DE102017113460A1 - Electronic circuit for converting electrical energy and associated control - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic circuit with associated control for efficient power electronic power supplies, electrical converters, electrical inverters, power transmission systems, battery integrated converters and battery systems with the possibility of changing the electrical interconnection of battery subunits, for example, to each other in series or in parallel, and comparable power electronic systems , In particular, the invention relates to power electronic circuits which comprise a plurality of electrical switches and / or a plurality of electrical energy stores and / or a plurality of modules, each comprising at least one electrical switch and at least one electrical energy store. The invention describes an electronic circuit for transforming electrical energy and an associated control, which allows an advantageous saving of control data, transmission speed and signal lines and a reduction of the susceptibility to errors and electromagnetic interference.

Description

The invention relates to an electronic circuit with associated control for efficient power electronic power supplies, electrical converters, electrical inverters, power transmission systems, battery integrated converters and battery systems with the possibility of changing the electrical interconnection of battery subunits, for example, to each other in series or in parallel, and comparable power electronic systems , In particular, the invention relates to power electronic circuits which comprise a plurality of electrical switches and / or a plurality of electrical energy stores and / or a plurality of modules, each comprising at least one electrical switch and at least one electrical energy store.

State of the art

Examples of such power electronic circuits are the modular multilevel inverter M2C (see US 7,269,037 . DE 101 03 031 ) or the modular multilevel parallel-serial converter M2SPC ( WO 2012/072197 . DE 10 2010 052 934 . WO 2012/072168 . EP 2011/0179321 . WO 2013/017186 . DE 10 2011 108 920 . DE 10 2016 112 250 . DE 10 2015 112 512 ). Furthermore, so-called switched-capacitor circuits meet the necessary conditions for use with the present invention, ie the use of multiple energy storage, the electrical interconnection can be dynamically varied with each other to exchange energy between the energy storage and / or electrical parameters (especially electricity and / or voltage) to external system connections such as power grids, electrical loads or sources. The invention is not bound to a specific inverter or module type.

Modern modular power electronics is the result of exploiting the production-related advantages of similar units and the use of standardized assemblies for a faster design and development of solutions based on this platform. Modular multilevel converters, for example, allow disassembling large voltages or high powers into small portions that can be handled with small power electronic subcircuits, usually each implemented as a stand-alone module. Modular switched-capacitor circuits, as another example, are used, inter alia, to convert very small voltages into the typical extra-low voltage range of electronics, typically 1V to 48V. A typical field of application are so-called energy harvesting systems that use ambient energy sources to supply small electronic systems.

Often, these modules are not self-contained assemblies physically integrated into a system, but are typically designed as design units in the design phase and are already designed with their chip layout self-aligned sub-blocks, similar to, for example, gates, memory cells and other blocks in digital chip design, combined into a power electronic chip unit and integrated into the overall chip layout. The overall chip layout can also include digital circuit parts and analog circuit parts in addition to this electronic power circuit component whose power supply and energy conditioning the power electronic circuit component often provides.

In the following, any unit in a power electronic circuit with a plurality of electrical energy stores, which in each case contains at least one energy store and at least one electronic switch, makes it possible to dynamically increase the electrical connection of the at least one energy store of the module with at least one energy store of another module change. This change in the electrical connection of the at least one energy store with at least one energy store of another module can, for example, the change from a practical series connection of these energy storage to bypassing one or more of these energy storage by passing the current through the energy storage, without loading or unloading ( so-called bypass state). Thus, the term also applies to switched-capacitor circuits. In the following, all of these circuits will be referred to as inverters without limiting the generality. For example, different modules may be fabricated independently on separate electronic units, such as electronic circuit boards, printed circuit boards or terminated enclosures, to utilize cost reduction effects in production due to higher numbers of similar units, and / or to utilize maintenance through simple interchangeability of potentially terminated single modules.

The switching state of a module is the type in which or the switches of the module are activated or deactivated to electrically connect at least one electrical energy storage of the module with at least one electrical energy storage at least one other module in different ways, the so-called connectivity explicitly not to connect ( open circuit or separate connection), so that several modules together generate an electrical voltage. Examples of possible connectivities of electrical energy stores are, for example, parallel connection and serial connection, combinations of electrical energy storage as well as unconnected or only with a contact connected energy storage.

Exemplary elementary circuits of the prior art that may form the basis of the invention are the modular multilevel converter M2C ( US 7,269,037 . DE10 103 031 ), which allows to switch from an electrical series connection of the electrical energy storage of its modules, the individual electrical energy storage dynamically between an active operation in the series circuit and a withdrawal from the series circuit by a bypass of the current, the modular multilevel converter M2SPC ( WO 2012/072197 . DE 10 2010 052 934 . WO 2012/072168 . EP 2011/0179321 . WO 2013/017186 . DE 10 2011 108 920 . DE 10 2016 112 250 . DE 10 2015 112 512 ), which provides both a parallel and a serial state for the individual electrical energy stores of the modules, as well as so-called switched-capacitor circuits (see for example [ MD Seeman, SR Sanders (2008). Analysis and optimization of switched-capacitor dc-dc converters. IEEE Transactions on Power Conversion, 23 (2): 841ff .]). Modular multilevel converters, such as the M2C or the M2SPC, are based on the interconnection of modules with generally much lower voltage than the entire output voltage of the modular converter formed therefrom. Depending on the converter type, the total module voltage, the total current and the necessary switching rate of the individual electronic switches are broken down into small sub-units than a traditional converter with typically less than four levels (for example H-bridges). In the M2C, individual modules consist of, for example, an energy store, a capacitor and a plurality of electronic switches, which are arranged either in a half bridge or a full bridge. Each M2C module is thus a two-terminal, which can be interconnected, for example, with other modules in series and / or in parallel to form a so-called macro topology, ie an association of modules to fulfill electrical converter tasks.

In addition, there are other derivations and developments, such as described in US 13 / 990,463 . US 14 / 235,812 . DE 10 2010 008 978 . DE 10 2009 057 288 . US 3,581,212 ,

Such modules, called microtopologies, can be linked together in different ways in so-called macro topologies. The most common macro topology is the Marquardt topology (see US 7,269,037 . DE 10 2010 052 934 ), in the 1 for the M2C and the M2SPC. In this macro topology, several phase modules or phase units, which themselves consist of converter arms (the interconnection of at least two modules), are connected together at the ends. In addition, there are numerous other variants for interconnecting modules, in the simplest case an open chain of modules.

In almost all macro topologies, the smallest unit is the so-called converter arm. It represents a strand of at least two interconnected similar modules. The similarity is already given by the fact that the neighboring modules have at least two common states, for example serial positive and bypass, in common and can be used in operation with dynamic switching between them.

Typical examples of switched-capacitor circuits are voltage pumps in which electrical energy stores, for example capacitors, can change their connectivity from a (partial) series circuit to a (partially) parallel circuit and thus change their generated voltage. An example of this is the Marx converter, often called the Marx generator [see Erwin Marx (1925). Generation of different high-voltage types for test and test purposes. Elektrotech. Zeitschrift], and its modifications [for example J. Rodriguez, S. Leeb (2006). A multilevel inverter topology for inductively coupled power transfer. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 21 (6): 1607ff . F. Peng, W. Qiang, D. Cao (2010). Recent advances in multilevel converter / inverter topologies and applications. International Power Electronics Conference (IPEC), 492ff .]. Such circuits exist as DC-DC converters, inverters and inverters. By suitable division of the circuit into parts, each containing at least one energy storage and at least one electrical switch, such circuits can be modularized. This has advantages in industrial production. The above-mentioned M2SPC modular multilevel converter can be considered as a union or hybrid of traditional multilevel converters and switched-capacitor converters.

The modular multilevel converter M2C allows large voltages to be broken down into smaller sub-voltages by means of several modules and to produce output voltages in fine gradations. For this reason, the quality of the output voltage, quantified for example with the so-called total harmonic distortion (THD), is very high. Furthermore, there is a state in which none of Both switches are activated by the control unit, but only diodes (so-called freewheeling diodes) as rectifier elements conduct the current according to its flow direction. This state is usually referred to as passive, since no specific activation of switches by the control unit is required and the control unit does not need to know the current for determining the commutation. Instead, the passive state may be used to discharge the energy of an inductive load or power line by deliberately disabling switches.

However, the modular multi-level converter M2C only allows a series connection of modules, which is why each module must be designed for the maximum expected current. Furthermore, outside the peak voltage, a large number of modules are idle in the bypass state. In addition, for inductive loads, the largest current is generally expected, especially at low voltages. During this time, the power must be provided by a small number of modules and their module capacitors or other forms of electrical energy storage. The internal resistance and the available capacity are therefore very unfavorable.

The modular multi-level converter with serial and parallel connectivity M2SPC is a further development of the above technology and allows a dynamic change between serial and parallel switching of the modules, so that at low voltages, a large part of the modules can be connected in parallel, while at higher voltages and more can switch more modules into a series connection [ US 13 / 990,463 ].

1. (a) Der mindestens eine elektrische Energiespeicher eines Moduls wird mithilfe von elektrischen Schaltern mit dem mindestens einen Energiespeicher eines weiteren Moduls in Serie geschaltet;
2. (b) der mindestens eine elektrische Energiespeicher eines Moduls wird mithilfe von elektrischen Schaltern mit dem mindestens einen Energiespeicher eines weiteren Moduls parallel geschaltet;
3. (c) der mindestens eine elektrische Energiespeicher eines Moduls wird mithilfe von elektrischen Schaltern gebypasst, was bedeutet, dass der mindestens eine elektrische Energiespeicher eines Moduls nur mit maximal einem seiner mindestens zwei elektrischen Kontakte mit einem elektrischen Energiespeicher eines weiteren Moduls elektrisch leitend verbunden ist und somit kein geschlossener Stromkreis mit einem elektrischen Energiespeicher eines weiteren Moduls vorliegt.

As a switching state of a module, short state, the type is referred to, in which the switch or the module is activated or deactivated to at least one electrical energy storage of the module electrically conductive with at least one electrical energy storage at least one other module in a different way, the so-called Connectivity to connect or explicitly not connect, ie open circuit or separate connection, so that several modules together generate an electrical voltage. Examples of possible connectivities of electrical energy stores are parallel connection and serial connection, combinations of electrical energy stores as well as unconnected or only with a contact connected energy storage. Modules are typically capable of representing at least two of the following states or forms of connectivity through electrical switches of the modules:

1. (A) The at least one electrical energy storage of a module is connected in series by means of electrical switches with the at least one energy storage of another module;
2. (b) the at least one electrical energy store of a module is connected in parallel with the aid of electrical switches with the at least one energy store of a further module;
3. (c) the at least one electrical energy store of a module is bypassed by means of electrical switches, which means that the at least one electrical energy store of a module is electrically conductively connected to only one of its at least two electrical contacts with an electrical energy store of another module, and thus there is no closed circuit with an electrical energy store of another module.

Although these technologies have significant advantages over other power electronic circuits, they also have significant disadvantages. For the generation of high voltages, for example, a large number of modules is needed. Each of these modules uses several individual switches, usually between four and eight switches, which should be independently controllable to allow the desired flexibility. The high number of independently controlled switches leads to a large number of control signals to be provided. Typical microprocessors, microcontrollers, signal processors, programmable logic controllers (short PLC or PLC) and similar devices usually provide about 30 to 80 inputs and outputs. Higher numbers of signals are needed in a few other technical applications. Furthermore, today's package types limit the number of inputs and outputs that can be routed out of a semiconductor chip to the outside.

For example, for a design of, for example, only forty 100V voltage modules capable of producing an output voltage of 4000V, the number of control lines required adds up to 160 to 320 from the control unit implemented in one or more microprocessors or alternative electrical circuits with high temporal accuracy and high data rate are needed. Typical update rates of the control lines are less than 1 ms, preferably less than 10 μs, to ensure low distortion of the output voltage. When using field effect transistors is usually due to their high switching speed of usually below 100 ns beyond a temporal Accuracy of the signals well below the switching speed mentioned desired. Consequently, a very accurate signal generation of a large number of parallel channels with high signal rate in real time is needed. Technically, this can only be achieved with very expensive and special components. The usual in other technical areas synchronization of multiple processors or alternative electronic circuits for generating the plurality of parallel channels is very difficult due to the necessary high temporal accuracy, the jitter of typically over 100 ns prohibits.

A second central problem with these prior art flexible multilevel technologies is the high susceptibility to electromagnetic interference. The currents controlled by the semiconductor switches usually exceed several thousand amperes and are supplied and removed in the immediate vicinity of the control signals. For this reason, the above-mentioned multilevel technology has the intolerable problem that the current to be controlled acts on the control line and the signals generated by it in the control lines are even orders of magnitude higher than the desired control signals of the control unit of the device. However, a multilevel converter which is no longer completely controlled by the control unit according to the specifications but which influences itself is impractical not only for many fields of use but also safety-critical because of the high energies and the usually direct connection to a high-voltage network.

Overview of the invention

An electrical converter circuit is provided, which comprises at least two similar modules connected in series, at least one electronic control unit, at least one coded electrical signal transmission and at least one decoder, wherein the series-connected modules form a module string, in particular for constructing a bridge branch or a bridge Phase module is used, and wherein each module includes at least one electrical energy storage and electronic switches, wherein the at least one electronic control unit is configured to emit electrical signals for driving the electronic switches, which as coded electrical signals via the coded electrical signal transmission to the at least one Decoders are to be routed, wherein the at least one decoder is configured to the coded electrical signals in each of a respective set switch state ei a single data rate or an average redundancy of the coded electrical signals is lower than an average data rate or an average redundancy of the signals decoded by the at least one decoder to switch control signals.

1. (a) eine Serienschaltung der elektrischen Energiespeicher;
2. (b) eine Parallelschaltung der elektrischen Energiespeicher;
3. (c) eine Bypassschaltung des mindestens einen elektrischen Energiespeichers mindestens eines Moduls, bei der höchstens die Hälfte der mindestens zwei elektrischen Kontakte des genannten mindestens einen elektrischen Energiespeichers mit einem elektrischen Energiespeichers eines anderen Moduls elektrisch leitend verbunden ist.

According to one embodiment, at least one of the modules is connected via at least one electrical connection to a subsequent one of the modules connected in series, wherein the switching elements of the modules connect their respective electrical energy storage with electrical connections of the modules connected in series, that optionally at least the following circuit variants of the electrical energy storage in succession switched modules are present:

1. (A) a series connection of the electrical energy storage;
2. (B) a parallel connection of the electrical energy storage;
3. (C) a bypass circuit of the at least one electrical energy storage at least one module in which at most half of the at least two electrical contacts of said at least one electrical energy storage is electrically connected to an electrical energy storage device of another module.

In a possible embodiment, the device according to the invention comprises at least one coding unit which is configured to code signals to be transmitted or transmitted by the electronic control unit on the basis of a predetermined pattern for switch states of the electronic switches to be set.

In a possible embodiment, the at least one coding unit is integrated into the control unit or the at least one coding unit is part of the control unit. In a further embodiment, the at least one coding unit is integrated into at least one of the at least one electronic control unit subordinate electronic circuit. Alternatively, the coding unit can also be provided as a separate unit, for example in the form of an encoder or comprise an encoder.

It is conceivable that the device further comprises at least one galvanically isolating signal transmitter.

In this case, the galvanically isolating signal transmitter is preferably configured to transmit at least a portion of the signals encoded by the at least one encoder.

In a possible embodiment, the device according to the invention has at least one Decoder per module, wherein the at least one decoder per module is designed to provide the switching signals with at least one decoded signal for each switch of the respective module as a control signal.

It is conceivable that the at least one decoder per module is integrated in each case in the electronics of the associated module.

Alternatively, the inventive device has at least one decoder per inter-module connection, wherein the at least one decoder per inter-module connection is configured to provide the switching signals with at least one decoded signal for each switch of the respective inter-module connection as a control signal.

In a further embodiment, the device according to the invention has at least one decoder per inter-module connection subunit, wherein the at least one decoder per inter-module connection subunit is designed to provide the switching signals with at least one separate decoded signal for each switch of the respective inter-module connection subunit as the control signal.

Furthermore, the device has at least one channel coder.

• - Auswahl einer zukünftigen Einstellung der Schaltzustände der Schalter, der Module, der Intermodulverbindungen und/oder der Intermodulverbindungsuntereinheiten;
• - Übermittlung der zukünftigen Einstellung in elektronischer Form als elektrische Signale in codierter Form, wobei die von der elektronischen Steuerungseinheit ausgesendeten elektrischen Signale auf Basis eines jeweiligen vorgegebenen Musters für die jeweiligen einzustellenden Schaltzustände der elektronischen Schalter codiert und als codierte elektrische Signale über die codierte elektrische Signalübertragung zu dem mindestens einen Decoder geleitet werden;
• - Decodierung der elektrischen Signale zur Ermittlung der nötigen Einstellung von Schaltern.

