Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130301326 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THERMAL CYCLING - A method for reducing thermal cycling of a semiconductor power switch includes obtaining a value indicative of a junction temperature of the power switch. The method also includes selecting one of several pre-determined gate drive voltages, based on the obtained value, and providing the selected gate drive voltage to a gate of the power switch. This reduces thermal cycling of a power switch relative to the thermal cycling that would be present during operation at a single gate temperature. | 11-14-2013 |
20130301755 | CONVERTER COMMUNICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS - A communication method includes detecting at a gate drive unit a change of state of a command signal that is received via a command link of the gate drive unit and initiating, responsive to the change of state of the command signal, a blanking period in which the gate drive unit will process as incoming data any further changes of state of the command signal. The method also includes receiving incoming data at the gate drive unit, by processing modulations of the command signal, within the blanking period. | 11-14-2013 |
20130308344 | POWER CONVERTER AND METHOD - A power converter apparatus includes a primary bridge having a plurality of diagonally opposed primary power elements, and a secondary bridge having a plurality of diagonally opposed secondary power elements. The primary and secondary bridges are electrically coupled by a transformer. At least one control unit is configured to phase-shift switch the primary and secondary power elements, such that one or more of the primary and secondary power elements are switched off under near-zero current conditions to reduce voltage and current stresses and commutation losses within the power converter. | 11-21-2013 |
20130328596 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR POWER SWITCH HEALTH MONITORING - A method includes obtaining a standard value for a characteristic of a power switch and obtaining a measured value of the characteristic, via a gate drive unit connected to a gate terminal of the power switch. The method also includes determining a health state of the power switch by comparing the measured value to the standard value of the characteristic. | 12-12-2013 |
20140077611 | CAPACITOR BANK, LAMINATED BUS, AND POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS - A capacitor bank includes a laminated bus bar having a high potential conductive layer and a low potential conductive layer disposed in close proximity at opposing surfaces of an intervening insulation layer. The bank also includes a plurality of bus capacitors electrically connected to the laminated bus bar. The laminated bus bar and the bus capacitors having a combined inductance sufficiently low such that the bus capacitors are electrically connected effectively in parallel with the laminated bus bar. | 03-20-2014 |
20140078782 | POWER CONVERTER CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A power converter control system includes primary bridge controller that is configured to actuate a first plurality of gate drive units that switch a first plurality of power elements in a primary bridge of a power converter. The control system further includes a secondary bridge controller separate from the primary bridge controller that is configured to actuate a second plurality of gate drive units to switch a second plurality of power elements in a secondary bridge of the power converter | 03-20-2014 |