DC-DC converter for vehicle
A method and apparatus for converting dc power from one voltage to another, in a mHEV includes an input filter, a converter circuit, and an output filter. the circuit is implemented with wide band gap devices, and may be a full bridge, half bridge, or push pull circuit. The size is preferably 120 cc, and the output power is preferably at least 500 W, 1 KW or up to 3 KW. The efficiency is preferably at least 80% or 90%, and the converter operates at a frequency of at least between 20 KHz and 2 MHz.
1. A converter used in a vehicle having a first electrical system at a first voltage and a second electrical system at a second voltage comprising:
an input filter adapted to receive power from the first electrical system;
a dc-dc converter, connected to receive power from the input filter, and having at least one control input wherein the power output of the converter is at least 500 watts;
an output filter connected to receive power from the dc-dc converter and adapted to provide power to the second electrical system; and
a controller, having a control output connected to the control input;
wherein the dc-dc converter includes wide band gap semiconductor devices.
2. The converter of claim 1 wherein the dc-dc converter is a buck converter.
3. The converter of claim 1 wherein the first voltage is less than 60 volts and greater than 12 volts.
4. The converter of claim 3 wherein the first voltage is approximately 48 volts.
5. The converter of claim 1 wherein the second voltage is approximately 12 volts.
6. The converter of claim 1 , wherein the wide band gap semiconductor devices are at least one of SiC and GaN transistors.
7. The converter of claim 1 , wherein the efficiency of the dc-dc converter is at least 80%.
8. The converter of claim 1 , wherein the efficiency of the dc-dc converter is at least 90%.
9. The converter of claim 1 , wherein the size of the converter is at most 120 cc.
10. The converter of claim 9 , wherein the power output of the converter is at least 1000 watts.
11. The converter of claim 10 , wherein the power output of the converter is up to 3000 watts.
12. The converter of claim 1 , wherein the power density of the converter is least 4.17 watts/cc.
13. The converter of claim 12 , wherein the power density of the converter is least 8.33 watts/cc.
14. The converter of claim 13 , wherein the power density of the converter is least 25 watts/cc.
15. The converter of claim 1 , wherein the dc-dc converter is a half-bridge converter.
16. The converter of claim 1 , wherein the dc-dc converter includes at least one of a full-bridge converter and a push-pull converter.
17. The converter of claim 1 , wherein the control output is provided at a frequency of at least 20 KHz.
18. The converter of claim 17 , wherein the control output is provided at a frequency of at least 1 MHz.
19. The converter of claim 17 , wherein the control output is provided at a frequency of at least 2 MHz.
20. The converter of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a start stop vehicle.
21. The converter of claim 20 wherein the vehicle is a micro hybrid vehicle.
22. A converter used in a vehicle having a first electrical system at a first voltage and a second electrical system at a second voltage comprising:
an input filter adapted to receive power from the first electrical system;
a dc-dc converter, connected to receive power from the input filter, and having at least one control input;
an output filter connected to receive power from the dc-dc converter and adapted to provide power to the second electrical system; and
a controller, having a control output connected to the control input;
wherein the power density of the converter is least 4.17 watts/cc and the power output of the converter is at least 500 watts.
23. The converter of claim 22 , wherein the power density of the converter is least 8.33 watts/cc.
24. The converter of claim 23 , wherein the power density of the converter up to 25 watts/cc.
25. The converter of claim 24 , wherein the dc-dc converter includes wide band gap semiconductor devices.
26. The converter of claim 25 , wherein the efficiency of the dc-dc converter is at least 80%.
27. The converter of claim 26 , wherein the efficiency of the dc-dc converter is at least 90%.
28. The converter of claim 26 , wherein the dc-dc converter is at least one of a half-bridge converter, a fill-bridge converter, and a push-pull converter.
29. The converter of claim 28 , wherein the control output is provided at a frequency of at least 20 KHz.
30. The converter of claim 29 , wherein the control output is provided at a frequency of at least 1 MHz.
31. The converter of claim 30 , wherein the control output is provided at a frequency of at least 2 MHz.
32. A dc-dc converter used in a micro hybrid vehicle having a first electrical system and a second electrical system, wherein the size of the converter is at most 120 cc, and the power output of the converter is at least 500 watts.
33. The dc-dc converter of claim 32 , wherein the power output of the dc-dc converter is at least 1000 watts.
34. The converter of claim 33 , wherein the power output of the dc-dc converter is up to 3000 watts.
35. The dc-dc converter of claim 33 , further at least one SiC and GaN of semiconductor devices connected to convert power.
36. The dc-dc converter of claim 33 , wherein the efficiency of the dc-dc converter is at least 80%.
37. The dc-dc converter of claim 33 , wherein the efficiency of the dc-dc converter is at least 90%.
38. The converter of claim 36 , wherein the dc-dc converter is at least one of a half-bridge converter, a full-bridge converter, and a push-pull converter.
39. The converter of claim 36 , wherein the control output is provided at a frequency of at least 20 KHz.
40. The converter of claim 39 , wherein the control output is provided at a frequency of at least 1 MHz.
41. The converter of claim 40 , wherein the control output is provided at a frequency of at least 2 MHz.