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US5486752A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Zero-current transition PWM converters
Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties Inc
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Filing: 1994-06-17
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Granted: 1996-01-23
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Expires: 2014-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A zero-current transition pulse-width modulated (ZCT-PWM) d.c.-d.c. converter allows minority-carrier semiconductor devices such as, for example, bipolar junction transistors (BJTs), insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), MOSFET controlled thyristors (MCTs), and gate turn-off thyristors (GTOs), to be used as switches for high-power, high frequency applications. The ZCT-PWM converter comprises a shunt resonant branch inserted into a conventional PWM converter circuit. The resonant branch comprises a resonant inductor (Lr), a resonant capacitor (Cr), an auxiliary switch (S1), and an auxiliary diode (D1). The resonant branch is only active during a relatively short switching time in order to create a zero-current switch condition for the main pulse-modulating switch (S) without substantially increasing voltage or current stresses.
Inventors
- 👤 Guichao C. Hua
- 👤 Fred C. Lee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:23
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/02; H02M3/04; H02M3/10; H02M3/145; H02M3/155; H02M3/156; H02M3/158; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B70/00; Y02B70/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A pulse-width-modulated d.c to d.c. converter, comprising: a d.c. voltage input means; a d.c. voltage output means; a pulse-width modulating switch electrically connected between said d.c. voltage input means and said d.c. voltage output means; a resonant branch connected between said d.c. voltage input means and said d.c. voltage output means, said resonant branch comprising a resonant inductor connected directly in series with a resonant capacitor; an auxiliary switch means for electrically connecting and electrically disconnecting said resonant branch from said d.c. voltage input means and said d.c. voltage output means; and a diode having a first connection between said resonant capacitor and said auxiliary switch means, and a second connection connected to said d.c. voltage output means, said auxiliary switch means electrically connecting said resonant branch between said d.c. voltage input means and said d.c. voltage output means during a period when said pulse-width modulating switch is switching from an on-state to an off-state to create a zero-current condition in said pulse-width modulating switch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A pulse-width-modulated d.c to d.c. converter, comprising: a d.c. voltage input means; a d.c. voltage output means; a pulse-width modulating switch electrically connected between said d.c. voltage input means and said d.c. voltage output means; a resonant branch connected between said d.c. voltage input means and said d.c. voltage output means, said resonant branch comprising a resonant inductor connected directly in series with a resonant capacitor; an auxiliary switch means for electrically connecting and electrically disconnecting said resonant branch from said d.c. voltage input means and said d.c. voltage output means; and a diode having a first connection between said resonant capacitor and said auxiliary switch means, and a second connection connected to said d.c. voltage output means, said auxiliary switch means electrically connecting said resonant branch between said d.c. voltage input means and said d.c. voltage output means during a period when said pulse-width modulating switch is switching from an on-state to an off-state to create a zero-current condition in said pulse-width modulating switch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A pulse-width-modulated d.c to d.c. converter as recited in claim 1 wherein said pulse-width modulating switch is a minority carrier device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A pulse-width-modulated d.c to d.c. converter as recited in claim 2 wherein said minority carrier device is an insulted gate bipolar transistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A pulse-width-modulated d.c to d.c. converter as recited in claim 2 wherein said minority carrier device is a MOSFET controlled thyristor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A pulse-width-modulated d.c to d.c. converter as recited in claim 2 wherein said minority carrier device is a gate turn-off thyristor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A pulse-width-modulated d.c to d.c. converter as recited in claim 2 wherein said minority carrier device is a bipolar junction transistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A pulse-width-modulated d.c to d.c. converter as recited in claim 1 further comprising a pulse-width-modulating controller means for controlling the switching patterns of said pulse-width-modulated switch and said auxiliary switch.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for eliminating switching current through a semiconductor pulse-width-modulating switching device in a pulse-width-modulating converter, comprising the steps of: placing a resonant shunt branch between an input node and an output node of said pulse-width-modulating converter; activating an auxiliary switch in said resonant shunt branch while said pulse-width-modulating switch is conducting, said auxiliary switch causing a resonant current between a resonant capacitor and a resonant inductor to reduce electrical current through said pulse-width-modulating switch to zero; and deactivating said auxiliary switch after said pulse-width-modulating switch ceases conducting.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for eliminating switching current through a semiconductor pulse-width-modulating switching device in a pulse-width-modulating converter, comprising the steps of: placing a resonant shunt branch between an input node and an output node of said pulse-width-modulating converter; activating an auxiliary switch in said resonant shunt branch while said pulse-width-modulating switch is conducting, said auxiliary switch causing a resonant current between a resonant capacitor and a resonant inductor to reduce electrical current through said pulse-width-modulating switch to zero; and deactivating said auxiliary switch after said pulse-width-modulating switch ceases conducting.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method for eliminating switching current through a semiconductor switching device in a pulse-width-modulating converter as recited in claim 8 wherein said pulse-width-modulating switching device is a minority carrier type semiconductor device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method for eliminating switching current through a semiconductor switching device in a pulse-width-modulating converter as recited in claim 9 wherein said minority carrier type semiconductor device is an insulted gate bipolar transistor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method for eliminating switching current through a semiconductor switching device in a pulse-width-modulating converter as recited in claim 9 wherein said minority carrier type semiconductor device is an bipolar junction transistor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method for eliminating switching current through a semiconductor switching device in a pulse-width-modulating converter as recited in claim 9 wherein said minority carrier type semiconductor device is a MOSFET controlled thyristor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method for eliminating switching current through a semiconductor switching device in a pulse-width-modulating converter as recited in claim 9 wherein said minority carrier type semiconductor device is a gate turn-off thyristor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
117 words
A pulse-width-modulated converter, comprising: a poly-phase input means; a d.c. voltage output means; a pulse-width modulating switch electrically connected between said poly-phase input means and said d.c. voltage output means; a resonant branch connected between said poly-phase input means and said d.c. voltage output means; and an auxiliary switch means for electrically connecting and electrically disconnecting said resonant branch from said poly-phase input means and said d.c. voltage output means, said auxiliary switch means electrically connecting said resonant branch between said poly-phase input means and said d.c. voltage output means during a period when said pulse-width modulating switch is switching from an on-state to an off-state whereby a zero-current condition is created in said pulse-width modulating switch.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
117 words
A pulse-width-modulated converter, comprising: a poly-phase input means; a d.c. voltage output means; a pulse-width modulating switch electrically connected between said poly-phase input means and said d.c. voltage output means; a resonant branch connected between said poly-phase input means and said d.c. voltage output means; and an auxiliary switch means for electrically connecting and electrically disconnecting said resonant branch from said poly-phase input means and said d.c. voltage output means, said auxiliary switch means electrically connecting said resonant branch between said poly-phase input means and said d.c. voltage output means during a period when said pulse-width modulating switch is switching from an on-state to an off-state whereby a zero-current condition is created in said pulse-width modulating switch.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A pulse-width-modulated converter as recited in claim 14 further comprising a plurality of resonant branches connected between said poly-phase input means and said d.c. voltage output means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-01-22 | 1999-07-24 | 2000-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-22 | 2003-07-24 | 2004-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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