RU2713140C2 - Methods and systems for controlling voltage switching - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: electrical equipment.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the electrical equipment. Disclosed are systems using a switching system associated with a power supply and underground pumps for pumping life from under the surface of the earth. First capacitor is located between the first switching device and the first transformer and stores electric energy received from the first transformer in order to activate the first switching device. Bias capacitor is located between the first capacitor and the first switching device and receives bias voltage through the second transformer. Bias capacitor applies bias voltage to the first switching device to prevent activation of the first switching device, except for the case, when the voltage combination received by the first switching device through the first transformer and the bias voltage is at least the same as the activation voltage of the first switching device.

EFFECT: technical result consists in reduction of weight and dimensions of power supply system.

20 cl, 27 dwg

Description

Cross reference to related applications

[0001] This application is a partial continuation of application for US patent No. 14/211894, which was filed March 14, 2014, and the full description of which is incorporated into the text of this document by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Electrical devices (eg, X-ray tubes for a Computed Tomography Imaging System (CT)) may use active switches to control the switching of a power source or power supply for instruments (eg, a power source or power supply for X-ray tubes). For example, active switches are typically driven by driver circuits using lower voltage signals, which can be implemented without much difficulty when the switches are electrically connected to ground. However, when the switches are electrically tied to increasingly higher voltages, more complex and larger driver circuits are needed to allow the switches to turn on and off independently of each other. In these systems, especially when the switches are tied to various higher voltages, control of multiple switches requires switching equipment that is more complex and large (for example, has a large number of fiber optics for transmitting control signals), while increasing size, complexity and the cost of the entire system.

[0003] Known systems for controlling voltage switching, such as systems for controlling voltage switching for an X-ray tube (eg, fast switching kilovolt voltages for X-ray systems with two energy levels), may include shutter drivers. These drivers control voltage switching in order to control the energy of the electron beam generated by the x-ray source, as well as when controlling the voltage for the electron emission source and the target of the x-ray tube. For example, CT display systems may include energy-discriminating (ED) display systems, with many energy levels (Multi-Energy, ME) and / or with two energy levels (Dual-Energy CT, DECT), which can be referred to as EDCT, PLACE and / or DECT display systems. EDCT, LOCATION and / or DECT display systems are configured to measure energy-sensitive projection data. Energy-sensitive projection data can be obtained using the many applicable X-ray spectra by changing the operating voltage of the X-ray tube, or by using X-ray filtering technology (e.g., technology for generating energy-sensitive X-ray radiation), or by obtaining energy-sensitive data through a discriminating energy detector or photon counting detectors in or detectors with two levels (for example, detection techniques that are sensitive to changes in x-ray energy).

[0004] For example, with X-ray generation technology, various system configurations utilize varying the operating voltage of the X-ray tube, including: (1) obtaining projection data of different energy (eg, low energy and high energy) from two consecutive scans of an object using different operating voltages x-ray tube, (2) obtaining projection data using fast switching of the operating voltage of the x-ray tube to obtain low energy information and high-energy species for the variable subset of projection, or (3) parallel to the sensitive receiving energy change information using a plurality of display systems with different operating voltages X-ray tube.

[0005] Known control drivers for these systems may be linked to high voltages. However, when referenced to high voltages, conventional switching control hardware is physically large, therefore adding size, weight and / or cost to the system. On some systems, lack of space throughout the system may hamper the implementation of these control drivers.

[0006] Other electrical devices can be used in harsh environments and, as a result, have limited freedom of choice for power supplies, driver controls, and cabling. For example, electric submersible pumps (ESPs) can be used in oil wells or similar conditions. ESP pumps may need to be driven to pump oil or other resources from wells that go far into the ground. Pumps, driver controls, etc., can be subjected to harsh conditions such as temperatures above 200 ° C and / or pressures above 20,000 psi (for example, 138,000 kPa). These conditions may limit the available mechanical switching solutions for control when various phases of the current are supplied to the pumps to control them.

[0007] In addition, pumps can be located in wells at significant depths. To control the different phases of the current supplied to the pumps, one approach may include laying different cables or wires to the pumps to separately supply and control the supply of different phases of the current to the pumps. The long cables or wires required for supplying current can be costly to operate the pumps, and in some circumstances can be approximately 40% or more of the total cost to operate the pumps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In one embodiment of the invention, the power supply system includes a switching system configured to functionally connect to a power source that supplies electric current to a plurality of underground pumps to pump a resource from beneath the surface of the earth. The switching system comprises switching units configured to control the supply of current from the power source to the pumps. The switching units comprise switching modules, which include a first solid-state switching device, a first capacitor, and a bias capacitor. The first switching device is configured to activate and respond to a voltage that is at least the same as the activation voltage of the first switching device to conduct electric current between the first transformer and the electric load. The first switching device is configured to deactivate and stop the passage of electric current between the first transformer and the electric load. The first capacitor is galvanically connected to the first switching device and the first transformer between the first switching device and the first transformer. The first capacitor is configured to store electrical energy received from the first transformer to activate the first switching device. The bias capacitor is galvanically connected to the first switching device between the first capacitor and the first switching device. The bias capacitor is configured to galvanically connect to the second transformer to receive bias voltage through the second transformer. The bias capacitor is configured to apply a bias voltage to the first switching device to prevent the first switching device from activating and supplying current from the power source to one or more pumps, unless the combination of the voltage received by the first switching device through the first transformer and the bias voltage is at least as large as the activation voltage of the first switching device.

[0009] In another embodiment of the invention, the power supply system comprises a switching system configured to functionally connect to a power source that supplies electric current to a plurality of underground pumps to pump a resource from beneath the surface of the earth. The switching system comprises switching units configured to control the supply of current from the power source to the pumps. The switching units comprise switching modules, which include a first solid-state switching device, a first capacitor, a repeater in the form of a solid-state switching device, and a first diode. The first solid-state switching device is configured to activate and respond to a voltage that is at least the same as the activation voltage of the first switching device to conduct electric current between the first transformer and the electric load. The first switching device is configured to deactivate and stop the passage of electric current between the first transformer and the electric load. The first capacitor is galvanically connected to the first switching device and the first transformer between the first switching device and the first transformer, the first capacitor being configured to store electrical energy received from the first transformer to activate the first switching device. A repeater in the form of a solid-state switching device is galvanically connected to the first switching device and the first capacitor between the first switching device and the first capacitor. The first diode is galvanically connected to the repeater in the form of a switching device and a first switching device between the first capacitor and the first switching device. A repeater in the form of a switching device and a first diode are configured to supply electrical noise received through the first switching device to a conductive circuit that does not include a first capacitor.

[0010] In yet another embodiment of the invention, the power supply system comprises a switching system configured to be operatively connected to a power source that supplies electric current to a plurality of underground pumps to pump out a resource from below the surface of the earth. The switching system comprises switching units configured to control the supply of current from the power source to the pumps. The switching units include switching modules, which include a first solid-state switching device, a first capacitor, a bias capacitor, a repeater in the form of a solid-state switching device, and a first diode. The first switching device is configured to activate and respond to a voltage that is at least the same as the activation voltage of the first switching device to conduct electric current between the first transformer and the electric load. The first switching device is configured to deactivate and stop the passage of electric current between the first transformer and the electric load. The first capacitor is galvanically connected to the first switching device and the first transformer between the first switching device and the first transformer. The first capacitor is configured to store electrical energy received from the first transformer to activate the first switching device. The bias capacitor is galvanically connected to the first switching device between the first capacitor and the first switching device. The bias capacitor is configured to galvanically connect to the second transformer to receive bias voltage through the second transformer. The bias capacitor is configured to apply a bias voltage to the first switching device to prevent the first switching device from being activated, unless the combination of the voltage received by the first switching device through the first transformer and the bias voltage is at least as large as the activation voltage of the first switching devices. A repeater in the form of a switching device is galvanically connected to the first switching device and the first capacitor between the first switching device and the first capacitor. The first diode is galvanically connected to the repeater in the form of a switching device and a first switching device between the first capacitor and the first switching device. A repeater in the form of a switching device and a first diode are configured to supply electrical noise received through the first switching device to a conductive circuit that does not include a first capacitor.

[0011] In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, there is provided a voltage switching system that comprises one or more transformers having a plurality of primary and secondary windings and a plurality of switching devices, wherein at least two of the switching devices are configured to generate various output voltages from the input voltage generated in the transformer. Many switches are electrically connected to one or more voltages. The voltage switching system also comprises a driver unit connected to a plurality of switches and configured to receive one or more voltage control pulses through the primary windings of the transformer, the driver unit switching one or more of the many switches based on one or more voltage control pulses.

[0012] In accordance with various other embodiments of the invention, an X-ray system is provided that comprises an X-ray source having an X-ray tube configured to operate at a variety of different voltages and a plurality of switching devices, wherein at least two of the switching devices are configured to form different output voltages from the input voltage generated in the transformer to control the switching of the x-ray tube when multiple cing strains. The x-ray system also includes a driver unit connected to a plurality of switches and configured to receive one or more voltage control pulses through the primary windings of the transformer (s), the driver unit switching one or more of the many switches based on one or more voltage control pulses.

[0013] In accordance with various other embodiments of the invention, there is provided a method for controlling voltage switching, which comprises configuring the voltage switching system described above.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014] FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram of a power supply system in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a switching driver in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a switching architecture including a switching driver unit shown in FIG. 2.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a diagram of another switching architecture including a switching driver unit shown in FIG. 2.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a diagram of yet another switching architecture including a switching driver unit shown in FIG. 2.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a switching driver in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

[0020] FIG. 7 is a diagram of a switching driver unit in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

[0021] FIG. 8 is a diagram of a switching driver unit in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

[0022] FIG. 9 is a voltage waveform diagram in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating transformers in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a method for controlling voltage switching in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

[0025] FIG. 12 is a visual representation of a computed tomographic (CT) imaging system, in connection with which various forms of carrying out the invention can be implemented.

[0026] FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a CT display system shown in FIG. 8.

[0027] FIG. 14 is a block diagram of an X-ray imaging system in connection with which various embodiments of the invention may be implemented.

[0028] FIG. 15 illustrates a power supply system and a switching system according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0029] FIG. 16 illustrates one of the switching modules shown in FIG. 15, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0030] FIG. 17 illustrates an example of a positive surge voltage.

[0031] FIG. 18 illustrates an example of a negative surge voltage.

[0032] FIG. 19 illustrates an example of an alternating surge voltage.

[0033] FIG. 20 illustrates another embodiment of a gate driver circuit.

[0034] FIG. 21 illustrates yet another embodiment of a gate driver circuit.

[0035] FIG. 22 illustrates yet another embodiment of a gate driver circuit.

[0036] FIG. 23 illustrates one embodiment of an energy conversion system.

[0037] FIG. 24 illustrates another embodiment of an energy conversion system.

[0038] FIG. 25 illustrates another embodiment of an energy conversion system.

[0039] FIG. 26 illustrates a flowchart of one embodiment of a method of operating a gate driver circuit.

[0040] FIG. 27 illustrates a flowchart of another embodiment of a method of operating a gate driver circuit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] The following detailed description of certain embodiments of the invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The element or step used herein, set forth in the singular, shall be understood as not excluding the plural of the elements or steps mentioned, unless such an exception is explicitly indicated. In addition, references to “one embodiment of the invention” are not intended to be interpreted as precluding the existence of additional forms of carrying out the invention, which also contain the stated features. In addition, unless expressly stated otherwise, embodiments of the invention “including” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional elements not having this property.

