IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,609,627
Granted Patent B2
US 12,609,627 · App. 19/307,807 · Granted Apr 21, 2026

Series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion

Inventors: Xiaoping Chen (Shenzhen, CN); Kaixuan Zhang (Shenzhen, CN); Haidong Zhang (Shenzhen, CN); Yanghao Chen (Shenzhen, CN); Yisai Wu (Shenzhen, CN); Yuxing Zhang (Shenzhen, CN); Jianguo Zhu (Shenzhen, CN)
Assignee: Shenzhen Winline Technology Co., Ltd.
H02M3/33584H02J1/084H02J1/102H02M3/33573
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,609,627
App. No.
19/307,807
Granted
Apr 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion is provided. The series-parallel switching circuit includes a first bidirectional direct current (DC) voltage source and a second bidirectional DC voltage source, a first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and a second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit, a series-parallel switching switch, a first output filter capacitor and a second output filter capacitor, a bleeder circuit, and a soft-start circuit. The series-parallel switching switch is configured to connect the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit in series or in parallel. When the series-parallel switching switch is switched, a voltage across the first output filter capacitor and a voltage across the second output filter capacitor are unchanged.

Claims (35)

1 . A series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion, comprising:

a first bidirectional direct current (DC) voltage source and a second bidirectional DC voltage source, that are configured to provide a DC voltage for bidirectional power conversion, wherein a direction from the first bidirectional DC voltage source to the second bidirectional DC voltage source is a forward power-transfer direction;

a first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and a second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit, that are configured to implement a bidirectional DC/DC function;

a series-parallel switching switch configured to connect the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit in series or in parallel, to switch the series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion to operate in a series operating mode or a parallel operating mode;

a first output filter capacitor and a second output filter capacitor, wherein the first output filter capacitor is an output filter capacitor of the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit, and the second output filter capacitor is an output filter capacitor of the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit, wherein when the series-parallel switching switch is switched, a voltage across the first output filter capacitor and a voltage across the second output filter capacitor are unchanged;

a bleeder circuit configured to discharge the first output filter capacitor and the second output filter capacitor when the series-parallel switching circuit is powered off; and

a soft-start circuit comprising a soft-start relay switch and a soft-start resistor, wherein the soft-start circuit is configured for capacitive pre-charge of both the first output filter capacitor and the second output filter capacitor, to make a voltage difference between the first bidirectional DC voltage source or the second bidirectional DC voltage source and each of the first output filter capacitor and the second output filter capacitor within a preset range.

2 . The series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion of claim 1 , wherein the series-parallel switching switch comprises a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, and a fourth switch; when the first switch and the second switch are turned on, and the third switch and the fourth switch are turned off, the series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion is switched to the parallel operating mode; when the first switch and the second switch are turned off, and the third switch and the fourth switch are turned on, the series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion is switched to the series operating mode; a path of the series-parallel switching switch does not contain the first output filter capacitor and/or the second output filter capacitor; and one end of the first output filter capacitor is connected to a positive electrode of each of the first bidirectional DC voltage source and the second bidirectional DC voltage source, one end of the second output filter capacitor is connected to a negative electrode of each of the first bidirectional DC voltage source and the second bidirectional DC voltage source, and another end of the first output filter capacitor is connected to another end of the second output filter capacitor.

3 . The series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion of claim 1 , wherein when the series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion is powered up in the forward power-transfer direction, the soft-start relay switch is turned off, and then the first bidirectional DC voltage source or the second bidirectional DC voltage source charges an internal voltage through the soft-start resistor, wherein the internal voltage comprises the voltage across the first output filter capacitor and the voltage across the second output filter capacitor, and when a voltage difference across the soft-start relay switch reaches a preset threshold, the soft-start relay switch is turned on to complete a pre-charge operation.

4 . The series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion of claim 3 , wherein when the series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion is powered off, the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit stop power transfer, and then the soft-start relay switch is turned off and an output voltage is obtained; and when the output voltage drops to a preset safe voltage range, the bleeder circuit is started to discharge the internal voltage to implement a bleeder function.

5 . The series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion of claim 2 , wherein when the series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion is switched from the series operating mode to the parallel operating mode, the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit stop power transfer, and then a delay operation is performed according to the parallel operating mode switched by the series-parallel switching switch; and after the delay operation ends, a power transfer function of the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit is started to complete switching of the parallel operating mode.

