Dc-to-ac power inverter and methods

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to semiconductors for power generation and conversion applications, and more particularly, to devices, integrated circuits, substrates, and methods to convert direct current (“DC”) voltage signals to alternating current (“AC”) voltage signals. In some embodiments, a method for converting DC voltage signals to AC voltage signals can include generating a first portion of an output voltage signal using a polarity circuit, generating a second portion of the output voltage signal using another polarity circuit, wherein the output voltage signal comprises an AC signal, and synchronizing the first portion and the second portion of the output voltage signal to a frequency using an AC reference signal. In other embodiments, an inverter can include a modulator configured to convert a DC signal into a first variable signal, the modulator comprising two or more transistors, one of the two or more transistors configured to generate a portion of the first variable signal another of the two or more transistors configured to generate another portion of the first variable signal, a transformation module configured to step up the first variable signal to form a second variable signal, the transformation module being configured to generate a first portion of the second variable signal and a second portion of the second variable signal, and a waveform generator configured to synchronize the first portion and the second portion of the second variable signal with an AC reference signal to generate an AC signal.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An inverter comprising:
 a modulator configured to convert a direct current (DC) signal into a first variable signal, the modulator comprising two or more transistors, one of the two or more transistors configured to generate a portion of the first variable signal, another of the two or more transistors configured to generate another portion of the first variable signal;   a transformation module configured to step up the first variable signal to form a second variable signal, the transformation module being configured to generate a first portion of the second variable signal and a second portion of the second variable signal; and   a waveform generator configured to synchronize the first portion and the second portion of the second variable signal with an alternating current (AC) reference signal to generate an AC signal.   
     
     
         3 . The inverter of  claim 2 , further comprising an inverter controller configured to send one or more control signals to the modulator and the waveform generator. 
     
     
         4 . The inverter of  claim 3 , wherein the transformation module comprises two or more transformers, and the inverter controller is operable to disable at least one of the two or more transformers using the one or more control signals. 
     
     
         5 . A method, comprising:
 modulating a direct current (DC) power signal using a modulator to form a variable signal;   transforming a magnitude associated with the variable signal using a transformation module to form a transformed variable signal;   demodulating the transformed variable signal using a waveform generator to form a first portion of an alternating current (AC) signal;   coupling the first portion of the AC signal to a first output terminal; and   coupling a second output terminal to a reference potential.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 modulating the DC power signal using the modulator to form another variable signal;   transforming another magnitude associated with the another variable signal using the transformation module to form another transformed variable signal;   demodulating the another transformed variable signal using the waveform generator to form a second portion of the AC signal, wherein the waveform generator is operable to synchronize the first portion and the second portion of the AC signal to a frequency using an AC reference signal;   coupling the second portion of the AC signal to a second output terminal; and   coupling the first output terminal to the reference potential.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 coupling the DC power source to a first transformer via a first power switch; and   decoupling a second power switch from the DC power source.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 coupling the DC power source to a second transformer via a second power switch; and   decoupling a first power switch from the DC power source.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the second output terminal is coupled to the reference potential using a low pass filter in a first mode of operation. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first output terminal is coupled to the reference potential using a low pass filter in a second mode of operation. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the demodulating the transformed variable signal and the another transformed variable signal is performed using a synchronous demodulator controller being configured to synchronize the first portion and the second portion of the AC signal with an AC reference signal frequency. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the modulating the DC power signal comprises receiving a control signal from an inverter controller. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the demodulating the transformed variable signal and the another transformed variable signal comprises receiving one or more control signals from an inverter controller. 
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 generating a first portion of an output voltage signal using a polarity circuit;   generating a second portion of the output voltage signal using another polarity circuit, wherein the output voltage signal comprises an alternating current (AC) signal; and   synchronizing the first portion and the second portion of the output voltage signal to a frequency using an AC reference signal.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising receiving one or more control signals from an inverter controller. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the inverter controller comprises a modulator controller and a synchronous demodulator controller. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each of the polarity circuit and the another polarity circuit comprises one or more switching devices and one or more transformers. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the generating the first portion and the second portion of the output voltage signal comprises modulating a direct current (DC) signal using one or more switching devices. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the generating the first portion and the second portion of the output voltage signal comprises transforming a magnitude of a variable signal using one or more transformers to form a transformed variable signal. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising demodulating a transformed variable signal using one or more switching devices. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising filtering the output voltage signal using a low pass filter.