Abstract: A power converter has a pair of series connected switches defining a phase leg, a pair of gate driver circuits that respectively provide power to gates of the series connected switches, a positive rail electrically connected with the phase leg, and a clamping circuit including a clamping switch. The clamping circuit, responsive to one of the gate driver circuits being de-energized, activates the clamping switch with energy from the positive rail to clamp a gate of one of the series connected switches associated with the one of the gate driver circuits to another terminal of the one of the series connected switches.

Abstract: A power system for a vehicle includes a traction battery having an output voltage, a transformer including a coil, and a power converter including a plurality of capacitors and a plurality of switches arranged such that when a first subset of the switches are ON, two of the capacitors are in parallel, an AC voltage across the coil is in a positive half cycle, and a voltage across each of the two of the capacitors is half the output voltage.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to power systems for transferring power between electrical components. An exemplary power system includes a first electrical component (e.g., an inverter system) having a current sensor assembly for detecting current flowing between the first electrical component and a second electrical component (e.g., an electric motor) in order to more reliably manage and control operation of the second electrical component. The current sensor assembly may include an integrated cooler that includes an internal cooling circuit configured to circulate coolant for cooling one or more bus bars of the current sensor assembly.

Abstract: A power converter can include a rectifier that receives an AC input voltage and produces a rectified output voltage, a power factor correction (PFC) converter having an input coupled that receives the rectified output voltage of the rectifier and an output that provides an intermediate DC bus voltage, a DC-DC converter having an input that receives the intermediate DC bus voltage and produces a regulated DC output voltage, and control circuitry for the PFC converter stage that includes a relatively slower control loop that controls the PFC converter during steady state load conditions and at least one relatively faster control loop that controls the PFC converter during transient load conditions.

Abstract: A power converter can include a DC-DC converter having an output with an active power buffer coupled thereto. The active power buffer can include an energy storage capacitor and one or more switching devices selectively coupling the capacitor to the output to alternately store energy in and discharge energy from the capacitor. Control circuitry can include a DC-DC converter control loop that operates the DC-DC converter to regulate an average voltage across the capacitor and an active power buffer control loop that operates the one or more switching devices of the active power buffer to regulate an output voltage of the power converter. The DC-DC converter control loop can include a relatively slower control loop that controls the DC-DC converter during steady state load conditions and at least one relatively faster control loop that controls the DC-DC converter during transient load conditions.

Abstract: A power converter includes a plurality of switches, a transformer electrically connected between some and other of the switches, and a plurality of series connected capacitors electrically connected between the switches and an output of the power converter. A controller operates the switches such that a voltage at an input of the power converter and across each of the capacitors is same and a voltage at the output is double the voltage at the input.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes an electric machine, a traction battery, and a power converter. The power converter transfers power between the electric machine and traction battery. The power convert includes a switch that defines a portion of a phase leg, a gate driver circuit that provides provide power to a gate of the switch, and a clamping circuit. The clamping circuit includes a clamping switch that, responsive to the gate driver circuit being de-energized and a voltage of the gate exceeding a predetermined threshold value, conducts current from the gate to dissipate the voltage and clamp the gate to an emitter of the switch.

Abstract: A power system includes a DC/AC converter, a traction battery, an AC/DC converter electrically connected between the DC/AC converter and traction battery, and a transformer electrically connected between the DC/AC converter and AC/DC converter. The AC/DC converter includes a plurality of semiconductor devices and a plurality of capacitors such that during power transfer from the DC/AC converter to the traction battery, a voltage across each of the capacitors is half of a battery voltage.

Abstract: A power system, responsive to a detected change in an onboard charger or a generator, switches a converter from a first conversion setting, in which a first low voltage value of a medium-voltage bus port is converted to a first high voltage value of a high-voltage bus port, to a second conversion setting, in which a second low voltage value of the medium-voltage bus port is converted to the first high voltage value of the high-voltage bus port.

Abstract: A power converter includes a plurality of switches, a transformer electrically connected between some and other of the switches, and a plurality of series connected capacitors electrically connected between the switches and an output of the power converter. A controller operates the switches such that a voltage at an input of the power converter and across each of the capacitors is same and a voltage at the output is double the voltage at the input.

