IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS, VOL. CAS-28, NO.

4, APRIL 1981 319

B. A. Shenoi (S’59-M’63-SM’72-F’78) received ment of Electrical Engineering, University of Mimresota, Minneapolis, in

the B.Sc. degree in physics from the University of
Madras, India, in 1951, the D.I.I.Sc.’ degree in
electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of
Science, Bangalore, India, in 1955, the M.S. and
Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the
University of Illinois, Urbana, in 1958 and 1962,
respectively.
He worked as a part-time Teaching Assistant
i and Instructor in the Department of Electrical
Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, dur-
rdies and as a full time Assistant Professor from
gust 1962. He then joined the faculty of the Depart-
September 1962 where he is currently a Professor. His research and
teaching interests are mainly in the theory and design of active and digital
filters and signal processing. He has served as a Consultant to industry
and as a member of the Technical Staff, Bell Laboratories during the
summers of 1969 through 1972. He has served as a member of the
Administrative Committee of the Circuits and Systems Society during
1972- 1976, as its Secretary-Treasurer for two years during 1972, 1973,
and as an Associate Editor of the CAS Transactions during 1973- 1974.
He was the President of the Circuits and Systems Society in 1975. He was
a member of the Technical Programs Committee of ICC ‘74, General
Chairman of the 1970 Midwest Symposium on Circuit Theory and is the
chairman of the Publications Committee for 1981 ISCAS.

Solid-State Power Conversion: A Fourier

Analysis Approach to Generalized
T ransformer Synthesis
ALBERT0 ALESINA AND MARCO G . B. VENTURINI, MEMBER, IEEE

Abstract-This paper deals, both from the Fourier analysis and the This popularity is m a inly due to two reasons:
circuit design point of view, with a large family of electronic power solid-state converters can economically perform types of
converters which synthesize the assigned slow-varying waveforms via high-
frequency switching, thereby needing very little reactive elements.
energy conditioning which ‘are impractical otherwise (e.g.,
dc-dc transformation, frequency conversion);
A general condition for high-frequency synthesis applicability is given,
together with a method which allows direct converter design from the solid-state converters can do without large electromag-
desired input-output characterizations. netic devices (e.g., iron core transformers), thus allowing
Furthermore, a general model is introduced for high-frequency synthesis
saving on weight and material costs. A typical example is
converters; as a consequence, they are characterized as two-port, multipole,
time varying, linear circuit elements.
provided by “switchmode” power supplies.
Finally, as a major application example, a new AC-AC, three-to-three In the future, further improvements in device technology
and manufacturing will probably lead to:
phase converter is introduced. The new converter displays several attractive
features: sinusoidal waveforms, bidirectionality, separate control over an increasing application of “exotic” types of converters
amplitude, frequency, phase, and .power factor. Moreover, depending on (dc-ac, ac- ac or frequency converters);
which side is taken as an input, it can either step up or step down the
voltage.
a diffuse replacement of the traditional electromagnetic
converters (transformers, high-frequency rotating supplies,
For these reasons the new converter can be regarded to as a generalized
transformer. etc.).
Over the years, a large variety of power converter de-
signs has been devised for different applications. In spite of
OLID-STATE power converters applications have this apparent variety, however, all of them share some
S been greatly increasing over the last few years. Thyris- common features. Namely, all converters consist of reactive
tors ac-dc converters, dc-dc choppers, switching power elements and switches only.
supplies are, with their wide diffusion, but a few examples This paper deals with a wide family of converters which
of the increasing popularity of solid state converters. m inimize the size of reactive elements via high-frequency
switching. Since reactive elements are bulky, generally not
Manuscript received December 19, 1979; revised November 25, 1980. integrable, and not very likely to improve over the years,
A. Alesina was with the Instituto di Matematica “F. Enriques,,” Uni- this type of converters may be expected to have an increas-
versita degli Studi di Milano, Milan 20133, Italy. He is now with the
Instituto di Chimica-Fisica, Universita di Sassari, via Vienna 2-07100 ing importance in the future.
Sassari, Italy. After a brief review of the mathematical tools used in
M. G. B. Venturini is with the Power System Developments, Texas
Instruments Ltd., Bedford MK41 7PA, England. this paper, the basic structure of this family of power

