The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 02, 1996
Filed:
Jan. 06, 1995
John D Ainsworth, Stafford, GB;
David R Trainer, Stafford, GB;
GEC Alsthom Limited, , GB;
Abstract
A multilevel convertor having a set of series-connected capacitors and a set of associated series-connected switching elements employs a main control loop which controls some aspect of an AC system, e.g. busbar voltage, by controlling the switching times of the switching elements. The convertor also comprises one or more subsidiary control loops for establishing a desired relationship between mean DC voltage levels on the capacitors. The subsidiary control loops combine first signals proportional to DC voltage levels on the capacitors and second signals proportional to tap currents associated with the capacitor nodes to provide signals which modulate the timing of the switching of switching elements connected to those capacitors which are out of balance, while leaving alone the timing of the switching of switching elements associated with those capacitors which have the required voltage across them. The advantage of the invention is that it prevents the 'run-away' of individual capacitor voltages to values grossly in error, the run-away being due either to spontaneous instability or to temporary disturbances.