Abstract: A power system for a vehicle includes a traction battery having an output voltage, a transformer including a coil, and a power converter including a plurality of capacitors and a plurality of switches arranged such that when a first subset of the switches are ON, two of the capacitors are in parallel, an AC voltage across the coil is in a positive half cycle, and a voltage across each of the two of the capacitors is half the output voltage.

Abstract: A vehicle power system has a DC to AC converter, a pair of AC to DC converters, a transformer including a core, a primary winding wound about the core and electrically connected to an output of the DC to AC converter, and a pair of secondary windings wound about the core, a traction battery electrically connected to a collective output of the AC to DC converters, and a controller.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes an electric machine, a traction battery, and a power converter. The power converter transfers power between the electric machine and traction battery. The power convert includes a switch that defines a portion of a phase leg, a gate driver circuit that provides provide power to a gate of the switch, and a clamping circuit. The clamping circuit includes a clamping switch that, responsive to the gate driver circuit being de-energized and a voltage of the gate exceeding a predetermined threshold value, conducts current from the gate to dissipate the voltage and clamp the gate to an emitter of the switch.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to power systems for transferring power between electrical components. An exemplary power system includes a first electrical component (e.g., an inverter system) having a current sensor assembly for detecting current flowing between the first electrical component and a second electrical component (e.g., an electric motor) in order to more reliably manage and control operation of the second electrical component. The current sensor assembly may include an integrated cooler that includes an internal cooling circuit configured to circulate coolant for cooling one or more bus bars of the current sensor assembly.

Abstract: A unitary on-board charger and generator (OBCG) for an electric vehicle system and method is disclosed. The OBCG includes a charging circuit with a diode bridge rectifier connected to an AC power source, a power factor correction converter, and a bi-directional DC/DC converter. The OBCG also includes a generating circuit with a a three-phase inverting circuit, three inductive coils connected to each leg of the three-phase inverting circuit, and a plurality of output capacitors connected to the outputs of the three inductive coils. The OBCG also includes a bridge capacitor and a control switching element connected between the charging circuit and the generating circuit for changing between a charging and generating state.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes an electric machine, a traction battery, and a power converter. The power converter transfers power between the electric machine and traction battery. The power convert includes a switch that defines a portion of a phase leg, a gate driver circuit that provides provide power to a gate of the switch, and a clamping circuit. The clamping circuit includes a clamping switch that, responsive to the gate driver circuit being de-energized and a voltage of the gate exceeding a predetermined threshold value, conducts current from the gate to dissipate the voltage and clamp the gate to an emitter of the switch.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes an electric machine, a traction battery, and a power converter. The power converter transfers power between the electric machine and traction battery. The power convert includes a switch that defines a portion of a phase leg, a gate driver circuit that provides provide power to a gate of the switch, and a clamping circuit. The clamping circuit includes a clamping switch that, responsive to the gate driver circuit being de-energized and a voltage of the gate exceeding a predetermined threshold value, conducts current from the gate to dissipate the voltage and clamp the gate to an emitter of the switch.

Abstract: A unitary on-board charger and generator (OBCG) for an electric vehicle system and method is disclosed. The OBCG includes a charging circuit with a diode bridge rectifier connected to an AC power source, a power factor correction converter, and a bi-directional DC/DC converter. The OBCG also includes a generating circuit with a a three-phase inverting circuit, three inductive coils connected to each leg of the three-phase inverting circuit, and a plurality of output capacitors connected to the outputs of the three inductive coils. The OBCG also includes a bridge capacitor and a control switching element connected between the charging circuit and the generating circuit for changing between a charging and generating state.

Abstract: A power converter has a pair of series connected switches defining a phase leg, a pair of gate driver circuits that respectively provide power to gates of the series connected switches, a positive rail electrically connected with the phase leg, and a clamping circuit including a clamping switch. The clamping circuit, responsive to one of the gate driver circuits being de-energized, activates the clamping switch with energy from the positive rail to clamp a gate of one of the series connected switches associated with the one of the gate driver circuits to another terminal of the one of the series connected switches.

Abstract: A vehicle powertrain has a traction battery, an electric machine, a power converter including a pair of series connected switches defining a phase leg for the electric machine, and a controller. The controller drives the switches with respective pulse width modulated signals to transfer power from the traction battery to the electric machine. Each of the respective pulse width modulated signals defines a low state and a high state. The controller further, responsive to a current flowing through one of the switches exceeding a predetermined threshold and the pulse width modulated signal for the other of the switches having the high state, stops driving the switches.