Abstract: A bidirectional buck-boost converter includes at least one soft-switching cell to reduce switching losses by providing soft-switching of all semiconductor devices. A soft-switching cell comprises an active switch coupled in series with an inductor, a two-winding transformer, and a reset-voltage circuit. The soft-switching cells enable the buck and boost rectifiers to turn off with a controlled turn-off rate of their current to minimize their reverse-recovery losses, the power-controlling buck and boost switch to turn on with zero-voltage switching (ZVS), and the switch of the soft-switching cell to turn off with zero-current switching (ZCS).

Abstract: Control methods for resonant converters offer improved performance in resonant converters that operate with a wide input-voltage range or a wide output-voltage range (or both) by substantially reducing the switching-frequency range. Reduction in the switching frequency range is achieved by controlling the output voltage with a combination of variable-frequency control and time-delay control. Variable-frequency control may be used to control the primary switches of an isolated resonant converter, while delay-time control may be used to control secondary-side rectifier switches provided in place of diode rectifiers. The secondary-side control may be implemented by sensing the secondary current or the primary current (or both) and by delaying the turning-off of the corresponding secondary switch with respect to the zero crossings in the secondary current or the primary current.

Abstract: Control methods for resonant converters offer improved performance in resonant converters that operate with a wide input-voltage range or a wide output-voltage range (or both) by substantially reducing the switching-frequency range. Reduction in the switching frequency range is achieved by controlling the output voltage with a combination of variable-frequency control and time-delay control. Variable-frequency control may be used to control the primary switches of an isolated resonant converter, while delay-time control may be used to control secondary-side rectifier switches provided in place of diode rectifiers. The secondary-side control may be implemented by sensing the secondary current or the primary current (or both) and by delaying the turning-off of the corresponding secondary switch with respect to the zero crossings in the secondary current or the primary current.

Abstract: A power supply is coupled to an input voltage source. The power supply includes a plurality of converters. Each converter has an input for receiving an input voltage and an output for providing an output voltage. The inputs are connected in series and the outputs are connected in parallel to provide an output voltage. The power supply further includes an output regulating controller coupled to one of the plurality of converters for regulating the output voltage. The power supply further includes one or more input regulating controllers correspondingly coupled to the remaining one or more converters of the plurality of converters for regulating one or more input voltages.

Abstract: A low input-current-harmonic three-phase three-level boost rectifier includes an input stage for receiving a three-phase input voltage in relation to a neutral node and an output stage adapted to couple to at least one load. The rectifier further includes one or more switching converter stages, each having a plurality of serially-connected switches coupled to the neutral node, one of the serially-connected switches operating with a fixed duty cycle while the other of the serially-connected switches operating with a variable duty cycle, the fixed duty cycle being a substantially 50% duty cycle and the variable duty cycle being less than or equal to a substantially 50% duty cycle. The serially-connected switches are coupled to clamping diodes and clamping capacitors.

Abstract: A digital signal processor (DSP) is operable to receive a single-phase back electromotive force signal (back-EMF) fed back from a motor and control an inverter for driving the motor based on the single-phase back-EMF signal. The DSP includes an electrical angle building module, a rotation speed control module, and a pulse width modulation control module. In addition, the DSP further includes a field-weakening compensation module. The field-weakening compensation module is operable to automatically regulate an electrical angle based on a rotation speed of the motor and a set of predetermined compensation parameters so that the DSP can be operable to achieve an adaptive control. Furthermore, a motor control system and method are disclosed herein.

Abstract: A low input-current harmonic three-phase boost rectifier includes an input stage for receiving a three-phase input voltage in relation to a neutral node and an output stage adapted to couple to at least one load. The rectifier further includes one or more switching converter stages, each having a plurality of switches coupled to the neutral node, the plurality of switches operating with a fixed duty cycle, the fixed duty cycle being a substantially 50% duty cycle. The rectifier further includes one or more controllers adapted to vary the switching frequency of the plurality of switches based on at least one of a condition of the at least one load or the input voltage and includes one or more decoupling stages, each including one or more inductive elements adapted to inductively decouple the output stage from at least one of the one or more switching converter stages.

Abstract: A low input-current-harmonic three-phase three-level boost rectifier includes an input stage for receiving a three-phase input voltage in relation to a neutral node and an output stage adapted to couple to at least one load. The rectifier further includes one or more switching converter stages, each having a plurality of serially-connected switches coupled to the neutral node, one of the serially-connected switches operating with a fixed duty cycle while the other of the serially-connected switches operating with a variable duty cycle, the fixed duty cycle being a substantially 50% duty cycle and the variable duty cycle being less than or equal to a substantially 50% duty cycle. The serially-connected switches are coupled to clamping diodes and clamping capacitors.