009%4094/8 l/0400-03 19$00.75 @ 1981 IEEE

320 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS, VOL. CAS-28, NO. 4, APRIL 1981

conditioners is outlined in Section I, and the role played in

it by the switches is discussed.
In the second section a general condition is given, which
allows the designer to decide whether this type of conver-
sion is directly applicable in any practical case. If the (b)
condition is met, a method is proposed which allows a
straightforward design of the desired machine.
In Section III a general converter model is introduced,
where the converter is shown to be modeled as a two-port
multipole time-varying linear circuit element, consisting of
a matrix of linear modulators.
Finally, in Section IV, an application example is dis-
cussed: a new ac-ac converter capable of sinusoidal wave-
forms, frequency, amplitude, phase and power factor
changing is designed. Due to its transformer like character-
istics, the new converter can be considered as a “gener-
alized transformer.”
MATHEMATICAL PREMISES -!*\I
I
Basic Assumptions
Throughout the paper we assume that all the functions
we deal with are defined on the nonnegative real line,
(possibly zero valued on the negative axis), bounded, piece-
wise continuous, and periodic, their periods having a finite
common multiple, unless the contrary is explicitly stated.
When dealing with a collection of such functions, we
assume that a common period r exists.
Definition:
described by a noncontinuous function M(t) whose value
For this kind of functions the following definition of
is one when the switch is closed, and zero when it is open.
Fourier spectrum is applied:
No transition times are considered in this elementary model.
Let f,(t) be the switch input, then,
fo(t)=w)‘fi(t) (1)
Due to the above assumptions this limit exists for every w,
is the switch output.
and it is different from zero only for a countable number
The function M( .) has been most often referred to as the
of 0’s.
“existence function” [2], [5], [12] of the switch; in this
NOTATIONS:
context, the perhaps more appropriate denomination of
If A is an interval of real line, its length will be denoted
“modulation function” is proposed.
by (A 1.The convolution between two functions f and g will In practice the “ideal” switches are realized with elec-
be denoted by f * g. tronic switches whose connection topology depends on the
For Fourier transform properties, reference is made to nature of the input and output variables. Because of the
131, [41. converter reactive elements, to be discussed later, two types
I. HIGH-FREQUENCY SYNTHESIS CONVERTER of switches are especially important: the voltage switch
STRUCTURE (Fig. l(a)), which is fed from a low impedance supply, and
the current switch (Fig. l(b)), which is fed from a high
In all power converter designs, efficiency demands that impedance supply. Notice that the same switch is both a
controllable devices, which are intrinsically resistive, are current and a voltage switch depending on the input port
operated as switches. Therefore, within a sufficient ap- considered. Therefore, the elementary switch is modeled by
proximation, all power converters can be considered as the hybrid relations:
consisting of reactive elemems and switches only, the
switches being the only control elements. For this reason,
any analysis of power converters must start from a suitable
model of the electronic switch.
or
Switching Matrix Model
The simplest way to model the electronic switch is to
introduce the concept of “ideal” switch. An ideal switch is
ALESINA AND VENTURINI: SOLID-STATE POWER
depending on which port is taken as an input.
Consider now the generation of polyphase input, poly-
phase output switch structures from the connection of
several elementary switches. Series connection of voltage
.fed switches (Fig. l(a’)) and parallel connection of current
fed switches (Fig. l(b’)) are both possible. Furthermore, if
n switches are operated so that
i M j(t)=l
j=l
the connections can be simplified o m itting half of the
switches (dotted in F ig. (la’), (b’)). The simplified connec-
tion of voltage fed switches is especially important, because
several polyphase input, single phase output converters of
this type can be parallel connected, thus generating a
polyphase voltage fed input, polyphase current fed output
switching matrix with m inimum component count. For the
(either simplified or not) series connection of voltage fed
switches:
bCr)= Z ”jCr)’ bjCr> (1’)
i
i.e., the switches allow a summation of the inputs, besides
the basic m o d u lation.
In the most general case, a n-input, p-output switching
matrix is characterized by a p X n m o d u lation matrix
i=l,. . . ,p j= 1;. ‘,n
M(r)={Mij<t)l~
where M ,,(t) is the m o d u lation function of the switch
connecting thejth input with the ith output.
Remark I. Equation (2) means that none of the input
lines is ever shorted, and that the output line is never left
unconnected. This condition must now be extended to
switching matrix operation.
Let 1 be the n (orp; no confusion is possible)-dimensional
vector whose entries are all equal to 1; for the most general (i.e., fd has lim ited bandwidth). (“Smoothness” condition),
n-input, p-output case (2) becomes
M(t)*l=l.
Let now
VO(t)={vOi<t)>~=, lI(t)={l~j(t))ll=l
be the input voltage and output current vectors (impressed),
and the output voltage and input current vectors, respec-
tively. If condition (2’) holds, a general n-input, p-output thus yielding an output waveform, whose spectrum differs
switching matrix is characterized by the equations
W)=Wt)* v,(t)
z,(t)=M(t)T*zo(t)
where the matrix M T is the tran\sposeof M .
Switching Matrix Operation:. Waveform Control
Consider now an hypothetical converter consisting of functions
switches only. Assume that the converter is fed from any
set of sources&(.t), where r;i( 1)‘s are continuous functions
of t. The converter output is representedby
CONVERSlON 321
(2)
F ig. 2. Structure
of a general
n-input,p-outputhigh-frequency
synthesis
converter.
Due to the switches &(t) is, in general, a noncontinuous
function with infinite bandwidth. For this reason, most
converters generate a quasi-squarewave or a staircase like
output waveform. Unfortunately, converters should gener-
ate smooth waveforms, such as dc or sinusoidal waveforms,
for best performance. Therefore, a converter cannot consist
of switches only. Reactive elements are needed to smooth
the waveforms generatedby the switches.
In general, however, reactive elements have a number of
disadvantages,and, in modern circuit design, it is desired
to reduce their use to a m inimum. For this reason, a
general waveform synthesis technique is now described,
which allows very little use of reactive elements.
Consider a single-output converter, which is required to
generate the waveform fd(t) whose Fourier components
f,(w) are such that
for w>wbW
fldb)=o,
If the switches can be operated in such a way that
(2’) Ifo(cd)-&(td)ltC, forwGZ3
where 0 >>wb,,, and Z is arbitrarily small, i.e., the low-
frequency sides of the actual and desired waveform spectra
are similar, then the converter output can be filtered by a
lowpass filter F with bandwidth wF such that
from the desired waveform spectrum by at most Z.
Notice that the filter size, and, therefore, the size of the
converter reactive elements, depends on W . Therefore, if an
appropriate switching law can be found for any value of Z,
then the size of the reactive elements needed in the con-
verter can be reduced at will.
Definition 1. An assigned function fd(t) can be synthe-
sized via high-frequency synthesis from an assigned set of
fr(t)={fIj(t)~~~~
--
if, for each arbitrary pair (c, w), a switching law (i.e., a
 322 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS,VOL.CAS-28,NO.d,APRIL 1981

