US5615102A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inverter apparatus and method of operation therefor
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1994-03-29
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Granted: 1997-03-25
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Expires: 2014-03-29
Abstract
Abstract An inverter apparatus for driving a three-phase AC motor, having first and second arms each comprising plural parallel-connected transistors and plural parallel-connected diodes, is protected against overheating by detecting the composite current of the transistors and the composite current of the diodes in one of the first and second arms and determining the larger of the currents. The larger current, offering greater accuracy, is used to control the inverter. The apparatus is operative in either the regenerative or driving mode. Alternatively, a single detector can be used but the signal waves are clamped below a reference wave value.
Inventors
- 👤 Masakatsu Daijo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:51
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02H; H02H7/00; H02H7/10; H02H7/12; H02H7/122; H02H7/1227; H02M; H02M7/00; H02M7/42; H02M7/44; H02M7/48; H02M7/53; H02M7/537; H02M7/5387; H02M7/53871; H02M7/53875; H02M1/00; H02M1/0003; H02M1/0009
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
An inverter apparatus comprising: a first arm, comprising a plurality of transistors parallel-connected to a first direct current bus and a plurality of diodes parallel-connected to a second direct current bus; a second arm comprising a plurality of transistors parallel-connected to a third direct current bus and a plurality of diodes parallel-connected to a fourth direct current bus; a first current detector operative to detect the current in at least one of said first and third direct current buses; a second current detector operative to detect the current in at least one of said second and fourth direct current buses; and means connected to said first and second current detectors for selecting the larger one of said two detected currents.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
An inverter apparatus comprising: a first arm, comprising a plurality of transistors parallel-connected to a first direct current bus and a plurality of diodes parallel-connected to a second direct current bus; a second arm comprising a plurality of transistors parallel-connected to a third direct current bus and a plurality of diodes parallel-connected to a fourth direct current bus; a first current detector operative to detect the current in at least one of said first and third direct current buses; a second current detector operative to detect the current in at least one of said second and fourth direct current buses; and means connected to said first and second current detectors for selecting the larger one of said two detected currents.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The inverter apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said detected currents comprises a composite of plural currents from one of said plurality of transistors and said plurality of diodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The inverter apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of diodes in at least one of said first and second arms is connected in parallel with said plurality of transistors in said arm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The inverter apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second current detector comprises a shunt resistor.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of controlling an inverter apparatus having first and second circuit arms, each comprising a plurality of parallel-connected transistors and a plurality of parallel-connected diodes, comprising: detecting the composite output of said parallel connected transistors of one of said first and second arms; detecting the composite output of said parallel connected diodes of said one of said first and second arms; selecting one of said two detected currents.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of controlling an inverter apparatus having first and second circuit arms, each comprising a plurality of parallel-connected transistors and a plurality of parallel-connected diodes, comprising: detecting the composite output of said parallel connected transistors of one of said first and second arms; detecting the composite output of said parallel connected diodes of said one of said first and second arms; selecting one of said two detected currents.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of controlling an inverter apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said selecting step comprises selecting the larger of two detected currents.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of controlling an inverter apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said selecting step comprises selecting the one of said two detected currents providing the longer detection time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of controlling an inverter apparatus as set forth in claim 5, further comprising operating said inverter in a regenerative mode during said detecting steps.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of controlling an inverter apparatus as set forth in claim 5, further comprising operating said inverter in a driving mode during said detecting steps.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
An inverter apparatus providing output signal waves and having a DC bus current detection means for detecting the composite current of the main circuit switching devices of an upper arm or a lower arm, said inverter apparatus further comprising: means for providing a triangular modulated wave having a peak vertex; means for clamping said signal waves below the amplitude of said triangular modulated wave peak vertex.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
An inverter apparatus providing output signal waves and having a DC bus current detection means for detecting the composite current of the main circuit switching devices of an upper arm or a lower arm, said inverter apparatus further comprising: means for providing a triangular modulated wave having a peak vertex; means for clamping said signal waves below the amplitude of said triangular modulated wave peak vertex.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
An inverter apparatus having in a DC bus current detection means for detecting the composite current of main circuit switching devices of an upper arm or a lower arm, said inverter apparatus comprising: means for judging between a driving mode and a regenerative mode; and means for clamping the amplitude of signal waves at values below the amplitude of a reference modulated wave in said regenerative mode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
An inverter apparatus having in a DC bus current detection means for detecting the composite current of main circuit switching devices of an upper arm or a lower arm, said inverter apparatus comprising: means for judging between a driving mode and a regenerative mode; and means for clamping the amplitude of signal waves at values below the amplitude of a reference modulated wave in said regenerative mode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
An inverter apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said means for clamping is operative to clamp said signal waves at a specified percentage of said reference modulated wave.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
An inverter apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said reference wave is a triangular wave.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
An inverter apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said means for clamping is not operative for a driving mode.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of operating an inverter apparatus, having main circuit switching devices in each of an upper arm and a lower arm and being operative to generate plural signal waves having plural relative phases, comprising: detecting the composite current of said main circuit switching devices of one of said upper arm and lower arm; providing a first reference wave having a variable amplitude with time; and clamping signal waves below the amplitude of said reference wave.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of operating an inverter apparatus, having main circuit switching devices in each of an upper arm and a lower arm and being operative to generate plural signal waves having plural relative phases, comprising: detecting the composite current of said main circuit switching devices of one of said upper arm and lower arm; providing a first reference wave having a variable amplitude with time; and clamping signal waves below the amplitude of said reference wave.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of operating an inverter apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said reference wave comprises a triangular modulated wave.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of operating an inverter apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein said clamping is effected only for a regenerative mode of operation.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of operating an inverter apparatus, having main circuit switching devices in each of an upper arm and a lower arm and being operative to generate plural signal waves having plural relative phases, comprising: detecting the composite current of said main circuit switching devices of one of said upper arm and lower arm; providing a first reference wave having a variable amplitude with time; judging between a driving mode and a regenerative mode; and clamping the amplitude of said signal waves at values below the amplitude of said reference wave when it is judged that there is said regenerative mode.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of operating an inverter apparatus, having main circuit switching devices in each of an upper arm and a lower arm and being operative to generate plural signal waves having plural relative phases, comprising: detecting the composite current of said main circuit switching devices of one of said upper arm and lower arm; providing a first reference wave having a variable amplitude with time; judging between a driving mode and a regenerative mode; and clamping the amplitude of said signal waves at values below the amplitude of said reference wave when it is judged that there is said regenerative mode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of operating an inverter apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein said reference wave comprises a triangular modulated wave.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of operating an inverter apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein said judging comprises comparing the output of a speed selector means and a soft start means.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-03-24 | 2000-09-23 | 2001-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-24 | 2004-09-23 | 2005-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-24 | 2008-09-23 | 2009-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |