Patent ID: 9281760
Filing Date: 2016-03-08
CPC Classification: H02M

Claim Text:
1. A three-level power converter, comprising a first pair including an outer-side switching element on a highest potential side and a neutral clamp diode on a higher potential side, a second pair including an outer-side switching element on a lowest potential side and a neutral clamp diode on a lower potential side, and a third pair including an inner-side switching element on a higher potential side and an inner-side switching element on a lower potential side, wherein all of the first pair, the second pair and the third pair are each configured from a two-element-inclusive power module having at least one pair of a diode and switching element, in each of which the diode and the switching element are connected in anti-parallel with each other, a power conversion circuit portion is configured from the first pair, the second pair, and the third pair, a first switching state is such that the outer-side switching element on the highest potential side and the inner-side switching element on the higher potential side are on and the inner-side switching element on the lower potential side and the outer-side switching element on the lowest potential side are off, a second switching state is such that the inner-side switching element on the higher potential side and the inner-side switching element on the lower potential side are on and the outer-side switching element on the highest potential side and the outer-side switching element on the lowest potential side are off, a third switching state is such that the inner-side switching element on the lower potential side and the outer-side switching element on the lowest potential side are on and the outer-side switching element on the highest potential side and the inner-side switching element on the higher potential side are off, switching is performed between the first switching state and the second switching state or between the second switching state and the third switching state, the switching element in the two-element-inclusive power module is formed of a wide bandgap semiconductor, and each of the first pair, the second pair and the third pair are housed in a separate package.