Solid-state autotransformer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12407273-B2
Application number	US-202318535205-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2023
Priority date	Dec 11, 2023
Publication date	Sep 2, 2025
Grant date	Sep 2, 2025

Abstract

Solid-state autotransformers are provided. A system can include a first switch coupled to a first line in which an alternating current signal is conveyed. The system can include a second switch coupled to a second line in which the alternating current signal is conveyed. The second switch can be coupled to the first switch. The first switch can, responsive to a magnitude of a first voltage from the first line to a terminal exceeding a magnitude of a second voltage from the second line to the terminal, pass current from the first line to the terminal. The second switch can, responsive to the magnitude of the second voltage exceeding the magnitude of the first voltage, pass current from the second line to the terminal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for energy conversion, comprising:
a first switch coupled to a first line in which an alternating current signal is conveyed;
a second switch coupled to a second line in which the alternating current signal is conveyed, and to the first switch, the first switch to, responsive to a magnitude of a first voltage from the first line to a terminal exceeding a magnitude of a second voltage from the second line to the terminal, pass current from the first line to the terminal;
the second switch to, responsive to the magnitude of the second voltage exceeding the magnitude of the first voltage, pass current from the second line to the terminal; and
a controller to:
responsive to a determination of a first grid condition, decouple a grid from the first line without decoupling the first line or a second line from a split-phase device or the first switch;
responsive to a determination of a second grid condition, couple the grid to the first line without decoupling the first line or a second line from the split-phase device or the first switch;
generate control signals corresponding to a first duty cycle for the first switch and a second duty cycle for the second switch;
adjust the first duty cycle based on a magnitude of a current flowing to the terminal wherein the current flows to the terminal from a connection, the connection between the first switch and the second switch, wherein:
a duration of an active portion of the first duty cycle is equal to a duration of the active portion of the second duty cycle; and
the duration of the active portion of the first duty cycle is less than 0.5;
receive an indication of a battery condition for a battery of an electric vehicle;
receive an indication of a grid condition; and
switch the first switch and the second switch based on the battery condition and the grid condition.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a filter separates the terminal from the first switch and the second switch, the filter comprising:
an inductor between:
the terminal; and
the first switch and the second switch;

a first capacitor between the terminal and the first line; and
a second capacitor between the terminal and the second line.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the controller coupled to the first switch and the second switch, the controller to adjust, for each of the first switch and the second switch, a plurality of transistor inputs, the inputs to pass current from the first line to the terminal, and from the second line to the terminal.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first switch comprises:
a first transistor between the first line and a second transistor;
a first diode having a first cathode coupled to the first line and a first anode coupled to the second transistor;
the second transistor between the first transistor and the terminal; and
a second diode having a second cathode coupled to the terminal and a second anode coupled to the first transistor.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the alternating current signal is received from a grid.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first switch comprises:
a first source/drain of a first transistor coupled to the first line;
a second source/drain of the first transistor coupled to a second transistor;
a first body diode of the first transistor in parallel with a first channel thereof, the first body diode configured to pass current from the second transistor to the first line;
a third source/drain of the second transistor coupled to the first transistor;
a fourth source/drain of the second transistor coupled to the second switch; and
a second body diode of the second transistor in parallel with a second channel thereof, the second body diode configured to receive current from the first transistor.

7. A method of energy conversion, the method comprising:
receiving an indication of a voltage of an alternating current signal between a first line and a second line;
adjusting a first time of a first duty cycle based on a magnitude of a current flowing to a terminal from a connection, the connection between a first switch and a second switch; and
generating control signals to generate a signal for a neutral line of the alternating current signal based on the voltage between the first line and the second line, the control signals comprising:
a first gate voltage for a first transistor of a first switch;
a second gate voltage for a second transistor of the first switch;
a third gate voltage for a third transistor of the second switch; and
a fourth gate voltage for a fourth transistor of the second switch; wherein, generating the control signals comprises, responsive to an indication of a negative voltage between the first line and the second line:
providing the first gate voltage and the third gate voltage to cause channel conduction for the first transistor and the third transistor; and
providing, as complementary signals, the second gate voltage and the fourth gate voltage wherein:
during the first time, subsequent to a second time and prior to a third time, both of the complementary signals are inactive;
during the second time, one of the complementary signals is active and another of the complementary signals is inactive;
during the third time, one of the complementary signals is active and another of the complementary signals is inactive; and
generating the control signals comprises, responsive to an indication of a positive voltage between the first line and the second line:

providing the second gate voltage and the fourth gate voltage to cause channel conduction for the second transistor and the fourth transistor; and
providing, as complementary signals, the first gate voltage and the third gate voltage;
detecting a grid condition;
decoupling a grid from the first line responsive to the grid condition without decoupling the first line or the second line from a split-phase device or the first switch;
detecting an energy storage device condition; receiving energy from the energy storage device responsive to the energy storage device condition;
providing the energy to the split-phase device;
receiving an indication of a battery condition for a battery of an electric vehicle;
receiving an indication of a grid condition; and
switching the first switch and the second switch based on the battery condition and the grid condition.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the alternating current signal is operating at a frequency less than 100 Hz, and the control signals are provided at a frequency of greater than 1 kHz.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein generating the control signals comprises:
adjusting a duty cycle of one or more of the complementary signals.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein:
the first switch and the second switch are coupled to the terminal for the neutral line;
a filter separates the terminal from the first switch and the second switch, the filter comprising:
an inductor between:
the terminal; and
the first switch and the second switch;

a first capacitor between the terminal and the first line; and
a second capacitor between the terminal and the second line.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the control signals are configured to cause current to flow through:
a first diode disposed parallel to conduction channels of the first transistor;
a second diode disposed parallel to conduction channels of the second transistor;
a third diode disposed parallel to conduction channels of the third transistor; and
a fourth diode disposed parallel to conduction channels of the fourth transistor.

12. A circuit comprising:
a first switch to selectively couple a first l

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Schulz Steven

Classifications

• H02M1/44

  Circuits or arrangements for compensating for electromagnetic interference in converters or inverters · CPC title

• H02M1/088

  for the simultaneous control of series or parallel connected semiconductor devices · CPC title

• B60L15/007

  Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles · CPC title

• H02M7/487

  Neutral point clamped inverters · CPC title

• H02M7/797

  using semiconductor devices only · CPC title