IP Library Granted Patent US 11,050,353
Granted Patent B2
US 11,050,353 · App. 16/620,000 · Granted Jun 29, 2021

Power conversion device that generates switching signals

Inventors: Sho Yaegaki (Hitachinaka, JP); Kenji Kubo (Hitachinaka, JP); Takuma Ono (Hitachinaka, JP); Yuki Yamabe (Hitachinaka, JP)
Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
H02M3/33576B60R16/02H02M1/088H02M1/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,050,353
App. No.
16/620,000
Granted
Jun 29, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power conversion device capable of suppressing current backflow while also improving current responsiveness and power conversion efficiency is achieved. A snubber capacitor capable of absorbing switching surge is connected to a low-voltage side switching circuit that includes switching elements. Until a predetermined time elapses from when a request to start switching is received, a controller determines that the snubber capacitor has not reached full charge or near-full charge, and asynchronously controls the low-voltage side switching circuit and a high-voltage side switching circuit that includes switching elements. After the predetermined time elapses, the controller synchronously controls the low-voltage side switching circuit and the high-voltage side switching circuit, and also controls a duty ratio of the low-voltage side switching circuit and the high-voltage side switching circuit such that current does not flow back from the low-voltage side switching circuit to the high-voltage side switching circuit.

Claims (20)

1. A power conversion device comprising:

a transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding;

a high-voltage side switching circuit connected between the primary winding of the transformer and a high-voltage side power supply;

a low-voltage side switching circuit connected between the secondary winding of the transformer and a low-voltage side power supply;

a surge voltage-suppressing capacitor electrically connected in parallel with the low-voltage switching circuit; and

a controller configured to control switching states of the high-voltage side switching circuit and the low-voltage side switching circuit, wherein

the controller detects a state of charge of the surge voltage-suppressing capacitor, if the controller determines that the surge voltage-suppressing capacitor has reached full charge or near-full charge, the controller asynchronously controls the switching states of the high-voltage side switching circuit and the low-voltage side switching circuit,

if the controller determines that the surge voltage-suppressing capacitor has not reached full charge or near-full charge, the controller synchronously controls the switching states of the high-voltage side switching circuit and the low-voltage side switching circuit,

in a case in which a predetermined time has elapsed since the controller started asynchronously controlling the switching states of the high-voltage side switching circuit and the low-voltage side switching circuit,

the controller determines that the surge voltage-suppressing capacitor has reached full charge or near-full charge,

the control includes

a switching method toggle unit configured to generate a switching method toggle flag for the switching between asynchronously and synchronously controlling the switching state of the low-voltage side switching circuit and the switching state of the high-voltage side switching circuit,

a duty generator configured to generate a switching duty ratio of the low-voltage side switching circuit and a switching duty ratio of the high-voltage side switching circuit on a basis of the switching method toggle flag generated by the switching method toggle unit, and

a switching signal generator configured to generate switching signals for switching the low-voltage side switching circuit and for switching the high-voltage switching circuit, on a basis of the switching method toggle flag and the switching duty ratio of the low-voltage side switching circuit as well as the switching duty ratio of the high-voltage side switching circuit generated by the duty generator.

2. The power conversion device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a voltage sensor configured to detect a voltage of the surge voltage-suppressing capacitor, wherein in a case in which the voltage of the surge voltage-suppressing capacitor detected by the voltage sensor exceeds a predetermined value, the controller determines that the surge voltage-suppressing capacitor has reached full charge or near-full charge.

3. The power conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein

a switching duty ratio by which the controller asynchronously controls the switching states of the high-voltage side switching circuit and the low-voltage side switching circuit is smaller than a switching duty ratio by which the controller synchronously controls the switching states of the high-voltage side switching circuit and the low-voltage side switching circuit.

4. The power conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein

the power conversion device is a DC-DC converter onboard a vehicle.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 30, 2021
From: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
To: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058481/0935 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2020
From: YAEGAKI, SHO; KUBO, KENJI; ONO, TAKUMA; YAMABE, YUKI
To: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 051823/0453 →