In addition, a method for controlling an electrical converter circuit is provided, wherein the electrical converter circuit comprises at least two similar series-connected modules, at least one electronic control unit, at least one coded electrical signal transmission, at least one coding unit and at least one decoder, wherein the series-connected modules form a module string as used in particular for constructing a bridge branch or a phase module, and wherein each module contains at least one electrical energy store and at least one electronic switch, wherein at least two of the modules using the respective switching elements of the modules their respective electrical energy storage so with electrical connections of the modules connect that optionally at least one serial circuit and a parallel connection of the electrical energy storage are present, the method the following steps include:

• Selecting a future setting of the switching states of the switches, the modules, the inter-module connections and / or the inter-module connection sub-units;
• - Transmission of the future setting in electronic form as electrical signals in coded form, wherein the electronic control unit emitted electrical signals based on a respective predetermined pattern for the respective switching states of the electronic switches to be set and coded electrical signals via the coded electrical signal transmission to passed to the at least one decoder;
• - decoding the electrical signals to determine the necessary setting of switches.

In an embodiment, the said control signals are at least partially coded such that the average data rate or the average redundancy is lower than the average data rate or the average redundancy of the decoded switch control signals.

The present invention provides a novel solution to the problems of the prior art. In the first place, the invention enables a reduction of the control lines, so that the control of the system in the form of at least one control unit can take place with ordinary microprocessors or alternative electronic circuits of the prior art. It also reduces the susceptibility to electromagnetic interference and interference, both from external sources, and in particular from its own power generated by the drive and its switching transitions and switching spikes.

Although each semiconductor switch must be controlled individually, the entirety of the control lines is highly patterned. Furthermore, not all combinations of switching states are necessary for the goal of generating arbitrary pulse shapes. While these features are specifically used in the present invention, the previous consensus in technical circles has been that the high number of control lines is the necessary price to maintain unprecedented flexibility. Usable patterns in the switching states were not considered to be obvious since the high number of switches and the dependence of the switching states of the switches with each other lead to a high complexity, which obscures the view of simple structures. For this reason, the control signals are generated in existing systems exclusively computer-aided and not manually, so that even after a targeted numerical Entropieanalyse only the Shannonian redundancy would be known, but no natural compression options would be clear.

The complexity due to the high number of signals is further increased by possible switching modulation, which causes very fast switching between different and usually non-recurring switching states.

To reduce the invention uses at least one location of the transmission of the control signals encoding so that no more signal is used for each independently controlled switch, but the control signal states and sub-states represents. In this case, according to the invention, a purely parallel coding, a purely serial coding and a mixture of parallel and serial coding can be used to reduce the redundancy.

In a purely parallel coding, the totality of all coded signals at a certain point in time uniquely defines the complete state of all switches. In a purely serial coding, there is only one signal channel whose signal as a serial signal does not define the state of all switches at a certain point in time, but rather by the sum of signals transmitted in succession. The state of all switches determining successively transmitted signals must be completely transmitted at the time when the switches must take the appropriate state. However, the successive signals which determine the state of all switches do not have to follow one another consecutively, but can be interrupted or interleaved (so-called interleaving), as described, for example, in the compact disc (CD), eg. B. according to the Red Book standard, is used. In a mix of parallel and serial encoding, the state of each individual switch is defined in more than one signal channel and at more than one point in time. Thus, s consecutively transmitted signals on k parallel channels define the state of each switch.

Further, sequence coding may be used, which may also be in the form of purely parallel, purely serial or mixed parallel serial coding. In the sequence coding, for the definitive definition of the state of each switch, moreover, the state of each switch at one or more points in time of the past is needed. In the simplest case, the sequence encoding is a differential encoding in which a signal is represented as a difference to a previous signal. Furthermore, more complicated sequence coding is possible, which can be implemented with shift registers, for example. An example of a more complicated sequence encoding is Reed-Solomon or convolutional codes.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the at least one control unit or at least one subordinate electronic circuit generates a coding which requires fewer signal lines and / or a lower data rate than the activation of each switch with one line each of the prior art. Due to the lower number, the control signals can be generated in their entirety for the complete system in a control unit and output electronically from this, despite their usually small number of inputs and outputs.

One or more electronic circuits are considered to be subordinate to one or more control units when these one or more electronic circuits receive and process electrical control signals from the one or more control units.

Furthermore, optionally one or more separate encoders can be implemented, which on the basis of control signals of the at least one control unit or at least one subordinate electronic circuit encoding in the form that its at least one output requires a lower data rate than a control of each switch one line each according to the prior art.

At least one decoder determines from the at least one coded signal the required state of at least one electrical switch. A decoder according to the invention can receive only a part of the at least one signal, in the case of signals transmitted via parallel channels, for example only a few channels, in the case of serially transmitted signals, for example by evaluating only few transmit symbols or bits from the entire data stream of the at least one channel. For example, in the case of channel division multiplexing according to the Code Division Multiplex Access (CDMA) method, only one or a few of the channels can be extracted from the at least one signal. Advantageous in the context of the invention is further, if the at least one decoder is spatially close to the at least one switch whose state determines the corresponding decoder. This spatial proximity can also be supplemented by suitable circuit layout to reduce electromagnetic interference.

Advantageously, the invention utilizes a so-called code book covering any required state of the system or parts of the system, for example modules, intermodule connections (comprising the switches of a module and its immediate neighbors, ie a module which is electrically connected directly to the first one direct electrical connections between the electrical energy storage of the two modules can produce) assigns a coding or an entry. The inventor has recognized that further in certain systems there are conditions that are not only rarely or not used, but their use for various reasons, such as a disadvantageous energy balance or the risk of short-circuiting one or more energy stores due to simultaneous activation of two or more switches causing a direct closed circuit between the terminals of one or more energy stores, or even detrimental in the event of use in a sequence by creating problematic transient conditions. According to this advantageous aspect of the invention, the code book preferably only contains the states which are absolutely necessary in order to provide the desired flexibility of the pulse shape. So-called unauthorized states, for example those states in which two or more switches short-circuit an energy store with simultaneous or overlapping activation, are not included in the code book and thus can not be represented in principle. If necessary, unauthorized states can be specifically determined and removed from the code book. The number of entries in the code book results in the minimum data rate of the signals which the at least one control unit or at least one of these subordinate electronic circuits must transmit to the modules. This signal transmission can be done either purely in parallel, purely serial or mixed parallel serial according to the above. The code book can be executed minimally, which means that the minimal, usually binary word length is determined, which is necessary to unambiguously represent all entries of the code book, thus all required states. Without limitation of generality, a word purely in parallel, purely serial or mixed parallel serial can be transmitted electronically according to the above. Alternatively, additional redundancy may be added to allow for easy error detection or correction. To facilitate a simple implementation, parity codes and convolutional codes are preferred for the purposes of the invention.

If, for example, in the case of a binary transmission, the number of entries in the code book, and consequently the number of required states, does not correspond to a power of two, such redundancy arises automatically.

The use of a code book with a firmly defined maximum number of entries has the advantage that the maximum expected data rate of the coded signal (s) is known and, in the sense of the invention, lower than the maximum data rate of the decoded switch control signals.

For the purposes of the invention, other source coding methods may also be used to reduce the average data rate and / or the average redundancy of the coded signals [see J. Proakis (2001). Digital Communications. 4th edition, McGraw Hill, Bost on.]. Particularly advantageous in the sense of the invention are in particular those source coding methods which can assure a maximum data rate.

list of figures

• 1a FIG. 12 shows a macro topology of the modular multi-level serial and parallel connectivity (M2SPC) converter of the prior art.
• 1b shows a macro topology of the modular multilevel converter with serial connectivity (M2C) from the prior art.
• 2a shows four exemplary switched capacitor technologies 201 . 202 . 203 . 204 ,
• 2 B shows three typical module types of the modular multilevel inverter M2C.
• 2c shows three typical module types of the modular multilevel inverter M2SPC, which allow in addition to a serial and at least one parallel electrical connectivity between modules.
• 3 shows an alternative macro topology for interconnecting modules and an exemplary load L 305, which may have any electrical behavior.
• 4 illustrates two exemplary module circuits 401 . 402 a modular multilevel converter.
• 5 shows two adjacent modules according to the invention.
• 6 Figure 5 shows five typical states of a particular embodiment in which the states are coded per inter-module connection, with the necessary switch position, and as an equivalence picture.
• 7 Figure 4 shows four typical states of a particular embodiment in which the states are coded per inter-module connection subunit.
• 8th Figure 2 shows two exemplary codings of particular embodiments of the invention in which the states are coded per inter-module connection.
• 9 shows a particular embodiment of the invention, the at least one control unit 901 , at least one galvanically isolating signal transmitter 905 , at least one decoder 907 and at least two modules 910 , each comprising at least one electronic switch and at least one energy storage comprises.
• 10 represents a particular embodiment of the invention, in which the coded control signals 1004 first of at least one decoder 1007 decoded before the decoded signals 1006 of at least one galvanically isolating transformer 1007 from the voltage level of at least the at least one control unit 1001 be isolated.
• 11 shows a particular embodiment of the invention, in which at least one decoder 1108 in at least one module 1109 is integrated.
• 12 shows a particular embodiment, further comprising at least one channel coder 1212 and at least one channel decoder 1215 includes.
• 13 shows an example of an embodiment that dispenses with the at least one optional encoder.
• 14 shows a particular embodiment in which at least one galvanically isolating transformer 1405 per module, per inter-module connection or per inter-module connection subunit, for example also integrated into the respective module.