[0042] Although various forms of the invention may be described herein under specific operating conditions, for example, in a particular imaging system, such as a “third generation” computed tomography (CT) system (eg, a 64-slice CT system), it should be understood that one or more embodiments of the invention are equally applicable for use with other configurations and systems, for example, for various types of medical systems and baggage scanning systems. For example, various embodiments of the invention are applicable to x-ray radiographic imaging systems, as well as x-ray imaging systems using tomosynthesis. In addition, embodiments of the invention will be described with respect to the detection and conversion of x-rays. However, it should also be understood that embodiments of the invention are equally applicable to the detection and conversion of other high frequency electromagnetic energy. Also, although the x-ray tube and the detector can be described rotating around the displayed object, additional configurations in which the detector and the x-ray source are kept stationary and the object rotates are also contemplated, for example, configurations used for industrial non-destructive testing. Therefore, although considered in the context of CT systems, various forms of the invention can also be applied to X-ray projection imaging systems used in other medical and industrial radiographic applications.

[0043] Various embodiments of the invention provide voltage switching control systems and methods, which may include a gate driver for controlling multiple devices floating at multiple voltages. For example, some embodiments of the invention offer switch control simultaneously or in parallel when the switches are connected to high voltages (e.g., 10-300 kV), including the case where they are associated with multiple high voltages. When practicing one or more embodiments of the invention, controlling switches for voltages applied or connected to multiple devices can be simplified, including the use of controls with fewer components and less complex. For example, various embodiments of the invention can be used to apply ultra-fast switching of kilovolt voltages, for example, for use in x-ray systems with two energy levels. When practicing one or more different embodiments of the invention, a quick switch between the first voltage level and the second voltage level (for example, high and low voltage levels) can be achieved, allowing improved separation in the average energy of the applied X-ray spectrum, thereby improving material decomposition and estimating the effective atomic number of the substance of the scanned object.

[0044] When practicing one or more embodiments of the invention, for example as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of switches (e.g., two switches) can be independently controlled by a single transformer winding. When practicing one or more embodiments of the invention, for example as shown in FIG. 6, driver power as well as control signals can be provided by a single transformer. Thus, in various forms of the invention, one or more control means or functions may be performed using a single component, such as a single transformer or transformer winding. Accordingly, a reduced number of transformers or other control devices can be used in various forms of carrying out the invention. In addition, in some embodiments, a reduced cost or size of transformers may be provided. For example, in high voltage circuits, the cost and size of transformers are primarily a consequence of the high voltage insulation used, which can be reduced when one or more forms of the invention are practiced.

[0045] Various forms of the invention can be implemented in systems where the voltage to be switched is very high (for example, 200 kV or more), stray capacitances relative to earth are also very large, or the energy required by the load is relatively small, as is the case for industrial control systems using fixed-anode x-ray tube technology. In various forms of the invention, power or voltage switching of multiple devices or components associated with various high voltages is provided. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, illustrating a power supply system 20, each of a plurality of devices shown as Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) 22 are powered or connected to multiple voltages shown as a plurality of power supplies 24. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, three printed circuit boards 22 are connected to three different power sources 24, in particular, connected to several high voltages (10, 20 and 30 kV in this embodiment). It should be noted that in various forms of the invention, at least two of the connected voltages are different.

[0046] In one embodiment, the printed circuit boards 22 may be power supply or power control boards for controlling the power of the x-ray tube 26 to control the energy of the electron beam, for example, in a fast switching architecture. However, it should be noted that various forms of carrying out the invention can be implemented in connection with various types of systems that have different levels of voltage reference. In addition, power switching to additional devices or components can be controlled, and the three components in FIG. 1 are for illustration purposes only. For example, in some embodiments, 50, 60, or more components may be controlled.

[0047] In various forms of the invention, various gate driver units may be provided for controlling the switching of various reference voltages. For example, passive and / or active switching driver blocks may be provided. In particular, FIG. 2 illustrates a passive driver unit 30 in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. Passive driver unit 30 may be referred to as a switching module. In this embodiment, the gate driver is powered by the received signal itself, as described in more detail here.

[0048] The passive driver unit 30 can be used to control the power supply from the transformer 32 having the primary winding 33 and the secondary winding 34. The passive driver unit 30 includes a gate driver circuit 36 that controls the activation of a pair of switching devices 38 shown as an isolated bipolar transistor shutter (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor, IGBT). However, it should be understood that various switching devices may be used, for example, metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs), or various types of transistors. Additionally, it should be noted that the switching devices can be manufactured using silicon (Si), silicon carbide (SiC), gallium nitride (GaN) or any other material suitable for forming controlled semiconductor devices. In various embodiments, the gate driver circuit 36 controls a driver signal for the gates 40 of the switching devices 38.

[0049] In particular, the gate driver circuit 36 includes a pair of diodes 42 connected through a pair of diodes 54 in series with a resistor 60, with a pair of capacitors 44 that are connected in parallel with a pair of resistors 46. This parallel connection circuit is shown as being connected in parallel with the secondary winding 34 of the transformer 32 Each set of components, namely, a set of diode 42a, diode 54a, resistor 60a, capacitor 44a and resistor 46a and a set of diode 42b, diode 54b, capacitor 44b and resistor 46b, is connected between the gate 40 and source 50 of each device in 38 switching. A pair of diodes 52 is also included between the source 50 and drain 63 of each of the switching devices 38 to complete the power circuit. It should be noted that in some embodiments of the invention, switching devices 38 may be included, for example, in a common emitter configuration (as shown in FIG. 2). It should also be noted that the diodes 42 and diodes 52 in each of these pairs are turned on in opposite directions and shown as having anodes connected to each other.

[0050] The gate driver circuit 36 also includes a pair of diodes 54 connected in series with a resistor 60 and between the diodes 42 and the capacitors 44. In particular, the cathodes of the diodes 42a and 42b are connected to the anodes of the diodes 54a and 54b, respectively. Resistors 60 act as a filter element. It should be noted that in some embodiments of the invention, resistors 60 are not provided, in which case a pair of diodes 54 are directly connected between the diodes 42 and the capacitors 44.

[0051] During operation, for example, a positive pulse voltage 56 may be supplied from the transformer 32 via the primary winding 33 in one direction. However, as described herein, various pulses or voltage control signals may be used. The indicated pulse voltage 56 generates a current I ₁ (through diodes 54a and 42b and a resistor 60a, if provided), which charges the capacitor 44a to a voltage (Vc), which may be referred to as a charged state, at which time charging with the current of the capacitor 44b is blocked. Charging the capacitor 44a results in a control signal on the gate 40 of the switching device 38a, which turns on the switching device 38a when the charge voltage of the capacitor 44a exceeds the threshold voltage of the gate 38a, allowing electric current to pass through the switching device 38a. The switching device 38a may be kept open by sending a train of pulses to maintain the charge of the capacitor 44a. As soon as the pulse train stops, capacitor 44a is discharged through resistor 46a, which may be referred to as a discharged state. When the capacitor 44a is discharged, if the charge voltage of the capacitor 44a drops below the threshold voltage of the gate 40, the switching device 38a is turned off, blocking the passage of current through the switching device 38a.

[0052] During operation, a negative pulse voltage 58 may be supplied from the transformer 32 in one direction. In this case, the switching device 38b is controlled. In particular, with the pulse voltage 58 shown, a current b is generated (via diodes 54b and 42a and a resistor 60b, if provided), which charges the capacitor 44b, at this time the current is blocked from charging the capacitor 44a. Charging the capacitor 44b results in a control signal on the gate 40 of the switching device 38b, which turns on the switching device 38b when the charge voltage of the capacitor 44a exceeds the threshold voltage of the gate 38b, allowing electric current to flow through the switching device 38b. The switching device 38b may be kept open by sending a train of pulses to maintain the charge of the capacitor 44b. As soon as the pulse train stops, capacitor 44b discharges through resistor 46b. When the capacitor 44b is discharged, if the charge voltage of the capacitor 44b drops below the threshold voltage of the gate 40, the switching device 38b is turned off, blocking the passage of current through the switching device 38b.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of gate driver circuits 36 may be provided and connected to a plurality of secondary windings 34 of the transformer 32. The primary winding 66 of the transformer 32 is connected to a single power control means, shown as a voltage unit 61, having switches for controlling the generation of a glitch or negative pulse voltage, as described higher. As can be seen, using multiple secondary windings 34, which can be floating at different voltages, the plurality of gate driver circuits 36 can be controlled using a single signal (applied to the primary winding 66) generated by the voltage unit 61. It should be noted that even if the reference voltage changes, this does not affect, since the secondary windings 34 and therefore the gate driver circuits 36 are isolated. Thus, switching devices 38 can be turned on and kept on without any external or additional power.

[0054] Subject to changes and modifications. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, one transformer 32 may be provided for each gate driver circuit 36, for example, for each circuit board 22 (shown in FIG. 1). In this embodiment, a voltage signal is propagated, and each propagated signal is sent to a separate gate driver circuit 36. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the isolation for each of the gate driver circuits 36 is reduced as a result of using multiple transformers 32. Thus, in this embodiment, there is one transformer 32 per circuit board driving the multiple gate driver circuits 36.

[0055] However, in other embodiments, there may be multiple secondary windings 34 in the transformer 32, so that a plurality of gate control signals are generated by a plurality of transformers 32 and a plurality of circuits 36 for each transformer, as shown in FIG. 5. For example, each of the transformers 32 has two primary windings, a primary winding 68a (and a primary winding 66 for the first transformer shown at the bottom of FIG. 5) for receiving a signal from the previous transformer (or circuit 62 for the first transformer), and one a primary winding 68b for sending a signal to the next transformer 32. Additionally, each of the transformers 32 includes two windings 34 on the secondary side to send voltage pulses to each of the gate driver circuits 36. It should be noted that the number of secondary windings is not limited to two. Additionally, it should be noted that a device with multiple transformers 32 allows for much smaller sizes when the x-ray generator generates a very high voltage.

[0056] Other forms of the invention may include an active driver unit 80, for example, as shown in FIG. 6-8. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, a pair of gate driver devices 90a and 90b are controlled by signals from a transformer 82 using a pair of flip-flops 92a and 92b operating in a two-state key mode. It should be noted that although an active driver block is shown controlling a pair of shutter driver devices 90a and 90b, each shutter driver device 90a and 90b can be separately controlled by a respective transformer 82, so that the upper and lower parts of the circuit shown in FIG. 6 are shared (that is, not in a configuration with a common emitter). These block options are shown in FIG. 7 and 8.

[0057] The active driver unit 80 contains a pair of diodes 84, each of which is connected in parallel with a pair of resistors 86 and 88. It should be noted that the individual elements of the pair are usually referred to as "a" and "b", for example, diodes 84a and 84b. A pair of resistors 86 and 88 forms a resistive voltage divider with a buffer circuit 94 connected between resistors 86, 88. The output of the buffer circuit 94 is connected to the clock terminal of the trigger 92 and the output (shown as output q) of the trigger 92 is connected to the gate driver device 90. Similarly, each of the diodes 84 is connected in parallel with another pair of resistors 104 and 106. A pair of resistors 104 and 106 forms another resistive divider with a different buffer circuit 108 connected between the resistors 104, 106. The output of the buffer circuit 108 is connected to the RESET (reset) terminal of the trigger 92 Diodes 93, resistors 110, and capacitors 112 are connected in series with each other and parallel to the diodes 84.