6 . The series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion of claim 5 , wherein in terms of performing the delay operation according to the parallel operating mode switched by the series-parallel switching switch, a first time is delayed after the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit stop the power transfer, the first switch and the second switch are turned off and a second time is delayed after delaying the first time, the third switch and the fourth switch are turned on and a third time is delayed after delaying the second time, and after delaying the third time, the power transfer function of the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit is started to complete the switching of the parallel operating mode, wherein the first time is set according to a current freewheeling time, the second time is set according to a delay time of a turn-off operation of the soft-start relay switch, and the third time is set according to a delay time of a turn-on operation of the soft-start relay switch.

7 . The series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion of claim 2 , wherein when the series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion is switched from the parallel operating mode to the series operating mode, the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit stop power transfer, and then a delay operation is performed according to the series operating mode switched by the series-parallel switching switch; and after the delay operation ends, a power transfer function of the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit is started to complete switching of the series operating mode.

8 . The series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion of claim 7 , wherein in terms of performing the delay operation according to the series operating mode switched by the series-parallel switching switch, a first time is delayed after the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit stop power transfer, the third switch and the fourth switch are turned off and a second time is delayed after delaying the first time, the first switch and the second switch are turned on and a third time is delayed after delaying the second time, and after delaying the third time, the power transfer function of the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit is started to complete the switching of the series operating mode, wherein the first time is set according to a current freewheeling time, the second time is set according to a delay time of a turn-off operation of the soft-start relay switch, and the third time is set according to a delay time of a turn-on operation of the soft-start relay switch.

9 . An operating-mode switching method for bidirectional power conversion, wherein a series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion is used to switch between a series operating mode and a parallel operating mode, wherein the series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion comprises:

a first bidirectional direct current (DC) voltage source and a second bidirectional DC voltage source, that are configured to provide a DC voltage for bidirectional power conversion, wherein a direction from the first bidirectional DC voltage source to the second bidirectional DC voltage source is a forward power-transfer direction;

a first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and a second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit, that are configured to implement a bidirectional DC/DC function;

a series-parallel switching switch configured to connect the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit in series or in parallel, to switch the series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion to operate in the series operating mode or the parallel operating mode;

a first output filter capacitor and a second output filter capacitor, wherein the first output filter capacitor is an output filter capacitor of the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit, and the second output filter capacitor is an output filter capacitor of the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit, wherein when the series-parallel switching switch is switched, a voltage across the first output filter capacitor and a voltage across the second output filter capacitor are unchanged;

a bleeder circuit configured to discharge the first output filter capacitor and the second output filter capacitor when the series-parallel switching circuit is powered off; and

a soft-start circuit comprising a soft-start relay switch and a soft-start resistor, wherein the soft-start circuit is configured for capacitive pre-charge of both the first output filter capacitor and the second output filter capacitor, to make a voltage difference between the first bidirectional DC voltage source or the second bidirectional DC voltage source and each of the first output filter capacitor and the second output filter capacitor within a preset range.

10 . A switching power supply, comprising a series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion, wherein the series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion comprises:

a first bidirectional direct current (DC) voltage source and a second bidirectional DC voltage source, that are configured to provide a DC voltage for bidirectional power conversion, wherein a direction from the first bidirectional DC voltage source to the second bidirectional DC voltage source is a forward power-transfer direction;

a first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and a second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit, that are configured to implement a bidirectional DC/DC function;

a series-parallel switching switch configured to connect the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit in series or in parallel, to switch the series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion to operate in a series operating mode or a parallel operating mode;

a first output filter capacitor and a second output filter capacitor, wherein the first output filter capacitor is an output filter capacitor of the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit, and the second output filter capacitor is an output filter capacitor of the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit, wherein when the series-parallel switching switch is switched, a voltage across the first output filter capacitor and a voltage across the second output filter capacitor are unchanged;

a bleeder circuit configured to discharge the first output filter capacitor and the second output filter capacitor when the series-parallel switching circuit is powered off; and

a soft-start circuit comprising a soft-start relay switch and a soft-start resistor, wherein the soft-start circuit is configured for capacitive pre-charge of both the first output filter capacitor and the second output filter capacitor, to make a voltage difference between the first bidirectional DC voltage source or the second bidirectional DC voltage source and each of the first output filter capacitor and the second output filter capacitor within a preset range.

