Abstract: Power is provided from a power source and a status of the power source is signaled by controlling a waveform of an AC voltage generated from the power source. The status may include, for example, a capacity of the power source. In some embodiments, a frequency of the AC voltage may be controlled to signal the status. The power source may include, for example, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and signaling a status of the power source may include controlling an inverter of the UPS to signal the status. Related systems are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of semiconductor switches. A first bus interconnects first terminals of the semiconductor switches in a first chain and provides a first impedance between the first terminals of switches of the first chain. A second bus interconnects second terminals of the semiconductor switches in a second chain and provides a second impedance greater that the first impedance between the second terminals of the switches of the second chain. The apparatus may be implemented as a laminated bus assembly including respective overlapping conductor plates, wherein the second bus includes a plate having subregions defined by features, such as slots or grooves, that provide the second impedance.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of semiconductor switches. A first bus interconnects first terminals of the semiconductor switches in a first chain and provides a first impedance between the first terminals of switches of the first chain. A second bus interconnects second terminals of the semiconductor switches in a second chain and provides a second impedance greater that the first impedance between the second terminals of the switches of the second chain. The apparatus may be implemented as a laminated bus assembly including respective overlapping conductor plates, wherein the second bus includes a plate having subregions defined by features, such as slots or grooves, that provide the second impedance.

Abstract: Power is provided from a power source and a status of the power source is signaled by controlling a waveform of an AC voltage generated from the power source. The status may include, for example, a capacity of the power source. In some embodiments, a frequency of the AC voltage may be controlled to signal the status. The power source may include, for example, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and signaling a status of the power source may include controlling an inverter of the UPS to signal the status. Related systems are also described.

Abstract: Power is provided from a power source and a status of the power source is signaled by controlling a waveform of an AC voltage generated from the power source. The status may include, for example, a capacity of the power source. In some embodiments, a frequency of the AC voltage may be controlled to signal the status. The power source may include, for example, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and signaling a status of the power source may include controlling an inverter of the UPS to signal the status. Related systems are also described.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided with an MCU, which is configured to generate a PWM control signal that is free of switching pattern information therein. A current-estimating gate driver is provided, which is responsive to the PWM signal. This gate driver is configured to drive first and second gate terminals of first and second parallel switching devices (within a hybrid switch) with gate signals that establish a second switching pattern within the hybrid switch. These gate driving operations are performed in response to measuring a first voltage associated with a terminal of the hybrid switch when being driven by gate signals that establish a first switching pattern within the hybrid switch that is different from the second switching pattern. The duty cycles of the gate signals associated with the second switching pattern are unequal and the duty cycles of the gate signals associated with the first switching pattern are unequal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided with an MCU, which is configured to generate a PWM control signal that is free of switching pattern information therein. A current-estimating gate driver is provided, which is responsive to the PWM signal. This gate driver is configured to drive first and second gate terminals of first and second parallel switching devices (within a hybrid switch) with gate signals that establish a second switching pattern within the hybrid switch. These gate driving operations are performed in response to measuring a first voltage associated with a terminal of the hybrid switch when being driven by gate signals that establish a first switching pattern within the hybrid switch that is different from the second switching pattern. The duty cycles of the gate signals associated with the second switching pattern are unequal and the duty cycles of the gate signals associated with the first switching pattern are unequal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided with an MCU, which is configured to generate a PWM control signal that is free of switching pattern information therein. A current-estimating gate driver is provided, which is responsive to the PWM signal. This gate driver is configured to drive first and second gate terminals of first and second parallel switching devices (within a hybrid switch) with gate signals that establish a second switching pattern within the hybrid switch. These gate driving operations are performed in response to measuring a first voltage associated with a terminal of the hybrid switch when being driven by gate signals that establish a first switching pattern within the hybrid switch that is different from the second switching pattern. The duty cycles of the gate signals associated with the second switching pattern are unequal and the duty cycles of the gate signals associated with the first switching pattern are unequal.

Abstract: A disturbance, for example, a frequency variation, is generated in at least a portion of the power distribution network. The disturbance may be generated, for example, by an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or some other component of the power distribution network, such as a switch. At least one node of the network experiencing the disturbance is identified and a topology of the power distribution network is determined responsive to identifying the at least one node. The at least one node may be identified by detecting a voltage-related artifact corresponding to the disturbance. A phase-locked loop (PLL)—based circuit may be used for fast artifact detection. Groups of devices in the network may be identified from the artifacts, and combinatorial optimization techniques may be used to determine connectivity within such groups.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing current information for a power converter is disclosed. The current monitoring system includes a control system operably connected to a circuit having a plurality of semiconductor switches that are controllable to convert an input power to an output power having a desired voltage and current. The control system includes a PWM signal generator to generate switching signals that control switching of the switches, gate drivers to facilitate switching of the switches, and desaturation circuits to provide overcurrent protection to the switches. The control system further includes a processor that receives voltage data from the desaturation circuits regarding a measured voltage across each of the switches, determines a current through each of the switches based on the voltage across each respective switch, and calculates an input current to the circuit or an output current of the circuit based on the determined currents through the switches.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling switching in an AC-AC converter is disclosed. A controller for the AC-AC converter determines a direction of current flow on supply lines that provide AC power to the AC-AC converter and determines a switching pattern for each of a plurality of line-side switches and each of a plurality of floating-neutral side switches in the AC-AC converter based on the determined direction of current flow on each of the supply lines. The controller causes the line-side switches and the floating-neutral side switches to operate in an ON or OFF condition according to the determined switching pattern, such that a controlled current flow is output from the AC-AC converter. The controller also implements a safe-switching routine when transitioning from a first switching pattern to a second switching pattern that prevents a non-zero current from being interrupted during the transitioning between the first and second switching patterns.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided with an MCU, which is configured to generate a PWM control signal that is free of switching pattern information therein. A current-estimating gate driver is provided, which is responsive to the PWM signal. This gate driver is configured to drive first and second gate terminals of first and second parallel switching devices (within a hybrid switch) with gate signals that establish a second switching pattern within the hybrid switch. These gate driving operations are performed in response to measuring a first voltage associated with a terminal of the hybrid switch when being driven by gate signals that establish a first switching pattern within the hybrid switch that is different from the second switching pattern. The duty cycles of the gate signals associated with the second switching pattern are unequal and the duty cycles of the gate signals associated with the first switching pattern are unequal.