[0058] Further, the input of the voltage regulator 114 is connected in parallel to the capacitors 112, and the output is connected in parallel to the capacitor 100 and the reference voltage 5 V (although other reference voltages can be used) of the trigger 92. Similarly, the serial connection of the diode 96, the resistor 116 and the capacitor 118 is connected parallel to diode 84. The 15 V input of voltage stabilizer 120 (although other voltage inputs can be used) is connected in parallel to capacitor 118, and the output is connected in parallel to another capacitor 98 and a reference voltage of 15 V drive RA 90 shutter. Additionally, the output of the gate driver device 90 and the switching device 102 are included in a common emitter configuration.

[0059] During operation, the alternating voltage 210, for example, shown in FIG. 9 can be applied to the input terminals of transformer 82. Alternating voltage 210 in some forms of the invention is constituted by three components. However, it should be understood that AC voltage 210 is shown merely as an example, and various AC voltages having different components can be used. One component 212 provides power for the gate driver and the logic component, such as trigger 92, and has a relatively small amplitude (e.g., 16V). The second component 214 (called pulses) provides a signal for the clock generator of the trigger 92, has an amplitude greater than the first component (for example, 20V), and is limited in duration. The third component 216 (called large pulses) has the largest amplitude (for example, 24V) and is used to reset trigger 92 when necessary. It should be noted that the positive part of the alternating voltage 210 provides power and signals for components connected in parallel to the diode 84a, and the negative part provides power and signals for components connected in parallel to the diode 84b. For example, the polarity of the voltage signal can be used to control the on and off of switching devices 102 using triggers 92, as described in more detail below. However, in this embodiment, the switching device 102a or 102b may be supported by turning on or off sending different numbers or kinds of pulses as part of the alternating voltage 210. It should be noted that in FIG. 9, the positive components labeled “a” (such as 214a and 216a) control part “a” of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, and the negative components labeled “b” (such as 241b and 214b) control part “b” of FIG. 6 (lower part) and FIG. 8.

[0060] As can be seen, the alternating voltage 210 determines a pulse train having components of lower amplitude 212, medium amplitude components (pulses) 214, namely, pulses having a higher amplitude than components 212, and larger amplitude pulses 216, namely having an amplitude higher than pulses 214. In the shown embodiment, the alternating voltage 210 determines the signals that are used to send energy to power the trigger 92 and the gate driver 90, the pulses 214 are used to the trigger 92, and pulses 216 are used to reset the trigger 92, resulting in control signals that are output signals that cause the switching device 102a or 102b to turn on or off (for example, because the signal is sent to the input of the clock pulses, operating time, for example, an even or odd number of higher pulses 214, for example 2 or 1, can be used to turn on and off the switching device 102). It should be noted that in various forms of the invention, a pulse 216 with an even higher amplitude (for example, with a higher amplitude than 212 and 214) can be sent, which resets the trigger 92 to a known state (at the voltage level to actuate the reset input ( r) trigger 92). Thus, for example, by means of a JK trigger operating in key mode, the switching devices 102 can be turned on and off by the number of pulses sent through the primary winding of the transformer 82. Also, if the signal frequency is too low, the capacitors 100 can be charged with a pulse with a smaller amplitude , namely, pulses 212, without starting the electrical circuit of the signal. It should be noted that power may be sent with a signal.

[0061] In the illustrated embodiment, power (for example, +5 V) is sent through a transformer 82, detected and filtered by a diode 93, a resistor 110, and a capacitor 112, then stabilized to 5 VDC by a voltage regulator 114 and a capacitor capacitance 100. Similarly, power for the gate driver (e.g. 15 V) is sent through a transformer 82, detected and filtered by a diode 96, a resistor 116, and a capacitor 118, then stabilized to 15 V DC by a voltage regulator 120 and a capacitance and 98. It should be noted that the complementary output signal q trigger 92 may be used to control additional switching device, which is tied to the same voltage level of the main switch (switching device 102), but is complementary to it.

[0062] Furthermore, in this embodiment, control signals are also sent via a transformer 82. The voltage regulators 114 and 120 will not be affected by the control pulses 214 or 216 due to the short pulse duration and filtering effect of the resistor 110 and capacitor 112, as well as resistor 116 and capacitor 118, respectively. The resistive divider formed by the resistors 86 and 88 is set by the coefficient so that the pulse appearing at the input of the buffer circuit 94 is large enough to be converted to “logical 1” only if the pulse value 214 exceeds a certain threshold voltage. The resistive divider formed by the resistor 104 and the resistor 106 is set in coefficient so that the pulse 214, which is large enough to be converted to a “logical 1” by the buffer circuit 94, is not large enough to be converted to the “logical 1” by the buffer circuit 108 Accordingly, only pulses, such as 216, will be converted to “logical 1” by the buffer circuit 108 and reset the trigger 92. It should be noted that if the pulse is large enough to reset the trigger 92, then this pulse also creates a clock signal, which is not a problem, since the reset command cancels all other commands, including the signal at the input of clock pulses. Additionally, it should be noted that the logic inputs of the trigger 92 will be protected against overvoltage by voltage limiters (not shown).

[0063] Voltage switching control of various embodiments of the invention can thus be implemented, as generally shown in FIG. 10. For example, switching control can be implemented by transformers 120 (operating as a high voltage generator) with primary winding 122 on each side. The transformer 120 comprises a plurality of secondary windings 124 associated with each of the primary windings 122 and the driver unit 126, which may be a passive driver unit 30 or an active driver unit 80. In the illustrated embodiment, eight secondary windings 124 are shown: four toroids with two windings each connected to each of the primary windings 122. However, additional toroids or windings on each toroid can be provided. Additionally, although the primary windings 122 of the transformers 120 are connected in series, parallel or cascade connection of the primary side of the isolation transformers 120 may be provided.

[0064] It should be noted that in the illustrated embodiment, the primary section 122 of the windings 122 is insulated, while the primary section of the 128 windings 122 may not be isolated. It should also be noted that additional transformers may be provided, for example, up to forty or more. Primary windings 122 are also connected to ground-connected low voltage electronic equipment 130 for generating voltage pulses, as described herein.

[0065] It should further be noted that driver blocks 126 connected to the secondary windings 124 are used to control voltage switching, as described in more detail here. Additionally, it should also be noted that the driver blocks may contain security elements, if necessary.

[0066] During operation, various forms of the invention make it possible to control two or more sets of devices, which may be with the same voltage reference source and / or different voltage reference sources. The sources of the reference voltage (as well as their number and voltage value of each) can be different if necessary, as well as depending on the value of the circuit elements in various forms of carrying out the invention. It should be noted that various forms of the invention can control two or more sets of devices independently, as well as at two or more different frequencies, although the frequencies are multiples of each other

[0067] Various embodiments of the invention provide a method 150 as shown in FIG. 11, for controlling voltage switching, for example, for controlling switching of a plurality of devices that are connected to various voltages, which in some forms of the invention are high voltages (for example, 10 kV or higher). Method 150 includes sending one or more voltage pulses through the primary of one or more transformers, as described herein. The voltage pulses are of such polarity to include one of the two switching devices in some forms of implementation of the invention. In a passive control device, as described here, the switching device is turned off by stopping the sending of voltage pulses. In an active control device, voltage pulses provide power signals for switching devices from an on-board power source. In this embodiment, one or more pulses of a control signal (e.g., an odd or even number of pulses) may be sent to turn on or off the switching devices. Additionally, a reset signal pulse may be sent to return the switch to the default operating mode, for example, the default operating mode of the trigger, as described here.

[0068] Various forms of the invention may be implemented in various systems using high voltage sources. For example, various embodiments of the invention may be implemented in connection with a CT display system, as shown in FIG. 12 and 13, or a radiography system as shown in FIG. 14, which may be a radiographic or x-ray system using tomosynthesis.

[0069] In particular, in FIG. 12 is a graphical representation of an ST display system 270. In FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a CT display system 270 shown in FIG. 8. In an embodiment, the CT display system 270 is shown as containing a gantry 272 characteristic of a “third generation” CT display system. Gantry 272 has an X-ray source 274 that projects a conical X-ray beam 276 to a detector array 278 on the opposite side of the Gantry 272.

[0070] The detector matrix 278 is formed by a plurality of detector lines (not shown) containing a plurality of detector elements 280 that together read projected x-rays transmitted by an object, such as a medical patient 282 or a piece of baggage. Each detector element 280 generates an electrical signal that represents the intensity of the incident x-ray and, therefore, the attenuation of the beam when it passes through an object or patient 282. A display system 270 having a multislice detector 278 is capable of providing a plurality of images representing the volume of the object 282. Each an image from a plurality of images corresponds to a separate slice (“slice”) of the volume. The "thickness" or slice aperture depends on the height of the detector lines.

[0071] During the scan to obtain x-ray projection data, the rotating part (not shown) in gantry 272 and its mounted components rotate around the center of rotation 284. In FIG. 13 shows only one row of detector elements 280 (i.e., a row of detector). However, the multislice detector matrix 278 contains a plurality of parallel rows of detector elements 280 so that projection data corresponding to the geometry of the conical beam can be obtained simultaneously during scanning.

[0072] The rotation of the gantry 272 and the operation of the radiation source 274 are controlled by a control mechanism 286. The control mechanism 286 comprises an X-ray controller 288 and a generator 290 that supplies power and timing signals to an X-ray source 274 (e.g., using a passive driver unit 30 or an active driver unit 80) and a gantry engine controller 292 that controls the angular velocity and position of the rotating part gantry 272. The Data Acquisition System (DAS) 294 in the control mechanism 286 selects analog data from the detector elements 280 and converts the data into digital signals for subsequent her processing. The image recovery unit 296 receives the sampled and digitized measurement data from the DAS 294 system and performs high-speed image recovery. The reconstructed image is used as input to a computer 298, which stores the image in a mass storage device 300. Although shown as a separate device, the image recovery unit 296 may be specialized hardware located inside the computer 298, or a program executed on the computer 298.

[0073] Computer 298 also receives scan commands and parameters from an operator through a remote control 302 that has a keyboard and / or other user input device (s). The associated display system 304 allows the operator to observe the reconstructed image and other data from the computer 298. The commands and parameters supplied by the operator are used by the computer 298 to provide control signals and information for the DAS system 294, the X-ray controller 288, the generator 290, and the gantry engine controller 292. In addition, the computer 298 controls the table motor controller 306, which controls the motorized table 308 to position the patient 182 or object in the gantry 272. The table 308 moves parts of the patient 272 through the gantry hole 310.

[0074] In one embodiment, computer 298 includes a device 312, for example, a Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) drive, a Digital Versatile Disk Read Only Memory (DVD) drive ROM), or a solid state hard drive for reading commands and / or data from computer-readable media 314, such as a CD-ROM or DVD. It should be understood that the existence of other types of suitable machine-readable storage devices is recognized (let's name for example only two: a rewritable compact disk (Compact Disk Rewritable, CD-RW) and flash memory), and that this description is not intended to exclude any of them. In another embodiment, computer 298 executes instructions stored in firmware (not shown). In general, a processor in at least one of a DAS system 294, a reducing agent 296, and a computer 298 shown in FIG. 13 is programmed to execute control commands to effect switching as described in more detail herein. Switching is not limited to use in the CT 270 system and can be used in conjunction with many other types and varieties of display systems. In one embodiment of the invention, the computer 298 is programmed to perform various functions to switch the switching devices described herein, respectively, the term computer is used here is not limited to only the integrated circuits referred to in the art as computers, but broadly refers to computers, processors, microcontrollers , microcomputers, programmable logic controllers, specialized integrated circuits, and other programmable circuits.

