Patent · US Active

DC capacitor balancing

US8294306B2 · kind B2 · utility

76Cited by
1References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 16, 2010
Grant dateOct 23, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 12, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02T10/70
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and devices for balancing voltages of capacitors in an electronic circuit are provided. The device includes a chopper circuit having a chopper inductor. Further, the chopper circuit may detect voltages across capacitors as well as an output current of the electronic circuit. In addition, the device may include a chopper control unit receiving the output current then generating a signal representing charging of the chopper inductor based on the output current. Also, the chopper control unit may receive the voltages across the capacitors and detect an imbalance between the voltages based on a polarity of the output current. Additionally, the chopper control unit may transfer of charge between the two capacitors, using the chopper inductor. Further, the chopper inductor is substantially discharged, during the transfer of charge between the capacitors.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.