Detailed description and special embodiments

A device, for example power electronic power supplies, electrical converters, electrical inverters, energy transmission systems, battery integrated converters and battery systems with the possibility of changing the electrical interconnection of battery subunits according to a first embodiment of the invention comprises at least one connection pair for at least one electrical load, energy source, energy storage, a Mixture of the latter or for at least one electric power grid and at least three similar modules, each of which can assume a plurality of switching states.

In 1a For example, a macro topology of the modular multilevel serial and parallel connectivity (M2SPC) converter of the prior art is shown. At least two of the modules are interconnected with at least two electrical connections. Module strands that are electrically connected directly to one another form converter arms 102 . 103 . 104 . 105 , which in turn are called phase modules or phase units 106 form. 1 forms two phase modules and four converter arms together. At the electrical connection points between several modules, in particular at the junctions of at least two converter arms, converter connections 102 . 103 be set to which electrical sources and / or sinks can be connected.

As the inventor has further recognized, switched capacitor technologies can be subdivided into similar or similar modules 205 . 206 . 207 , 208. 2a shows accordingly four exemplary switched capacitor technologies 201 . 202 . 203 . 204 ,

Two exemplary module circuits 401 . 402 of the modular multilevel converter are in 4 closer look. The modules contain at least one energy store 403 . 404 and at least two semiconductor switches, short switches 405 - 416 which can be implemented with any typical switching element, preferably field effect transistors are used. In general, the switches are complemented by freewheeling diodes and also with protective circuits (so-called snubber). The switches 405 . 406 . 409 - 412 left of the energy storage 403 . 404 as well as their free-wheeling diodes and protective circuit are referred to without restriction of the generality as page A. The switches 407 . 408 . 413 - 416 right of the energy store 403 . 404 as well as their freewheeling diodes and protective circuit are referred to without restriction of the generality as side B.

Adjacent modules, such as the modular multi-level converter M2C, within a converter arm, hence a module string, become, as in FIG 5 shown within the meaning of the invention advantageously connected to each other at least one module connection. The switches that hold the electrical energy storage 502 . 503 the two modules can connect directly electrically together form together with their optional protective circuit 504 the intermodule connection 501 , Instead of the half-bridge arrangement of two switches, which each module contributes to the inter-module connection, according to US 13 / 990,463 also form each module four switches in two half-bridges the proportion of the module to the intermodule connection to allow parallel connection of energy storage devices of different modules. An intermodule connection 501 Again, there are at least two inter-module connection sub-units, with the inter-module connection sub-units each representing the intersection of the inter-module connection with the modules involved. Consequently, the inter-module connection subunit with respect to a module is in each case the proportion of the corresponding module at the intermodule connection 501 ,

A particular embodiment, in 6 comprises five states, the states being coded per inter-module connection. Shown in the left column, the switches of the intermodule connection of two adjacent modules and their at least one energy storage, in the right column of the switches in the corresponding states of the Intermodule connection generated equivalent electrical connections. In particular, the illustrated states are serial positive 601 , serial-negative 602 , bypass 603 , passive 604 , parallel 605 as well as a state defined here as unauthorized 606 in which, by appropriate activation of switches, at least one energy store is short-circuited via two or more switches. Above all, the condition describes the form in which the electrical energy stores of the system are electrically interconnected. This form of interconnection is dynamically changeable within the meaning of the invention.

A particular embodiment, in 7 includes four states where the states are coded per inter-module connection subunit. The passive state off 6 is not included in the code book, but selectively suppressed by the controller and replaced by appropriate regulation by the use of the other states without loss of function. In return, the remaining four allowed states are addressed with two binary bits. Shown in the left column are the switches of the inter module connection subunit of a module and its at least one energy store, in the right column the equivalent electrical connections generated by the switches in the corresponding states of the intermodule connection unit. In particular, the illustrated states are positive 701 , negative 702 , bypass 703 , parallel 704 as well as a generally unauthorized state 705 in which, by appropriate activation of switches, at least one energy store is short-circuited via two or more switches. For one, as shown here in isolation, inter-module connection subunit are the required switch positions of the bypass state 703 equal to one of the two serial states, either positive 701 or negative 701. This peculiarity allows the bypass state to be removed from the code book for this case as well, with the at least one control unit or at least one subordinate electronic circuit generating a bypass function by appropriate selection of serial states of adjacent inter-module connection sub-units can. Consequently, the number of states to be coded decreases without the scope of functions being restricted.

The states can also be encoded per inter-module connection, as are the two exemplary encodings in FIG 8th demonstrate. With the help of a suitable partial independent coding 801 For example, three bits sufficient for the state of a five-state inter-module connection can be divided such that two of the three bits, for example, the first and second bits, encode the state of the inter-module connection sub-unit involved in the inter-module connection (see "to module 1 "), while the third bit and one of the two named bits, for example the second and the third bit, together encode the state of the other intermodule connection subunit participating in the intermodule connection (see" to module 2 "). Thus, it is with the part-independent coding 801 a clever mixing solution between one coding per inter-module connection and one coding per inter-module connection subunit according to the invention, in which each inter-module connection subunit receives only two bits instead of three bits which would be necessary for the unambiguous definition of the intermodule connection with five different states in the code book must decode. For this purpose, bits a and c can be symmetrical as in the 8th with the reference number 801 so that all inter-module connection sub-units can each use a decoder of the same type. Since the signals must usually be isolated (for example, with optocouplers, capacitive, inductive or other galvanic isolating signal transmitters) must be transferred to the modules, such a reduction in the amount of data, which leads to a reduction in the number of parallel lines and / or a reduction of Bitrate per line leads, extremely advantageous. Alternatively, the respective third bit can also be evaluated by the respective decoder in order to serve as a check bit for the detection of transmission errors.

If, on the other hand, the state passive for the intermodule connection is dispensed with, as in example 801, there are four states per intermodule connection in the code book that require two bits in binary form for unambiguous representation. While the codewords for the unambiguous description of the state of the intermodule connection are shorter than in the part-independent coding 801 Each of the at least two inter-module connection sub-units of the inter-module connection, if decoded by at least two independent decoders, at least one for each inter-module connection sub-unit, requires both bits to uniquely decode and determine which switches of the respective inter-module connection subunit are to be activated. This results in the same number of bits per inter-module connection subunit as in the table 801 illustrated embodiment. Such a decoding with at least two decoders can be very advantageous since the decoding can be carried out before the potential separation by galvanic transformers before decoding and thus a smaller amount of data must be transmitted galvanically separated.

The order of the bits can be arbitrarily changed without restriction of generality. Likewise, the code can be inverted, which means that 0 and 1 are reversed.

Various exemplary embodiments of the invention and their topologies are disclosed in U.S.P. 9 to 12 shown. The embodiment of 9 includes at least one control unit 901 , at least one galvanically isolating signal transmitter 905 , at least one decoder 907 and at least two modules 910 , each comprising at least one electronic switch and at least one energy storage. The modules are in accordance with, for example US 7,269,037 . DE 101 03 031 . WO 2012/072197 . DE 10 2010 052 934 . WO 2012/072168 . EP 2011/0179321 . WO 2013/017186 and DE 10 2011 108 920 designed so that using the at least one switch per module said at least two modules, the electrical interconnection between at least two energy storage dynamically switch between at least two of the following states: (a) electrical connection of the energy storage in series; (B) electrical connection of the energy storage in parallel; (c) Bridging at least one energy store so that no charge can flow into or out of the corresponding energy store.