[0075] FIG. 14 shows an X-ray imaging system 320 in which various forms of the invention may be implemented. The display system 320 generally comprises an X-ray detector 322 having an array of 324 detector cells that define a scan area, and an X-ray source 326. An object 328, such as a patient or a piece of baggage, is positioned between an X-ray source 326 (voltage switching of which may be controlled using a passive driver unit 30 or an active driver unit 80) and an X-ray detector 322, which may be one or more detectors or detector modules. However, the display system 320 can also scan other objects, for example, in industrial control applications. The display system 320 also includes a data acquisition system 330 that interacts with electronic readout devices 332. The electronic reading equipment 332 may reside in an X-ray detector 322 or a data acquisition system 330.

[0076] In one embodiment, the x-ray detector (s) 322 may be flat panel detector systems, such as an amorphous silicon flat panel detector, or another type of digital X-ray image detector, such as a direct radiation conversion detector, which are known to those skilled in the art in the art. In another embodiment, the x-ray detector (s) 322 may include a scintillator with a screen that is located in front of the x-ray detector (s) 322.

[0077] It should be noted that the display system 320 may be implemented as a fixed or movable display system. In addition, the display system 320 may be provided in various configurations. For example, image data can be generated by a source of 326 x-ray radiation in discrete foci along a small arc above the object to generate video information using computational procedures and tomographic reconstruction processes (or may be in a radiographic configuration). In other embodiments, an X-ray source 326 and an X-ray detector 322 are mounted at opposite ends of the gantry 334, which may be a C-arc rotating around object 328. The rotating C-arc is a support structure that allows rotation of the X-ray source 326 and an x-ray detector 322 around an object 328, essentially in an arc of a circle, to obtain a plurality of projected images of the object 328 at different angles (for example, different views s or projections), which are usually less than 360 °, but in some cases may include a full revolution.

[0078] During operation, the object 328 is positioned in the display system 320 to perform scanning to form an image. For example, x-ray source 326 may be positioned above, below, or around object 328. For example, x-ray source 326 (and x-ray detector (s) 322) can be moved between different positions around object 328 using gantry 334. X-rays are transmitted from the source 326 x-ray radiation through object 328 to x-ray detector (s) 322, which detects x-rays incident on it.

[0079] The electronic reading apparatus 332 may include a Reference and Regulation Board (RRB) or other data acquisition unit. The RRB can accommodate and connect data modules for transmitting data (for example, a plurality of views or projections) from the X-ray detector (s) 322 to the data acquisition system 330. Thus, the electronic reading apparatus 332 sends data from the X-ray detector (s) 322 to the data acquisition system 330. The data acquisition system 330 generates an image from the data and can store, display (on the display 333) and / or transmit the image. For example, various embodiments of the invention may comprise an image reconstruction module 336, which may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof, which allows the data acquisition system to reconstruct images using x-ray data (e.g., radiographic data or tomosynthesis data) obtained from x-ray detector (s) 322, as described here in more detail.

[0080] One or more embodiments of the invention described herein can also be used as switching devices in a switching system (eg, a gate driver system) that controls the supply of current to electrical machines, for example, a gate driver system that individually controls the gate different phases of current to ESP pumps or other electric machines. The invention simplifies the design and circuit of the shutter driver, which is suitable for use in high temperature conditions (for example, above 150 ° C), without requiring the use of high-temperature power supplies or shutter driver integrated circuits. The devices described here can use passive elements and reliable signal transistors to drive electrical machines. The invention increases the reliability of switching devices and is scalable for structures with different operating voltages, thus reducing or eliminating the re-design of gate drivers and reducing the cost of their use.

[0081] In one aspect of the invention, several gateway driver block topologies are provided for bi-directional high voltage (eg, voltage and current) solid state switching devices using (in one embodiment of the invention) silicon carbide (SiC) devices under severe operating conditions, such as those conditions experienced by downhole switches or switches for use in aviation. The switching devices described here can be small-sized, occupying a small area with passive elements with high reliability at high temperatures. Isolation and synchronization of signals between different switching devices can be achieved by a passive high-frequency transformer. The gate driver blocks provide circuit changes to provide features such as negative bias voltage and high shut-off speeds.

[0082] In one embodiment, a high frequency pulse signal may be generated on the primary side of the transformer, which branches out numerous signals on the secondary side of the transformer. The pulse signal can be rectified and charge the shutter capacities to enable switching devices. Positive and negative pulses can individually control multiple switching devices that can be connected in series in opposite directions. Negative bias voltage can be generated by an additional transformer. A bias voltage can be applied to the gate of the switching device to effectively increase the activation voltage of the switching device. For example, the activation voltage of the switching device may increase by the absolute value of the bias voltage. High temperature signal transistors can help provide high shutdown speeds and reduce gate impedance when the switching devices are off.

[0083] FIG. 15 shows a power system 1500 and a switching system 1502 according to one embodiment of the invention. The power system 1500 comprises a power source 1504 that supplies electric power (e.g., electric current, such as alternating current) to multiple loads 1506, 1508 (e.g., to "Load No. 1" and "Load No. 2" in FIG. 15). Although in FIG. 15 shows two loads 1506, 1508, alternatively, more than two loads 1506, 1508, or one load 1506, 1508 may be included in power system 1500. Loads 1506, 1508 can be underground pumps that pump resources (such as oil, gas, etc.) from beneath the surface of the earth to a place above the surface of the earth. The switching system 1502 comprises several switching units 1510 (e.g., switching units 1510A-C) that control the supply of current from a power source 1504 to loads 1506, 1508. In one embodiment of the invention, the switching units 1510 comprise gate driver circuits and switching devices that are the same as the gate driver driver circuits 36 and the switching devices 38 described above, or the like. The power source 1504 can be galvanically connected to the switching units 1510 by cables 1512, 1514 and 1516. In the shown embodiment, the power source 1504 supplies various phases of alternating current through different cables 1512, 1514 and 1516. For example, the first phase of alternating current can be supplied from the source 1504 power supply to the switching unit 1510A, another, second, alternating current phase can be supplied from the same source 1504 power to the switching unit 1510B, and another, third, alternating current phase can be supplied from the same power source 1504 oku 1510S switch.

[0084] Switching units 1510 may include bi-directional switching modules 1518 (eg, modules 1518A-F). Switching modules 1518 may be referred to as passive driver blocks similar or identical to the passive driver block 30 shown in FIG. 2. The switching modules 1518 are galvanically connected to the loads 1506, 1508 by wires or cables 1520 (for example, wires 1520A-F). In the illustrated embodiment, each of the switching units 1510 comprises four switching units 1518. Alternatively, the switching units 1510 may comprise a different number of switching units 1518 or a single switching unit 1518.

[0085] Switching modules 1518 may include multiple switching devices that can be in a closed (eg, conductive) and open (eg, non-conductive) state to control the passage of current between the power source 1504 and one or more loads 1506, 1508. For example, each pair of switching modules 1518 can act as a key to disable the passage of current or conduct electric current through a pair of switching modules 1518. The switching module 1518A in the switching unit 1510A may be closed to conduct the first phase of the electric current supplied from the power supply 1504 (for example, via cable 1512) to the first load 1506 through the wire 1520A. The switching module 1518A in the switching unit 1510A may open to stop the first phase of the electric current supplied from the power source 1504 (for example, via cable 1512) to the load 1506 via wire 1520A. The switching module 1518B in the switching unit 1510A may be closed to conduct a first phase of an electric current supplied from a power source 1504 (e.g., via cable 1512) to a second load 1508 via wire 1520D. The switching module 1518B in the switching unit 1510A may be opened to stop the first phase of the electric current supplied from the power supply 1504 via the cable 1512 to the second load 1508 via the wire 1520D.

[0086] The switching modules 1518C in the switching unit 1510B may be closed to conduct another, second, phase of an electric current supplied from a power source 1504 (for example, via cable 1514) to a first load 1506 via a 1520V wire. The switching module 1518C in the switching unit 1510B may open to stop the second phase of the electric current supplied from the power supply 1504 (for example, via cable 1514) to the load 1506 via the 1520V wire. The switching module 1518D in the switching unit 1510B may be closed to conduct a second phase of electric current supplied from a power source 1504 (e.g., via cable 1514) to a second load 1508 via wire 1520E. The switching module 1518D in the switching unit 1510B may open to stop the second phase of the electric current supplied from the power supply 1504 via the cable 1514 to the second load 1508 via the wire 1520E.

[0087] The switching module 1518E in the switching unit 1510C may be closed to conduct another, third, phase of the electric current supplied from the power supply 1504 (for example, via cable 1516) to the first load 1506 via wire 1520C. The switching module 1518E in the switching unit 1510C may open to stop the third phase of the electric current supplied from the power supply 1504 (for example, via cable 1516) to the load 1506 through the wire 1520C. The switching module 1518F in the switching unit 1510C may be closed to conduct the third phase of the electric current supplied from the power source 1504 (for example, via cable 1516) to the second load 1508 via the wire 1520F. The switching module 1518F in the switching unit 1510C may open to stop the third phase of the electric current supplied from the power supply 1504 through the cable 1516 to the second load 1508 through the wire 1520F. Alternatively, a single switching module 1518 may open or close to stop the passage or supply, respectively, of the phase of electric current from one of the cables 1512, 1514, 1516 to one of the wires 1520.

[0088] The switching modules 1518 are opened or closed based on the gate control signals supplied (or not supplied) to the switching devices in the switching modules 1518 of the switching units 1510. By controlling which switching devices in the switching modules 1518 are open or closed at different times, it is possible to control the supply of different phases of the current from the power source 1504 to the loads 1506, 1508. The switching units 1510 can be reliable semiconductor devices that can withstand and continue to operate in conditions of high temperature and high pressure (for example, a temperature of at least 150-200 ° C and / or a pressure of at least 130,000 kPa). In this aspect, the switching devices in the switching modules 1518 comprise metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) that are formed of silicon carbide (SiC). Alternatively, the switching devices may be solid state switching devices of a different type and / or may be formed from another material.

[0089] FIG. 16 shows one of the switching modules 1518 shown in FIG. 15, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The operation of the switching module 1518, as described here, can be repeated and independently controlled (relative to another switching module 1518 in the switching system 1502 (shown in FIG. 15), to independently control the temporal process of supplying different phases of the current from the power source 1504 to different loads 1506, 1508 as described above.

[0090] Optionally, the switching module 1518 may be referred to as a passive driver unit. The switching module 1518 may comprise two or more passive driver blocks 30 shown in FIG. 1. Switching module 1518 can be used to control multiple devices floating at multiple voltages. For example, some forms of the invention provide control of the switches simultaneously or in parallel when the switches are connected to high voltages, including the case when they are connected to a plurality of high voltages. When practicing one or more embodiments of the invention, controlling switches for voltages applied or connected to a plurality of devices can be simplified, including having controls with fewer components and less complex ones. When practicing one or more embodiments of the invention, a plurality of switches (e.g., two switches) can be independently controlled by a single transformer winding. Thus, in various embodiments, one or more controls or functions may be performed using a single component, such as a single transformer or transformer winding. Accordingly, a reduced number of transformers or other control devices can be used in various forms of carrying out the invention. In addition, the reduced cost or size of the transformers may be provided in some embodiments of the invention. For example, in high voltage circuits, the cost and size of transformers primarily depend on the high voltage insulation used, which can be reduced by putting into practice one or more embodiments of the invention.

