An AC/DC power converter includes input terminals, output terminals, a power factor correction circuit coupled between the input and output terminals and including at least one power switch defining a switched current path, and a current transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding. The primary winding is coupled in series with the switched current path. The power converter also includes a first sense switch coupled with a first end of the secondary winding, a second sense switch coupled with a second end of the secondary winding, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to turn on the first sense switch and turn off the second sense switch during a positive polarity of the AC voltage input, and to turn off the first sense switch and turn on the second sense switch during a negative polarity of the AC voltage input.

The three-phase synchronous rectifier for battery charger on board vehicle comprises: three rectification units provided with respective inputs connected to respective phases of a permanent magnet generator and with respective outputs connected to a battery of a vehicle; wherein the rectification units are configured to receive at input respective phase currents of the generator and to supply at output rectified currents; and wherein each of the rectification units comprises a current sensor connected to a respective phase of the generator and a respective output circuit connected to the battery and operatively connected to said current sensor; the current sensor being configured to receive at input a respective phase current and the output circuit being configured to be piloted by means of the current sensor to generate the rectified currents; wherein the current sensor comprises at least one toroidal element made of a magnetic material crossed by a lead which conveys the phase current and at least one Hall effect sensor connected to the toroidal element and to the output circuit.

The three-phase synchronous rectifier for battery charger on board vehicle comprises: three rectification units provided with respective inputs connected to respective phases of a permanent magnet generator and with respective outputs connected to a battery of a vehicle; wherein the rectification units are configured to receive at input respective phase currents of the generator and to supply at output rectified currents; and wherein each of the rectification units comprises a current sensor connected to a respective phase of the generator and a respective output circuit connected to the battery and operatively connected to said current sensor; the current sensor being configured to receive at input a respective phase current and the output circuit being configured to be piloted by means of the current sensor to generate the rectified currents; wherein the current sensor comprises at least one toroidal element made of a magnetic material crossed by a lead which conveys the phase current and at least one Hall effect sensor connected to the toroidal element and to the output circuit.

An AC/DC converter stage for a converter system with an input series structure. The AC/DC converter stage includes two input terminals for inputting an AC input voltage and at least a first circuit branch with at least two switches that are electrically connected in series at a first connection point, where a first input terminal of the two input terminals is electrically connected to the first connection point of the first circuit branch. At least one first electrical storage provides a DC output voltage and is electrically connected in parallel to the first circuit branch. At least one controllable bidirectional switch is electrically connected between the two input terminals.

Systems and methods for power conversion are described. Symmetric topologies and modulation schemes are described that may reduce common-mode noise. For example, a system may include a transformer including a first secondary winding and a second secondary winding; a rectifier, including a set of switches, that connects taps of the first secondary winding and the second secondary winding to a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the rectifier is symmetric with respect to the first secondary winding and the second secondary winding; a battery connected between the first terminal and the second terminal; and a processing apparatus that is configured to control the set of switches to rectify a multilevel voltage signal on the transformer, including: selecting a modulation scheme from among two or more modulation schemes based on a measured voltage level of the battery.

Systems and methods for power conversion are described. Symmetric topologies and modulation schemes are described that may reduce common-mode noise. For example, a system may include a transformer including a first secondary winding and a second secondary winding; a rectifier, including a set of switches, that connects taps of the first secondary winding and the second secondary winding to a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the rectifier is symmetric with respect to the first secondary winding and the second secondary winding; a battery connected between the first terminal and the second terminal; and a processing apparatus that is configured to control the set of switches to rectify a multilevel voltage signal on the transformer, including: selecting a modulation scheme from among two or more modulation schemes based on a measured voltage level of the battery.

An auxiliary power supply device for an inverter with a plurality of power modules connected in parallel is disclosed. The auxiliary power supply device includes: a plurality of soft-start circuits, each coupled to a DC port of a corresponding power module; a plurality of distributed auxiliary power supplies, each having an input terminal coupled to the DC port of the corresponding power module; and a centralized auxiliary power supply having an input terminal coupled to an AC side of the inverter, and an output terminal coupled to a DC side of the inverter. By replacing auxiliary power supplies on the AC sides of all power modules with the centralized auxiliary power supply and omitting soft-start circuits on the AC sides of all power modules, the present invention improves system performance in cost, volume, loss, and electromagnetic compatibility.

An auxiliary power supply device for an inverter with a plurality of power modules connected in parallel is disclosed. The auxiliary power supply device includes: a plurality of soft-start circuits, each coupled to a DC port of a corresponding power module; a plurality of distributed auxiliary power supplies, each having an input terminal coupled to the DC port of the corresponding power module; and a centralized auxiliary power supply having an input terminal coupled to an AC side of the inverter, and an output terminal coupled to a DC side of the inverter. By replacing auxiliary power supplies on the AC sides of all power modules with the centralized auxiliary power supply and omitting soft-start circuits on the AC sides of all power modules, the present invention improves system performance in cost, volume, loss, and electromagnetic compatibility.

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.

A power supply device includes a controller configured to output, to a power converter, a command value to control at least one of a voltage or a current of power output from the power converter, and acquire a measurement value measured by a measurement unit. The controller is configured to, while power conversion operation is being performed by the power converter, change the command value and determine a deterioration of the power converter based on a mode of a change in the measurement value measured by the measurement unit due to a change in the command value.