Abstract: Power is provided from a power source and a status of the power source is signaled by controlling a waveform of an AC voltage generated from the power source. The status may include, for example, a capacity of the power source. In some embodiments, a frequency of the AC voltage may be controlled to signal the status. The power source may include, for example, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and signaling a status of the power source may include controlling an inverter of the UPS to signal the status. Related systems are also described.

Abstract: A load control device includes an input and an output connectable to an AC source and an AC load, respectively, with one or more supply lines each corresponding to a phase in the load connecting the input and output. Line-side switches are connected between a line terminal and load terminal, and floating-neutral side switches are connected to the load terminal at one end and at a common neutral connection at another end. A controller determines a direction of current flow on each of the supply lines, determines a switching pattern for each of the line-side switches and each of the floating-neutral side switches based on the determined direction of current flow, and causes each of the line-side switches and floating-neutral side switches to operate in an On condition or an Off condition according to the determined switching pattern, such that a controlled uninterrupted current is provided to the AC load.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling switching in an AC-AC converter is disclosed. A controller for the AC-AC converter determines a direction of current flow on supply lines that provide AC power to the AC-AC converter and determines a switching pattern for each of a plurality of line-side switches and each of a plurality of floating-neutral side switches in the AC-AC converter based on the determined direction of current flow on each of the supply lines. The controller causes the line-side switches and the floating-neutral side switches to operate in an ON or OFF condition according to the determined switching pattern, such that a controlled current flow is output from the AC-AC converter. The controller also implements a safe-switching routine when transitioning from a first switching pattern to a second switching pattern that prevents a non-zero current from being interrupted during the transitioning between the first and second switching patterns.

Abstract: A system for optimizing switching dead-time includes a power converter that includes a half-bridge circuit comprising a first switch coupled in series with a second switch, first and second state detection circuits respectively coupled to the first and second switches and configured to respectively detect an activation state of the first and second switches. First and second switch control circuits coupled respectively to the first and second switches are configured to respectively toggle the first and second switches between an activate state and a deactivated state. The first switch control circuit includes a first input configured to receive an activation signal from the second state detection circuit indicative of the activation state of the second switch, and the second switch control circuit includes a first input configured to receive an activation signal from the first state detection circuit indicative of the activation state of the first switch.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting ground faults in an AC motor drive is disclosed. A fault detection and protection system for an AC motor drive includes current sensors to measure first and second phase output currents, a voltage sensor to measure a DC link voltage, and a desaturation control circuit to determine a voltage and associated current across PWM inverter switches for a third phase of the output. A controller compares the first and second phase currents, the measured DC link voltage, and the voltage across the PWM inverter switches on the third phase, to a plurality of thresholds. The controller detects a ground fault on one of the first, second, and third phases of the three phase output to the AC motor based on the comparisons of the first and the second phase currents, the DC link voltage, and the voltage across the switches to the thresholds.

Abstract: A load control device to control current flow to an AC load includes a circuit having line-side switches and floating-neutral side switches, along with a controller connected to the circuit that is programmed to control the circuit so as to cause each of the line-side switches and each of the floating-neutral side switches to switch between an On condition or an Off condition to selectively operate the circuit in an active mode and a free-wheeling mode. A full phase voltage is provided to the AC load during the active mode and a zero voltage is provided to the AC load during the free-wheeling mode. The controller applies a modulating function to the circuit, so as to modulate a supply voltage to control a frequency and an average of a load voltage present across terminals of the AC load, thereby enabling variable frequency operation of the AC load.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the inventive subject matter provide a power distribution system for a data processing system. The power distribution system includes a plurality of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units, respective ones of which are configured to be coupled to respective loads via respective load busses, at least one reserve bus, a switching circuit configured to selectively couple and decouple the UPS units and the load busses to and from the at least one reserve bus and a control circuit configured to control the switching circuit responsive to a state of the data processing system. The control circuit may be configured to cause the switching circuit to couple the first UPS unit to the at least one reserve bus concurrent with the first UPS unit being coupled to a first load via a first load bus.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing current information for a power converter is disclosed. The current monitoring system includes a control system operably connected to a circuit having a plurality of semiconductor switches that are controllable to convert an input power to an output power having a desired voltage and current. The control system includes a PWM signal generator to generate switching signals that control switching of the switches, gate drivers to facilitate switching of the switches, and desaturation circuits to provide overcurrent protection to the switches. The control system further includes a processor that receives voltage data from the desaturation circuits regarding a measured voltage across each of the switches, determines a current through each of the switches based on the voltage across each respective switch, and calculates an input current to the circuit or an output current of the circuit based on the determined currents through the switches.