Interleaved multi-channel, multi-level, multi-quadrant DC-DC converters

1. A direct-current-to-direct-current (DC-DC) power converter, comprising:

two or more multi-quadrant, multi-level, DC-DC, switching converter subcircuits, each switching converter subcircuit including a switching assembly including a plurality of phases, the switching converter subcircuits connected in parallel at respective input and output sides, each of the respective input sides being connected to a common DC input voltage source including three or more DC voltage levels, so as to provide a multi-channel, multi-quadrant, multi-level configuration; and

a control circuit configured to selectively control one or more switching semiconductor devices of the switching assembly in each phase of the switching converter subcircuits by transmitting one control signal of a plurality of control signals to each phase of each switching converter subcircuit,

wherein each control signal of the plurality of control signals includes a duty cycle such that each phase of each of the switching converter subcircuit operates using the duty cycle in an interleaved manner to reduce at least one of input side ripple current and output side ripple current.

2. The DC-DC power converter of claim 1 , wherein each of the switching converter subcircuits comprises a three-level, neutral-point-clamped, four-quadrant DC-DC converter circuit.

3. The DC-DC power converter of claim 1 , wherein each of the switching converter subcircuits comprises a three-level, neutral-point-clamped, two-quadrant DC-DC converter circuit.

4. The DC-DC power converter of claim 1 , wherein the the plurality of control signals of the switching converter subcircuits is separated by a phase angle of 2π/N, where N denotes a number of the two or more multi-quadrant, multi-level, DC-DC, switching converter subcircuits.

5. The DC-DC power converter of claim 1 wherein the plurality of control signals provides interleaved operation of the two or more switching converter subcircuits connected in parallel to provide an increased effective switching frequency relative to a switching frequency applied to a single one of the switching converter subcircuits.

6. The DC-DC power converter of claim 1 wherein the plurality of control signals provides interleaved operation of the two or more switching converter subcircuits connected in parallel to effectively increase at least one of input current ripple frequency and output current ripple frequency.

7. The DC-DC power converter of claim 1 , wherein each of the switching converter subcircuits comprises:

the switching assembly having a first side and a second side, the first side having three or more terminals configured for connecting to a multi-level DC interface and the second side having a pair of terminals configured for coupling to a two-level DC interface; and

an inductor assembly comprising first and second inductors and connected to the switching assembly so that each terminal of the pair terminals on the second side of the switching is connected to a corresponding first end of a different one of the first and second inductors.

8. The DC-DC power converter of claim 7 , further comprising a filter capacitor connected across a pair of output terminals at the output sides of the switching converter subcircuits.

9. The DC-DC power converter of claim 1 , wherein each of the switching converter subcircuits comprises:

the switching assembly having a first side and a second side, the first side having three or more terminals configured for connecting to a multi-level DC interface and the second side having first and second terminals configured for coupling to a two-level DC interface; and

first and second inductors coupled to one another, each having a first and second end, wherein the first end of the first inductor is connected to the first terminal of the switching assembly and the first end of the second inductor is connected to the second terminal of the switching assembly.

10. The DC-DC power converter of claim 9 , wherein a coupling coefficient between the first and second inductors is about 0.5.

11. The DC-DC power converter of claim 9 , wherein a coupling coefficient between the first and second inductors is between about 0.3 and about 0.7.

12. The DC-DC power converter of claim 9 , wherein the first and second inductors are coupled to one another and to one or more additional inductors via a common core structure.

13. The DC-DC power converter of claim 9 , wherein the first and second inductors comprise well-coupled windings of a transformer.

14. The DC-DC power converter of claim 9 , wherein each of the switching converter subcircuits is a separate, self-contained module.

15. A direct-current-to-direct-current (DC-DC) power converter, comprising:

two or more DC-DC, switching converter subcircuits, connected in parallel at respective input and output sides; and

a control circuit configured to selectively control each of the switching converter subcircuits;

wherein each of the switching converter subcircuits comprises:

a switching assembly including a first phase and a second phase each coupled between a first side and a second side, the first phase including two semiconductor devices coupled at a first output terminal, the second phase including two semiconductor devices coupled at a second output terminal, the first side having three or more terminals configured for connecting to a first DC interface including three or more DC voltage levels providing a multi-level converter topology; and

first and second inductors magnetically coupled to one another, each having a first and second end, wherein the first end of the first inductor is connected to the first output terminal, the second end of the first inductor is connected to a positive DC bus, the first end of the second inductor is connected to the second output terminal, and the second end of the second inductor is coupled to a negative DC bus.

16. The DC-DC power converter of claim 15 , wherein a coupling coefficient between the first and second inductors is about 0.5.

17. The DC-DC power converter of claim 15 , wherein a coupling coefficient between the first and second inductors is between about 0.3 and about 0.7.

18. The DC-DC power converter of claim 15 , wherein the first and second inductors are coupled to one another and to one or more additional inductors via a common core structure.

19. The DC-DC power converter of claim 15 , wherein each of the switching converter subcircuits is a separate, self-contained module.