Abstract: A low input-current harmonic three-phase boost rectifier includes an input stage for receiving a three-phase input voltage in relation to a neutral node and an output stage adapted to couple to at least one load. The rectifier further includes one or more switching converter stages, each having a plurality of switches coupled to the neutral node, the plurality of switches operating with a fixed duty cycle, the fixed duty cycle being a substantially 50% duty cycle. The rectifier further includes one or more controllers adapted to vary the switching frequency of the plurality of switches based on at least one of a condition of the at least one load or the input voltage and includes one or more decoupling stages, each including one or more inductive elements adapted to inductively decouple the output stage from at least one of the one or more switching converter stages.

Abstract: A power supply comprises an input voltage detector that detects a drop in input voltage that corresponds to an input voltage loss. A power converter is coupled to the input voltage detector. The power converter, which may be a boost converter or a power factor correction converter, has a switching device that is actuated in accordance with a duty cycle. A duty cycle adjuster is responsive to detection of the drop in the input voltage to adjust the duty cycle of the switching device in order to limit an input current surge through the switching device below a desired level after the input voltage returns.

Abstract: A digital signal processor (DSP) is operable to receive a single-phase back electromotive force signal (back-EMF) fed back from a motor and control an inverter for driving the motor based on the single-phase back-EMF signal. The DSP includes an electrical angle building module, a rotation speed control module, and a pulse width modulation control module. In addition, the DSP further includes a field-weakening compensation module. The field-weakening compensation module is operable to automatically regulate an electrical angle based on a rotation speed of the motor and a set of predetermined compensation parameters so that the DSP can be operable to achieve an adaptive control. Furthermore, a motor control system and method are disclosed herein.

Abstract: A PFC rectifier comprises a first converter having a first output capacitor and a second converter having a second output capacitor. The first and second capacitors are coupled to each other to increase the output voltage of the PFC rectifier. For example the first or second output capacitors can be serially coupled to each other. At least one or both of the first or second converters comprise buck or buck-boost converters, including inverting or non-inverter buck converters. The first and second converters can also form a bi-directional ac-ac inverter.

Abstract: A power converter system supplies power to one or more loads. The power converter system comprises at least one power converter operating at a desired efficiency; and a power storage system coupled to the at least one power converter for receiving power supplied from the at least one power converter and storing power therein when the at least one power converter operates at an efficiency that is below the desired efficiency.

Abstract: A power supply is coupled to an input voltage source. The power supply includes a plurality of converters. Each converter has an input for receiving an input voltage and an output for providing an output voltage. The inputs are connected in series and the outputs are connected in parallel to provide an output voltage. The power supply further includes an output regulating controller coupled to one of the plurality of converters for regulating the output voltage. The power supply further includes one or more input regulating controllers correspondingly coupled to the remaining one or more converters of the plurality of converters for regulating one or more input voltages.

Abstract: A power supply comprises an input voltage detector that detects a drop in input voltage that corresponds to an input voltage loss. A power converter is coupled to the input voltage detector. The power converter, which may be a boost converter or a power factor correction converter, has a switching device that is actuated in accordance with a duty cycle. A duty cycle adjuster is responsive to detection of the drop in the input voltage to adjust the duty cycle of the switching device in order to limit an input current surge through the switching device below a desired level after the input voltage returns.

Abstract: A PFC rectifier comprises a first converter having a first output capacitor and a second converter having a second output capacitor. The he first and second capacitors are coupled to each other to increase the output voltage of the PFC rectifier. Fore example the first or second output capacitors can be serially coupled to each other. At least one or both of the first or second converters comprise buck or buck-boost converters, including inverting or non-inverter buck converters. The first and second converters can also form a bi-directional ac-ac inverter.

Abstract: A power converter system supplies power to one or more loads. The power converter system comprises at least one power converter operating at a desired efficiency; and a power storage system coupled to the at least one power converter for receiving power supplied from the at least one power converter and storing power therein when the at least one power converter operates at an efficiency that is below the desired efficiency.

Abstract: A PFC circuit comprises a first converter and a second converter and a multi-port electromagnetic device. The first converter has a first inductive element and the second converter has a second inductive element. The multi-port electromagnetic device comprises a first magnetic core having a first closed flux path and a second magnetic core having a second closed flux path, with the first closed flux path being independent of the second closed flux path. The first inductive element of the first boost circuit comprises a first winding that electromagnetically couples the first magnetic core to the second magnetic core and the second inductive element of the second boost circuit comprises a second winding that electromagnetically couples the first magnetic core to the second magnetic core independent of the electromagnetic coupling of the first winding such that current application in one windings does not induce a substantial voltage in the other.

Abstract: A non-isolated power conversion system has an input stage and an output stage. A plurality of cascaded switching power converter stages are coupled between the input stage and the output stage. Each of the plurality of switching power converter stages has at least one switch that is activated in accordance with a duty cycle associated with a switching cycle. At least one energy storage device temporarily stores energy that is proportional to the duty cycle during the switching cycle for delivery to the output stage.

Abstract: The present invention includes multiple power converters for driving one or more loads via an input power source, AC or DC. A first switching power converter has first one or more windings coupled to an input power source, and a second switching power converter having second one or more windings coupled to one or more loads. A magnetic device comprising a single integrated magnetic core couples the first one or more windings to the second one or more windings for reducing switching loss.