POWER CONVERTER CAPABLE OF OUTPUTTING A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF VOLTAGES

摘要

The present invention relates to a power converter including a plurality of three-level inverters each capable of outputting three different levels of voltages, and a switch circuit for selecting an output from one of the plurality of three-level inverters. Each three-level inverter includes four switch elements connected in series, two switch elements connected in series between two nodes, and two capacitors, with the two nodes being connected to each other.

主权项

1. A power converter comprising:
a group of serial three-level inverters including 2n three-level inverters each capable of outputting three levels of voltages connected in series, n being an integer of 1 or more; and a switch circuit for selecting an output from either one of two of said three-level inverters in said group of serial three-level inverters, said three-level inverters each including
a first switch element to a fourth switch element connected in series,a fifth switch element and a sixth switch element connected in series between a first node between said first switch element and said second switch element, and a second node between said third switch element and said fourth switch element,a first charge storage element connected between a third node between said second switch element and said third switch element, and said first switch element, anda second charge storage element connected between said third node and said fourth switch element,said three-level inverter being configured to be able to output three levels of voltages by a combination of on states and off states of said first switch element to said fourth switch element by connecting said third node to a fourth node between said first charge storage element and said second charge storage element, said group of serial three-level inverters including 2n said three-level inverters connected in series by repeated connection of a fifth node between said fourth switch element and said second charge storage element in one of said three-level inverters to a sixth node between said first switch element and said first charge storage element in another of said three-level inverters adjacent to said one of said three-level inverters, 2n−1 said switch circuits being connected to be able to select an output from either one of the two adjacent said three-level inverters in said group of serial three-level inverters, when there are two or more said switch circuits, said switch circuit in a following stage being connected to be able to select an output from either one of two said switch circuits connected in a previous stage, thereby providing one output.