[0091] The switching module 1518 can be used to control the power supply from a transformer 32 having a primary winding 33 and multiple secondary windings 34 (eg, secondary windings 34A, 34B). The primary winding 33 of the transformer 32 is galvanically connected to at least one of the cables 1512, 1514, 1516 (shown in FIG. 15) to receive electric current from a power source 1504. The switching module 1518 includes gate driver circuits 1602 (e.g., circuits 1602A, 1602B), which may be similar to the gate driver circuit 36 shown in FIG. 2.

[0092] Gate driver circuits 1602 control the energy supplied to a plurality of switching devices 1606 (eg, switching devices 1606A-D), which are shown as IGBTs. However, it should be understood that various switching devices, such as MOSFETs or various types of transistors, can be used. Additionally, it should be noted that the switching devices can be made using silicon (Si), silicon carbide (SiC), gallium nitride (GaN) or any other material suitable for forming controlled semiconductor devices. In various embodiments, the gate driver circuit 1602 controls the control signals that are provided to the gates 1608 of the switching devices 1606.

[0093] The gate driver circuits 1602 comprise diodes 42 (eg, diodes 42A, 42B) connected through diodes 54 (eg, diodes 54A, 54B) to capacitors 44 (eg, capacitors 44A, 44B) that are connected in parallel with resistors 46 (eg , resistors 46A, 46B). This parallel wiring diagram is shown as being connected in parallel with the secondary windings 34 of the transformer 32. These components are connected as different groups of components parallel to the gates 1608 and emitters 1610 of the switching devices 1606. For example, a first group of components that contains a diode 42A, a diode 54A, a resistor 46A, and a capacitor 44A are connected in parallel with the gate 1608 and the emitter 1610 of the switching device 1606A in the gate driver circuit 1602A, and a second group of components that contains the diode 42B, diode 54B, the resistor 46B and a capacitor 44B connected in parallel with the gate 1608 and the emitter 1610 of the switching device 1606B in the gate driver circuit 1602B. As shown in FIG. 16, a third group of components, which contains a diode 42A, a diode 54A, a resistor 46A and a capacitor 44A, is connected in parallel with the gate 1608 and the emitter 1610 of the switching device 1606C in the gate driver circuit 1602B, and a fourth group of components that contains the diode 42B, diode 54B, the resistor 46B and a capacitor 44B connected in parallel with the gate 1608 and the emitter 1610 of the switching device 1606D in the gate driver circuit 1602B.

[0094] Additional diodes 52 (eg, diodes 52A, 52B) are also connected between emitters 1610 and collectors 1624 of switching devices 1606. For example, a diode 52A can be connected between the emitter 1610 and the collector 1624 of the switching device 1606A, and a diode 52B can be connected between the emitter 1610 and the collector 1624 of the switching device 1606B to complete the circuit. Diodes 52 are also connected between emitters 1610 and collectors 1624 of switching devices 1606C, 1606D, as shown in FIG. 16. It should be noted that in some embodiments of the invention, switching devices 1606 may be included, for example, in a common emitter configuration.

[0095] Diodes 42A, 42B and diodes 52A, 52B in each of the groups of components are connected in opposite directions, they are shown as having anodes connected to each other so that the diodes 42A, 42B restrict the flow of current in opposite directions, and the diodes 52A, 52B also limited current flow in opposite directions, as shown in FIG. 16. Diodes 54 are connected between the diodes 42 and the resistors 46, and between the diodes 42 and the capacitors 44. In particular, the cathodes of the diodes 42A and 42B are connected to the anodes of the diodes 54A and 54B, respectively.

[0096] During operation, the power supply 1504 can supply a positive surge voltage 1700 via cable 1512, 1514 and 1516 to the primary winding 33 of the transformer 32. In FIG. 17 shows one example of a positive pulse voltage 1700. A positive pulse voltage 1700 is shown adjacent to the horizontal axis 1702 representing time and the vertical axis 1704 representing the amplitude of the positive voltage.

[0097] This positive surge voltage can cause a positive potential to be applied to or near one end 1626 of the primary winding 33 and a negative potential to be applied to or opposite the opposite end 1628 of the primary winding 33. A transformer 32 transfers these potentials to the secondary windings 34 so that the first end 1630 of the secondary winding 34A and the first end 1632 of the secondary winding 34B have positive potentials and the opposite second ends 1634, 1636 of the secondary windings 34A, 34B have negative potentials.

[0098] Regarding the gate driver circuit 1602A, a positive pulse voltage is supplied as current through the diode 54A to the capacitor 44A to charge this capacitor 44A. The power source 1504 may comprise and / or be controlled by a controller 1522, wherein the controller 1522 may be hardware circuits including and / or associated with one or more processors (e.g., microprocessors, user-programmable logic element arrays, integrated circuits, or other electronic devices based on logic circuits) and / or input devices (e.g. buttons, switches, keyboards, etc.) that control pulses, voltages, currents, switches (e.g. example, by a mechanical switch 2506 shown in Fig. 25 and described below), supplied to various gate driver circuits 1602 in the switching modules 1518 shown in Fig. fifteen.

[0099] The current flows from the capacitor 44A through the diode 42B back to the secondary winding 34A of the transformer 32. The capacitors 44A and 44B in the gate driver circuits 1602A, 1602B can be charged to a voltage level that is equal to or higher than the threshold voltage threshold voltage V _C , which is sufficient large to apply voltage to the gate 1608 of the switching device 1606A and causing the switching device 1606A to activate (eg, to close) and conduct current through the switching device 1606A to its collector 1624. For example, the state of the charger the voltage may be greater than the activation voltage of the switching device 1606A. The activation voltage may be fifteen volts in one embodiment of the invention. Alternatively, the activation voltage may be greater or less.

[00100] The current can then be supplied from the gate driver circuit 1602A and the switching module 1518 through a conductive line 1638, which may be one or more wires 1520 (shown in FIG. 15) or galvanically connected to them. The phase of the current passing through the gate driver circuit 1602A can then pass to one or more loads 1506, 1508 (shown in FIG. 15) through the corresponding wire 1520.

[00101] The power source 1504 can stop the positive pulse voltage from being applied to the transformer 32 and therefore stop charging the capacitor 44A in the gate driver circuit 1602A. The energy stored in the capacitor 44A can then be released from the capacitor 44A as a discharge current. A discharge current may flow into the circuit between the capacitor 44A and the resistor 46A in the gate driver circuit 1602A in order to dissipate this stored energy. In response to this, the charged state voltage (V _C ) on the capacitor 44A drops below the activation voltage of the switching device 1606A, the switching device 1606A can be deactivated (for example, open) and stop supplying current to the conducting line 1638. As a result, the phase of the current passing through the circuit 1602A, the gate driver to one or more loads 1506, 1508 through one or more highways 1520 may cease to be supplied to the load 1506, 1508.

[00102] The power source 1504 may supply a negative pulse voltage 1800 via cable 1512, 1514 and 1516 to the primary winding 33 of the transformer 32. In FIG. 18 shows one example of a negative pulse voltage 1800. A negative pulse voltage 1800 is shown together with a horizontal axis 1702 and a vertical axis 1804 representing the amplitudes of the negative voltage.

[00103] A negative surge voltage may cause a negative potential to be applied to or near the end of 1626 of the primary winding 33, and a positive potential to be applied to or near the opposite end of 1628 of the primary winding 33. A transformer 32 transfers these potentials to the secondary windings 34 so that the first ends 1630, 1632 of the secondary windings 34A, 34B have negative potentials, and the second ends 1634, 1636 of the secondary windings 34A, 34B have positive potentials.

[00104] With respect to the gate driver circuit 1602B, a negative pulse voltage flows as current through a 54V diode to a capacitor 44V to charge the capacitor 44B with a positive voltage. Current flows from the 44V capacitor through the 42V diode back to the 34V secondary of the transformer 32. The 44V capacitor in the gate driver circuit 1602B can be charged to a voltage level that is equal to or higher than the threshold voltage threshold voltage V _C that is large enough to apply voltage to the shutter 1608 of the switching device 1606D and causing the switching device 1606D to activate (eg, close) and conduct current through the switching device 1606D to the collector 1624 of the switching device 1606D. The current can then exit the gate driver circuit 1602 V and the switching module 1518 through a conductive line 1644, which may be or is galvanically connected to one or more wires 1520. The phase of the current passing through the gate driver circuit 1602B may then pass to one or more loads 1506, 1508 (shown in Fig. 15) through the corresponding wire 1520.

[00105] The conductive lines 1638, 1644 of the gate driver circuits 1602A, 1602B may represent various wires 1520 or be galvanically connected to them; the gate driver circuits 1602A, 1602B may individually control the transmission of the same phase of the current from the power source 1504 to various loads 1506, 1508.

[00106] A power source 1504 can stop a negative voltage pulse from being supplied to a transformer 32 and therefore stop charging a 44V capacitor in a gate driver circuit 1602V. The energy stored in the capacitor 44B can then be released from the capacitor 44B as a discharge current. A discharge current may flow into the circuit between the 44V capacitor and the 46V resistor in the gate driver circuit 1602V in order to dissipate this stored energy. In response to this, the charged state voltage (V _C ) at the 44 V capacitor drops below the activation voltage of the switching device 1606D, the switching device 1606D may deactivate (eg, open) and stop supplying current to the conducting line 1644. As a result, the phase of the current passing through the circuit 1602B A gate driver to one or more loads 1506, 1508 through one or more lines 1520 may stop being supplied to a load 1506, 1508.

[00107] In order to activate both switching devices 1606A, 1606D and force the same phase of the current from the power supply 1504 to parallel or simultaneously pass to different loads 1506, 1508, an alternating pulse voltage 1900 can be supplied from the power supply 1504 to the primary winding 33 of the transformer 32 In FIG. 19 shows an example of an alternating impulse voltage 1900. An alternating impulse voltage 1900 is shown together with a horizontal axis 1702 and vertical axes 1704, 1804.

[00108] This alternating pulse voltage can cause a positive potential to be applied to or near the end of 1626 of the primary winding 33, and a negative potential to be applied to or near the opposite end of 1628 of the primary winding 33, during the first time period 1902 (shown in FIG. 19) wherein the alternating impulse voltage comprises a positive impulse voltage 1700 shown in FIG. 17. As described above, this positive surge voltage applied during the first time period can short circuit the switching device 1606A to cause the current phase to pass to the load 1506, 1508. The alternating surge voltage can cause a negative potential to be applied to the end 1626 of the primary winding 33 or near it, and a positive potential is applied to the opposite end 1628 of the primary winding 33 or near it, for another, second time period 1904 (shown in Fig. 19), in which the variable and the pulse voltage contains a negative pulse voltage of 1800. As described above, this negative pulse voltage applied during the second period of time can close the switching device 1606D to cause the current phase to pass to another load 1506, 1508. The time periods 1902, 1904 can be quite short in duration, so that the capacitors 44A, 44B in the gate driver circuits 1602A, 1602V retain charges above the activation thresholds of the switching devices 1606A, 1606D and keep the switching devices 1606A, 1606D closed. After removing the alternating pulse voltage, the capacitors 44 can be discharged through the resistors 46 and cause the switching devices 1606A, 1606D to open.

[00109] FIG. 20 illustrates another embodiment of a gate driver circuit 2000. The gate driver circuit 2000 may be used in place of one or more gate driver circuits 1602 described above. For example, switching system 1502, switching blocks 1510, and / or switching modules 1518 shown in FIG. 15 may comprise one or more gate driver circuits 2000 shown in FIG. 20, instead of one or more gate driver circuits 1602.