This control unit sends electrical signals 902 for example via an electric bus to at least one optional encoder 903 that encodes the signals such that the average amount of data and / or the average redundancy of the encoded signals 904 is less than the corresponding average amount of data and / or the average redundancy of the uncoded or decoded switch control signals 909 and / or the average entropy of the coded signals 904 the uncoded or decoded 909 is higher than that of the uncoded or decoded switch control signals 909 , Under special conditions is also the maximum amount of data of the coded signals 904 less than the corresponding maximum amount of data of the uncoded or decoded switch control signals 909 , The switch control signals 909 For example, may be configured so that for each switch one, for example, the decoder 907 associated group of switches at least one separate bit is provided, which describes the state (electrically closed vs. electrically non-electrically open) of the corresponding switch describes. The switch control signals 909 thus describe the switch states of the individual switches.

As in all embodiments of the invention, the electrical signal connections and buses 902 . 904 . 906 . 908 . 909 without limitation serial, parallel or mixed serial / parallel data transfer.

At least one galvanically isolating signal transformer 905 isolates the electrical voltage level of the signals from the voltage level of the electrical control unit and / or other electronic components.

Optionally, between the at least one control unit 901 and the optional at least one encoder 903 one of the at least one control unit subordinate electronic circuit may be included, of the at least one control unit 901 or at least one latter subordinate electronic circuit receives electrical signals and in turn signals 902 to the at least one encoder 903 sends.

The order of the optional at least one encoder 903 , the at least one galvanically isolating signal transmitter 905 and the decoder 907 may be interchanged and / or partially integrated into the modules and / or divided into several parallel units, each processing either all or only a subset of all signals, for example only for one module each. Preferably, the decoding takes place by the at least one decoder 907 always after the optional coding by the optional at least one encoder 903 instead of.

The electrical power connection 911 between two modules 910 is used for electrical power transmission and the electrical interconnection between the energy storage elements of the associated modules and is in their execution usually to the module type (for example, M2C four-quadrant modules, see for example US 7,269,037 ; For example, see M2C two-quadrant modules DE 101 03 031 For example, see M2SPC four-quadrant modules WO 2012/072197 . DE 10 2010 052 934 . DE 10 2011 108 920 . WO 2013/017186 or M2SPC two-quadrant modules, see for example WO 2012/072168 . US 2014/049230 ) and allows, with the aid of the at least one switch per module, each of at least one energy storage of at least two modules 910 dynamically changing in their electrical interconnection. For example, the electrical power connection 911 for M2SPC modules usually carried out at least by two electrical connections to a parallel connection of modules 910 or to allow electrical energy storage. Two by an electrical power connection 911 directly electrically interconnected modules 910 are usually called neighbors.

Another particular embodiment, in 12 , further comprises at least one channel coder 1212 and at least one channel decoder 1215 , The at least one channel coder 1212 adds the signal specifically Add redundancy with a specific code rate for error detection and / or error correction [see J. Proakis (2001). Digital Communications. 4th edition, McGraw Hill, Bost on.]. The at least one channel decoder 1215 performs error detection and / or error correction and extracts the signal. While encoding by at least one optional encoder 1203 Reducing the redundancy and preventing unauthorized states, for example, generally short circuits of an energy store, reduces the channel decoding purposefully added redundancy.

As 14 1, various elements within the meaning of the invention can also be embodied per module, per inter-module connection or per inter-module connection subunit - illustrated there by way of example for the at least one decoder. Likewise, this can also be embodied by way of example for channel coders, galvanically isolating signal transmitters, channel decoders and / or decoders.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the passive state in the code is represented as corresponding to the state that would be detected by the decoder (s) if the at least one control unit or the at least one encoding subordinate electronic circuit is not functional , In particular, the at least one control unit or the at least one coding subordinate electronic circuit thereof are not functional if they are not supplied with the specified voltage, if they are in the reset mode or have detected an error and caused an emergency shutdown.

For example, in the case of a control bus with so-called pull-down resistance, this would be a permanent low signal on all existing channels. In the case of a control bus with so-called pull-up resistor, this would be, for example, a permanent high signal on all existing channels. The inventor has realized that this is particularly advantageous. If a fault trip occurs during operation, the bypass state of all or more modules is the fastest way to discharge reactance currents at the converter terminals (eg, 102 and 103), since the typically implemented rectifier diodes in the modules will handle the maximum current reduce possible voltage and transfer the energy into the energy storage. At the same time, when the system is being initialized, if the modules in front of the at least one control unit or the at least one coding subordinate electronic circuit are ready for use only after the modules or their decoders or decoders, no energy is released from the system.

Alternatively, in a particular embodiment, the bypass state, in which the voltage of 0 V is forced between at least two module terminals, is represented in the code as corresponding to the state that would be detected by the decoder (s), if the at least one control unit or the at least one coding making subordinate electronic circuit is not functional. In the event of a fault, any current still flowing will be dissipated at the internal resistance of the coil and the rest of the circuit due to the stored magnetic energy stored in a load, source, memory, transmission line or other electrical elements connected to the converter. The inventor has recognized that this state has the advantage that it can minimize the voltage at terminals of the converter which, in the event of a fault, could possibly be damaged by the insulation and therefore touched by a user. In addition, the energy is converted into heat and is therefore no longer in electrical form. For safety reasons, this may be advantageous over storage in electrical storage in potentially defective or controlled by a defective control unit modules.

In a particular embodiment, at least some signals are not binary, ie with two different electrical symbols, for example <high> and <low> or <positive> and <negative> or <low-impedance> and <high-impedance>, but using higher-level modulation methods more than two symbols, for example a plurality of different voltage levels, or other known transmission methods such as phase shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation or the like.

In a particular embodiment, encoders and decoders are implemented in the at least one control unit or in at least one of those subordinate electronic circuits.

In a particular embodiment, the respective functions of the at least one encoder and / or the at least one decoder are represented in the at least one control unit or in at least one of those subordinate electronic circuits, wherein the at least one control unit or the at least one of those subordinate electronic circuits a programmable controller, thus, for example, a microprocessor, a programmable logic controller, a signal processor, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD), a programmable array logic device (PGA) or a comparable circuit is.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the respective functions of both at least one encoder and at least one decoder in the at least one control unit or in at least one latter subordinate electronic circuit are shown in comparison to the aforementioned particular embodiment, wherein the at least one control unit or the at least one latter subordinate electronic circuit is a programmable controller.

In a particular embodiment, the invention has no encoder, although encoded signals are used for control, thus signals having, for example, less redundancy or less data length than the state signals of the set of switches, for example the gate signals in transients. In this particular embodiment, at least one control unit or at least one latter subordinate electronic circuit generates directly coded signals which are converted by at least one decoder into control signals for at least one switch of the modules.

The inventor has recognized that control can be based on the coded states. Algebra may be developed with the states of modules, inter-module connections, inter-module connection sub-units, and other groupings of multiple switches that allow, for example, pulse width modulators and other switching modulators to generate directly encoded signals without detour via a dedicated encoder. The direct generation of coded signals according to the invention, without the use of separate encoders, does not limit the invention. An important feature of this aspect of the invention is not the coding but the use of at least one coded signal for controlling at least one switch of at least one module.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, at least one switch of at least one module is not characterized by a coded signal from at least one control unit or at least one latter subordinate electronic circuit but by an electronic signal directly reflecting the state of the switch - for example, a binary signal having a blocking state and a symbol representing the conductive state - controlled by at least one control unit or at least one latter subordinate electronic circuit, while at least one other switch of at least one module is driven by a signal encoded in accordance with the invention by at least one control unit or at least one latter subordinate electronic circuit ,

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the redundancy of the coded control signals 904 . 1004 . 1104 . 1204 the same as or higher than the redundancy of the entirety of the uncoded or decoded switch control signals 1209 . 909 For example, in the form of the respective gate signal or a respective binary switch state description of the shape. out, all individual switches of the modules together. This is especially true for the purposes of the present invention when the average redundancy of the coded control signals solely due to channel coding or error detection / error correction code, for example parity bits or convolutional codes, is equal to or higher than said average redundancy of the total of uncoded or decoded switch control signals , for example, the gate signals of the field effect transistors, IGBTs or the like, and the average redundancy of the coded control signals minus the channel code rate of the coded control signals [see J. Proakis (2001). Digital Communications. 4th edition, McGraw Hill, Bost on.] lower than the average redundancy of the uncoded or decoded switch control signals 1209 . 909 is.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the coded signals have a known finite maximum data rate which is also less than the maximum data rate of the uncoded or decoded switch control signals.

