A method for operating a multi-level bridge power converter of an electrical power system connected to a power grid includes providing a plurality of switching devices of the power converter in one of a neutral point clamped topology or an active neutral point clamped topology, the plurality of switching devices including a first group and a second group of switching devices. The method also includes providing a multi-state deadtime for the first and second groups of switching devices that changes based on different state transitions of the power converter. Further, the method includes operating the first and second groups of switching devices according to the multi-state deadtime to allow the first group to switch differently than the second group during the different state transitions, thereby decreasing voltage overshoots on the first group during one or more of the different state transitions and providing safe transition between commutation states of the power converter.

In an aspect, a system for recharging an electric vehicle. A system includes an electric vehicle. An electric vehicle includes at least a propulsor. An electric vehicle includes a recharging connector electrically connected to a power source. An electric vehicle includes a power storage unit. A power storage unit is configured to store power. An electric vehicle includes a power supply circuit. A power supply circuit is in electric communication with a power storage unit and recharging connector. A power supply circuit includes a buck-boost regulator. A buck-boost regulator includes at least an inductor. A buck-boost regulator includes a switching device to supply intermittent current to at least an inductor. At least one of at least an inductor and a switching device is a component of at least a propulsor motor.

A bidirectional DC-DC converter with three or more ports is described along with a method of operation thereof. The converter utilizes a common transformer for all ports and allows for power transfer from any port to any or all of the remaining ports. The converter may utilize a controller which implements variable-frequency control, delay-time control, and/or phase-delay control to achieve power transfer as desired between the converter ports. In some cases, power transfer between ports can operate similar to a series-resonant converter or a dual active bridge converter.

A bidirectional DC-DC converter with three or more ports is described along with a method of operation thereof. The converter utilizes a common transformer for all ports and allows for power transfer from any port to any or all of the remaining ports. The converter may utilize a controller which implements variable-frequency control, delay-time control, and/or phase-delay control to achieve power transfer as desired between the converter ports. In some cases, power transfer between ports can operate similar to a series-resonant converter or a dual active bridge converter.

An electrical power conversion unit is provided with: a circuit connecting part which includes a positive electrode conductor, a negative electrode conductor, and an alternating current conductor; a power semiconductor module connected to a specific side of the circuit connecting part; a fin that extends to the opposite side of the circuit connecting part with respect to the power semiconductor module; and a capacitor disposed at one end in the lengthwise direction of the circuit connecting part. A space in which a cooling fan is disposed is formed by an extending part and the fin, when the extending part is defined as a region, of the circuit connecting part, other than the portion at which the fin projects to the circuit connecting part, such region including one end that is opposite, via the fin, the one end where the capacitor is present.

According to one embodiment, a voltage converting device includes a DC power source; an inverter generating AC power; an AC component detector configured to detect an AC component of current flowing through a first terminal or a second terminal of the inverter in the DC power source side; and a phase estimator configured to estimate a phase relation between a phase of voltage of the AC power and a phase of current of the AC power based on an amplitude of a specific frequency component contained in a first absolute value signal of the AC component. The AC power generated by the inverter is supplied to a loading device, and an impedance of the loading device at a fundamental of a driving frequency of the inverter is smaller than an impedance of the loading device at an odd-order harmonic of the driving frequency.

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip made of a SiC substrate and having main electrodes on one surface and a rear surface, first and second heat sinks, respectively, disposed adjacent to the one surface and the rear surface, a terminal member interposed between the second heat sink and the semiconductor chip, and a plurality of bonding members disposed between the main electrodes, the first and second heat sinks, and the terminal member. The terminal member includes plural types of metal layers symmetrically layered in the plate thickness direction. The terminal member as a whole has a coefficient of linear expansion at least in a direction orthogonal to the plate thickness direction in a range larger than that of the semiconductor chip and smaller than that of the second heat sink.

Disclosed are an inverter control device and method. The method according to an embodiment of the present includes estimating a rotation speed of a motor, determining a slip frequency reference using an energy of a direct current terminal capacitor of an inverter, which provides an output voltage to the motor, and a direct current terminal energy reference when a direct current terminal voltage of the inverter is a certain level or less, and providing a frequency reference determined by adding the rotation speed of the motor and the slip frequency reference to the inverter.

Disclosed are an inverter control device and method. The method according to an embodiment of the present includes estimating a rotation speed of a motor, determining a slip frequency reference using an energy of a direct current terminal capacitor of an inverter, which provides an output voltage to the motor, and a direct current terminal energy reference when a direct current terminal voltage of the inverter is a certain level or less, and providing a frequency reference determined by adding the rotation speed of the motor and the slip frequency reference to the inverter.

A power converting device includes a DC-DC converting circuit, a DC-AC converting circuit, and an insulation detecting circuit. The DC-DC converting circuit is configured to convert a DC input voltage to a DC bus voltage. The DC-AC converting circuit is electrically coupled to the DC-DC converting circuit and configured to convert the DC bus voltage to an AC voltage. The insulation detecting circuit is electrically coupled between the DC-DC converting circuit and the DC-AC converting circuit. The insulation detecting circuit is configured to detect a ground impedance value of the power converting device according to the DC bus voltage.