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DE-102025121885-A1 - Inverter drive device, method for controlling an inverter and vehicle comprising it

DE102025121885A1DE 102025121885 A1DE102025121885 A1DE 102025121885A1DE-102025121885-A1

Abstract

An inverter driver device is capable of resolving current imbalances between power modules with different threshold voltages in an inverter with a multiple of parallel-connected power modules. The inverter driver device powers an inverter containing a multiple of parallel-connected power modules and includes a gate driver that outputs control signals to the multiple power modules and monitors their threshold voltages, as well as a controller that operates the gate driver in response to an externally input command. The controller can modify a preset first PWM signal to generate a second PWM signal based on the threshold voltages for the multiple power modules provided by the gate driver and output this second PWM signal to the gate driver.

Inventors

  • Tae Jun Moon
  • Ho Rim CHOI
  • Jin Wook Kang
  • Tae Gyeom Woo
  • Tae Il Yoo
  • Sang Woo Park

Assignees

  • HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
  • KIA CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20250604
Priority Date
20241113

Claims (20)

  1. Inverter drive device configured to drive an inverter with a plurality of parallel-connected power modules, the device comprising: a gate driver configured to output a control signal to the multiple power modules and monitor a threshold voltage from each of the multiple power modules; and a controller configured to control the gate driver in response to a command input from a higher-level controller; wherein the controller is configured to modify a first pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal, generated based on the instruction and based on the threshold voltage for each of the multiple power modules provided by the gate driver, to generate a second PWM signal, and output the second PWM signal to the gate driver.
  2. establishment according Claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to change a generation point of the first PWM signal or to change a duty cycle of the first PWM signal based on a first delay determined on the basis of the threshold voltage of each of the multiple power modules to generate the second PWM signal.
  3. establishment according Claim 2 , wherein: the controller is configured to apply the first delay to a count value that serves as a reference for the generation point of the first PWM signal in order to generate the second PWM signal; and the second PWM signal is generated with a second delay equal to the first delay relative to the first PWM signal.
  4. establishment according Claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to apply the first delay to at least one turn-on point or one turn-off point of the first PWM signal in order to generate the second PWM signal with a longer duty cycle than the first PWM signal.
  5. establishment according Claim 4 , wherein: the controller is configured to apply the first delay to the turn-on point and the turn-off point of the first PWM signal; and the turn-on point of the second PWM signal is delayed relative to the turn-on point of the first PWM signal by the first delay, and the turn-off point of the second PWM signal is delayed relative to the turn-off point of the first PWM signal by the first delay.
  6. establishment according Claim 4 , where: the controller is configured to apply the first delay to the turn-on point of the first PWM signal; and the turn-on point of the second PWM signal is delayed by the first delay relative to the turn-on point of the first PWM signal.
  7. establishment according Claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the first delay based on the slope characteristics of a gate-source voltage of the multiple power modules.
  8. establishment according Claim 7 , where the controller is configured to determine the initial delay based on the following factors: Verz o ¨ gerung = Vth 1 − Vth 2 dVgs / dt ( Vth 1 > Vth 2 ) , where Vth1 is a threshold voltage of a first power module, Vth2 is a threshold voltage of a second power module, and dVgs/dt is the current flowing through a gate resistor Rg.
  9. establishment according Claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the first delay corresponding to a threshold voltage based on a table containing delays for each threshold voltage of each of the multiple power modules.
  10. establishment according Claim 1 , wherein the gate driver includes a threshold voltage monitoring circuit configured to monitor the threshold voltages of the multiple power modules, convert the monitored threshold voltages into digital signals, and supply the digital signals to the controller.
  11. establishment according Claim 1 , wherein: the inverter includes a plurality of module groups containing multiple power modules connected in parallel; the gate driver is connected to each of the plurality of module groups; and the gate driver is configured to set the threshold voltages for the plurality of power modules to monitor within the multitude of module groups.
  12. establishment according Claim 1 , wherein the gate driver is configured to monitor the voltage of a gate resistor connected between the gate driver and a gate terminal of the power module in a state in which a switching element connected between the gate terminal and a drain terminal of the power module is short-circuited.
  13. A method for controlling an inverter with a plurality of parallel-connected power modules, comprising: Generating a first pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal by a controller in response to a command input from a higher-level controller and outputting the first PWM signal to a gate driver; Monitoring a threshold voltage of each of the multiple power modules by the gate driver; Providing the monitored threshold voltages by the gate driver to the controller; and Modifying the first PWM signal by the controller to generate a second PWM signal based on the threshold voltages and outputting the second PWM signal to the gate driver.
  14. Procedure according to Claim 13 , furthermore encompassing the modification of a generation point of the first PWM signal by the control or the modification of a duty cycle of the first PWM signal based on a first delay determined on the basis of the threshold voltage of each of the multiple power modules in order to generate the second PWM signal.
  15. Procedure according to Claim 14 , further comprising the application of the first delay to a count value, which serves as a reference for the generation point of the first PWM signal, by the controller in order to generate the second PWM signal; and generating the second PWM signal with a second delay equal to the first delay, relative to the first PWM signal.
  16. Procedure according to Claim 14 , furthermore encompassing the application of the first delay by the controller to a switch-on point and/or a switch-off point of the first PWM signal in order to generate the second PWM signal with a longer duty cycle than the first PWM signal.
  17. Procedure according to Claim 16 , which further includes the application of the first delay to the turn-on point and the turn-off point of the first PWM signal by the controller; wherein the turn-on point of the second PWM signal is delayed relative to the turn-on point of the first PWM signal by the first delay, and the turn-off point of the second PWM signal is delayed relative to the turn-off point of the first PWM signal by the first delay.
  18. Procedure according to Claim 16 , further comprising applying the first delay to the switch-on point of the first PWM signal by the controller, wherein the switch-on point of the second PWM signal is delayed relative to the switch-on point of the first PWM signal by the first delay.
  19. A vehicle comprising an inverter containing a plurality of parallel-connected power modules, and an inverter drive unit for controlling the inverter, wherein the inverter drive unit comprises: a gate driver configured to output a control signal to the plurality of power modules and to monitor the threshold voltages of the multiple power modules; and a controller configured to control the gate driver in response to a command input from a higher-level controller; the controller being configured to modify a first pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal generated in response to the instruction to generate a second PWM signal based on the threshold voltages for the multiple power modules provided by the gate driver, and output the second PWM signal to the gate driver.
  20. Vehicle after Claim 19 , wherein the controller is configured to change a generation point of the first PWM signal or to change a duty cycle of the first PWM signal based on a first delay determined on the basis of the threshold voltages of the multiple power modules to generate the second PWM signal.

