New Technologies

Patented Differential-Mode Converter

Patented Differential-Mode Converter

Scalable single-stage differential power converter

Publication number: 20140211521

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a scalable single stage differential power converter. The inverter can be implemented in signal, split and multi-phases. A multiphase converter can be achieved with only three modules. Integrated magnetics used in preferred embodiments of the invention mitigate the DC component of the steady-state dynamics and can be extended to AC ripple mitigation. Control architectures in preferred embodiments can mitigate higher order harmonics in steady state dynamics. Embodiments of the invention also provide scalability for voltage and current source topologies.r can be achieved with only three modules. Integrated magnetics used in preferred embodiments of the invention mitigate the DC component of the steady-state dynamics and can be extended to AC ripple mitigation. Control architectures in preferred embodiments can mitigate higher order harmonics in steady state dynamics. Embodiments of the invention also provide scalability for voltage and current source topologies.

Patented Photonically-Switched Wide-Bandgap Device

Patented Photonically-Switched Wide-Bandgap Device

Optically-triggered multi-stage power system and devices
Patent number: 8294078
Abstract: A multi-stage optically-triggered power system. At least one triggering stage is responsive to at least one optical trigger to directly create photogeneration of carriers in the at least one triggering stage and thus generate at least one output signal. At least one main power device stage coupled to the at least one triggering stage is responsive to the at least one generated output signal to activate the at least one main power device stage. The at least one triggering stage and the at least one main power device stage may be monolithically integrated.

 

Photonically-activated single-bias fast-switching integrated thyristor

Patent number: 8796728
Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the invention include a thyristor core that is single biased by a source, such as a power source (or a portion thereof) that is being switched through the thyristors. An optically activated transistor that is preferably a minority carrier device is in series with the thyristor core. The thyristor core has an optically activated gate. The turn-off of the thyristor can be accelerated by the turn-on (conduction state) of a gate switch, which ensures a unity gain turn-off of the core thyristor.
Optically-triggered power system and devices
Patent number: 8183512
Abstract: A power device is provided in an optically-triggered power system having a controller for generating electrical control signals and a converter for converting the electrical control signals to optical control signals. The power device includes a pair of terminals and a P-body region provided adjacent an N source region. An optical window is provided at least partially over the P-body region, and an N? drift region is provided between the two terminals. The P-body region causes current to conduct between the first and second terminal through the N? drift region when an optical control signal is incident on the optical window.
Patented Hybrid-Modulation-based Capacitor-less High-Frequency-Link Inverter

Patented Hybrid-Modulation-based Capacitor-less High-Frequency-Link Inverter

Multiphase converter apparatus and method
Patent number: 7768800
Abstract: An ac/ac converter for accepting a pulsating dc input with encoded sinusoidal modulation and providing a multiphase modulated output. The converter comprises a bridge including a plurality of switches having switch legs for modulating the pulsating dc input at a carrier frequency over a plurality of phases. The bridge is coupled at one end to a pulsating dc source and coupled at another end to a modulated signal output. A controller is provided for the plurality of switches for causing, for each of the plurality of phases, under unity power factor, one of the switch legs to modulate the pulsating dc input at the carrier frequency while the other switch legs do not modulate the pulsating dc input at the carrier frequency.
First Optically-Controlled High Freq. SiC Converter

First Optically-Controlled High Freq. SiC Converter

Optical control of power MOSFETs can provide several improvements in system parameters including reduced electromagnetic interference (EMI), robust electrical separation, and separation of power and control stages. Control signals, by necessity, have very large di/dt and dv/dt values, which initiate noise problems in the power stage and can have coupling effects. Moving these signals to fiber-optic transmission reduces EMI and cross-talk effects. An optical link also allows the control and driver stages of a converter to remain separate, which can be useful for high-temperature power electronics. Such applications have become increasingly important and pervasive as power semiconductor devices (PSDs) have transitioned to wide-bandgap materials (such as SiC and GaN) enabling the power converters to operate at temperatures once thought extreme for Si based power devices and also providing multi-fold improvements in many metrics of the switched-mode converters encompassing switching frequency and power density. Towards that end, a solution to the optical control of a power SiC MOSFET and high-frequency SiC power converter is presented.