IP Library Granted Patent US 12695378
Granted Patent B2
US 12695378 · App. 18/403,935 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Precharging DC link between battery and power connection

Inventors: Rachit Agarwal (Troy, MI); Sumit Dutta (Rochester Hills, MI)
Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
H02M1/4233H02J7/02H02J7/865H02M1/0043H02M3/01H02M3/33573H02M3/33584H02M7/53871H02M7/797B60L53/60B60L2270/20H02J2207/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12695378
App. No.
18/403,935
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system includes a direct current (DC) link configured to receive DC power from a first converter that converts alternating current power into DC power. A bidirectional DC-DC converter, electrically connected between the DC link and a DC power source, is configured to convert DC power from a first voltage to a second voltage. The bidirectional DC-DC converter includes multiple switches. A controller is configured to control a switching parameter of the plurality of switches to charge the DC link to a threshold voltage from the DC power source before the first converter provides power to the DC power source. The switching parameter is at least one of a switching frequency and a phase shift. Controlling the switching parameter includes initially setting the switching parameter to a first value and, in response to determining that a set of criteria has been met, adjusting the switching parameter to a second value.

Claims (51)

1 . A system comprising:

a direct current (DC) link configured to receive DC power from a first converter that converts alternating current (AC) power into the DC power;

a bidirectional DC-DC converter electrically connected between the DC link and a DC power source, wherein:

the bidirectional DC-DC converter is configured to convert the DC power from a first voltage to a second voltage, and

the bidirectional DC-DC converter includes a plurality of switches; and

a controller configured to control a switching parameter of the plurality of switches to charge the DC link to a threshold voltage from the DC power source before the first converter provides power to the DC power source,

wherein the switching parameter is a switching frequency, and

wherein controlling the switching parameter includes:

initially setting the switching parameter to a first value, and

in response to determining that a set of criteria has been met:

adjusting the switching parameter to a second value that is less than the first value, while holding constant a phase shift between a first set of switches of the plurality of switches and a second set of switches of the plurality of switches.

2 . The system of claim 1 wherein:

switching of the first set of switches of the plurality of switches is phased shifted with respect to switching of the second set of switches of the plurality of switches.

3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the switching parameter is iteratively adjusted by a plurality of increments.

4 . The system of claim 3 wherein the switching parameter is adjusted monotonically.

5 . The system of claim 1 wherein:

a duty cycle of each switch of the plurality of switches remains unchanged while the switching parameter is being adjusted; and

the duty cycle of each switch of the plurality of switches is equal to each other.

6 . The system of claim 1 wherein:

a first group of switches of the plurality of switches has a first duty cycle;

a second group of switches of the plurality of switches has a second duty cycle;

a sum of the first duty cycle and the second duty cycle is one hundred percent; and

the first duty cycle and the second duty cycle are held constant while the switching parameter is adjusted.

7 . The system of claim 1 wherein the set of criteria includes a criterion that is met by the DC link exceeding a first capacitor voltage.

8 . The system of claim 1 wherein the set of criteria includes a criterion that is met by a specified first time period elapsing.

9 . The system of claim 1 wherein the DC power source is configured to, in a reverse operating mode, deliver power to an AC power source.

10 . The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a system controller configured to delay provision of power from the first converter to the DC link until the DC link is charged to the threshold voltage,

wherein the system controller is configured to selectively charge the DC power source from power provided by the first converter.

11 . The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to repeatedly adjust the switching parameter until at least one of:

a voltage of the DC link reaches a voltage threshold;

a time since initially setting the switching parameter to the first value reaches a threshold; or

the switching parameter is adjusted to a final switching parameter.

12 . The system of claim 11 wherein:

the final switching parameter is determined by indexing a lookup table; and

the lookup table is indexed by a measured voltage of the DC power source.

13 . The system of claim 1 wherein:

the first value is determined by indexing a lookup table; and

the lookup table is indexed by a measured voltage of the DC power source.

14 . The system of claim 1 further comprising:

the first converter,

wherein the first converter is a bidirectional power factor correction (PFC) inverter.

15 . The system of claim 1 wherein the DC link includes a set of capacitors electrically arranged in parallel.

16 . The system of claim 1 wherein:

the bidirectional DC-DC converter includes a set of transformers,

a first side of the set of transformers is electrically arranged in series,

a second side of the set of transformers is electrically arranged in parallel, and

the bidirectional DC-DC converter has inductive-capacitive and capacitive-inductive resonance.

17 . The system of claim 1 further comprising:

the DC power source,

wherein the DC power source includes a battery bank.