Method and device for controlling an inverter

1. A method for controlling an inverter ( 10 ) by space vector modulation wherein the inverter ( 10 ) has a plurality of controllable switches (S) and is configured to provide a polyphase electric current (IU, IV, IW), the method comprising:

predefining a nominal current space vector (I 1 *) having a nominal phase angle (alpha 1 ) and a nominal amplitude (I 1 ),

controlling the inverter ( 10 ) such that a plurality of different consecutive switching states (V 0 -V 7 ) of the switches (S) are set in order to provide the electric current (IU, IV, IW) in the form of a current space vector (I 1 *), and

further controlling the inverter ( 10 ) such that the current space vector (I 2 *) is provided with a phase angle (alpha 2 ) which differs from the nominal phase angle (alpha 1 ) in order to load the switches (S) according to a nominal loading value (m).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising providing the current space vector (I 2 *) with an amplitude (I 2 ) which differs from the nominal amplitude (I 1 ).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising setting the phase angle (alpha 2 ) and the amplitude (I 2 ) such that a power output is identical to a power output corresponding to the nominal phase angle (alpha 1 ) and the nominal amplitude (I 1 ).

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising setting a deviation (beta) of the phase angle (alpha 2 ) from the nominal phase angle (alpha 1 ) as a function of the nominal phase angle (alpha 1 ) of the nominal current space vector (I 1 *).

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising storing the deviation (beta) for different nominal phase angles (alpha 1 ) in a characteristic map.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising setting the phase angle (alpha 2 ) as a function of the losses of at least one of the controllable switches (S).

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising varying the phase angle (alpha 2 ) in steps as a function of the nominal phase angle (alpha 1 ).

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising determining the phase angle (alpha 2 ) and the nominal loading value (m), storing the values thus calculated in the characteristic map and controlling the inverter ( 10 ) on the basis of the stored values of the characteristic map.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising determining the phase angle (alpha 2 ) of the current space vector (I 2 *) on the basis of characteristic map data and correspondingly controlling the inverter ( 10 ), and determining the nominal loading value (m) as a function of the losses of at least two of the controllable switches (S).

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising providing the current phasor (I 2 *) with the phase angle (alpha 2 ) in order to load freewheeling diodes (D) according to a nominal loading value (m) of the inverter ( 10 ).

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising determining the nominal loading value (m) as a function of the maximum and minimum possible losses (P_Hmax, P_Hmin) of at least one of the switches (SH) which are assigned to the high supply voltage potential and as a function of the maximum and minimum possible losses (P_Lmax, P_Lmin) of at least one of the switches (SL) which are assigned to the low supply voltage potential.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an electrical machine ( 14 ) is controlled by the inverter ( 10 ) and the nominal current space vector (I 1 *) is determined as a function of a rotor angle (alpha_R) of the electrical machine.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising determining the phase angle (alpha 2 ) and the amplitude of the current space vector (I 2 *) such that a torque (M) output by the electrical machine ( 14 ) is identical to the torque (M) which is output by the nominal current space vector (I 1 *).

14. An inverter system, the system comprising:

an inverter ( 10 ) including a plurality of controllable switches (S) which are connected in order to provide a polyphase electric current (IU, IV, IW) on the basis of a nominal current space vector (I 1 *) having a nominal phase angle (alpha 1 ) and a nominal amplitude (I),

a control device ( 18 ) configured to control the inverter ( 10 ) such that the switches (S) of the inverter ( 10 ) assume a plurality of consecutive different switching states (V 0 -V 7 ) in order to provide the electric current (IU, IV, IW) in the form of a current space vector (I*), and such that the current space vector (I 2 *) is provided with a phase angle (alpha 2 ) which differs from the nominal phase angle (alpha 1 ) in order to load the switches (S) according to a nominal loading value (m).

15. A motor vehicle drivetrain having at least one electrical machine ( 14 ) for providing drive power, and having a system as claimed in claim 14 for controlling the electrical machine.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inverter ( 10 ) drives an electrical machine ( 14 ).

17. The method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the inverter ( 10 ) supplies the electrical machine ( 14 ) with the electric current (IU, IV, IW) in a polyphase manner.

18. The device ( 18 ) as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the inverter ( 10 ) drives an electrical machine ( 14 ).