Ak-l ‘k ‘k+l High-Frequency Synthesis Lemma

I I I I )
I II II II Let 6,~ be a positive, nonnegative number respectively,
and f, g two real valued, piecewise continuous, bounded,
Fig. 3. Segmentation of the time axis into consecutive sequences of
switch closure intervals. periodic functions defined on the nonnegative real .line
[0, + co) such that
modulation function M(t)) can be determined such that
Ijo(w)-fd(w)l<Z, for w<W
where Ak being the interval [(k- l)S, k6); then

The structure of a general high-frequency synthesis con-

verter, complete with its reactive elements, is shown in Fig. .(N(f)+N(g))+z, forlwlG2 (3)
2.
where
II. SWITCHING MATRIXCONTROL
Consider again an n-input line, p-output line switching
N(f)= sup+-~?lf(tjldt: TE[O.+m)).
matrix. Assume that a set of n voltages V,(t) is fed on the 1
input lines, and a set of p desired output waveforms Vd(t)
is assigned. Two problems are to be solved at this stage: Proof: .Let K be a fixed integer number, and let { tk}zc,
1) Determine which conditions over V,(t) and I$( t) be an arbitrary sequence of points such that t, EA, for
must be satisfied in order for high-frequency synthesis to every k. Then,
be applicable;
2) If the above conditions are met, determine at least
one modulation matrix M(t) to synthesize &(t), when the
--
synthesis parameters 6, w are assigned.
The second problem is discussed first.
-‘“‘& me-dk.
Intuitive Approach
Without loss of generality, consider a single-output phase
converter (Fig. l(a’)). Let the converter switches S,, * * *, S,,
be closed in sequence, so that h’,, . . . , At are the time
disjoint intervals in which the switches S,, . . . ,S, are closed
during the k th cycle, with

i A$=Ak, lAkl=8, k=1,2;..

j=l

A,nA,=%, if h#k 5 A,=[O,+co). (Fig. 3)

&=I -(Wfk 1 dt+ 1e -““II-
-e $-fWdt
The unfiltered converter output consists of “chops” of the
input functions V,j( t) packed together. The output Fourier
sfiectrum therefore, depends on the input functions as well -lbP(t)dtl+lb~g(t)l.le-‘Yf-e-~~~~l dt}
as on the intervals Ai. However, the low-frequency compo-
nents

of the output Fourier spectrum do not depend greatly on

the actual variations of the output inside each sequence,
but mainly on the average output value in each sequence. Choose the tk’s to be the m iddle points of the intervals A,;
Therefore, if the time intervals Aik,. . . , Al are adjusted SO then
that, inside each sequence, the output average varies
accordingly to a desired function fd( t) to be synthesized, for t EA,
the filtered converter output approximates the desired out-
put. hence,
A more rigorous basis for the high-frequency .synthesis
1-cos[w(t-t,)]<l-cos( 09); if I,[<$.
technique is provided by the following theorems.
ALESINA AND VENTURINI: SOLID-STATE POWER CONVERSION 323

