Variable Frequency Average Current Mode Control for ZVS Symmetrical Dual-Buck H-Bridge All-GaN Inverter

The quasi-square-wave (QSW) zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) symmetrical dual-buck H-bridge (DBHB) all-GaN inverter has been proven to have high efficiency and high density in Google's Little Box Challenge. This variable frequency QSW ZVS inverter is drawing more and more interest in the industry and academia. However, the ac current control with cycle-by-cycle variable frequency ZVS operation is a basic challenge for this inverter. The conventional control methods for this QSW ZVS inverter, such as the hysteresis current mode control and the variable on-time control, require high-speed current sensing or zero-crossing detection (ZCD) circuits, which are very sensitive to noises. In this article, achieving variable frequency average current mode control with variable frequency pulsewidth modulation (VFPWM) is discussed and implemented for this QSW ZVS inverter to eliminate high-speed current sensing or ZCD circuits. For any synchronous half-bridge type converter, the voltage conversion ratio is dependent only on the duty-cycle in either continuous conduction mode (CCM) or QSW ZVS mode. The frequency of the PWM triangular carrier is another degree of freedom. In this control method, the averaged inductor current is sensed and regulated by the average current mode feedback controller and the duty-cycle is generated by the average current controller. The frequency of the PWM carrier is variable and directly calculated based on the duty-cycle signal and the sensed and filtered voltage and current signals. Since all the sensed signals for this current controller are low speed and filtered signals, this current control is highly immune to noises. The reliability of ZVS for this inverter is improved. The complexity of the controller is also reduced. A detailed analysis of the QSW ZVS conditions for the full range operation of the symmetrical DBHB inverter is done in this article. More negative currents can be introduced to reduce the switching frequency and increase the reliability of ZVS. A frequency limiter helps limit the frequency when the current is close to zero or under light load conditions. A frequency updating method with a constant and low interrupt frequency in a digital controller is also discussed. Finally, to verify this control method, a 1-kW all-GaN DBHB inverter prototype is developed and tested in this article.