Electrical Motor Drive Apparatus and Method

This invention discloses an electrical motor drive topology that can significantly reduce the inverter dc bus ripple currents and thus the requirement of the dc bus capacitance. This leads to a substantial reduction in the cost and volume of the inverter. Further, it enables the inverter to cost-effectively operate in elevated temperature environments such as the engine compartment in a hybrid electric vehicle. The disclosed inverter drive system offers the following advantages: 1) substantially reduce the bus capacitance and thus inverter volume and cost, 2) reduce battery losses and improve battery operating conditions by eliminating battery ripple current, 3) significantly reduce the motor torque ripples or reduce switching losses, 4) increase inverter reliability, and 5) enable inverters for high temperature operation.

---

---