Systems and methods for controlling soft-switching current source converters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12494705-B2
Application number	US-202118021263-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 20, 2021
Priority date	Aug 20, 2020
Publication date	Dec 9, 2025
Grant date	Dec 9, 2025

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a resonant module and sensing circuits for use with a soft-switching current source converter. The resonant module comprises a resonant switch, a resonant inductor, and a resonant capacitor. The resonant inductor is connected in electrical series with the resonant switch. The resonant capacitor is connected in parallel with the serially connected resonant switch and resonant capacitor. The resonant module further comprises first and second sensing circuits. The first sensing circuit is configured to generate a first sensing signal indicative of when the time derivative of a voltage across the resonant capacitor is negative. The second sensing circuit is configured to generate a second sensing signal indicative of when a voltage across the resonant capacitor is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A resonant module for use with a soft-switching current source converter, the resonant module comprising:
a resonant switch; a resonant capacitor connected in parallel with the resonant switch; a first sensing circuit configured to generate a first sensing signal indicative of when a time derivative of a voltage across the resonant capacitor is negative; and a second sensing circuit configured to generate a second sensing signal indicative of when a voltage across the resonant capacitor is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value; wherein a controller of the soft-switching current source converter is configured to turn on at least one switch in at least one bridge of the soft-switching current source converter to transition into a next active switching state if the first sensing signal indicates that the voltage time derivate across the resonant capacitor is negative after a resonance phase of a switching cycle of the soft-switching current source converter.

2 . The resonant module of claim 1 further comprising a resonant inductor connected in electrical series with the resonant switch;
wherein the resonant capacitor is connected in parallel with the serially connected resonant switch and resonant capacitor.

3 . The resonant module of claim 1 further comprising a control logic circuitry configured to control the resonant switch;
wherein:
the resonant module is configured to transmit one or more signals to a controller of the soft-switching current source converter;
at least one of the one or more signals is selected from the group consisting of the first sensing signal, the second sensing signal, and combinations thereof; and
the control logic circuitry is configured to receive the first and second sensing signals and control the resonant switch, based at least in part, on the first and second sensing signals.

4 . The resonant module of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined threshold value is a variable value; and
wherein at least one of a control logic circuitry or the controller of the soft-switching current source converter is configured to alter the predetermined threshold value based, at least in part, on the first sensing signal.

5 . The resonant module of claim 1 , wherein the soft-switching current source converter comprises a DC-link;
wherein the resonant module further comprises a leakage management diode connected in series with the resonant capacitor; and wherein the series connection of the leakage management diode and the resonant capacitor is connected in parallel with the DC-link.

6 . A resonant module for use with a soft-switching current source converter, the resonant module comprising:
a resonant switch; a resonant inductor connected in electrical series with the resonant switch; a resonant capacitor connected in parallel with the serially connected resonant switch and resonant inductor; a control logic circuitry configured to control the resonant switch; a first sensing circuit configured to generate a first sensing signal indicative of when a time derivative of a voltage across the resonant capacitor is negative; and a second sensing circuit configured to generate a second sensing signal indicative of when a voltage across the resonant capacitor is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value; wherein the control logic circuitry is further configured to turn on the resonant switch when the second sensing signal indicates that the voltage across the resonant capacitor is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold value to initiate a resonance between the resonant inductor and the resonant capacitor.

7 . The resonant module of claim 6 , wherein the control logic circuitry is further configured to receive and send sensing signals between one or more other resonant modules of the soft-switching current source converter.

8 . A resonant module for use with a soft-switching current source converter, the resonant module comprising:
a resonant switch; a resonant inductor connected in electrical series with the resonant switch; a resonant capacitor connected in parallel with the serially connected resonant switch and resonant inductor; a control logic circuitry configured to control the resonant switch; a first sensing circuit configured to generate a first sensing signal indicative of when a time derivative of a voltage across the resonant capacitor is negative; and a second sensing circuit configured to generate a second sensing signal indicative of when a voltage across the resonant capacitor is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value; wherein at least one of:
at least one of the control logic circuitry or a controller of the soft-switching current source converter is configured to increase the predetermined threshold value if the first sensing signal indicates the time derivative of the voltage across the resonant capacitor is negative during a zero voltage switching transition state after a resonance phase of a switching cycle of the soft-switching current source converter for a period of time greater than a predetermined time period; or
at least one of the control logic circuitry or a controller of the soft-switching current source converter is configured to decrease the predetermined threshold value if the first sensing signal indicates the time derivative of the voltage across the resonant capacitor is negative during a zero voltage switching transition state after a resonance phase of a switching cycle of the soft-switching current source converter for a period of time less than a predetermined time period.

9 . A resonant module comprising:
a resonant switch; a resonant inductor connected in electrical series with the resonant switch; a resonant capacitor connected in parallel with the serially connected resonant switch and the resonant inductor; a first sensing circuit configured to generate a first sensing signal indicative of when a time derivative of a voltage across the resonant capacitor is negative; and a second sensing circuit configured to generate a second sensing signal indicative of when a voltage across the resonant capacitor is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value; wherein:
the first sensing circuit is connected in parallel with the resonant capacitor;
the first sensing circuit comprises a sensing resistor connected in series with an optocoupler;
the serially connected sensing resistor and optocoupler are connected in anti-parallel with a Zener diode.

10 . The resonant module of claim 9 , wherein the serially connected sensing resistor and optocoupler are further connected in parallel with a bias resistor.

11 . The resonant module of claim 10 , wherein a sensing capacitor is connected in series with the serially connected sensing resistor and optocoupler; and
wherein the series connection of the sensing capacitor and the serially connected sensing resistor and optocoupler is connected in parallel with the resonant capacitor.

12 . The resonant module of claim 9 , wherein the optocoupler is configured to generate the first sensing signal.

13 . The resonant module of claim 9 further comprising a communication link;
wherein the resonant module is for use with a soft-switching current source converter; and
wherein the communication link is configured to interface with a controller of the soft-switching current source converter.

14 . The resonant module of claim 9 , wherein the second sensing circuit is connected in parallel with the resonant capacitor; and
wherein the second sensing circuit comprises a reference capacitor, a series opto

Assignees

• Georgia Tech Res Inst

Inventors

• Mauger Mickael J
• Kandula Rajendra Prasad
• Divan Deepak M

Classifications

• H02M5/2932

  with automatic control of output voltage, current or power · CPC title

• Y02B70/10

  Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes · CPC title

• H02M5/22

  using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode · CPC title

• H02M7/4815

  Resonant converters (H02M7/4811 and H02M7/4826 take precedence) · CPC title

• H02M1/32

  Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection · CPC title