This yields the inequality

J
a
“g,(t) da j”( fd(t)-
a
sup
j=l;...n
f,(t)) dt&C

for some constant C>O, where

ws “2 gho)=fdwfo,(t)~ for tE[O, +oo)
<n l-cos-
( 2 1 (N(f)+Nd+;.
Let r(t) be a twice continuously differentiable, periodic
As K+ + co, (3) is obtained. function such that
As a consequenceof the high-frequency synthesislemma,
Odr(t)Gl, fortE(-co,+co)
a general condition can be derived for the applicability of
high-frequency synthesis. and
Existence Theorem 1 ifa<-t<b
r(t)= 0:. if -tta-/3 or -t>b+j3, O<-t<r
Consider a set of input functions fi( t) = { fIj( t)}jn_ ,, and i
a function fd(t), all satisfying the initial general assump-
tions. Then fd(t) can be synthesized via high-frequency for some p to be chosen later. Then
synthesis if and only if
gh*r(0)=i/_O gh(-y)dy)dy
j=Ff, nfij(r)4fd(f)b suP fij(r>, for tE[O, +co). 7
> 7 j=l;...n

(4)
Proof of the Sufficient Condition:
Condition (4) ensures that, for every 6>0, a m o d u lation 7 -a
law M(t) can be determined such that the functions
Therefore,
f(t)=fo(t)=M(t).fi(t) and dt)=fd(t)
1 b
satisfy the hypothesis of the lemma with n=O. gh*r(0)a; Jc1gh(y)dy-&C-.$=C’>O (5)
The m u ltiplicative constant N( f ) + N( g) appearing in
(3) can be d o m inated by a constant a, uniformly with for some E, provided p is chosen small enough.
respect to f=fo, due to the uniform boundedness of the Notice that C’ does not depend on h.
finitely many functions fi,( t), . . . , fi,( t ). O n the other hand, gh(t) and r(t) are square integrable
If E,is are the assigned synthesis parameter, let S,, S, be as periodic functions; therefore [3],
such that

To,complete the proof, it is enough to choose w

6=min(6,, 6,).
Proof of the Necessary Condition:
Any output fo(t) =M(t)~f,(t) must consist of chops of However, IIg, II , = (l/r)/,’ I gh(t)l dt can be d o m inated uni-
the input. functions fi,( t ), . . . , fi,( t ) assembled together, formly with respect to h, because the functions fo, are
different chops being taken at disjoint intervals. Therefore, uniformly bounded; moreover, Z,?(w) is convergent, due
to the smoothness assumption on r(t). Therefore, g, * r(0)
j=t?s, nflj(r)~fO(r)~ suP fij(‘>2 tE[O,+w).
1 1 j=l:...n tends to zero as h+ + co, but this contradicts (5) and the
theorem is proved.
(4’)
Let fd(t) be a function not satisfying (for example, the
right-hand side of) inequality (4) on an interval (a, b) III. HIGH-FREQUENCY SYNTHESIS CONVERTER
strictly contained in an interval (0, r), where r is the CHARACTERIZATION AND MODELING
m inimum period common to all the functions involved. In the previous sections switching matrix performance
Suppose high-frequency synthesis of fd(t) by means of and control have been discussed. In this section the con-
the functions fij(t) is possible, and choose two monotone verter is completed with its filters, and the relationships
sequencesof real numbers {E,,}, {wh} such that between switching matrix control and overall circuit per-
Ch+O, Wh++CO, Ok,, +O, ash++co. formance are analyzed.
Then, for each h, an output function fo,(t) exists, such that Intuitive Approach
I'&tw)-id(w)l'ch~ for (o(<wh W ithout loss of generality, consider a single-input,
and single-output converter first (Fig. 4(a)). Let the filters be
 324 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS,VOL.CAS-28,NO. 4,APRIL 1981

;_______-____________--------~-------
~ then for every pair (E, W), 6 can be chosen such that
Ifo(w)-fA(w)p, w<zj. (6)
mTk Proof:
L_____-----_____-------------------
J
(4
mfrl
n x *

. .
Fig. 4. Monophase input, monophase output high-frequency synthesis
converter and its model.

