This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for reducing current imbalances between phases in a multi-phase converter as well as reducing instances of particular phases switching twice within a single pulse-width modulated cycle, or other time period. Phases that have not switched for a longest period of time can be compared to see if swapping their firing patterns would reduce current imbalances, and if so, then those firing patterns can be swapped.

The invention provides a gate drive device, a gate drive method, a power semiconductor module, and an electric power conversion device capable of reducing a negative gate surge voltage. The gate drive device drives a semiconductor device constituting an arm in an electric power conversion device. Before a turn-off start of a drive arm, in a counter arm, a voltage between one main terminal of the semiconductor device and a gate terminal of the semiconductor device is charged to a voltage value that is larger, in a positive direction, than a negative voltage of a negative gate power supply and smaller than a gate threshold voltage of the semiconductor device.

The invention provides a gate drive device, a gate drive method, a power semiconductor module, and an electric power conversion device capable of reducing a negative gate surge voltage. The gate drive device drives a semiconductor device constituting an arm in an electric power conversion device. Before a turn-off start of a drive arm, in a counter arm, a voltage between one main terminal of the semiconductor device and a gate terminal of the semiconductor device is charged to a voltage value that is larger, in a positive direction, than a negative voltage of a negative gate power supply and smaller than a gate threshold voltage of the semiconductor device.

This multi-phase converter control device performs PWM control on driving of a multi-phase converter. The multi-phase converter is configured such that a plurality of converters connected to each other in parallel have reactors, and the reactors are magnetically coupled with each other and step up an input voltage to generate a step-up voltage. This multi-phase converter control device includes a feedback control unit configured to perform feedback control such that the step-up voltage is a target voltage, a PWM control unit configured to generate a PWM signal on the basis of a voltage command value output from the feedback control unit, and a drive unit configured to drive the multi-phase converter on the basis of the PWM signal. The feedback control unit calculates a step-up ratio of the multi-phase converter and changes a control gain in the feedback control on the basis of the step-up ratio.

A power converter circuit that includes multiple phase circuits may employ coupled inductors to generate a particular voltage level on a regulated power supply node. In response to an initiation of an active time period, the phase circuits cycle, out of phase with each other, between on-times and off-times. To maintain the phase relationship between the operation of the phase circuits, each phase circuit generates a ramp current that is compared to the current flowing in its corresponding inductor and then halts an off-time based on a result of the comparison.

A power converter circuit that includes multiple phase circuits may employ coupled inductors to generate a particular voltage level on a regulated power supply node. In response to an initiation of an active time period, the phase circuits cycle, out of phase with each other, between on-times and off-times. To maintain the phase relationship between the operation of the phase circuits, each phase circuit generates a ramp current that is compared to the current flowing in its corresponding inductor and then halts an off-time based on a result of the comparison.

A voltage doubling phase converter that converts single phase AC electric power to balanced three phase AC power. Two input terminals are connectable to a single-phase AC power source and connect directly to two output terminals of the converter. The phase converter has a storage capacitor, three active half-bridge modules connected to the storage capacitor, and a controller. Two modules connect to the input terminals and charge the storage capacitor. The other module connects to a third output terminal. The controller switches the module connected to the third output terminal and one of the other modules to generate and shape a second and a resultant third phase.

A voltage doubling phase converter that converts single phase AC electric power to balanced three phase AC power. Two input terminals are connectable to a single-phase AC power source and connect directly to two output terminals of the converter. The phase converter has a storage capacitor, three active half-bridge modules connected to the storage capacitor, and a controller. Two modules connect to the input terminals and charge the storage capacitor. The other module connects to a third output terminal. The controller switches the module connected to the third output terminal and one of the other modules to generate and shape a second and a resultant third phase.

An electrical conversion system includes an inverter arranged according to a multilevel type topology with k arms and a command device for cut-off against an electrical overload, connected to a set of first intermediate lines to measure a first intermediate continuous voltage. The cut-off command device is configured to determine a fault by detecting if the first measured intermediate continuous voltage is outside of a nominal voltage variation range [Vmax1, Vmin1] of the first intermediate voltage and to transmit a generalised opening command signal for an opening of the electronic commutation switches of each arm when the fault is determined.

An electrical conversion system includes an inverter arranged according to a multilevel type topology with k arms and a command device for cut-off against an electrical overload, connected to a set of first intermediate lines to measure a first intermediate continuous voltage. The cut-off command device is configured to determine a fault by detecting if the first measured intermediate continuous voltage is outside of a nominal voltage variation range [Vmax1, Vmin1] of the first intermediate voltage and to transmit a generalised opening command signal for an opening of the electronic commutation switches of each arm when the fault is determined.