US 12,143,011 B2
Electric power conversion apparatus
Naoto Kobayashi, Nisshin (JP); Syuji Kurauchi, Kariya (JP); and Yuuichi Handa, Kariya (JP)
Assigned to DENSO CORPORATION, Kariya (JP)
Filed by DENSO CORPORATION, Kariya (JP)
Filed on May 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/734,761.
Application 17/734,761 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2020/040535, filed on Oct. 28, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-197370 (JP), filed on Oct. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0263411 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
Int. Cl. H02M 3/156 (2006.01); H02M 3/155 (2006.01); H02M 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC H02M 3/155 (2013.01) [H02M 7/003 (2013.01)] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electric power conversion apparatus that has an input terminal, an output terminal, and a switch unit, and turns on and off the switch unit to transfer electric power from an electric storage unit connected to the input terminal to a power supply target connected to the output terminal, wherein the switch unit has a characteristic of, when reverse conduction current flows in the switch unit, causing a larger conduction loss in an off state than in an on state, the electric power conversion apparatus comprising:
a determination unit that determines whether there is a request for increasing an amount of heat generation due to the electric power transfer; and
a control unit that, when it is determined that there is the request for increasing the amount of heat generation, turns off the switch unit into which the reverse conduction current flows during the electric power transfer, and when it is determined that there is no request for increasing the amount of heat generation, turns on the switch unit into which the reverse conduction current flows during the electric power transfer, wherein
the switch unit has a characteristic of, with a gate voltage greater to a negative side, having a larger conduction loss caused when the reverse conduction current flows, and
when it is determined that there is the request for increasing the amount of heat generation, the control unit increases the gate voltage of the switch unit in which the reverse conduction current flows to the negative side in comparison to a case where it is determined that there is no request for increasing the amount of heat generation.