perfect, their notch frequency being wF. Let the switch be

operated at constant high frequency and slowly variable
pulsewidth. Let the pulsewidth 1A; 1vary accordingly to the
law:
P;I=mh)IAA
for some t, EA, and some continuous function m(t), such
that
+ 8x~f,(xk)llm(f)-m(xk)l d+L,,b
/
O<m(t)< 1
where both m(t) and the converter input do not vary &(2L, +D*L,)
appreciably during each switching cycle. where
In these conditions, the average value of the output in D={suplf,(t)l: tE[O,+cc)}.
each cycle, and therefore the converter filtered output, can
be approximated by The high-frequency synthesis lemma applied to the func-
tions to(t) and fA( t) yields
f,W=4M~).
This intuitive result is confirmed by the’following theorem.
Modeling Theorem for some constants (Y’and y, and hence (6), if 6 is suitably
Let m be a Lipschitz periodic function, chosen.
As a consequence of the above theorem, in high-
m: [0,-l-oe)+[O,l]
frequency synthesis converters, the switches, completed
with Lipschitz constant L,, i.e., with their filters, can be modeled as linear modulators (Fig.
O<m(t)< 1 4(b)). The function m(f), analogous to the switch modula-
tion function M(t), is here referred to as the low-frequency
and modulation function of the switch. Practically a low-
Im(t,)-m(t2)l<Lmlf, -t,l, for 1, t,, 1, ER+. frequency modulation function is a continuous, finite
bandwidth function of time, whose values are nonnegative
Let fr be a bounded, periodic, Lipschitz function with and not greater than one.
Lipschitz constant L,. Let If the more general n-input, p-output converter is consid-
&K=, bdkm,, ered, its operation can be modeled by a p X n low-frequency
modulation matrix m(t) (Fig. 5), whose entries are the
be sequences, of intervals and points, respectively, such
low-frequency modulation functions of the switches. Con-
that
dition (2’) becomes now
xk EAk
h; CA, m(t)*l=l. (2”)
for every k. Practically a low-frequency modulation matrix m(t) is then
IA;i=m(xk)lAkl,
a matrix of continuous, finite bandwidth functions of time,
If&(t) and fA( t) are defined as such that (2”) holds, and
fo(~)=~whw and f,(t)=m(t)fi(f) O<mij(t)~G 1, i=l,-. . ,p; j=l;..,n.
where Remark 2: So far, only voltage-fed input, current-fed
output switching matrices have been considered. This oper-
M(t)= 2 Xn;
k=l ating condition is seldom found in practice. However,
ALESINA AND VENTURINI: SOLID-STATE POWER CONVERSION 325

91 I Low-Frequency Modulation Matrix Determination:

‘1
x x ., x
In general, the low-frequency m o d u lation matrix must
x x- x satisfy the following system of 2p+n linear equations in
n .p variables:
x x x
@E vo(t)=mW* v,(t) (7)
mpn ‘P to supply the desired output voltage
x x ,.,-x
zf(t)=m(t)T-zo(t) (8)
to supply the desired input current
t-7.. ...t.
“1 “” m(t).l=l (9)
Fig. 5. The general model bf an n-input, p-output high-frequency which is condition (2”).
synthesis converter.
System Discussion:
proper converter operation requires that If the vector Q(t) is not proportional to the vector 1, (7)
and (9) provide two independent conditions on every row
1 >>w>w F’ of the matrix m(t), while (8) provides one condition on
6
every column of m(t). Notice that the entries of m(t) are
Consequently, the converter filters allow very little varia- the variables of the linear system (7), (8), and (9). There-
tion of the input voltage and output current inside each fore the rank of the matrix of the coefficients of this system
switching sequence. In other words, the filters behave as is
low and high impedance input and output sources, respec- R=np-(n-2)( p- l)=n+2p-2.
tively. Therefore, the converter, when completed with its
filters, is not restricted to operate from any specific set of Henceforth, to solve the system (7) (8) (9),
sources. 2p+n-R=2
Remark 3: According to (3) W , and consequently wF, conditions over the input and output voltages and currents
can be increased by reducing 6, i.e., increasing the switch- must be satisfied. These solvability conditions are
ing frequency. The size of the reactive elements in the
filters depends on wF. Therefore, due to the high switching z,(t)‘- vo(t)=zr(t)‘* v,(t) (10)
frequency which can be achieved with present device tech-
Zo(t)‘4=Zr(t)‘4 (11)
nology, the reactive elements needed in this type of con-
verters are small, and their size tends to shrink with i.e., at any tim e t, the input power must equal the output
solid-state device technology improvements.. power, and the sum of the input currents must equal the
sum of the output currents (Kirchoff current law).
IV. HIGH-FREQUENCY CONVERTER SYNTHESIS: AN These conditions can be directly derived from (7), (8)
APPLICATION and (9) as follows:
As a consequence of the concepts introduced in the ZT- V, =ZJ-rn- V, =I:* V, (using (8) and (7))
previous sections, a general method for high-frequency
synthesis converter design can be now outlined. As an and
application of this method, the general and challenging Z~.l=Z~.m.l
problem of frequency, a m p litude, phase and power factor
transformation between three phase systemswill be consid- =(m’-Zo)T-l=ZIT~l (using (9) and (8)).
ered.
Converter Design Three-Phase-to-Three-Phase Converter

