IP Library Granted Patent US 12,647,023
Granted Patent B2
US 12,647,023 · App. 18/586,266 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Systems and methods for adaptive dead time control of a device integrated with converters that implement soft switching

Inventors: Gil Lampong Opina, Jr. (Singapore, SG); Howe Li Yeo (Singapore, SG); Anshuman Tripathi (Singapore, SG)
Assignee: Nanyang Technological University
H02M1/385H02M1/0058H02M3/33584
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,647,023
App. No.
18/586,266
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system comprises one or more sensors for determining sensor data, the sensor data including ambient parameters internal to the enclosure; a controller comprising one or more sensor interfaces configured to communicate with one or more sensors to receive the sensor data; one or more processors; and memory storing computer instructions configured to perform: determining, based on the sensor data, an existence or probability of condensation within the enclosure; and decreasing a dead time of the one or more soft switching mechanisms based on the existence or probability of condensation within the enclosure, the decreasing the dead time increasing heat in the converter circuitry to assist in addressing the existence or probability of condensation.

Claims (37)

1 . A system for controlling converter circuitry, the converter circuitry comprising switches and one or more soft switching mechanisms within an enclosure, the system comprising:

one or more sensors for determining sensor data, the sensor data including ambient parameters internal to the enclosure;

a controller comprising:

one or more sensor interfaces configured to communicate with the one or more sensors to receive the sensor data;

one or more hardware processors; and

memory storing computer instructions, the computer instructions when executed by the one or more hardware processors configured to perform:

determining, based on the sensor data, an existence or probability of condensation within the enclosure; and

decreasing a dead time of the one or more soft switching mechanisms based on the existence or probability of condensation within the enclosure, the dead time being based on discharging capacitance through the one or more soft switching mechanisms, the decreasing the dead time thereby increasing heat in the converter circuitry to assist in addressing the existence or probability of condensation.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the switches include transistors.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more soft switching mechanisms includes zero-voltage switching.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more soft switching mechanisms includes one or more transistors.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the converter circuitry includes a dual-active bridge (DAB).

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the converter circuitry includes one or more drivers for controlling the soft switching mechanisms of the circuitry and for controlling the dead time of the one or more soft switching mechanisms in response to control signals from the controller.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ambient parameters include temperature and humidity.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor data further includes ambient parameters external to the enclosure.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the decreasing of the dead time is based on a deviation of the existence or probability of condensation from a threshold value.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the threshold value is based on a predetermined dewpoint.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the probability of condensation is a probability of an existence of condensation within the enclosure.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the probability of condensation is a probability of generation of condensation within the enclosure at a future time.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the converter circuitry includes a half bridge.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the decreasing adjusting the dead time of the one or more soft switching mechanisms includes adaptively adjusting the dead time based on load characteristics of a load.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the adaptively adjusting the dead time includes adjusting the dead time more when the load is lower and less when the load is higher.

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the addressing the existence or probability of condensation includes preventing the condensation.

17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the addressing the existence or probability of condensation includes reducing the condensation.

18 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the addressing the existence or probability of condensation includes eliminating the condensation.

19 . A method for controlling converter circuitry, the converter circuitry comprising switches and one or more soft switching mechanisms within an enclosure, the method comprising:

using one or more sensors to determine sensor data, the sensor data including ambient parameters internal to the enclosure;

determining, based on the sensor data, an existence or probability of condensation within the enclosure; and

decreasing a dead time of the one or more soft switching mechanisms based on the existence or probability of condensation within the enclosure, the dead time being based on discharging capacitance through the one or more soft switching mechanisms, the decreasing the dead time thereby increasing heat in the converter circuitry to assist in addressing the existence or probability of condensation.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the converter circuitry includes a dual-active bridge (DAB).

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the ambient parameters include temperature and humidity.

22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the sensor data further includes ambient parameters external to the enclosure.

23 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the decreasing the dead time is based on a deviation of the existence or probability of condensation from a threshold value.

24 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the probability of condensation is a probability of an existence of condensation within the enclosure.

25 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the probability of condensation is a probability of generation of condensation within the enclosure at a future time.

26 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the decreasing the dead time of the one or more soft switching mechanisms includes adaptively adjusting the dead time based on load characteristics of a load.

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the adaptively adjusting the dead time includes adjusting the dead time more when the load is lower and less when the load is higher.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2024
From: OPINA, GIL LAMPONG, JR.; YEO, HOWE LI; TRIPATHI, ANSHUMAN
To: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 066825/0571 →
Priority Claims (1)
SG 10202302679X · Sep 22, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250105726A1 · Mar 27, 2025
References Cited (7)
US 9812979B1 · Tschirhart · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 10658936B2 · Sun · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20150256074A1 · Biondi et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160146488A1 · Ochiai et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20180367059A1 · Tsukano · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20200244210A1 · Waggel · 2020 [cited by examiner]
WO 2018211164A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]