AC Converter Zero-Crossing Switching Pulse Density Modulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional AC converters for converting high-frequency AC power from wireless power transmission systems to low-frequency AC power suffer from efficiency losses due to power conversion to DC and switching losses, as well as cost and durability issues related to capacitor use.

Innovation Solution

The AC converter performs switching operations when the input high-frequency AC voltage is zero, using pulse density modulation to directly convert the AC voltage to a three-phase AC voltage with a lower frequency, eliminating the need for DC conversion and reducing switching losses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If conventional inverter technology is used to convert high-frequency AC power to low-frequency AC power through DC conversion, then frequency conversion is achieved, but power loss increases and conversion efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower lossVSAvoidconversion efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the DC conversion stage from the conventional AC-DC-AC conversion process. By removing this intermediate step, the system directly converts high-frequency AC to low-frequency AC through pulse density modulation, thereby eliminating the power losses associated with DC conversion while maintaining effective frequency conversion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of following the conventional approach of converting AC to DC and then DC to AC, the patent inverts the process by directly modulating the high-frequency AC input to produce low-frequency AC output. This inversion eliminates the need for DC conversion and reduces overall power loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Loss of energy

If multiple switching elements are used for AC to DC and DC to AC conversion, then frequency conversion is achieved, but switching losses increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitching lossesVSAvoidconversion efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the dual conversion stages (AC-DC and DC-AC) that require multiple switching elements. By implementing direct pulse density modulation on the high-frequency AC input, the system achieves frequency conversion with minimal switching operations, thereby reducing switching losses and improving conversion efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If rectifying section with capacitor is used for AC to DC conversion, then power conversion is achieved, but cost and durability problems occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecost and durabilityVSAvoidconversion efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the rectifying section with capacitor from the conversion system. By using direct pulse density modulation on the high-frequency AC input, the system achieves frequency conversion without requiring expensive and less durable capacitor-based rectification, thereby reducing cost and improving durability while maintaining conversion efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Device complexity

If high-frequency AC power is converted to DC power and then to low-frequency AC power, then frequency conversion is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidconversion efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the intermediate DC conversion stage and associated components (rectifying section, capacitor, multiple switching elements for DC-AC conversion). This simplification reduces device complexity while maintaining effective frequency conversion through direct pulse density modulation, thereby improving conversion efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2717458B1Ac conversion circuit, ac conversion method, and recording medium
Publication Date: 2018.03.07 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP
  • EP2717458B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2717458B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2717458B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

An AC converter includes: a switching section 101, which converts the input AC voltage in response to a control signal and which outputs the converted voltage to a phase that has been selected in accordance with the control signal; a filter section 104, which filters out high frequency components from the converted voltage, thereby converting the converted voltage into the output AC voltage; and a switching control section 103, which performs a pulse density modulation on a phase-by-phase basis and in response to a reference signal with the frequency fl, which is associated with the output AC voltage of each phase, synchronously with a zero cross of the input AC voltage, thereby generating the control signal according a pulse generation status by the pulse density modulation and the polarity of the input AC voltage and sending out the control signal to the switching section 101.