[00110] The gate driver circuit 2000 contains many of the same components as the gate driver circuit 1602. The gate driver circuit 2000 includes various switching devices 2018 (e.g., switching devices 2018A, 2018B) that are shown as MOSFETs having a gate 2002, a source 2020 and a drain 2004. Alternatively, the gate driver circuit 2000 may include the IGBTs shown in FIG. 16 as 2018 switching devices. The gate driver circuit 2000 may be connected to another gate driver circuit 2000 to form a switching module 1518. For example, the stock 2004 of a 2018 device In Switching may be galvanically connected to a source 2020 of another switching device of a different gate driver circuit to form a switching module 1518.

[00111] The gate driver circuit 2000 includes a second transformer 2012 having a primary winding 2014 and a secondary winding 2016. The secondary winding 2016 is connected to the diode 2010 in series with the capacitor 2008. The capacitor 2008 may be referred to as a bias voltage capacitor. Capacitor 2008 is connected to capacitors 44 and switching devices 2018 between capacitors 2008 and switching devices 2018.

[00112] The gate driver circuit 2000 may operate in a sense like the gate driver circuit 1602. For example, a positive surge voltage can be applied to the transformer 32 by the power supply 1504 (shown in FIG. 15) to charge the capacitor 44A and to close the switching device 2018A, and the voltage may not be applied to the transformer 32 to discharge the capacitor 44A through the resistor 46A and open the device 2018A switching. A negative pulse voltage may be applied to the transformer 32 by the power supply 1504 to charge the 44V capacitor in the gate driver circuit 2000 and close the switching device 2018B, voltage may not be applied to open the switching devices 2018A, 2018B, and an alternating pulse voltage may be applied to close the devices switching 2018A, 2018B.

[00113] The capacitor 2008 can be used to apply a negative bias voltage to the gate 2002 of the switching device 2018A 2018A in the gate driver circuit 2000 so that noises or other electrical noise in the gate driver circuit 2000 (for example, other electrical signals other than voltages or currents supplied from the source 1504 power supply) did not cause a short circuit of the device 2018A switching. For example, electrical noise or interference in the gate driver circuit 2000 can charge the capacitor 44A to a value that is sufficient to achieve or exceed the activation voltage of the switching device 2018A if there is not enough surge voltage applied by the power supply 1504 to close the switching device 2018A.

[00114] In order to prevent this noise from activating the switching device 2018A, an alternating pulse voltage (for example, alternating current, such as a pulse voltage 1900 shown in FIG. 19) may be applied to the second transformer 2012 by a power source 1504 or another power source. For example, the primary winding 2014 of the second transformer 2012 may be galvanically coupled to a power source 1504, as described below. An alternating impulse voltage applied to the primary winding 2014 can be transferred to the secondary winding 2016 and then applied through the diode 2010 to the capacitor 2008. Since the cathode of the diode 2010 is connected in series with the capacitor 2008, the capacitor 2008 can be charged with a voltage having a positive polarity on the side of the capacitor 2008. which is connected to the cathode of the diode 2010, and the negative polarity on the opposite side of the capacitor 2008.

[00115] The negative polarity of the energy stored in the capacitor 2008 is applied to the gate 2002 of the switching device 2018A. The amplitude of the negative polarity of the energy applied to the gate 2002 of the switching device 2018 is based on the amplitude of the alternating current applied to the second transformer 2012. For large amplitudes of AC voltages, the negative polarity applied to the gate of 2002 increases, while for smaller amplitudes of voltage in alternating current, the negative polarity applied to the gate 2002 decreases.

[00116] The negative polarity applied to the gate 2002 of the switching device 2018A effectively increases the activation voltage of the switching device 2018A. The switching device 2018A may be activated (e.g., closed) by applying a threshold voltage (e.g. +15 volts or other value) to the gate 2002 of the switching device 2018A. However, the negative potential applied to the gate 2002 of the switching device 2018A 2018A by the capacitor 2008 increases the amount of positive voltage that must be applied to the gate 2002 in order to activate the switching device 2018A. For example, if the activation voltage of the switching device 2018A 2018A is +15 volts, and the capacitor 2008 causes -5 V (or another value) to be applied to the gate 2002, then the capacitor 44A must be charged at least +20 volts so that at least +20 a volt was applied to the gate 2002 to activate the switching device 2018A to overcome the negative bias applied by the capacitor 2008 and the threshold voltage of the switching device 2018A. Without charging the capacitor 2008 by the second transformer 2012, the capacitor 2008 does not apply a negative bias to the gate 2002 of the switching device 2018A, and the switching device 2018A can be activated by applying lower voltages to its gate 2002. As a result, applying a negative bias to the gate 2002 can reduce or eliminate cases where electrical noise or other interference activates the switching device 2018A.

[00117] In FIG. 21 shows yet another embodiment of a gate driver circuit 2100. The gate driver circuit 2100 may be used in place of one or more gate driver circuits 1602, 2000 described above. For example, switching system 1502, switching blocks 1510, and / or switching modules 1518 shown in FIG. 15 may comprise one or more gate driver circuits 2100 shown in FIG. 21, instead of one or more gate driver circuits 1602 and / or 2000.

[00118] The gate driver circuit 2100 contains many of the same components as the gate driver circuits 1602, 2000. The gate driver circuit 2100 includes additional repeaters 2102 in the form of switching devices (e.g., repeaters in the form of switching devices 2102A, 2102B) and diodes 2104 (e.g., diodes 2104A, 2104B). Below, switching devices 2102 are shown as Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJTs), but they can be other solid state switching devices.

[00119] The bases 2106 of the switching devices 2102 are connected to the capacitors 44 and the anodes of the diodes 2104 and connected at the points between the capacitors 44 and the diodes 2104. The emitters 2112 of the switching devices 2102 are connected to the gates 2002 of the switching devices 2108 and the cathodes of the diodes 2104 and are connected at the points between the gates 2002 2018 switching devices and cathodes of diodes 2104. The collectors 2110 of switching devices 2102 are connected to each other, with capacitors 44 and to the sources of 2020 switching devices 2018 and connected at the points between the capacitors 44 and the sources of 2020 switching devices 2018.

[00120] The gate driver circuit 2100 operates according to the method described above in connection with the gate driver circuits 1602, 2000 to close the switching devices 2018. Repeaters 2102 in the form of switching devices in the gate driver driver circuit 2100 can help prevent recharging of capacitors 44 with electrical noise or other noise (e.g., other electrical signals other than voltages or currents supplied from power supply 1504) following the opening of 2018 switching devices. For example, after removing the surge voltage applied to the transformer 32 to activate the switching device 2018A, the capacitor 44A discharges the stored energy (as described above) to close the switching device 2018A. However, loads 1506, 1508 can generate electrical signals or noises that pass back to switching devices 2018. Signals or noise may pass from the switching device 2018A back to the gate driver circuit 2100.

[00121] Without repeaters 2102 in the form of switching devices and / or diodes 2104, signals or noise may pass back through the switching devices 2018 to the capacitor 44A. Signals or noise could recharge capacitor 44A to such an extent that the stored energy in capacitor 44A (and thus applied to the gate 2002 of switching device 2018A) would reactivate switching device 2018A. As a result, the switching device 2018A would close and the current could pass to the load 1506 and / or 1508 without supplying a current source 1504 to activate the switching device 2018A.

[00122] If there are repeaters 2102 in the form of switching devices, these switching devices 2102 and diodes 2104 prevent the passage of signals or noise to the capacitor 44A and its recharging. Signals or noises will pass into a circuit that contains the source 2020 of the switching device 2018A, diode 2104A and the repeater 2102 in the form of a switching device. Signals or noises are prevented from reaching capacitor 44A and, as a result, capacitor 44A is not recharged, and switching device 2018A is not inadvertently reactivated.

[00123] In FIG. 22 shows yet another embodiment of a gate driver circuit 2200. The gate driver circuit 2200 may be used in place of one or more gate driver circuits 1602, 2000, 2100 described above. For example, switching system 1502, switching blocks 1510, and / or switching modules 1518 shown in FIG. 15 may comprise one or more gate driver circuits 2200 shown in FIG. 22, instead of one or more gate driver circuits 1602, 2000, 2100.

[00124] The gate driver circuit 2200 contains many of the same components as the gate driver circuits 1602, 2000, 2100. The gate driver circuit 2200 may be formed as a combination of the gate driver circuits 2000, 2100. For example, the gate driver circuit 2200 may include a negative bias capacitor 2008 and a diode 2010 of the gate driver circuit 2000, and a repeater 2102 as a switching device and diodes 2104 of the gate driver circuit 2100. During operation of the switching device 2018, the gate driver circuits 2200 may be activated or deactivated as described above. The negative bias capacitor 2008 can store energy through the second transformer 2012. As described above, this stored energy can be applied to the gate of the switching device 2018 as a negative bias to prevent the switching device 2018 from activating by noise or other electrical fluctuations in the gate driver circuit 2200. Also as described above, the repeater 2102A in the form of a switching device can prevent the capacitor 44A from recharging with noise or other electrical fluctuations (not supplied from the power supply 1504) and thus re-activating the switching device 2018A as also described above.

[00125] In FIG. 23 shows one embodiment of an energy conversion system 2300. System 2300 can be used to transfer electrical energy from a power source 1504 (shown in FIG. 15) to transformers 32, 2012 of the gate driver circuits 2000, 2200 shown in FIG. 20 and 22. The system 2300 includes three conductive lines connected to transformers 32, 2012. The lines may include lines 2302, 2304, and 2306. The conductive lines 2302, 2304, and 2306 may be wires, cables, or the like, which are galvanically connected to a source 1504 power supply or other power source.

[00126] A power supply supplies voltage pulses (as described above) to transformers 32, 2012 to control gate driver circuits 2000, 2200. The power source may supply a voltage pulse to the transformer 32 through the lines 2304, 2306 to activate or deactivate the switching devices in the gate driver circuits 2000, 2200. The power source may transmit an alternating pulse or other voltage or current along the lines 2306, 2302 to charge the bias capacitor 2008, as described above. Using the same line 2306 to control the switching and charging devices of the bias capacitor 2008 can reduce the total length of the conductive lines passing from the power source to the gate driver circuits 2000, 2200. For example, instead of using two separate lines to connect to transformer 32 and two other lines to connect to transformer 2012, using three lines to connect to both transformers 32, 2012 can reduce the length of the lines and, as a result, the cost and complexity of the 2300 system used to transfer energy to gate driver circuits.

[00127] In FIG. 24 shows another embodiment of an energy conversion system 2400. System 2400 can be used to transfer electrical energy from a power source 1504 (shown in FIG. 15) to transformers 32, 2012 of the gate driver circuits 2000, 2200 shown in FIG. 20 and 22. In contrast to the system 2300 shown in FIG. 23, system 2400 comprises four conductive lines connected to transformers 32, 2012. The lines may include a conductive line 2304 (also shown in FIG. 23) and conductive lines 2402, 2404 and 2406. The conductive lines 2402, 2404, 2406, and 2304 may represent wires, cables, or the like, which are galvanically connected to a power source 1504 or other power source. Highways 2304, 2406 galvanically connect power supply 1504 to transformer 32, and highways 2402, 2404 galvanically connect power supply 1504 to transformer 2012, not being galvanically connected to transformer 32. Separate groups of highways 2304, 2406 and highways 2402, 2404 can help source 1504 power supply individually controlled by voltages and / or currents supplied to various transformers 32, 2012.