The converter design procedure can be divided into two The three-phaseinput, three-phaseoutput converter de-
steps. F irst, the appropriate low-frequency m o d u lation ma- sign is now discussed. A lim ited version of this converter
trix is determined from the desired converter characteris- has already been described in [12] from a circuit-oriented
tics. The elementsof the matrix represent the duty cycles of point of view.
the corresponding switches in the converter. The generalized converter design problem can be stated
Secondly, depending on the switching losses of the ac- as follows. G iven a set of input sinusoidal voltages at input
tual devices, the required waveform accuracy and the de- frequency:
sired total efficiency, the switching carrier frequency and [ v,, =vlcos( LoIf)
filter notch frequency are chosen, and the actual switch
m o d u lation matrix is determined. VI2=v,cos( o,t+ $r)
In this paper this second phase of the design is not
emphasized. For the three-phase-to-three-phaseconverter, VI, =v,cos( w,t+ $7r)
a wider discussion on the actual switching frequency and I
filter sizing can be found in [ 121. and a set of output sinusoidal currents at output frequency:
326 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON CIRCUITS AND SYSJXMS,VOL. CAS-28,~0.4, APRIL 1981

determine a control law for the switches S, ,, S,,, . . . , S,, so

that the low-frequency parts of the synthesized output
voltages VoI, Vo2, Vo3, and input currents Z1,, Z12,Z,3 are
sinusoidal with the prescribed output frequency, input
frequency, phase, and amplitude, respectively.
Let the desired input currents and output voltages be
z,, =c,cos(w,t+qJ~) Converter Realization
From the low-frequency modulation matrix (12), a prac-
I tical three-phase-to-three-phase converter can be realized.
II”=c,cos(
w,t+$+d+) Let the switches connected to each output phase be closed
in sequence with carrier frequency:
v,,=v,cos(
wet) F8=f>$$

I v,,=o,cos(
w,r+$7) If, inside each cycle, the closure times of the switches are
assembled sequentially and the switches are operated such
1 v,, =vocos( w,t+ $). that, for example,
According to the existence theorem, the output voltage lAi~l=mij(k.6)*6
and input current high-frequency synthesis are possible, in where
this case, only if
Vo<-
VI and c,<-. CO S=lAikl foreveryi,kandA’,= i Aii (13)
2 2 j=l
Furthermore, condition (10) requires that then, according to the modeling theorem, the converter can
be made to synthesize the desired waveform with arbitrary
00 _ CI cos +I
-_-. accuracy, just varying the carrier frequency F.
VI co cos+, .
From a practical standpoint, the converter bidirectional
while condition (11) is trivially verified for any balanced switches can consist of power transistors connected across
polyphase system. diode bridges, or of antiparallel, forced-commutation SCR’s
Within these lim itations, the system of equations (7), (8), or possibly, in the future, of bidirectional, power FET’s.
.and (9) can be solved. A possible solution of the system is The drive circuitry, in turn, must provide command pulses
the following generalized transformer low-frequency modu- to the switches according to (13). This can be accomplished
lation matrix m(t):

I
1+2qCs(o) 1+2qcs -f77 1+2qcs -$r
( 1 ( 1
&I 1+2qcs -$ 1<2qcs(o) 1+2qcs ( -577
( 1 1
1+2qcs -$ 1+2qcs -+r 1+2qCs(O)
( ) ( 1 (12)
1+2qCA(O)

1+2qCA(O)

1+2qCA(O)

where
CS(x)=cos[w,t+x]
six sinusoidal functions which are needed in (12) can be
CA(x)=cos[-(w,+2w,)t+x] separately synthesized by locked oscillators; such functions
ALESINA AND VENTURINI: SOLID-STATE POWER CONVERSION 321

Fig. I. “Generalized Transformer” block diagram. (a) Algorithm CPU.

(b) Decoupling and interface. (c) Power switch matrix. (d) Input filter
and protection. (e) Output filter (optional). (f) Power supply.

(4
Converter Model
W h e n completed with its filters, the converter can be
m o d e led as a two-port time-varying linear circuit element,
characterized by the hybrid relations:

v,(t)=dt>- v,(t)

rI(t)=m(t)T* v,(t).

However, for sinusoidal waveforms, and balanced three

phase systems, these relations can be greatly simplified:
v* =q-V[

CI =c*.q (a: +a: +2a, .n,.cos(2+J)“*

(b) *0 =Lq+wM

+I=tan-‘(cr, -a2).tan(+o). (14)

