US 11,682,968 B2
Control of power converters having integrated capacitor blocked transistor cells
Jianghui Yu, Blacksburg, VA (US); and Rolando Burgos, Blacksburg, VA (US)
Assigned to Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc., Blacksburg, VA (US)
Filed by Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc., Blacksburg, VA (US)
Filed on Apr. 9, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/844,514.
Prior Publication US 2021/0320587 A1, Oct. 14, 2021
Int. Cl. H02M 3/158 (2006.01); H02M 1/38 (2007.01); H02M 7/483 (2007.01)
CPC H02M 3/158 (2013.01) [H02M 1/38 (2013.01); H02M 7/4833 (2021.05); H02M 7/4835 (2021.05)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A power converter having integrated capacitor blocked transistor (ICBT) cells, comprising:
an upper arm comprising a first plurality of ICBT cells connected in series;
a lower arm comprising a second plurality of ICBT cells connected in series and
a controller configured to:
provide an upper control signal pair to individual ones of the first plurality of ICBT cells of the upper arm and a lower control signal pair to individual ones of the second plurality of ICBT cells of the lower arm to control an output of the power converter;
determine whether an over-voltage exists as compared to a rated ICBT capacitor voltage for an ICBT cell in at least one of the upper arm or the lower arm, wherein the determination comprises:
measuring voltages of the ICBT capacitors;
determining which ICBT capacitor among the ICBT capacitors in the at least one of the upper arm or the lower arm has a greater capacitor voltage than a rated value; and
sensing a current in the at least one of the upper arm or the lower arm; and
apply a delay to both control signals of the upper control signal pair or the lower control signal pair provided to the ICBT cell having the over-voltage, to balance a voltage potential among ICBT capacitors in at least one of the upper arm and the lower arm, wherein:
in response to the current being positive, the delay is applied to the control signal pair for the ICBT cell having the greater capacitor voltage than a rated value in the arm at a turn-off event, or
in response to the current being negative, the delay is applied to the control signal pair for the ICBT cell having the greater capacitor voltage than a rated value in the arm at a turn-on event.