connection core which is magnetically coupled to the plurality of coils. Furthermore, the device has a plurality of power converters, where each power converter is coupled to one of the plurality of coils, and is configured such that a current flowing through the winding of the coil has the same frequency as other winding currents in the device, and the phase angle of the current is approximately equal to the space angle of the coil, so a rotating magnetic field is formed in a space around the device.

Abstract: A system comprises a stator magnetically coupled to a rotor and a plurality of conductor assemblies distributed evenly along a perimeter of the device, wherein each conductor assembly is evenly distributed into at least two branches of conductors, and wherein each branch comprising a plurality of conductors, all the branches form a plurality of windings, wherein a winding comprises a positive segment and a negative segment, and wherein each segment has a plurality of branches, and wherein one segment is in more than two conductor assemblies and the plurality of windings is symmetrically divided into a plurality of groups, wherein each group of windings forms a balanced multi-phase system and is connected to a connection bar, and wherein at least two connection bars are isolated from each other.

Abstract: A system includes an input port having an input voltage, an output port having an output voltage, and a power converter having a switch network with a plurality of power switches and a first resonant tank having a first resonant capacitor and a first resonant inductor, where at least one resonant component within the first resonant capacitor and the first resonant inductor is a switchable component configured to switch between different values. The system further includes a resonant mode selection block configured to adjust a value of the switchable component to maintain a performance of the system, and a controller configured to adjust a switching frequency or a duty cycle of the power converter.

Abstract: A system includes a first device, a second device, and a power control block. The first device has a first power converter and a first resonator which has a first resonant capacitor and a first coil. The second device has a second power converter and a second resonator which has a second resonant capacitor and a second coil. The second power converter is coupled to a ratio-controllable power converter, and the first coil and the second coil are magnetically coupled. The power control block is configured to adjust the system frequency, the second power converter output voltage and the current in the first coil in coordination.

Abstract: A method includes adjusting currents of a plurality of windings of a motor through a plurality of power converters coupled to the plurality of windings so that the number of poles and the number of phases of the motor are dynamically adjustable, and injecting a plurality of high-order harmonic currents into the plurality of windings of the motor through controlling the plurality of power converters to improve a performance index of the motor.

Abstract: A device has a plurality of power converter groups and a control system. A power converter group has a group of power converters and is coupled between an input voltage source and a group of windings of a motor generator. The control system is configured to control currents of the windings such that the number of poles of and the number of phases in a pair of poles of the motor/generator are dynamically adjusted, and the number of poles and the strength of a magnetic field of the motor generator are controlled to reduce a power loss. The motor/generator has an air gap and a stator with a plurality of slots, where the windings are installed in. The windings are configured such that the number of poles and the number of phases in a pair of poles of the motor/generator can be dynamically adjusted.

Abstract: A motor control method comprises detecting operating parameters of a motor system comprising a plurality of windings, a rotor, a stator magnetically coupled to the rotor and a plurality of power converters connected to the plurality of windings, determining, by a controller, a suitable pole number and a preliminary set of operating variables based upon the operating parameters, reducing operating stresses of the motor system gradually and after reducing the operating stresses, configuring the plurality of power converters so as to adjust the number of poles of the motor system according to the suitable pole number.

Abstract: A motor control method comprises providing a machine comprising a plurality of windings, a rotor and a stator magnetically coupled to the rotor, coupling a plurality of power converters to the plurality of windings, configuring the plurality of power converters so as to adjust the number of poles of the machine in a low-stress operating mode according to a plurality of operating parameters and after a fault occurs in the machine, configuring the plurality of power converters such that the machine enters a fault tolerant operating mode.

Abstract: A system includes an input port having an input voltage, an output port having an output voltage, and a power converter having a switch network with a plurality of power switches and a first resonant tank having a first resonant capacitor and a first resonant inductor, where at least one resonant component within the first resonant capacitor and the first resonant inductor is a switchable component configured to switch between different values. The system further includes a resonant mode selection block configured to adjust a value of the switchable component to maintain a performance of the system, and a controller configured to adjust a switching frequency or a duty cycle of the power converter.

Abstract: A device to drive a plurality of power switches in a power converter with an input voltage port having an input voltage includes a drive resonant tank, a switch network, a control block configured to control the turn-on and turn-off of drive switches, and an output port. The drive resonant tank has a resonant inductor, and a resonant capacitor which includes an input capacitance of a power switch. The switch network has a plurality of drive switches, which are controlled such that the drive resonant tank goes through a resonant state and a pseudo clamp state consecutively during a switching period. A gate drive voltage of a power switch fluctuates slightly during the pseudo clamp state. The output port has two terminals coupled to a gate and a source of a power switch respectively.

Abstract: A device has a plurality of coils arranged along a perimeter within the device, where each coil has a winding configured to be coupled to a power converter through a resonant capacitor, and forms a resonator with the resonant capacitor. The device has also a connection core which is magnetically coupled to the plurality of coils. Furthermore, the device has a plurality of power converters, where each power converter is coupled to one of the plurality of coils, and is configured such that a current flowing through the winding of the coil has the same frequency as other winding currents in the device, and the phase angle of the current is approximately equal to the space angle of the coil, so a rotating magnetic field is formed in a space around the device.