[00128] In FIG. 25 shows yet another embodiment of an energy conversion system 2500. System 2500 can be used to transfer electrical energy from a power source 1504 (shown in FIG. 15) to transformers 32, 2012 of the gate driver circuits 2000, 2200 shown in FIG. 20 and 22. The system 2500 contains conductive lines 2512, 2514 galvanically connecting the power source to the transformer 32 and conductive lines 2502, 2504, which are galvanically connected to lines 2512, 2514. The conductive lines 2502, 2504 can be galvanically connected to lines 2512, 2514 in places that are closer to the gate driver circuits than the power supply, in order to reduce the total length of the conductive lines used in the 2500 system relative to the 2300 system. The switching device 2506 is galvanically connected to a node 2508 and located between this nodal point 2508, which connects the conductive line 2512 to the conductive line 2502, and a transformer 32. Alternatively, a switching device 2506 can be located between the nodal point 2510, which connects the conductive line 2514 to the conductive line 2504, and the transformer 32. Device 2506 the switching can be a mechanical switching device or a solid-state switching device that opens or closes to control the supply of voltage or current to the transformer at 32. The switching apparatus 2506 may be controlled by controller 1522 shown in FIG. fifteen.

[00129] In FIG. 26 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method 2600 for operating a gate driver circuit. Method 2600 can be used to control the supply of electric current to two or more different loads, for example, to control the supply of different phases of current from a power source to many different loads using gate driver circuits. In one aspect, method 2600 may be performed by the gate driver circuits described herein that comprise one or more bias capacitors (eg, gate driver circuits 2000, 2200).

[00130] In step 2602, a bias voltage is applied to the bias capacitor in the gate driver circuit. For example, a power source 1504 (shown in FIG. 15) can transmit electricity to a capacitor 2008 (shown in FIGS. 20 and 22) through a transformer 2012 (shown in FIGS. 20 and 22) and through a diode 2010 (shown in FIG. 20). This bias voltage charges the bias capacitor with electrical energy, such as five volts or another value.

[00131] In step 2604, a voltage is applied to the gate of the switching device. The voltage that is applied to the gate can come from various sources. In a situation where a voltage is applied by a power source 1504 to activate a switching device 2018A (shown in FIG. 20), voltage can be applied through a transformer 32 (shown in FIGS. 2, 20, and 22), through a diode 54A (shown in FIG. 2, 20, and 22) to the capacitor 44A (shown in FIGS. 2, 20, and 22), which then applies voltage to the gate 2002 (shown in FIGS. 20 and 22) of the switching device 2018A. In another situation, voltage may be applied to the gate 2002 from electrical noise in the gate driver circuit (for example, when no voltage is supplied from the power source 1504 through the transformer 32).

[00132] In step 2606, when the voltage applied (from the power source or from somewhere else) to the gate of the switching device is the same as or a combination of the switching voltage of the switching device and the bias voltage of the bias capacitor, then the applied voltage may be sufficient to activate (e.g. short circuit) the switching device. The combination of the activation voltage and the bias voltage can be the sum of the absolute values of the bias voltage and the activation voltage. For example, if the bias voltage is -5 volts and the activation voltage is +15 volts, then the voltage applied to the gate must be at least +20 volts in order to activate the switching device. As a result, the voltage applied to the gate is probably not noise in the gate driver circuit, and the process 2600 can proceed to step 2610. On the other hand, if the voltage applied to the gate does not exceed the combination of the activation voltage and the bias voltage, then The applied voltage may be due to noise in the gate driver circuitry. As a result, the process 2600 may proceed to step 2608.

[00133] In step 2608, the switching device remains deactivated (eg, open) to prevent the passage of electrical noise or other current in the gate driver circuit to the loads. The execution process from step of method 2600 may return to step 2602. Alternatively, operation of method 2600 may be completed. At step 2610, the switching device is activated (for example, closes) to conduct current from the power source (or other power source) to the load. For example, the switching device may be closed to supply one phase of a multiphase current supplied from a power source 1504 to one of the loads 1506, 1508 (shown in FIG. 15). The process of the method from step 2600 may return to step 2602. Alternatively, the method 2600 may end.

[00134] In FIG. 27 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method 2700 using a gate driver circuit. Method 2700 can be used to control the supply of electric current to two or more different loads, for example, when controlling the supply of different phases of the current from the power source to many different loads, using gate driver circuits. In one aspect, method 2700 may be performed by the gate driver circuits described herein that comprise one or more of repeaters in the form of switching devices (eg, gate driver circuits 2100, 2200). In one embodiment, methods 2600, 2700 may be performed together. For example, a gate driver circuit having one or more bias capacitors and one or more followers in the form of switching devices (for example, gate driver circuit 2200) can perform both methods 2600, 2700.

[00135] In step 2702, a voltage is applied to the gate of the switching device. The voltage that is applied to the gate can come from various sources. As described above, the voltage may be applied by the power source to activate the switching device, or the voltage may be applied due to noise in the gate driver circuit. In step 2704, if the voltage applied to the gate (from a power source or from somewhere else) of the switching device is the same as or a combination of the switching voltage of the switching device and the bias voltage of the bias capacitor, then the applied voltage may be sufficient to activate (e.g. short circuits) of the switching device as described above. As a result, the voltage applied to the gate is probably not noise in the gate driver circuit, and the process of method 2700 may proceed to step 2706. At step 2706, the switching device is activated (for example, closes) to conduct current from a power source (or other power supply) to the load. For example, the switching device may be closed to pass one phase of a multiphase current supplied from a power source 1504 to one of the loads 1506, 1508 (shown in FIG. 15). The process of method 2700 may return to step 2702. Alternatively, the method 2600 may end.

[00136] On the other hand, if the voltage applied to the gate does not exceed the combination of the activation voltage and the bias voltage, then the applied voltage may be caused by noise in the gate driver circuit, or the applied voltage may be reduced by the power supply to deactivate the switching device. As a result, the process of method 2700 can proceed to step 2708. At step 2708, the switching device remains deactivated (eg, open) to prevent the passage of electrical noise or other current in the gate driver circuit to the loads. The process of method 2700 may proceed to step 2710. In another embodiment of the invention, there may be no bias voltage applied to the bias capacitor switching device. In such an embodiment, the determination in step 2704 may include determining whether the applied voltage is equal to or greater than the activation voltage of the switching device.

[00137] At step 2710, electrical noise or other signals that are not generated by the power source or other source to control the activation or deactivation of the switching device can be fed back to the switching device. For example, electrical signals or noise generated by loads can pass into a switching device. If such signals or noises flow back to the switching device, then the process of method 2700 may proceed to step 2712. Otherwise, the process of method 2700 may return to step 2702. Alternatively, operation of method 2700 may end.

[00138] In step 2712, noise or other signals pass into a circuit that contains another switching device and a switching device, referred to in step 2702. For example, a repeater in the form of a switching device can prevent noise or other signals from passing to the capacitor in the gate driver circuit, which applies voltage to the switching device used to control the supply of current to the loads. A repeater in the form of a switching device can store noise or other electrical signals passing into the circuit until noises or signals are scattered. The process of method 2700 may return to step 2702 or terminate.

[00139] Various examples and aspects of devices and methods are disclosed herein, which include many components, features, and functionality. It should be understood that various examples and aspects of the devices and methods disclosed herein may include any of the components, features and functionality of any of the other examples and aspects of the devices and methods disclosed herein in any combination, and all such possibilities are within the essence. and scope of the present invention.

[00140] It should be noted that the particular configuration of the components (eg, number, types, location, or the like) of the illustrated embodiments may be modified in various alternative embodiments. In various forms of the invention, various amounts of a given module, system or block, various types or types of a given module, system or block may be used; a number of modules, systems or blocks (or their aspects) can be combined; a given module, system or block can be divided into many modules (or submodules), systems (or subsystems) or blocks (or subunits); a given module, system or block may be added, or a given module, system or block may be removed.

[00141] It should be noted that various forms of the invention may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. Various forms of the invention and / or components, for example, modules, systems or components and controllers therein, can also be implemented as part of one or more computers or processors. A computer or processor may include a computing device, an input device, a display device, and an interface. The computer or processor may include a microprocessor. The microprocessor can be connected to the communication bus. The computer or processor may also comprise a storage device. The storage device may include random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM) and read-only memory (Read Only Memory, ROM). In addition, the computer or processor may comprise a storage device, which may be a hard disk drive or a removable drive, such as a semiconductor drive, an optical drive, or the like. The storage device may also be other similar means for loading computer programs or other instructions into a computer or processor.

[00142] Each of the terms “computer”, “controller”, “system” and “module” as used herein may include any processor or microprocessor-based system, including systems using microcontrollers, Reduced Instruction Set Computers, RISC ), specialized integrated circuits (Application Specific Integrated Circuit, ASIC), logic circuits, graphic processors (Graphical Processing Unit, GPUs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and any other circuit or processor capable of performing the described here function and. The above examples are provided by way of example only and therefore are not intended to limit the definition and / or meaning of the term “module”, “system” or “computer”.

[00143] A computer, module, system or processor executes a set of instructions that are stored in one or more storage devices to process input data. Storage devices can also store data or other information if necessary. The storage device may be in the form of an information source or a physical memory element in a machine for processing information.

[00144] A set of instructions may include various instructions that instruct a computer, module, system or processor, as an information processing machine, to perform certain operations, such as methods and processes of various forms of carrying out the invention described and / or illustrated herein. A set of commands can be represented as a program. The software may be in various forms, such as system software or application software, and may be embodied as a non-volatile computer-readable medium. In addition, the software may be in the form of a collection of individual programs, systems or modules, a software module in a larger program, or part of a software module. The software may also include modular programming in the form of object-oriented programming. Processing of the input data by the information processing machine can be performed in response to the operator’s commands or in response to the results of the previous processing, or in response to a request sent by another information processing machine.

[00145] As used herein, the terms "software" and "firmware" are used interchangeably and include any computer program that is executed by a computer stored in a memory device, including a RAM memory device, a ROM, an erasable programmable read-only memory (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) , EPROM), an electrically erasable and programmable read-only memory (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory, EEPROM) and non-volatile memory (Non-Volatile RAM, NVRAM). The above types of storage devices are given only as an example, and therefore do not limit the types of storage devices suitable for storing a computer program. The individual components of various embodiments of the invention can be virtualized and can be processed by a cloud computing environment, for example, allowing dynamic distribution of computing power without requiring the user to take care of the location, configuration and / or specific hardware of the computer system.

[00146] It should be understood that the above description is intended to illustrate the invention and does not limit it. For example, the foregoing embodiments (and / or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the ideas of various forms of carrying out the invention, within its scope. The sizes, types of materials, orientations of the various components, and the amounts and positions of the various components described herein are intended to determine the parameters of some forms of the invention, do not limit the invention, and are merely examples of its implementation. Many other forms of carrying out the invention and changes within the spirit and scope of the claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the foregoing description. Therefore, the scope of the various forms of carrying out the invention should be determined on the basis of the attached claims, along with the full scope of its equivalents. In the appended claims, the terms “comprising” and “in which” are used simply as equivalents to the corresponding terms “comprising” and “wherein”. In addition, in the following claims, the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, etc. they are used simply as tags and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. In addition, the limitations of the following claims are not written in the “tool plus function” format and should not be interpreted in accordance with § 112, paragraph (f), section 35 of the Code of the United States, unless such limitations of the claims are explicitly used in the phrase “ followed by a statement of function without a description of the further structure.

[00147] The present description uses examples to disclose various forms of carrying out the invention, and also to allow specialists in the art to use various forms of carrying out the invention, including the manufacture and operation of any devices or systems and the implementation of any described methods. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims and may include other examples that will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal formulations of the claims, or include equivalent structural elements with insignificant differences from the literal formulations of the claims.