In one embodiment of the invention, the at least one decoder comprises at least one programmable logic device, for example a programmable array logic device (PGA), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a field programmable gate array (FPGA). or a comparable circuit capable of implementing at least single-channel electronic logic functions.

In a further embodiment, at least one encoder comprises at least one programmable logic module.

In a particular embodiment, said at least one programmable logic module is designed so that the state of at least one of its electronic input signals at a certain time completely defines all the electronic output signals of the at least one programmable logic module.

In a particular embodiment, said at least one programmable logic module is designed so that the state of at least one electronic output signal of the at least one programmable logic module by its electronic input signals to is not completely defined at a certain point in time, but is completely defined by its electronic input signals at least two specific times.

In a particular embodiment, said at least one programmable logic module is configured such that the state of at least one electronic output signal of the at least one programmable logic module is influenced by at least one state of at least one electronic output signal of the past in addition to the state of at least one input signal at least one time point.

In a particular embodiment, at least one of said possibly multiple programmable logic devices is programmed exactly once, d. H. so changeable that it permanently assumes the necessary or advantageous for its operation logic function that describes the relationship between the at least one output signal and the at least one input signal.

In a particular embodiment, at least one of said plurality of programmable logic modules may be programmed several times. This embodiment is particularly advantageous since the coding and communication with at least one control unit can be changed by devices in the field, for example to provide them with a more advantageous encoding or decoding, to increase their flexibility, to change their control behavior or to change the code Change book. Furthermore, the components can be adapted and used in this way by programming very easily for a second purpose (so-called second life) in another product or another product type, for example an energy technology, a medical technology or an automotive application.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, at least two of the modules in addition to a serial state, in which the electrical energy storage of two or more modules temporarily interconnect electrically in series, necessarily a parallel state in which connect the electrical energy storage of two or more modules temporarily electrically parallel to each other to let.

Module-wise coding

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the signals of at least three modules are coded independently of each other. This means that the decoding of the coded control signals, consequently the determination of which switches of the module are to be activated, does not require any information about the status of other modules. Consequently, the signals may be physically separated from other modules, for example, by independent parallel data lines associated with the respective modules. Preferably, each module has at least one dedicated data line assigned to it starting from the at least one control unit or from the at least one coding circuit of its subordinate electrical circuit via which the coded signals controlling the module are transmitted to said module.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the code book of the aforementioned embodiment contains a maximum of four states {bypass, serial positive, serial negative, passive};
wherein in the bypass state at least one energy storage of the module is not electrically connected to one of the neighboring modules;
wherein, in the serial-positive state, at least one energy store of the module having a predetermined polarity is electrically connected to the two neighboring modules such that one contact of the energy store is electrically connected to a neighboring module and the other contact of the energy store is electrically connected to the other neighbor module; wherein in the serial negative state at least one energy storage of the module with respect to the serial-positive state reversed polarity is electrically connected to the two neighboring modules, that one contact of the energy storage with a neighboring module and the other contact of the energy storage with the other neighboring module is electrically connected;
wherein in the passive state, the switches of the module are either disabled and only free-wheeling diodes conduct electricity or alternatively the switches are operated as a rectifier (so-called synchronous rectifier).

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, the code book of the above embodiment additionally contains the following states {parallel side A and serial positive side B, parallel side A and serial negative side B, parallel side A and parallel side B, serial positive side A and parallel side B, serial negative side A and parallel side B};
where in the state <parallel side X and serial positive side Y> the switches of side X of the module so be activated, that at least one energy storage of the module is electrically connected in parallel with the energy storage of the immediately adjacent to the side module X and a predefined contact of said energy storage, for example, the positive, is electrically connected to the immediately adjacent to the side Y module;
wherein in the state <parallel side X and serial negative side Y> the switches of the side X of the module are activated so that at least one energy storage of the module is electrically connected in parallel with the energy storage of the immediately adjacent to the side X module and the other contact of the said energy storage, for example, the negative, is electrically connected to the immediately adjacent to the side Y module;
wherein in the state <parallel side X and parallel side Y> the switches of the module are activated such that at least one energy store of the module is electrically connected in parallel with at least one energy store of both adjacent modules,
and wherein X and Y may each be either A or B.

Another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention differs from the immediately above in that the code book necessarily does not contain a passive state. As a result, the number of states corresponds to a power of two and can be transmitted with very little data on binary channels or data buses. The inventor has recognized that the passive state is not necessary to provide flexibility with respect to the waveform of voltages and / or currents, and its function can be mapped by other module states.

Another particularly preferred embodiment uses at least two bypass states, wherein a second bypass state, which is referred to herein without restriction of the general public as a bypass inverse state, from a first bypass state by inverting at least two electronic switch is different, thereby in this second bypass state also at least one energy storage of the module is not electrically connected to one of the neighboring modules, although the current flows through other electronic switch.

Intermodule connection method Coding

The above-described coding per module is particularly well suited if only serial, bypass and passive states but no parallel states are used in the control. This may be due to the fact that they are not needed for the application or they are not implemented by the type of module used (see, for example, the module type with the reference numeral 401 in 4 ). The inventor has recognized that different codes are most advantageous when using parallel states. In the coding of the states per module easily module state combinations can be mapped, in which one module can short-circuit the energy storage of another. On the one hand, such combinations point to potentials for data compression, on the other hand it is pointed out that such combinations must not be contained in the code book of the code book. An initially absurd, because modular circuit structures unnaturally countered possibility is the independent coding of intermodule connections, ie in each case those switches of two immediately adjacent modules that allow the direct electrical connection of the energy storage of the two modules by appropriate activation. While at the module level up to nine key states in the code book should be considered for flexible operation, analysis shows that the number of states at the intermodule connection level is reduced to five and less without restricting the flexibility of the overall system.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the signals of each intermodule connection are independently coded. This means that the decoding of the coded control signals, consequently the determination of which switches of the module are to be activated, does not require any information about the status of other intermodule connections. An inter-module connection comprises only those switches of the two modules interconnected by the inter-module connection, which are necessary for the representation of all electrical connection states of the energy stores of the two said modules. Due to the independence of other intermodule connections, the control signals of the individual intermodule connections can be physically separated, for example, transmitted by independent parallel data lines assigned to the respective intermodule connections.

Preferably, each intermodule connection receives at least one dedicated data line assigned to it from the at least one control unit or from the at least one encoding circuit of its subordinate electrical circuit via which the coded signals controlling the module are transmitted to said module. Particularly preferably, each intermodule connection receives at least two dedicated data lines belonging to it, of which at least one data line only supplies the part of the intermodule connection belonging to one of the two modules (so-called intermodule connection subunit) with signals.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the code book of the above-mentioned embodiment contains a maximum of four states {bypass, serial positive, serial negative, passive} for an intermodule connection;
wherein, in the bypass state, only one of the two electrical connections of at least one energy store at least one of the modules connected by the intermodule connection with the equivalent electrical connection of the at least one Energy storage of at least one other module connected by the intermodule connection is electrically connected, for example, only the negative terminals of the energy storage are electrically connected, while the positive remain electrically disconnected;
wherein in the serial-positive state, a predetermined electrical connection (eg, the positive) of at least one energy store of one of the modules connected by the inter-module connection and the non-equivalent (in the above example therefore now the negative) electrical connection of at least one other of the modules connected by the inter-module connection electrically connected;
wherein the serial-negative state forms the inverse to the serial-positive state and consequently a predetermined electrical connection (for example the negative) of at least one energy store of one of the modules connected by the intermodule connection with the non-equivalent (in the above example therefore now the positive) electrical connection of at least one other of the modules connected by the intermodule connection is electrically connected and the electrically connected electrical connections of the connected energy stores do not correspond to those of the serial-positive state; wherein in the passive state the switches of the intermodule connection are either deactivated and only free-wheeling diodes conduct current or, alternatively, the switches are operated as a rectifier (so-called synchronous rectifier).

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, the code book of the aforementioned embodiment additionally contains at least one parallel state for the intermodule connection;
wherein the parallel state activates the switches of the intermodule connection such that at least one energy store of one of the modules connected by the intermodule connection is electrically connected in parallel with at least one energy store of another of the modules connected by the intermodule connection.

Another particularly preferred embodiment differs from the above-mentioned embodiment in that the code book does not contain a passive state. The inventor has recognized that this can be replaced without significant loss of flexibility of the overall system by other states, in particular a suitable use of sufficient number of modules in the serial state. This makes it very easy to bring the number of states to a power of two, so that the states can be coded with minimal redundancy in binary signals.

