An active neutral point clamped topology based converter includes a plurality of input terminals, an output terminal, a choke, a plurality of switching devices and a control unit. The control unit generates control signals for the switching devices of the converter in such that an SiC switch can be used with low reverse voltage.

A voltage converter for direct current includes a power converter circuit having a transformer, a switch converter bridge on a primary-side of the transformer, and a full-bridge rectifier on a secondary side of the transformer. The full-bridge rectifier has first and second rectifier branches. A capacitor is asymmetrically connected to the second rectifier branch.

Provided are a power conversion device and a system using the same, which can reduce loss of each semiconductor element in a power conversion circuit and enable high efficiency of a device controlled by the power conversion device. The power conversion device includes a direct current (DC) power source; and a full-bridge circuit having first upper and lower arms having an upper element and a lower element and second upper and lower arms having an upper element and a lower element, in which the first upper and lower arms and the second upper and lower arms are electrically connectable to a device, and ON resistances of the upper element of the first upper and lower arms and the lower element of the second upper and lower arms are smaller than ON resistances of the lower element of the first upper and lower arms and the upper element of the second upper and lower arms.

Provided are a power conversion device and a system using the same, which can reduce loss of each semiconductor element in a power conversion circuit and enable high efficiency of a device controlled by the power conversion device. The power conversion device includes a direct current (DC) power source; and a full-bridge circuit having first upper and lower arms having an upper element and a lower element and second upper and lower arms having an upper element and a lower element, in which the first upper and lower arms and the second upper and lower arms are electrically connectable to a device, and ON resistances of the upper element of the first upper and lower arms and the lower element of the second upper and lower arms are smaller than ON resistances of the lower element of the first upper and lower arms and the upper element of the second upper and lower arms.

A multilevel power converter and method for transforming DC power from a DC source into AC power for an AC load are provided. The converter is composed of a half-bridge inverter, a switching cell, and a controller configured for controlling operation of the half-bridge inverter and the switching cell. The half-bridge inverter and the switching cell are connectable to the DC source and the AC load. The switching cell is composed of first and second pairs of switches forming first and second branches in parallel, first and second capacitors connected in series in a capacitor branch connected between the first and second branches, and a pair of back-to-back connected switches in a third branch, the third branch connected to the capacitor branch and connectable to the AC load.

A power module includes: a first substrate layer that is disposed on a first plane; a second substrate layer that is disposed on a second plane that is parallel to the first plane; first and second electrical conductors that are configured to be electrically connected to first and second direct current (DC) reference potentials, respectively, and that extend outwardly from the power module on a third plane that is parallel to the first and second planes; third, fourth, and fifth electrical conductors that are configured to be electrically connected to first, second, and third alternating current (AC) reference potentials, respectively, and that extend outwardly from the power module on a fourth plane that is parallel to the first, second, and third planes; and a plurality of dies of switches, respectively, disposed between the first and second substrate layers.

A power module includes: a first substrate layer that is disposed on a first plane; a second substrate layer that is disposed on a second plane that is parallel to the first plane; first and second electrical conductors that are configured to be electrically connected to first and second direct current (DC) reference potentials, respectively, and that extend outwardly from the power module on a third plane that is parallel to the first and second planes; third, fourth, and fifth electrical conductors that are configured to be electrically connected to first, second, and third alternating current (AC) reference potentials, respectively, and that extend outwardly from the power module on a fourth plane that is parallel to the first, second, and third planes; and a plurality of dies of switches, respectively, disposed between the first and second substrate layers.

An active neutral point clamped topology based converter includes a plurality of input terminals, an output terminal, a choke, a plurality of switching devices and a control unit. The control unit generates control signals for the switching devices of the converter in such that an SiC switch can be used with low reverse voltage.

A current source inverter includes a first phase leg including a plurality of switching devices, a second phase leg including a plurality of switching devices, and a third phase leg including a plurality of switching devices. The current source inverter also includes a zero-state phase leg including at least one switching device, wherein the zero-state phase leg is configured to transition from an open state to prevent current flow to a closed state to allow current flow between a positive and negative terminal during a dead-band time.

An apparatus for controlling a power converter operable to receive a cyclically varying input signal includes a discrete-time, on-time generator coupled to the power converter and configured to regulate an output voltage of the power converter and a controller configured to compare the output voltage of the power converter against a first predetermined range to: obtain a comparison result at a zero-crossing of the cyclically varying input signal and select one of a plurality of operation levels of the discrete-time, on-time generator in response to the comparison result. The plurality of operation levels includes a linear, discrete-time operation level and a nonlinear, discrete-time operation level.