11 . The switching power supply of claim 10 , wherein the series-parallel switching switch comprises a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, and a fourth switch; when the first switch and the second switch are turned on, and the third switch and the fourth switch are turned off, the series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion is switched to the parallel operating mode; when the first switch and the second switch are turned off, and the third switch and the fourth switch are turned on, the series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion is switched to the series operating mode; a path of the series-parallel switching switch does not contain the first output filter capacitor and/or the second output filter capacitor; and one end of the first output filter capacitor is connected to a positive electrode of each of the first bidirectional DC voltage source and the second bidirectional DC voltage source, one end of the second output filter capacitor is connected to a negative electrode of each of the first bidirectional DC voltage source and the second bidirectional DC voltage source, and another end of the first output filter capacitor is connected to another end of the second output filter capacitor.

12 . The switching power supply of claim 10 , wherein when the series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion is powered up in the forward power-transfer direction, the soft-start relay switch is turned off, and then the first bidirectional DC voltage source or the second bidirectional DC voltage source charges an internal voltage through the soft-start resistor, wherein the internal voltage comprises the voltage across the first output filter capacitor and the voltage across the second output filter capacitor, and when a voltage difference across the soft-start relay switch reaches a preset threshold, the soft-start relay switch is turned on to complete a pre-charge operation.

13 . The switching power supply of claim 12 , wherein when the series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion is powered off, the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit stop power transfer, and then the soft-start relay switch is turned off and an output voltage is obtained; and when the output voltage drops to a preset safe voltage range, the bleeder circuit is started to discharge the internal voltage to implement a bleeder function.

14 . The switching power supply of claim 11 , wherein when the series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion is switched from the series operating mode to the parallel operating mode, the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit stop power transfer, and then a delay operation is performed according to the parallel operating mode switched by the series-parallel switching switch; and after the delay operation ends, a power transfer function of the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit is started to complete switching of the parallel operating mode.

15 . The switching power supply of claim 14 , wherein in terms of performing the delay operation according to the parallel operating mode switched by the series-parallel switching switch, a first time is delayed after the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit stop the power transfer, the first switch and the second switch are turned off and a second time is delayed after delaying the first time, the third switch and the fourth switch are turned on and a third time is delayed after delaying the second time, and after delaying the third time, the power transfer function of the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit is started to complete the switching of the parallel operating mode, wherein the first time is set according to a current freewheeling time, the second time is set according to a delay time of a turn-off operation of the soft-start relay switch, and the third time is set according to a delay time of a turn-on operation of the soft-start relay switch.

16 . The switching power supply of claim 11 , wherein when the series-parallel switching circuit for bidirectional power conversion is switched from the parallel operating mode to the series operating mode, the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit stop power transfer, and then a delay operation is performed according to the series operating mode switched by the series-parallel switching switch; and after the delay operation ends, a power transfer function of the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit is started to complete switching of the series operating mode.

17 . The switching power supply of claim 16 , wherein in terms of performing the delay operation according to the series operating mode switched by the series-parallel switching switch, a first time is delayed after the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit stop power transfer, the third switch and the fourth switch are turned off and a second time is delayed after delaying the first time, the first switch and the second switch are turned on and a third time is delayed after delaying the second time, and after delaying the third time, the power transfer function of the first bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit and the second bidirectional DC/DC isolation conversion circuit is started to complete the switching of the series operating mode, wherein the first time is set according to a current freewheeling time, the second time is set according to a delay time of a turn-off operation of the soft-start relay switch, and the third time is set according to a delay time of a turn-on operation of the soft-start relay switch.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2025
From: CHEN, XIAOPING; ZHANG, KAIXUAN; ZHANG, HAIDONG; CHEN, YANGHAO; WU, YISAI; ZHANG, YUXING; ZHU, JIANGUO
To: SHENZHEN WINLINE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 072697/0277 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202311243896.1 · Sep 26, 2023 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTCN2024121350 · Sep 26, 2024
Related Publication 20250392225A1 · Dec 25, 2025
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