IP Library Granted Patent US 11,689,093
Granted Patent B2
US 11,689,093 · App. 17/193,515 · Granted Jun 27, 2023

Current source inverter having hybrid switches

Inventors: Muhammad H. Alvi (Troy, MI); Alireza Fatemi (Canton, MI); Suresh Gopalakrishnan (Troy, MI)
Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
H02M1/0087H01L27/0727H02M1/38H02M7/5387H02M7/538466B60L50/60H02M7/5388H02P27/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,689,093
App. No.
17/193,515
Granted
Jun 27, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A current source inverter includes a first phase leg including a plurality of switching devices, a second phase leg including a plurality of switching devices, and a third phase leg including a plurality of switching devices. The current source inverter also includes a zero-state phase leg including at least one switching device, wherein the zero-state phase leg is configured to transition from an open state to prevent current flow to a closed state to allow current flow between a positive and negative terminal during a dead-band time.

Claims (35)

1. A current source inverter comprising:

a first phase leg including a plurality of switching devices;

a second phase leg including a plurality of switching devices;

a third phase leg including a plurality of switching devices; and

a zero-state phase leg including at least one switching device, wherein the zero-state phase leg is configured to transition from an open state to prevent current flow to a closed state to allow current flow between a positive and negative terminal during a dead-band time,

wherein the plurality of switching devices of the first phase leg comprises a bidirectional switching device and a unidirectional switching device, and wherein a node connection to a load is disposed between the bidirectional switching device and the unidirectional switching device.

2. The current source inverter of claim 1 , wherein the bidirectional switching device comprises a first switch and a second switch connected in series.

3. The current source inverter of claim 2 , wherein the first switch and the second switch comprise a voltage-controlled switch.

4. The current source inverter of claim 3 , wherein the voltage-controlled switch comprises at least one of a silicon insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), a silicon carbide metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), a silicon superjunction MOSFET, a Gallium nitride (GaN) field-effect transistor (FET), a SiC junction-gate field-effect transistor (JFET), a wideband-gap (WBG) device, or an ultra-wideband-gap device (UWBG).

5. The current source inverter of claim 2 , wherein the first switch and the second switch are current-controlled switches.

6. The claim of claim 1 , wherein the unidirectional switching device comprises a switch in series with a diode.

7. The claim of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of switching devices of the second leg comprises at least a first unidirectional switch and a second unidirectional switch connected in series, and the plurality of switching devices of the third leg comprises at least a first bidirectional switch and a second directional switch connected in series.

8. The current source inverter of claim 1 , wherein the at least one switching device of the zero-state phase leg comprises a unidirectional switching device.

9. The current source inverter of claim 1 , wherein the at least one switching device of the zero-state phase leg comprises a bidirectional switching device.

10. A current source inverter comprising:

a first phase leg including a plurality of switching devices;

a second phase leg including a plurality of switching devices;

a third phase leg including a plurality of switching devices; and

a zero-state phase leg including at least one bidirectional switching device, wherein the zero-state phase leg is configured to transition from an open state to prevent current flow to a closed state to allow current flow between a positive and negative terminal during a dead-band time,

wherein the plurality of switching devices of the first phase leg comprises a bidirectional switching device and a unidirectional switching device, and wherein a node connection to a load is disposed between the bidirectional switching device and the unidirectional switching device.

11. The current source inverter of claim 10 , wherein the bidirectional switching device comprises a first switch and a second switch connected in series.

12. The current source inverter of claim 11 , wherein the first switch and the second switch comprise a voltage-controlled switch.

13. The current source inverter of claim 12 , wherein the voltage-controlled switch comprises at least one of a silicon insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), a silicon carbide metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), a silicon superjunction MOSFET, a Gallium nitride (GaN) field-effect transistor (FET), a SiC junction-gate field-effect transistor (JFET), a wideband-gap (WBG) device, or an ultra-wideband-gap device (UWBG).

14. The current source inverter of claim 11 , wherein the first switch and the second switch are current-controlled switches.

15. The claim of claim 10 , wherein the unidirectional switching device comprises a switch in series with a diode.

16. The claim of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of switching devices of the second leg comprises at least a first unidirectional switch and a second unidirectional switch connected in series, and the plurality of switching devices of the third leg comprises at least a first bidirectional switch and a second directional switch connected in series.

17. A current source inverter comprising:

a first phase leg including a plurality of switching devices;

a second phase leg including a plurality of switching devices;

a third phase leg including a plurality of switching devices; and

a zero-state phase leg including at least one unidirectional switching device, wherein the zero-state phase leg is configured to transition from an open state to prevent current flow to a closed state to allow current flow between a positive and negative terminal during a dead-band time,

wherein the plurality of switching devices of the first phase leg comprises a bidirectional switching device and a unidirectional switching device, and wherein a node connection to a load is disposed between the bidirectional switching device and the unidirectional switching device.

18. The current source inverter of claim 17 , wherein the bidirectional switching device comprises a first switch and a second switch connected in series.

19. The current source inverter of claim 18 , wherein the first switch and the second switch comprise a voltage-controlled switch.

20. The current source inverter of claim 18 , wherein the first switch and the second switch are current-controlled switches.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 25, 2021
From: ALVI, MUHAMMAD H.; FATEMI, ALIREZA; GOPALAKRISHNAN, SURESH
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 056346/0160 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220286064A1 · Sep 8, 2022