POWER CONVERTER: abstract simplified (18192892)

• This abstract for appeared for patent application number 18192892 Titled 'POWER CONVERTER'

Simplified Explanation

The abstract describes a power converter that has multiple arms, each containing a semiconductor element. The converter also includes various detectors and controllers. One of the detectors measures the temperature of the semiconductor element, while another detects the voltage and current across its terminals. The converter also has a heat generation controller that can cause the semiconductor element to generate heat. The heat resistance estimator calculates the heat resistance of the semiconductor element based on the temperature difference, current, and voltage measurements. The first temperature is measured when the heat generation controller is not active, while the second temperature is measured when the controller is active.

Original Abstract Submitted

A power converter includes multiple arms, a temperature detector, a voltage detector, a current detector, a heat generation controller, and a heat resistance estimator. Each of the multiple arms includes a target element being a semiconductor element. The heat resistance estimator determines a heat resistance of the target element based on a temperature difference between a first temperature of the target element and a second temperature of the target element, a current through the target element detected by the current detector, and a voltage across conduction terminals of the target element detected by the voltage detector. The first temperature is a temperature detected by the temperature detector in a state where the heat generation controller has not caused the target element to generate heat. The second temperature is a temperature detected by the temperature detector in a state where the heat generation controller has caused the target element to generate heat.