An indirect matrix converter includes a rectifier module, an inverter module, and a control unit. The rectifier module includes three parallel-connected T-type bridge arms, and each T-type bridge arm includes a bidirectional switch and a power bridge arm. The power bridge arm includes a first switch and a second switch connected to the first switch in series. One end of the bidirectional switch is coupled to a first AC power source, and the other end thereof is coupled to a common contact between the first switch and the second switch. The control unit outputs a plurality of control signals to control the rectifier module and the inverter module, so that the first AC power source is converted into a second AC power source, or the second AC power source is converted into the first AC power source.

An inverter circuit receives an AC input signal and uses at least two bidirectional switches between the input terminals and a junction node to perform the electrical inversion function. A resonant circuit is formed by a primary side inductor between the junction node and a second node and a capacitor arrangement between the second node and the input terminals.

A power controller circuit comprises a controller and a bi-directional switching assembly coupled to a sensor configured to sense at least one energy parameter of an energy flowing through the bi-directional switching assembly. The bi-directional switching assembly comprises a controllable switch. The controller is configured to control the controllable switch into a conduction mode during a first portion of an energy cycle of electrical energy supplied to the bi-directional switching assembly to cause the energy to flow through the bi-directional switching assembly. Via the sensor, the controller monitors the at least one energy parameter of the energy flowing through the bi-directional switching assembly. The controller controls the first controllable switch into a non-conduction mode based on an amount of the at least one energy parameter of the energy flowing through the bi-directional switching assembly during the first portion.

A power controller circuit comprises a controller and a bi-directional switching assembly coupled to a sensor configured to sense at least one energy parameter of an energy flowing through the bi-directional switching assembly. The bi-directional switching assembly comprises a controllable switch. The controller is configured to control the controllable switch into a conduction mode during a first portion of an energy cycle of electrical energy supplied to the bi-directional switching assembly to cause the energy to flow through the bi-directional switching assembly. Via the sensor, the controller monitors the at least one energy parameter of the energy flowing through the bi-directional switching assembly. The controller controls the first controllable switch into a non-conduction mode based on an amount of the at least one energy parameter of the energy flowing through the bi-directional switching assembly during the first portion.

Operating an electrical load controller includes, in one aspect, detecting zero-crossings of an AC waveform, determining periods each corresponding to a full cycle of the AC waveform, determining a frequency of the AC waveform based on the determined periods, and controlling a supply of AC power to a load based thereon using the determined frequency to fire a switching circuit of the electrical load controller. In another aspect, a method includes maintaining a minimum on-time for which a control signal to the switching circuit is to remain in an ON state to fire the switching circuit; based on a desired load level setting of the electrical load controller, setting a corresponding control signal turn-on time to turn the control signal to the ON state to conduct the supply of AC power to the load, the control signal turn-on time corresponding to a firing angle of half cycles of the AC power; selecting a control signal turn-off time to turn the control signal to the OFF state, where the selecting is made between (i) a first turn-off time equal to the set turn-on time plus the minimum on-time, and (ii) a second turn-off time equal to a default turn-off time for turning the control signal to the OFF state, the control signal turn-off time corresponding to a second angle of half cycles of the AC power; and controlling the supply of AC power to the load by selectively controlling the switching circuit to conduct the supply of AC power to the load, the controlling the supply of AC power to the load including: based on turning the control signal to the ON state during a half cycle of the AC power at the set control signal turn-on time, holding the control signal in the ON state until the selected control signal turn-off time during the half cycle.

Operating an electrical load controller includes, in one aspect, detecting zero-crossings of an AC waveform, determining periods each corresponding to a full cycle of the AC waveform, determining a frequency of the AC waveform based on the determined periods, and controlling a supply of AC power to a load based thereon using the determined frequency to fire a switching circuit of the electrical load controller. In another aspect, a method includes maintaining a minimum on-time for which a control signal to the switching circuit is to remain in an ON state to fire the switching circuit; based on a desired load level setting of the electrical load controller, setting a corresponding control signal turn-on time to turn the control signal to the ON state to conduct the supply of AC power to the load, the control signal turn-on time corresponding to a firing angle of half cycles of the AC power; selecting a control signal turn-off time to turn the control signal to the OFF state, where the selecting is made between (i) a first turn-off time equal to the set turn-on time plus the minimum on-time, and (ii) a second turn-off time equal to a default turn-off time for turning the control signal to the OFF state, the control signal turn-off time corresponding to a second angle of half cycles of the AC power; and controlling the supply of AC power to the load by selectively controlling the switching circuit to conduct the supply of AC power to the load, the controlling the supply of AC power to the load including: based on turning the control signal to the ON state during a half cycle of the AC power at the set control signal turn-on time, holding the control signal in the ON state until the selected control signal turn-off time during the half cycle.

A capacitor structure and a power convertor are provided by the present disclosure. The capacitor structure includes a housing and at least one core arranged inside the housing, and two electrodes of the capacitor structure are respectively led out from two ends of the housing. Thus, the pole piece required in a case that electrodes are led from the same end of the housing is omitted, thereby saving material cost. Besides, the housing and the core are respectively hollow structures, and the internal heat of the capacitor structure can be ventilated and dissipated through the corresponding hollow part, thereby improving the heat dissipation performance of the capacitor structure. In addition, by arranging the fin heat dissipation teeth on the housing, the heat dissipation area can be increased to further improve the heat dissipation efficiency.

A capacitor structure and a power converter are provided. The capacitor structure includes a parallel cell combination, and the parallel cell combination includes a plurality of cells and a plurality of current collectors. In the parallel cell combination: the cells are connected in parallel, and the poles connected in parallel are respectively connected with other devices through corresponding confluence points. Same poles of two adjacent cells are connected through a corresponding current collector, and the current-carrying specifications of each current collector is lower than the current-carrying requirements of a confluence point of a corresponding pole. That is to say, a conductor that implements the parallel connection of the cells is no longer a whole copper plate, but the individual current collectors, thus realizing the reduction of the cost of the conductor material.

A capacitor structure and a power converter are provided. The capacitor structure includes a parallel cell combination, and the parallel cell combination includes a plurality of cells and a plurality of current collectors. In the parallel cell combination: the cells are connected in parallel, and the poles connected in parallel are respectively connected with other devices through corresponding confluence points. Same poles of two adjacent cells are connected through a corresponding current collector, and the current-carrying specifications of each current collector is lower than the current-carrying requirements of a confluence point of a corresponding pole. That is to say, a conductor that implements the parallel connection of the cells is no longer a whole copper plate, but the individual current collectors, thus realizing the reduction of the cost of the conductor material.

There is provided a method of generating a control strategy based on at least three switching states of a matrix converter. The at least three switching states are selected based on at least a predicted output current, associated with each switching state, and a desired output current. In particular, mathematical transformations of a desired output current as well as output currents associated with each of a plurality of switching states are used to identify appropriate switching states.