US 12,322,954 B2
HV switch unit, pulsing assembly and method of avoiding voltage imbalances in an HV switch
Andrzej Klimczak, Warsaw (PL); Andrzej Gieraltowski, Warsaw (PL); and Michal Balcerak, Marki (PL)
Assigned to TRUMPF HUETTINGER SP. Z O. O., Zielonka (PL)
Filed by TRUMPF Huettinger Sp. z o. o., Zielonka (PL)
Filed on Jan. 25, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/159,100.
Application 18/159,100 is a continuation of application No. PCT/EP2021/070861, filed on Jul. 26, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 20461553 (EP), filed on Jul. 27, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0170687 A1, Jun. 1, 2023
Int. Cl. H02H 9/04 (2006.01); H02H 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC H02H 9/04 (2013.01) [H02H 1/0007 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A high voltage (HV) switch unit comprising:
a plurality of semiconductor switches connected with each other in series and configured to switch on and off simultaneously,
a plurality of series circuits, each series circuit including a snubber energy storage component and a snubber rectifying component, wherein each series circuit is connected parallel to each respective semiconductor switch,
a voltage balancing circuit comprising a plurality of balancing electronic components in combination with a voltage limiting electronic component, wherein:
each balancing electronic component is connected between a connection point of the snubber energy storage component and the snubber rectifying component of a respective series circuit associated with a corresponding semiconductor switch,
the plurality of balancing electronic components forms a chain parallel to the serially connected semiconductor switches, wherein the chain is configured to transport electrical charge from one snubber energy storage component to the next snubber energy storage component only in a first direction, and
the voltage limiting electronic component is configured to limit a voltage at an end of the chain, where the electrical charge is transported to,
a plurality of second series circuits, each second series circuit including a second snubber energy storage component and a second snubber rectifying component, wherein each second series circuit is connected parallel to each respective semiconductor switch, and
a second voltage balancing circuit comprising a plurality of second balancing electronic components in combination with a second voltage limiting electronic component, wherein:
each second balancing electronic component is connected between a connection point of the second snubber energy storage component and the second snubber rectifying component of a respective second series circuit associated with a corresponding semiconductor switch, and
the plurality of second balancing electronic components forms a second chain parallel to the serially connected semiconductor switches, wherein the second chain is configured to transport electrical charge from one second snubber energy storage component to the next second snubber energy storage component only in a second direction opposite to the first direction.