(4
Fig. 6. Output voltage waveforms of the first prototype of generalized
transformer (filtered). (a) Frequency sweep from - 5 Hz, through dc, to
-5 Hz with phase sequence inversion. (b) Step change in output
frequency. (c) Step change in output frequency with phase sequence
inversion.
are then converted into tim e intervals by means of ring
connected sequential timers. Such a machine has been
actually built and tested. Further details on practical con-
verter realization and applications can be found in [12],
while some typical converter waveforms are shown in F ig.
6. A typical converter block diagram is representedin F ig.
7.
The type of converter described,so far is characterized
by sinusoidal waveforms, bidirectionality, independent
control over frequency, a m p litude, and phase transforma-
tion.
In particular, input and output power factors are sep-
arately controllable, up to a complete inversion of the
phase displacement between input and output. The con-
verter is thus capable of reactive power generation.
For these reasons the denomination of “generalized
transformer” is proposed.
Notice that, if the input frequency is set to zero, the
converter degeneratesinto a Shonung and Stammler in-
verter [7]. If both input and output frequencies are set to
zero, the converter degeneratesinto a chopper.
Notice also that the converter, complete with its filters, is
totally bidirectional: therefore, if input and output ports
are reversed, it can step up the input voltage. In this
respect, the converter can be considered a “generalized”
three-phase boost converter with three chokes (the input
filter) and three capacitors (the output filter).
Remark 4: As already mentioned, the converter, when
complete with its filters, is completely described by (12),
(13), and is, therefore, not restricted to operate from any
specific set of sources. The source impedance as seen
through the converter is changed according to the trans-
328 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS, VOL. CAS-28, NO. 4, APRIL 1981

NEW FREQUENCY CONVER,TER SIMULATION

INPUT FREO.’ 50.0 HZ OUTPUT FREO.- 30.0 HZ MODE- -I OUTPUT CURRENT
OUT AHPL.- 0.45 CARRIER FREO.- 650 HZ OUT PHASE LAG-l.00 + INPUT VOLTAGE

TIME IN SEC *lo-’

Fig. 8. Digital simulations of the generalized transformer. The time
integrals of the actual waveforms are plotted. t =Input voltage; Mode

NEW FREQUENCY CONVERTER SIMULATION

INPUT FREO.= 50.0 HZ OUTPUT FREO.’ 30.0 HZ tiOOE= 0.00 OUTPUT CURRENT
OUT AMPL.’ 0.45 CARRIER FREO.- 2500 HZ OUT PHASE LAG=I.OO + INPUT VOLTAGE

TIME IN SEC
Fig. 9. Digital simulations of the geb generalized transformer. The time
integrals of the actual waveforms are plotted. + =Input voltage; Mode
=a,.

former like relations: ble. The converter operation has been thoroughly simu-
lated on a digital computer, as well as experimentally
~zo~=~z~~.q~.(ar~+a~+2n,~2~os(2~o))1’2 tested. Some digital computer simulations of frequency
conversion on a reactive load, with different (Y,,(Y*, and,
LZ,=tan-‘(a,-a,).tan(LZ,) therefore, different input phase displacements, are shown
easily derived from (14). Notice that, unlike the standard in Figs. 8- 11. A typical converter output voltage spectrum
transformer, impedance phase transformations are possi- (unfiltered) is shown in Fig. 12.
ALESINA AND VENTURINI: SOLID-STATE POWER CONVERSION 329

.NEW FREQUENCY CONVERTER SIMULATION

INPUT FREO.- 50.0 HZ OUTPUT FREO.* 30.0 HZ MODE- 0.50 OUTPUT CURRENT
OUT AMPL.- 0.45 CARRIER FREO.- 2500 HZ OUT PHASE LAG-l.00 + INPUT VOLTAGE

TIME IN SEC *lo-’

Fig. 10. Digital simulations of the generalized transformer. The time
integrals of the actual waveforms are plotted. + =Input voltage; Mode
=a,.

NEW FREQUENCY CONVERTER SIMULATION

INPUT FREO.= 50.0 HZ OUTPUT FREO.- 30.0 HZ MODE- 0.75 OUTPUT CURRENT
OUT AMPL.- 0.45 CARRIER FREO.- 2500 HZ OUT PHASE LAG-l.00 + INPUT’ VOLTAGE

TIME IN SEC l I o-’

Fig. I I. Di ital simulations of the generalized transtormer. The time

integrals o P the actual waveforms are plotted. + =Input voltage; Mode
=a,.

