A control module is able to be installed with electrical devices, such as, for example electrical loads (e.g., lighting loads) and/or load regulation devices. The control module may determine whether an LED driver for an LED light source is responsive to one or more of a plurality of control techniques. The control module may be able to automatically determine an appropriate control technique to use to control the connected LED driver and/or LED light source. The control module may sequentially attempt to control the LED driver and/or LED light source using each of the plurality of control techniques and determine if the LED driver and/or LED light source is responsive to the present control technique. The plurality of control techniques may include one or more analog control techniques and one or more digital control techniques.

A converter control unit, method, and computer program product for controlling a power supply device including a converter that provides power to a load. In one embodiment, the converter control unit is configured to obtain a load voltage measure from the converter representing a load voltage of the load, obtain an estimate of a voltage drop between the converter and the load, and obtain a reference voltage corresponding to a desired load voltage. The converter control unit is also configured to adjust the reference voltage or the load voltage measure with the estimate of the voltage drop, and compare, after the adjustment, the load voltage measure with the reference voltage to acquire an error signal. The converter control unit is still further configured to control the converter to provide the load voltage based on the error signal.

A converter control unit, method, and computer program product for controlling a power supply device including a converter that provides power to a load. In one embodiment, the converter control unit is configured to obtain a load voltage measure from the converter representing a load voltage of the load, obtain an estimate of a voltage drop between the converter and the load, and obtain a reference voltage corresponding to a desired load voltage. The converter control unit is also configured to adjust the reference voltage or the load voltage measure with the estimate of the voltage drop, and compare, after the adjustment, the load voltage measure with the reference voltage to acquire an error signal. The converter control unit is still further configured to control the converter to provide the load voltage based on the error signal.

A pulse width modulation (PWM) control device for converting a first PWM signal for a two-level power conversion device to a second PWM signal for a three-level power conversion device, the three-level power conversion device including a switch, the second PWM signal driving the switch through a drive unit. The PWM control device includes an input terminal for receiving the first PWM signal for the two-level power conversion device, a conversion unit configured to convert the first PWM signal into the second PWM signal for the three-level power conversion device, and an output unit that outputs the second PWM signal to the drive unit.

The present invention generally relates to a switching cell for a phase leg of a power converter and a method of controlling a power converter to drive a load, and more particularly to a plurality of such switching cells, a phase arm for a power converter, a power converter phase leg, to a power converter for driving a load, and methods of making a power converter. A switching cell for a phase leg of a power converter may comprise: a power switch for conducting a current for driving a load; a commutation path coupled in parallel with the power switch, the commutation path comprising a cell capacitor and an auxiliary switch coupled in series, the auxiliary switch configured to allow control of a conduction state of the commutation path; and a cell inductor coupled to a coupling of the power switch and the commutation path, wherein the switching cell comprises at least one control input line for receiving a control signal, the at least one control input line configured to drive a control terminal of the power switch and a control terminal of the auxiliary switch.

The present invention generally relates to a switching cell for a phase leg of a power converter and a method of controlling a power converter to drive a load, and more particularly to a plurality of such switching cells, a phase arm for a power converter, a power converter phase leg, to a power converter for driving a load, and methods of making a power converter. A switching cell for a phase leg of a power converter may comprise: a power switch for conducting a current for driving a load; a commutation path coupled in parallel with the power switch, the commutation path comprising a cell capacitor and an auxiliary switch coupled in series, the auxiliary switch configured to allow control of a conduction state of the commutation path; and a cell inductor coupled to a coupling of the power switch and the commutation path, wherein the switching cell comprises at least one control input line for receiving a control signal, the at least one control input line configured to drive a control terminal of the power switch and a control terminal of the auxiliary switch.

A controller performs a first control for controlling the power source power factor or a power source harmonic of the harmonic current such that an input power factor of at least one of a plurality of connection devices changes in a direction preceding the power source power factor in a case where the power source power factor changes in a lagging direction, and performs a second control for controlling the power source power factor or the power source harmonic such that the input power factor of at least one of the connection devices changes in a direction lagging behind the power source power factor in a case where the power source power factor changes in a leading direction.

A controller performs a first control for controlling the power source power factor or a power source harmonic of the harmonic current such that an input power factor of at least one of a plurality of connection devices changes in a direction preceding the power source power factor in a case where the power source power factor changes in a lagging direction, and performs a second control for controlling the power source power factor or the power source harmonic such that the input power factor of at least one of the connection devices changes in a direction lagging behind the power source power factor in a case where the power source power factor changes in a leading direction.

For power converter pre-charge with line synchronization, a method magnetizes a power transformer of a power converter with a supply voltage from a variable voltage variable frequency supply. The method pre-charges power cells of the power converter fed from the power transformer to a specified voltage with the supply voltage. The method further modifies a primary amplitude, a primary phase, and a primary frequency of a primary winding of the power converter with the supply voltage to match a main amplitude, a main phase, and a main frequency of a main voltage of a main power source. In response to matching the primary amplitude, the primary phase, and the primary frequency to the main amplitude, the main phase, and the main frequency, the method connects the main power source to the power transformer.

For power converter pre-charge with line synchronization, a method magnetizes a power transformer of a power converter with a supply voltage from a variable voltage variable frequency supply. The method pre-charges power cells of the power converter fed from the power transformer to a specified voltage with the supply voltage. The method further modifies a primary amplitude, a primary phase, and a primary frequency of a primary winding of the power converter with the supply voltage to match a main amplitude, a main phase, and a main frequency of a main voltage of a main power source. In response to matching the primary amplitude, the primary phase, and the primary frequency to the main amplitude, the main phase, and the main frequency, the method connects the main power source to the power transformer.