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Overvoltage protection apparatus for a matrix converter

Assignee: Siemens AG
•
Filing: 2001-02-07
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Granted: 2002-12-17
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Expires: 2021-02-07
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Abstract

Abstract An overvoltage protection apparatus for a matrix converter has nine bidirectional power switches which are arranged in a 3×3 switch matrix. The overvoltage protection apparatus has three varistors on both the network side and the load side, which are each connected, in delta, to input and output connections of the matrix converter. A result, the overvoltage protection apparatus has considerably reduced physical volume, as a result of which the component costs for the overvoltage protection apparatus are very low.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jochen Mahlein
  • 👤 Walter Springmann

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 23:03
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M5/00; H02M5/02; H02M5/04; H02M5/22; H02M5/25; H02M5/27; H02M5/271; H02H; H02H7/00; H02H7/10; H02H7/12; H02H7/1216

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 94 words
An overvoltage protection apparatus, comprising: nine bidirectional power switches arranged in a 3×3 switch matrix; first, second, and third varistors on a network side of a matrix converter, each of the first, second, and third varistors being connected electrically in parallel with at least one of two input and output connections of the matrix converter; and fourth, fifth, and sixth varistors on a load side of the matrix converter, each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth varistors being connected electrically in parallel with the at least one of the two input and output connections.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 94 words
An overvoltage protection apparatus, comprising: nine bidirectional power switches arranged in a 3×3 switch matrix; first, second, and third varistors on a network side of a matrix converter, each of the first, second, and third varistors being connected electrically in parallel with at least one of two input and output connections of the matrix converter; and fourth, fifth, and sixth varistors on a load side of the matrix converter, each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth varistors being connected electrically in parallel with the at least one of the two input and output connections.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 36 words
An overvoltage protection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a voltage clamping circuit is connected electrically in parallel with a collector-gate path of each of a plurality of semiconductor switches in the bidirectional power switches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
An overvoltage protection apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the voltage clamping circuit comprises a series circuit comprising a zener diode, a resistor, and a decoupling diode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
An overvoltage protection apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the zener diode comprises a transit diode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
An overvoltage protection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the bidirectional power switches comprises a semiconductor switch integrated in a diode bridge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 23 words
An overvoltage protection apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the bidirectional power switches comprises two back-to-back series-connected semiconductor switches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
An overvoltage protection apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the back-to-back series-connected semiconductor switches are configured in a common emitter mode topology.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 176 words
An overvoltage protection apparatus comprising: nine bidirectional power/switches arranged in a 3×3 switch matrix; the bidirectional power switches comprising a semiconductor switch integrated in a diode bridge and at least one of the bidirectional power switches comprises two back-to-back series conducted semiconductor switches configured in a common emitter mode; a voltage clamping circuit electrically connected in parallel with a collector-gate path of each semiconductor switch in the bidirectional power switches, the voltage clamping circuit comprises a series circuit comprising a zener diode, a resistor and a decoupling diode, the zener diode of which comprises a transil diode; first, second, and third varistors on a network side of a matrix converter, each of the first, second, and third varistors being connected electrically in parallel with at least one of two input and output connections of the matrix converter; and fourth, fifth, and sixth varistors on a load side of the matrix converter, each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth varistors being connected electrically in parallel with the at least one of the two input and output connections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 176 words
An overvoltage protection apparatus comprising: nine bidirectional power/switches arranged in a 3×3 switch matrix; the bidirectional power switches comprising a semiconductor switch integrated in a diode bridge and at least one of the bidirectional power switches comprises two back-to-back series conducted semiconductor switches configured in a common emitter mode; a voltage clamping circuit electrically connected in parallel with a collector-gate path of each semiconductor switch in the bidirectional power switches, the voltage clamping circuit comprises a series circuit comprising a zener diode, a resistor and a decoupling diode, the zener diode of which comprises a transil diode; first, second, and third varistors on a network side of a matrix converter, each of the first, second, and third varistors being connected electrically in parallel with at least one of two input and output connections of the matrix converter; and fourth, fifth, and sixth varistors on a load side of the matrix converter, each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth varistors being connected electrically in parallel with the at least one of the two input and output connections.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4901183A Cited
US5157572A Cited
US5136455A Cited
US5909367A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2005-12-16 2006-06-17 2006-12-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
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