Interleaved Multi-Channel Multi-level Multi-Quadrant DC-DC Converters

Abstract

Direct-current-to-direct-current (DC-DC) power converters that include two or more multi-quadrant, multi-level, DCDC, switching converter subcircuits, connected in parallel at respective input and output sides, so as to provide a multichannel, multi-quadrant, multi-level configuration, are disclosed. The DC-DC power converters further include a control circuit configured to control the switching converter subcircuits so that corresponding switching semiconductors in each of the switching converter subcircuits are switched in an interleaved manner. In some embodiments, each of the switching converter subcircuits is a three-level, neutralpoint- clamped, four-quadrant DC-DC converter circuit. In other embodiments, each of the switching converter subcircuits is a three-level, neutral-point-clamped, two-quadrant DC-DC converter circuit. In any of these embodiments, a filter capacitor may be connected between across a pair of output terminals at the output sides of the switching converter subcircuits.