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:
Nov. 09, 1999
Filed:
Jun. 30, 1998
James Patrick Lyons, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Paul Martin Espelage, Salem, VA (US);
Vlatko Vlatkovic, Schenectady, NY (US);
Jing Wang, Schenectady, NY (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A three-level NPC converter includes at least one phase leg including four series coupled electrical switches having a first pair junction between the first two switches and a second pair junction between the second two switches. First and second inner switch snubber capacitors are coupled in series at a neutral junction. First and second inner switch snubber diodes are respectively coupled to the first and second pair junctions and respectively coupled at first and second inner diode-capacitor junctions to the first and second inner switch snubber capacitors. First and second inner switch snubber resistors are respectively coupled between the first and second inner diode-capacitor junctions and respective portions of a DC bus. In one embodiment, the NPC converter further includes first and second outer switch snubber diodes coupled between respective first and second inner diode-capacitor junctions and respective portions of the DC bus. This embodiment may further include first and second outer switch snubber capacitors coupled in parallel with respective first and second inner switch snubber capacitors.