Another particularly preferred embodiment uses only one polarity of the serial state. The code book also necessarily contains the bypass state. A parallel state can be added. Either the serial state actually always encodes the same polarity. In this case, not only coded transmission bandwidth, but also necessary switches can be saved in the modules. Alternatively, the polarity of the serial state is predetermined by the current direction, for example.

Inter module connection subunit coding

In a particular embodiment, the state of each inter-module connection subunit is coded separately. The code book of this particular embodiment contains at least three states {positive [see 7 701], negative 702, bypass 703}; wherein, in the positive state, one of the two electrical connections of at least one energy store of the module belonging to the inter-module connection subunit is electrically connected to at least one module connection of the inter-module connection subunit;
wherein, in the negative state, one of the two electrical connections of at least one energy store of the module belonging to the inter-module connection subunit is electrically connected to at least one module connection of the inter-module connection sub-unit;
wherein, in the bypass state, only one of the two electrical terminals of at least one energy storage of the module associated with the inter-module connection sub-assembly is electrically connected to any module terminal of the inter-module connection sub-unit and the current of the module terminals can flow into the module without charging or discharging said energy storage means.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the code book additionally contains a parallel state with respect to the aforementioned particular embodiment 704 ; wherein, in the parallel state, each of the two electrical connections of at least one energy store of the associated module is electrically connected to another module connection of the intermodulation connection unit by corresponding activation of the switches of the inter-module connection subunit.

Another particularly preferred embodiment differs from the aforementioned embodiment in that the code book does not contain a passive state. As already shown, the passive state can be replaced by other states without significant loss of flexibility of the overall system. Thus, the number of states can be significantly reduced, so that the bit width of the signals can be reduced.

Entanglement of several separate coding units to a part-independent coding

In one embodiment of the invention, the states of at least two different disjoint subunits of the system, for example, modules, module groups, intermodule connections, and intermodule connection subunits can be coded so that the coding of each of these subunits of the system becomes partially independent, that is, at least a portion of the common signal of for each of the at least two different disjoint subunits to clearly determine the respective state is needed. As 8th For example, codes that code the states of the at least two different disjoint subunits, for example an intermodule connection, such that for the unambiguous determination of the respective state of each of these at least two different disjunctive subunits not only the entire code word, but only a part of it is needed. In general, however, a part of the codeword of several of these at least two different, disjoint subunits is needed to uniquely decode their state.

This embodiment has the advantage over a separate coding for each inter-module connection subunit that only a small number of signal channels must be galvanically isolated. Signals can be galvanically isolated via galvanically isolating signal transmitters, also referred to as isolating signal transmitters, for example optocouplers, capacitive signal transformers or comparable electrical components. Furthermore, each subunit can use the signal of the at least one subunit, with which its signals are independent of the subdivision, for error detection and / or error correction.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the coding is carried out in such a way that at least two decoders receive at least one signal which is the same for the at least two decoders, as at least one so-called common bit, as input signal.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, this at least one common bit is transmitted on a separate electronic signal line from the at least one control unit or at least one electronic circuit which is subordinate to this control unit. Advantageously, the signal of this a separate electronic signal line with only one output pin of the at least one control unit or at least one of these control unit subordinate electronic circuit generates and also transmitted in only a single signal line and only spatially branched close to the at least two decoders or in the form of a bus be looped through. Thus, technical resources can be saved.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, this at least one common bit determines the sign of the voltage, hence the polarity of each individual otherwise independently coded unit. This particularly preferred embodiment has the advantage that in many applications the modules, inter-module connections and the like can use the same polarity at any time without significant loss of flexibility of the generated current and voltage waveforms.

In a particular embodiment, the state of each half-bridge, each consisting of at least two series-connected electrical switches, is coded separately. The code book of this particular embodiment contains at least three states {positive, negative, bypass};
wherein, in the positive state, one of the two electrical connections of at least one energy store of the module belonging to the inter-module connection subunit is electrically connected to at least one module connection of the inter-module connection subunit;
wherein, in the negative state, one of the two electrical connections of at least one energy store of the module belonging to the inter-module connection subunit is electrically connected to at least one module connection of the inter-module connection sub-unit;
wherein, in the bypass state, at most one of the two electrical connections of the module belonging to the inter-module connection subunit is electrically connected to any module connection of the inter-module connection subunit so that the current of the module connections can flow into the module without charging or discharging said energy stores.

1. (a) eine Serienschaltung der elektrischen Energiespeicher, wobei bei Annahme einer beliebigen einer Reihenfolge der Module auf der Basis der Reihenfolge gebildet durch die elektrischen Anschlüsse der Module untereinander der elektrisch positivste Anschluss mindestens eines elektrischen Energiespeichers eines vorausgehenden Moduls mit dem elektrisch negativsten Anschluss mindestens eines elektrischen Energiespeichers eines nachfolgenden Moduls verbunden ist;
2. (b) eine Serienschaltung der elektrischen Energiespeicher, wobei bei Annahme einer beliebigen einer Reihenfolge der Module auf der Basis der Reihenfolge gebildet durch die elektrischen Anschlüsse der Module untereinander der elektrisch negativste Anschluss mindestens eines elektrischen Energiespeichers eines vorausgehenden Moduls mit dem elektrisch positivsten Anschluss mindestens eines elektrischen Energiespeichers eines nachfolgenden Moduls verbunden ist;
3. (c) eine Parallelschaltung der elektrischen Energiespeicher;
4. (d) eine Bypassschaltung der jeweiligen elektrischen Energiespeicher mindestens eines Moduls, bei der höchstens die Hälfte der mindestens zwei elektrischen Kontakte des genannten mindestens einen elektrischen Energiespeichers mit einem elektrischen Energiespeicher eines anderen Moduls elektrisch leitend verbunden ist;
5. (e) eine gleichgerichtete Serienschaltung mindestens eines Modul-Kondensators, bei der die elektronischen Schalter des mindestens einen zugehörigen Moduls so aufgrund von geeigneter Aktivierung der elektronischen Schalter oder aufgrund des wirksam eingesetzten Halbleiterverhaltens der elektronischen Schalter Ströme ausschließlich dann in oder aus dem mindestens einen elektrischen Energiespeicher fließen lassen, dass sich der Ladezustand des mindestens einen elektrischen Energiespeichers erhöht.

In one embodiment, the electrical converter circuit has at least two similar series-connected modules, at least one electronic control unit 901 . 1001 . 1101 . 1201 . 1301 . 1401 , at least one coded electrical signal transmission 904 . 906 . 1004 . 1104 . 1106 . 1107 . 1204 . 1213 . 1214 . 1206 . 1302 . 1306 . 1404 and at least one decoder 907 . 1005 . 1108 . 1207 . 1307 . 1407 on, wherein the series-connected modules form a module strand, as used in particular for the construction of a bridge branch or a phase module, and wherein each module contains at least one electrical energy storage and electronic switches, wherein at least one of the modules via at least one electrical connection is connected to a subsequent one of the modules connected in series, and wherein the switching elements of the modules connect their respective electrical energy stores with electrical connections of the series-connected modules, that optionally at least two of the following circuit variants of the electrical energy storage are present:

1. (A) a series connection of the electrical energy storage, wherein assuming any order of the modules based on the order formed by the electrical connections of the modules with each other, the most electrically positive connection of at least one electrical energy storage of a preceding module with the most electrically negative terminal of at least one electrical Energy storage of a subsequent module is connected;
2. (B) a series connection of the electrical energy storage, wherein assuming any order of the modules based on the order formed by the electrical connections of the modules with each other, the most electrically negative connection at least one electrical energy storage of a preceding module with the most electrically positive connection of at least one electrical Energy storage of a subsequent module is connected;
3. (c) a parallel connection of the electrical energy storage;
4. (d) a bypass circuit of the respective electrical energy store of at least one module, in which at most half of the at least two electrical contacts of said at least one electrical energy store is electrically connected to an electrical energy store of another module;
5. (E) a rectified series connection of at least one module capacitor, wherein the electronic switch of the at least one associated module so due to appropriate activation of the electronic switch or due to the effectively used semiconductor behavior of the electronic switch currents exclusively into or out of the at least one electrical energy storage let flow that increases the state of charge of the at least one electrical energy storage.

In a preferred embodiment, the switching elements of the modules connect their respective electrical energy stores with electrical connections of the modules connected in series, optionally with at least one parallel connection and at least one series circuit or alternatively at least one bypass circuit and at least one series connection.