Claims (60)

1. A power system comprising: a switching system configured to functionally connect to a power source that supplies electric current to a plurality of underground pumps to pump out a resource from below the surface of the earth, the switching system comprising switching blocks configured to control the flow of current from the power source to the pumps, wherein the switching blocks comprise switching modules that include a first solid-state switching device, a first capacitor, and a bias capacitor, moreover, the first switching device is configured to activate and respond to a voltage that is at least the same as the activation voltage of the first switching device to conduct electric current between the first transformer and the electric load, and is also configured to deactivate and stop the passage of electric current between first transformer and electrical load, the first capacitor is galvanically connected to the first switching device and the first transformer between the first switching device and the first transformer, the first capacitor being configured to store electrical energy received from the first transformer to activate the first switching device, and the bias capacitor is galvanically connected to the first switching device between the first capacitor and the first switching device and is configured to galvanically connect to the second transformer to receive the bias voltage through the second transformer, wherein the bias capacitor is also configured to apply a bias voltage to the first switching device in order to prevent activation of the first switching device and supplying current from the power source to one or more pumps, unless the combination of voltage received by the first switching device through the first transformer, and the bias voltage is at least the same as the activation voltage of the first switching device. 2. The power supply system according to claim 1, in which the switching modules also comprise a repeater in the form of a solid-state switching device and a diode, the repeater in the form of a solid-state switching device being galvanically connected to the first switching device and the first capacitor between the first switching device and the first capacitor, and the diode galvanically connected to the repeater in the form of a switching device and the first switching device between the first capacitor and the first switching device, while the repeater in the form of troystva switching diode and configured to deliver electrical noise received through the first switching device in a conductive circuit which does not include the first capacitor. 3. The power supply system of claim 1, wherein the switching modules also comprise a diode configured to be connected in series with a bias capacitor between the second transformer and the bias capacitor, wherein the diode cathode is connected to the bias capacitor and the diode anode is configured to connect to the second transformer. 4. The power supply system of claim 3, wherein the diode is configured to limit the passage of current received from the second transformer to the bias capacitor so that the bias voltage is negative. 5. The power supply system according to claim 1, in which the switching modules also comprise a second solid-state switching device and a second capacitor, the second switching device being configured to activate and respond to a voltage that is at least the same as the activation voltage of the second device switching in order to conduct electric current between the first transformer and the electric load, the second switching device being configured to deactivate and stop the passage of electrical th current between the first transformer and the electrical load, a second capacitor electrically connected to the second device and switching the first transformer between the second switching entity and a second transformer, wherein the second capacitor is further configured to store electrical energy received from the first transformer to activate the second switching device, and the bias capacitor is configured to apply a bias voltage to the second switching device to prevent the activation of the second switching device, unless the combination of the voltage received by the second switching device through the first transformer and the bias voltage is at least the same as the activation voltage of the second device commutation. 6. The power supply system of claim 5, wherein the first switching device is configured to activate and respond to the first transformer receiving a positive voltage pulse from the power source without activating the second switching device, and the second switching device is configured to activate and respond to the first transformer receiving a negative pulse voltage from the power source without activating the first switching device. 7. The power supply system according to claim 5, in which the switching modules also comprise a first diode, a second diode, a third diode and a fourth diode, wherein the first diode has a cathode functionally connected to the first switching device, and an anode configured to functionally connect with the first transformer, and is located between the first capacitor and the first transformer, the second diode has a cathode functionally connected to the second switching device, and an anode configured to functionally connect with the first transformer, and is located between the second capacitor and the first transformer, the third diode has a cathode functionally connected to the anode of the first diode, and a cathode functionally connected to the first capacitor, and the fourth diode has a cathode functionally connected to the anode of the second diode, and a cathode functionally connected to the second capacitor, moreover, the anodes of the third and fourth diodes are functionally connected to each other at a point between the first and second capacitors. 8. The power supply system according to claim 1, also containing the first and second transformers, wherein the first transformer is galvanically connected to the first switching device and the first capacitor through the first and second conductive lines, and the second transformer is galvanically connected to the bias capacitor through the second conductive line and the third conducting trunk. 9. A power supply system comprising: a switching system configured to functionally connect to a power source that supplies electric current to a plurality of underground pumps to pump out a resource from below the surface of the earth, the switching system comprising switching blocks configured to control the flow of current from the power source to the pumps, wherein the switching blocks contain switching modules, which include a first solid-state switching device, a first capacitor, a repeater in the form of a solid-state switching device, and first diode wherein the first solid-state switching device is configured to activate and respond to a voltage that is at least the same as the activation voltage of the first switching device to conduct electric current between the first transformer and the electric load, the first switching device being configured to deactivate and terminate the passage of electric current between the first transformer and the electric load, the first capacitor is galvanically connected to the first switching device and the first transformer between the first switching device and the first transformer, the first capacitor being configured to store electrical energy received from the first transformer to activate the first switching device, a repeater in the form of a solid-state switching device is galvanically connected to the first switching device and the first capacitor between the first switching device and the first capacitor, and the first diode is galvanically connected to the repeater in the form of a switching device and the first switching device between the first capacitor and the first switching device, while the repeater in the form of a switching device and the first diode are configured to supply electrical noise received through the first switching device to a conductive circuit that is not turns on the first capacitor. 10. The power supply system of claim 9, wherein the switching units also comprise a second diode configured to be connected in series with a bias capacitor between the second transformer and the bias capacitor, wherein the cathode of the second diode is connected to the bias capacitor and the anode of the second diode is configured to connect to second transformer. 11. The power supply system of claim 10, wherein the second diode is configured to limit the passage of current received from the second transformer to the bias capacitor so that the bias voltage is negative. 12. The power supply system according to claim 9, in which the switching units also comprise a bias capacitor galvanically connected to the first switching device between the first capacitor and the first switching device, wherein the bias capacitor is configured to galvanically connect to the second transformer to receive bias voltage through the second transformer, and for applying bias voltage to the first switching device to prevent activation of the first switching device, unless the combination of voltage received by the first switching device through the first transformer and bias voltage is at least the same as the activation voltage of the first switching device. 13. The power supply system according to p. 12, in which the switching units also contain a second solid-state switching device and a second capacitor, wherein the second switching device is configured to activate and respond to receiving a voltage that is at least the same as the activation voltage of the second switching device to conduct electric current between the first transformer and the electric load, the second switching device being configured to deactivate and stop the passage electric current between the first transformer and the electric load, the second capacitor is galvanically connected to the second switching device and the first transformer between the second switching device and the second transformer, the second capacitor being configured to store electrical energy received from the first transformer to activate the second switching device, and the bias capacitor is configured to apply a bias voltage to the second switching device to prevent the activation of the second switching device, unless the combination of the voltage received by the second switching device through the first transformer and the bias voltage is at least the same as the activation voltage of the second device commutation. 14. The power supply system of claim 13, wherein the first switching device is configured to activate and respond to the first transformer receiving a positive voltage pulse from the power source without activating the second switching device, and the second switching device is configured to activate and respond to the first transformer receiving a negative pulse voltage from the power source without activating the first switching device. 15. The power supply system according to claim 9, in which the switching units also comprise a second diode, a third diode, a fourth diode and a fifth diode, wherein the second diode has a cathode functionally connected to the first switching device, and an anode configured to functionally connect with the first transformer, and is located between the first capacitor and the first transformer, the third diode has a cathode functionally connected to the second switching device, and an anode configured to functionally connect with the first transformer, and is located between the second capacitor and the first transformer, the fourth diode has a cathode functionally connected to the anode of the second diode, and a cathode functionally connected to the first capacitor, and the fifth diode has a cathode functionally connected to the anode of the third diode, and a cathode functionally connected to the second capacitor, moreover, the anodes of the fourth and fifth diodes are functionally connected to each other at a point between the first and second capacitors. 16. An electrical power system comprising: a switching system configured to functionally connect to a power source that supplies electric current to a plurality of underground pumps to pump out a resource from below the surface of the earth, the switching system comprising switching blocks configured to control the flow of current from the power source to the pumps, wherein the switching blocks comprise switching modules that include a first solid-state switching device, a first capacitor, a bias capacitor, a solid state repeater Switching Devices and the first diode, wherein the first switching device is configured to activate and respond to a voltage that is at least the same as the activation voltage of the first switching device to conduct electric current between the first transformer and the electrical load, the first switching device being configured to deactivate and stop the passage electric current between the first transformer and the electric load, the first capacitor is galvanically connected to the first switching device and the first transformer between the first switching device and the first transformer, the first capacitor being configured to store electrical energy received from the first transformer to activate the first switching device, the bias capacitor is galvanically connected to the first switching device between the first capacitor and the first switching device, the bias capacitor being configured to galvanically connect to the second transformer to receive bias voltage through the second transformer, and to apply bias voltage to the first switching device to prevent activation of the first device switching, except when the combination of voltage received by the first switching device through h the first transformer, and the bias voltage is at least the same as the activation voltage of the first switching device, a repeater in the form of a switching device is galvanically connected to the first switching device and the first capacitor between the first switching device and the first capacitor, and the first diode is galvanically connected to the repeater in the form of a switching device and the first switching device between the first capacitor and the first switching device, and the repeater in the form of a switching device and the first diode are configured to supply electrical noise received through the first switching device to a conductive circuit that does not include first capacitor. 17. The power supply system of claim 16, wherein the switching units also comprise a second diode configured to be connected in series with a bias capacitor between the second transformer and the bias capacitor, wherein the cathode of the second diode is connected to the bias capacitor and the anode of the second diode is configured to connect to a second transformer, the second diode configured to limit the passage of current received from the second transformer to the bias capacitor so that the bias voltage is negative valuable. 18. The power supply system of claim 16, wherein the switching units also comprise a second solid-state switching device and a second capacitor, wherein the second switching device is configured to activate and respond to a voltage that is at least the same as the activation voltage of the second switching device to conduct electric current between the first transformer and the electrical load, and the second switching device is configured to deactivate and stop the passage electric current between the first transformer and the electric load, the second capacitor is galvanically connected to the second switching device and the first transformer between the second switching device and the second transformer, the second capacitor being configured to store electrical energy received from the first transformer to activate the second switching device, and the bias capacitor is configured to apply a bias voltage to the second switching device to prevent the activation of the second switching device, unless the combination of the voltage received by the second switching device through the first transformer and the bias voltage is at least the same as the activation voltage of the second device commutation. 19. The power supply system of claim 18, wherein the first switching device is configured to activate and respond to the first transformer receiving a positive voltage pulse from the power source without activating the second switching device, and the second activation device is configured to activate and respond to the first transformer receiving a negative pulse voltage from the power source without activating the first switching device. 20. The power supply system according to claim 18, in which the switching units also comprise a second diode, a third diode, a fourth diode and a fifth diode, wherein the second diode has a cathode functionally connected to the first switching device, and an anode configured to functionally connect with the first transformer, and is located between the first capacitor and the first transformer, the third diode has a cathode functionally connected to the second switching device, and an anode configured to functionally connect with the first transformer, and is located between the second capacitor and the first transformer, the fourth diode has a cathode functionally connected to the anode of the second diode, and a cathode functionally connected to the first capacitor, and the fifth diode has a cathode functionally connected to the anode of the third diode, and a cathode functionally connected to the second capacitor, moreover, the anodes of the fourth and fifth diodes are functionally connected to each other at a point between the first and second capacitors.

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