Electric power converter to reduce or eliminate erroneous power module abnormality indication
US9419512B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 15, 2014 |
| Grant date | Aug 16, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 15, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02M1/327
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A processor unit in an electric power converter executes detection of an overheating predicted state that is a stage prior to overheating of the IGBTs, a short circuit predicted state that is a stage prior to a short circuit in the arms, and a voltage drop predicted state that is a stage prior to a drop in a control voltage to be supplied to a driver circuit. When none of these predicted states is detected, a determination that an abnormality is not caused in the power module based on a latch signal is made by the processor unit. When an overheating predicted state is detected, the processor unit lowers the duty ratio of a motor control signal. When a short circuit predicted state is detected, the processor unit prolongs the dead time in which the upper IGBTs and the lower IGBTs are both maintained in the off-state.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.