Description

Technical field The present disclosure relates to the control of inverters and in particular to an inverter drive device, an inverter control method therefor, and a vehicle containing these, wherein the inverter drive device is able to correct the current imbalance between power modules with different threshold voltages in an inverter containing a plurality of parallel-connected power modules. background An inverter implemented in vehicles can be used to convert direct current (DC) from a high-voltage battery into alternating current (AC) to power a motor. The inverter can comprise a variety of power modules connected in parallel, operating based on a control signal (or control voltage) output by a gate driver. The gate driver can output a control signal to a gate terminal of the plurality of power modules in response to a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal provided by a control unit, and the plurality of power modules can be turned on or off by the gate driver in response to the control signal. In the structure of an inverter with several power modules connected in parallel, the current imbalance can lead to the power modules burning out. While current imbalance can be adequately considered during the design phase and corrected after identification, it is difficult to identify and manage current imbalance caused by threshold voltage fluctuations of power modules. Therefore, a solution is needed for the problem of current imbalance caused by threshold voltage fluctuations of power modules. The facts described above as background technology are intended to provide a better understanding of the background of the present disclosure and are not to be understood as an admission that the present disclosure belongs to conventional technology already known to those skilled in the art. SUMMARY The embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure are proposed in response to the needs described above, and one technical objective is to provide an inverter drive device, an inverter control method and a vehicle incorporating these, wherein the inverter drive device can correct the current imbalance between power modules with different threshold voltages in an inverter containing a plurality of parallel-connected power modules. The objective of the embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide an inverter drive device, an inverter control method and a vehicle including a vehicle, wherein the inverter drive device can ensure that the current from power modules with different threshold voltages is output simultaneously at a preset time by changing the generation point of a PWM signal or by changing the duty cycle of the PWM signal based on a delay determined on the basis of the threshold voltage of each power module, and controlling the power modules on the basis of the changed PWM signal. The technical problems to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other, unmentioned technical problems will be clearly understood by the skilled persons to whom the present disclosure relates from the following description. An inverter drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure for achieving the above-described objective can drive an inverter which includes a plurality of power modules connected in parallel and a gate driver which outputs a control signal to the plurality of power modules and monitors the threshold voltage of the plurality of power modules, as well as a controller which controls the gate driver in response to an externally input instruction, wherein the controller can modify a first PWM signal generated in response to an instruction to generate a second PWM signal based on the threshold voltage for the plurality of power modules provided by the gate driver, and can output the second PWM signal to the gate driver. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control can control the product Change the point of the first PWM signal or change the duty cycle of the first PWM signal to generate the second PWM signal based on the delay determined on the threshold voltage. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller can apply the aforementioned delay to the count value that serves as a reference for the generation point of the first PWM signal in order to generate the second PWM signal, and the second PWM signal can be generated with a delay corresponding to the aforementioned delay relative to the first PWM signal. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller can apply the aforementioned delay to a switch-on point and/or a switch-off point of the first PWM signal in order to generate the second PWM signal with a longer duty cycle than the first PWM signal. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller can apply the aforementioned delay to the switch-on point and the switch-off point of the first PWM signal. The switch-on point of the second PWM signal ca