Patent ID: 9484837
Filing Date: 2016-11-01
CPC Classification: H02M

Claim Text:
1. A switching branch for a three-level inverter, the switching branch comprising: a first controllable semiconductor switch and a second controllable semiconductor switch connected in series between a positive direct current pole and an alternating current pole of the switching branch, wherein the first controllable semiconductor switch is connected to the positive direct current pole; a first diode connected in parallel to the first controllable semiconductor switch, and a second diode connected in parallel to the second controllable semiconductor switch; a third controllable semiconductor switch and a fourth controllable semiconductor switch connected in series between a negative direct current pole and the alternating current pole of the switching branch, wherein the fourth controllable semiconductor switch is connected to the negative direct current pole; a third diode connected in parallel to the third controllable semiconductor switch, and a fourth diode connected in parallel to the fourth controllable semiconductor switch; a fifth diode connected between a neutral direct current pole and a connection point between the first and second controllable semiconductor switches; a sixth diode connected between the neutral direct current pole and a connection point between the third and fourth controllable semiconductor switches; a fifth controllable semiconductor switch and a seventh diode connected in series between the neutral direct current pole and the alternating current pole of the switching branch; and a sixth controllable semiconductor switch and an eighth diode connected in series between the neutral direct current pole and the alternating current pole of the switching branch, wherein the first controllable semiconductor switch, the second controllable semiconductor switch, the fifth controllable semiconductor switch, the first diode, the second diode, the fifth diode, and the seventh diode reside in a first switching branch-specific semiconductor module; and the third controllable semiconductor switch, the fourth controllable semiconductor switch, the sixth controllable semiconductor switch, the third diode, the fourth diode, the sixth diode, and the eighth diode reside in a second switching branch-specific semiconductor module.