Patent ID: 7372232
Filing Date: 2008-05-13
Classification: H02M,H02P

Abstract:
1. A power converter for a switched reluctance motor or a permanent magnet brushless direct current (dc) motor having first and second phase windings, the power converter comprising: a boost partial circuit for connecting with the first phase winding of the motor to form a boost circuit; a buck partial circuit for connecting with the second phase winding of the motor to form a buck circuit; and a first capacitor that is shared by the boost and buck partial circuits to: (a) store energy received from the boost partial circuit and provide the stored energy to the buck partial circuit, or (b) store energy received from the buck partial circuit and provide the stored energy to the boost partial circuit wherein: each of the boost and buck partial circuits comprises a single controllable switch and a rectifier, the controllable switches for both the boost and buck partial circuits are provided by a phase leg of an inverter module, each single controllable switch regulates the energization of the corresponding phase winding, and each rectifier regulates the flow of current for charging or discharging the first capacitor or energizing or discharging the corresponding phase winding.