Some of the most interesting applications of the new
converter may be:
1) AC variable speed induction motor drive, with regen-
erative braking capability, and unity or capacitive input
power factor.
2) Line synchronization of variable shaft speed induc-
tion generators, for small power generation plants, with
controllable reactive currents.
3) Uninterruptable power supplies, where the converter
acts as a battery charger and as an inverter, without
discontinuity in the operation, and without any trans-
former.
4) Static reactive power generation, without the use of
large reactive elements.
330
N
,,
660
Frequency, HZ
Fig. 12. Normalized Fourier spectrum of the generalized transformer
switching matrix (unfiltered). Input frequency: 50 Hz; Carrier
frequency: 650 Hz; q=O.45; a, = 1.
Remark 5: For motoring and generating applications,
the output filters can be usually omitted, due to the induc-
tive nature of the load.
V. CONCLUSION
In this paper, a wide family of solid-state power con-
verters has been considered. These converters can syn-
thesize an assigned slow-varying waveform by means of
high-frequency switching, with little use of reactive ele-
ments.
A condition for the applicability of this method to a
general case has been introduced. When this condition is
met, a method is proposed which allows straightforward
converter design from the desired specifications.
In the second part of this paper, switching matrix con-
trol and converter behavior have been related introducing
the concept of low-frequency modulation matrix. The low-
frequency modulation matrix m(t), whose entries are the
duty cycles of the switches, has been shown to characterize
the converter electric behavior via the hybrid relations
GW=mW v,(t)
I,(t)=m(t)‘~I,(t).
Finally, as an application example, a new ac-ac con-
verter is introduced in the last section of the paper. The
new converter can be considered a generalized “buck” or
“boost” converter: it can reduce or increase the voltage,
vary frequency, amplitude, phase and power factor from
input to output. The converter is characterized by sinusoidal
waveforms, and it is capable of reactive power generation.
For these reasons the denomination of “generalized trans-
former” has been proposed.
REFERENCES
[I] B. D. Bedford and R. G. Hoft, Principles of Inuerter Circuits.
York: Wiley, 1964.
[2] L. Gjugyi and B. Pelly, Static Power Frequency Changers.
York: Wiley, 1976.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS, VOL. CAS-28, NO. 4, APRIL 1981
[31 Y. Katznelson, An Introduction to Harmonic Analysis. New York,
Wilev. 1968
[41 A. Papoulis, The Fourier Iniegral and its Applications. New York:
McGraw-Hill, 1962.
[51 P. Wood, “General theory of switching power supplies,” in Proc. of
P. E.S.C., (San Diego, CA), 1979.
PI B. R. Pelly, Thyristor Phase-Controlled Converters and Cycloin-
verters. New York: Wiley, 1971.
171 A. Shonung and H. Stammler, “Static frequency changers with
subharmonic control in conjunction with reversible variable speed
AC drives,” Brown Boveri Rev., vol. 51, no. 8-9, -- nn. 555-577.
Aug.-Sept. 1964.
181 J. Zubek. A. Abbondanti. and C. J. Norbv. “Pulsewidth modulated
inverter ‘motor drives with improved modulation,” IEEE Trans.
Ind. Appl., vol. IA-1 1, no. 6, pp. 695-703, Nov.-Dee. 1975.
[91 H. S. Pate1 and R. G. Hoft, “Generalized techniques of harmonic
elimination and voltage control in thyristors inverters; Part I-
Harmonic Elimination,” IEEE Trans Ind. Appl., vol. IA-IO, pp.
800 loco 1200 666-673, Sept.-Oct. 1974.
1101 H. Nayak and R. G. Hoft, “Optimizing the PWM waveform of a
thvristor inverter,” IEEE Trans. Ind. Aool..
__ vol. IA-1 1, _-
pn. 526-530,
Sept.-Oct. 1975.
[I I] G. W. Wester and R. D. Middlebrook. “Low freauencv characteri-
zation of switching DC-DC converters,” IEE.k T&s. Aerosp.
Electron. Syst., vol. AES-9, pp. 376-385, May 1973.
[I21 M. Venturini, “A new sme wave in, sine wave out, conversion
technique eliminates reactive elements,” in Proc. Powercon 7, pp.
E3-l-E-15 (San Diego, CA), 1980.
113] M. Ventmini, “Convertitore diretto AC-AC di elevata potenza,”
Italian Patent 20777a-79, Mar. 6, 1979.
+
Albert0 Alesina was born in Cannero, 8, Italy, on
July 9, 1949. He received the Doctor’s degree in
mathematics from the University of Milan, Italy,
in 1972.
He has been with the same University as Re-
search Associate and lecturer of calculus until
1980. He is now with the University of Sassari,
Sardinia, Italy. He visited the Mathematics De-
partment, University of California, Berkeley,
from October 1976 to September 1978. His areas
of interest are generalized Fourier analysis and
abstract harmonic analysis. ,
Dr. Alesina is a member of the Unione Matematica Italiana and the
American Mathematical Society.
+
Marco G. B. Venturini was born in Genoa, Italy,
in July 1954. He received the Doctor’s degree in
nuclear engineering, with Honours, from the
Politechnic of Milan in 1977.
After a first visit to the Department of Electric
Engineering and Computer Science of the Uni-
versity of California in 1976, he alternated his
professional activity with research activity as
Visiting Research Engineer in the same Univer-
sity in the years 1977- 1979. He is presently with
Texas Instruments, where he is responsible for
coordinating the development of novel power systems. His fields of
interest are computer aided design, power electronics conversion, high
New performance drive systems, magnetic levitation. He holds numerous
patents in the power conversion and motor design fields.
New Dr. Venturini is a Registered Professional Engineer of Italy and is a
member of IAS.