System and method for inrush current control for power sources using non-linear algorithm

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018175852-A1
Application number	US-201615385225-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 20, 2016
Priority date	Dec 20, 2016
Publication date	Jun 21, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method includes determining an initial voltage level and duration for an input voltage of a gate of each of multiple transistor devices. Each transistor device receives a power input and controls a current passing through the transistor device. The method also includes controlling the input voltage of the gate of each transistor device according to the initial voltage level and duration. The method further includes receiving real-time feedback including at least one of a present value of the current passing through each transistor device, a present voltage of the power input, and a present value of a capacitor voltage. The method also includes determining, based on the feedback, a subsequent voltage level and duration for the gate of each transistor device. In addition, the method includes controlling the input voltage of the gate of each transistor device according to the determined subsequent voltage level and duration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
determining an initial voltage level and an initial duration for an input voltage of a gate of each of multiple transistor devices, each transistor device configured to receive a power input and control a current passing through the transistor device, the current associated with the power input; controlling the input voltage of the gate of each transistor device according to the determined initial voltage level and initial duration; receiving real-time feedback comprising at least one of: a present value of the current passing through each transistor device, a present voltage of the power input, and a present value of a capacitor voltage downstream of the transistor devices; determining, based on the received feedback, a subsequent voltage level and subsequent duration for the gate of each transistor device; and controlling the input voltage of the gate of each transistor device according to the determined subsequent voltage level and subsequent duration.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
repeating the receiving of the real-time feedback, the determining of the subsequent voltage level and subsequent duration, and the controlling of the input voltage according to the determined subsequent voltage level and subsequent duration.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the initial voltage level and each subsequent voltage level for the gate of each transistor device is represented over time as a staircase function having a plurality of steps; and an amplitude and duration of each step is independent of amplitudes and durations of other steps.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein:
the steps of the staircase function go up and down over time; and a down step is associated with a decreased voltage level for the gates.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each transistor device comprises one of: an n-type metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), a p-type MOSFET, a Gallium Nitride (GaN) transistor, a Silicon Carbide (SiC) transistor, an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), and a thyristor.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transistor devices comprise two transistors connected in series and sharing a common source, each transistor configured with a different polarity.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the power input comprises a three-phase alternating current (AC) power; and the transistor devices comprise two transistors for each of the three phases of AC power.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the power input has a voltage of at least 250 volts.

9 . A system comprising:
multiple transistor devices each configured to receive a power input and control a current passing through the transistor device, the current associated with the power input; and a controller configured to:
determine an initial voltage level and an initial duration for an input voltage of a gate of each transistor device;
control the input voltage of the gate of each transistor device according to the determined initial voltage level and initial duration;
receive real-time feedback comprising at least one of: a present value of the current passing through each transistor device, a present voltage of the power input, and a present value of a capacitor voltage downstream of the transistor devices;
determine, based on the received feedback, a subsequent voltage level and subsequent duration for the gate of each transistor device; and
control the input voltage of the gate of each transistor device according to the determined subsequent voltage level and subsequent duration.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to repeatedly receive the real-time feedback, determine the subsequent voltage level and subsequent duration, and control the input voltage according to the determined subsequent voltage level and subsequent duration.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the initial voltage level and each subsequent voltage level for the gate of each transistor device is represented over time as a staircase function having a plurality of steps; and an amplitude and duration of each step is independent of amplitudes and durations of other steps.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein:
the steps of the staircase function go up and down over time; and a down step is associated with a decreased voltage level for the gates.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein each transistor device comprises one of: an n-type metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), a p-type MOSFET, a Gallium Nitride (GaN) transistor, a Silicon Carbide (SiC) transistor, an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), and a thyristor.

14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the transistor devices comprise two transistors connected in series and sharing a common source, each transistor configured with a different polarity.

15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the power input comprises a three-phase alternating current (AC) power; and the transistor devices comprise two transistors for each of the three phases of AC power.

16 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the power input has a voltage of at least 250 volts.

17 . A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by at least one processing device, cause the at least one processing device to:
determine an initial voltage level and an initial duration for an input voltage of a gate of each of multiple transistor devices, each transistor device configured to receive a power input and control a current passing through the transistor device, the current associated with the power input; control the input voltage of the gate of each transistor device according to the determined initial voltage level and initial duration; receive real-time feedback comprising at least one of: a present value of the current passing through each transistor device, a present voltage of the power input, and a present value of a capacitor voltage downstream of the transistor devices; determine, based on the received feedback, a subsequent voltage level and subsequent duration for the gate of each transistor device; and control the input voltage of the gate of each transistor device according to the determined subsequent voltage level and subsequent duration.

18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , further containing instructions that when executed cause the at least one processing device to:
repeat the receiving of the real-time feedback, the determining of the subsequent voltage level and subsequent duration, and the controlling of the input voltage according to the determined subsequent voltage level and subsequent duration.

19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein:
the initial voltage level and each subsequent voltage level for the gate of each transistor device is represented over time as a staircase function having a plurality of steps; and an amplitude and duration of each step is independent of amplitudes and durations of other steps.

20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , wherein:
the steps of the staircase function go up and down over time; and a down step is associated with a decreased voltage level for the gates.

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Gangopadhya Robin

Classifications

• H03K17/166

  Soft switching · CPC title

• H03K17/168

  in composite switches · CPC title

• H03K17/165 Primary

  by feedback from the output circuit to the control circuit · CPC title

• H03K17/6874

  in a symmetrical configuration · CPC title

• H03K2217/0009

  AC switches, i.e. delivering AC power to a load · CPC title