In a further preferred embodiment, the electrical converter circuit according to one of the two aforementioned embodiments further comprises at least one galvanically isolating signal transmitter 905 . 1007 . 1105 . 1205 . 1305 . 1405 ,

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the galvanically isolating signal transmitter of the electrical converter circuit of the last-mentioned embodiment transmits at least part of the signals encoded by the at least one encoder.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, at least one decoder per module is provided.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, the at least one decoder per module of the last-mentioned embodiment provides the switching signals with at least one decoded signal for each switch of the respective module as a control signal.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, the at least one decoder per module of the latter embodiment is in each case integrated into the electronics of the associated module.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, at least one decoder per inter-module connection is provided.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, the at least one decoder per inter-module connection of the electrical converter circuit of the last-mentioned embodiment provides the switching signals with at least one separate decoded signal for each switch of the respective inter-module connection as the control signal.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, at least one decoder per inter-module connection subunit is provided.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, the at least one decoder per inter-module connection subunit of the last-mentioned embodiment provides the switching signals with at least one separate decoded signal for each switch of the respective inter-module connection sub-unit as the control signal.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, the electrical Converter circuit of one of the preceding embodiments further comprises at least one channel encoder 1212 ,

• Auswahl einer zukünftigen Einstellung der Schaltzustände der Schalter, der Module, der Intermodulverbindungen oder der Intermodulverbindungsuntereinheiten;
• Übermittlung der zukünftigen Einstellung in elektronischer Form als elektrische Signale in codierter Form;
• Decodierung der elektrischen Signale zur Ermittlung der nötigen Einstellung von Schaltern.

In a further embodiment, a method for controlling an electrical converter circuit is provided, wherein the electrical converter circuit has at least two similar modules connected in series, at least one electronic control unit 901 . 1001 . 1101 . 1201 . 1301 . 1401 , at least one coded electrical signal transmission 904 . 906 . 1004 . 1104 . 1106 . 1107 . 1204 . 1213 . 1214 . 1206 . 1302 . 1306 . 1404 and at least one decoder 907 . 1005 . 1108 . 1207 . 1307 . 1407 comprising, wherein the series-connected modules form a module strand, as used in particular for the construction of a bridge branch or a phase module, and wherein each module at least one electrical energy storage 214 . 221 . 226 . 244 . 250 . 260 . 403 . 404 and at least one electronic switch 216 . 217 . 211 . 212 . 218 . 219 . 223 . 224 . 241 . 242 . 246 . 247 . 248 . 253 . 254 . 255 . 256 . 264 . 265 . 405 . 406 . 407 . 408 . 409 . 410 . 411 . 412 . 413 . 413 . 415 . 416 contains, wherein at least two of the modules using the respective switching elements of the modules connect their respective electrical energy storage so with electrical connections of the modules, that optionally at least one serial circuit and a parallel connection of the electrical energy storage are present
the method comprising the following steps:

• Selecting a future setting of the switching states of the switches, the modules, the inter-module connections or the inter-module connection sub-units;
• Transmission of the future setting in electronic form as electrical signals in coded form;
• Decoding of the electrical signals to determine the necessary setting of switches.

The description of the preferred embodiments and the figures are merely illustrative and illustrative of the invention and the advantages attained thereby, but are not intended to limit the invention.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

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Claims (19)

Electrical converter circuit, comprising at least two similar series-connected modules, at least one electronic control unit (901, 1001, 1101, 1201, 1301, 1401), at least one coded electrical signal transmission (904, 906, 1004, 1104, 1106, 1107, 1204 , 1213, 1214, 1206, 1302, 1306, 1404) and at least one decoder (907, 1005, 1108, 1207, 1307, 1407), wherein the modules connected in series form a module strand, as used in particular for constructing a bridge branch or a phase module and wherein each module includes at least one electrical energy store and electronic switches, wherein the at least one electronic control unit (901, 1001, 1101, 1201, 1301, 1401) is configured to emit electrical signals to drive the electronic switches which are coded electrical signals via the coded electrical signal transmission to the at least one decoder (907, 1005, 1108, 1207, 1307, 1407), the at least one decoder being configured to decode the encoded electrical signals into respective switch control signals describing a respective switch state of a single switch describing the electronic switches. Device after Claim 1 wherein an average data rate or an average redundancy of the coded electrical signals is lower than an average data rate or an average redundancy of the signals decoded by the at least one decoder to switch control signals (908, 909, 1006, 1008, 1009, 1208, 1209, 1308, 1309, 1408, 1409). Device after Claim 1 or 2 wherein at least one of the modules is connected via at least one electrical connection to a subsequent one of the modules connected in series and wherein the switching elements of the modules connect their respective electrical energy storage with electrical connections of the modules connected in series, that optionally at least following circuit variants of the electrical energy storage of the series-connected Modules are present: (a) a series circuit of the electrical energy storage; (B) a parallel connection of the electrical energy storage; (C) a bypass circuit of the at least one electrical energy storage at least one module in which at most half of the at least two electrical contacts of said at least one electrical energy storage is electrically connected to an electrical energy storage device of another module. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one coding unit configured to transmit from the electronic control unit (901, 1001, 1101, 1201, 1301, 1401) based on a predetermined pattern of switch states of the electronic switches to be set; to code emitted signals. Device after Claim 4 , wherein the at least one coding unit is integrated in the control unit (901, 1001, 1101, 1201) or in at least one of the at least one electronic control unit subordinate electronic circuit. Device after Claim 4 wherein the at least one coding unit is a separate unit from the control unit and comprises at least one encoder (903, 1003, 1103, 1203, 1403). Device after Claim 6 wherein the at least one encoder is configured to encode signals emitted by the electronic control unit (901, 1001, 1101, 1201, 1301, 1401) based on a predetermined pattern for switch states of the electronic switches to be set, and encoded as encoded electrical signals over the encoded ones electrical signal transmission to the at least one decoder (907, 1005, 1108, 1207, 1307, 1407) to conduct. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device further comprises at least one galvanically isolating signal transmitter (905, 1007, 1105, 1205, 1305, 1405). Device after Claim 8 wherein the galvanically isolating signal transmitter is configured to transmit at least a portion of the signals encoded by the at least one encoding unit. Device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one decoder per module. Device after Claim 10 wherein the at least one decoder per module is adapted to provide the switching signals with at least one decoded signal for each switch of the respective module as a control signal. Device after Claim 11 , wherein the at least one decoder per module is integrated in each case in the electronics of the associated module. Device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one decoder per inter-module connection. Device after Claim 13 wherein the at least one decoder per inter-module connection is configured to provide the switching signals having at least one decoded signal for each switch of the respective inter-module connection as the control signal. Device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one decoder per inter-module connection subunit. Device after Claim 15 wherein the at least one decoder per inter-module connection sub-unit is adapted to provide the switching signals with at least one separate decoded signal for each switch of the respective inter-module connection sub-unit as a control signal. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one channel encoder (1212). Method for controlling an electrical converter circuit, wherein the electrical converter circuit has at least two similar series-connected modules, at least one electronic control unit (901, 1001, 1101, 1201, 1301, 1401), at least one coded electrical signal transmission (904, 906, 1004, 1104, 1106, 1107, 1204, 1213, 1214, 1206, 1302, 1306, 1404) and at least one decoder (907, 1005, 1108, 1207, 1307, 1407), wherein the series-connected modules form a module strand, in particular for the construction a bridge branch or a phase module is used, and wherein each module has at least one electrical energy store (214, 221, 226, 244, 250, 260, 403, 404) and at least one electronic switch (216, 217, 211, 212, 218, 219 , 223, 224, 241, 242, 246, 247, 248, 253, 254, 255, 256, 264, 265, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412, 413, 413, 415, 416 ), wherein at least two of the modules using the respective n switching elements of the modules connect their respective electrical energy storage with electrical connections of the modules, that optionally at least one serial connection and a parallel connection of the electrical energy storage, the method comprising the following steps: Selecting a future setting of the switching states of the switches, the modules, inter-module connections, and / or inter-module connection sub-units; Transmission of the future setting in electronic form as electrical signals in coded form, wherein the electrical signals emitted by the electronic control unit are coded on the basis of a respective predetermined pattern for the respective switching states of the electronic switches to be set and coded electrical signals via the coded electrical signal transmission passed to the at least one decoder; Decoding of the electrical signals to determine the necessary setting of switches. Method according to Claim 18 in that said control signals are at least partially coded such that the average data rate or the average redundancy is lower than the average data rate or the average redundancy of the decoded switch control signals.

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