IP Library Patent Application 14132562
Patent Application
App. No. 14/132,562

NON-ISOLATED DC/AC INVERTER

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
14/132,562
Abstract

A method and apparatus for converting DC power comprising: a boost circuit comprising two switches and a capacitor where the two switches are serially connected and coupled in parallel to the capacitor, a voltage source inverter (VSI) comprising at least four switches in an H-bridge configuration, and a controller coupled to the boost circuit and VSI for selectively energizing the switches wherein no more than two switches are toggling in a time period for operating the apparatus in either the buck mode or boost mode.

Claims (26)

1 . An apparatus for converting DC power comprising:

a boost circuit comprising two switches and a capacitor where the two switches are serially connected and coupled in parallel to the capacitor;

a voltage source inverter (VSI) comprising at least four switches in an H-bridge configuration; and

a controller coupled to the boost circuit and VSI for selectively energizing the switches wherein no more than two switches are toggling in a time period for operating the apparatus in either the buck mode or boost mode.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein selection of the at least two switches for toggling is based on a comparison of an input voltage to the boost circuit and output voltage from the VSI.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the two toggling switches are energized using at least one of: pulse width modulation, predictive control, or hysteretic control.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the remaining switches are not toggling and held at either a closed or open position.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a DC input port for receiving DC power for conversion to AC power.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a low pass filter circuit at the DC input port.

7 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein when the apparatus is in a buck mode, no more than two active switches are active, and located within the inverter circuit.

8 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein when the apparatus is in the boost mode, no more than two active switches are active, and located within the boost circuit.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is capable of outputting multiphase power.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein outputting multiphase power further comprises three output legs.

11 . A method for converting DC power using a converter comprising:

selectively operating two switches of a boost circuit to control charging a capacitor of a boost circuit when DC input power is greater than AC output power;

coupling power from the boost circuit to a voltage source inverter (VSI) comprising four switches in an H-bridge configuration; and

operating the boost circuit and VSI with a controller, wherein no more than two switches are toggling in a time period for operating the apparatus in either the buck mode or boost mode.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein selection of the at least two switches for toggling is based on a comparison of an input voltage to the boost circuit and output voltage from the VSI.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the two toggling switches are energized using at least one of: pulse width modulation, predictive control, or hysteretic control.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the remaining switches are not toggling and held at either a closed or open position.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprising receiving DC input power for conversion to AC output power.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the DC input power is received at a DC input port further comprising a low pass filter.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising when operating in a buck mode, no more than two switches actively toggling are located within the inverter circuit.

18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising when operating in a boost mode, no more than two switches actively toggling are located within the boost circuit.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the VSI is capable of outputting multiphase power.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein outputting multiphase power includes outputting to three output legs.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2026
From: OBSIDIAN AGENCY SERVICES, INC.
To: ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 075546/0734 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2020
From: FLEXTRONICS INDUSTRIAL, LTD.; FLEXTRONICS AMERICA, LLC
To: ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 052022/0954 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 041936 FRAME: 0109. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Apr 17, 2017
From: ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
To: FLEXTRONICS INDUSTRIAL, LTD; FLEXTRONICS AMERICA, LLC
Reel/Frame 043339/0856 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 30, 2016
From: ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
To: OBSIDIAN AGENCY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 041225/0509 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 30, 2016
From: ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
To: FLEXTRONICS AMERICA, LLC
Reel/Frame 041936/0109 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 30, 2016
From: ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
To: FLEXTRONICS INDUSTRIAL, LTD
Reel/Frame 041958/0820 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2016
From: ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 041210/0283 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2013
From: FORNAGE, MARTIN
To: ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 031821/0091 →