SIGNAL CONVERTER FOR GENERATING SWITCH DRIVE SIGNALS FOR A MULTI-LEVEL CONVERTER, DRIVE CIRCUIT, PULSE-WIDTH-MODULATION SIGNAL GENERATOR, MULTI-LEVEL CONVERTER, METHODS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM

摘要

A signal converter for generating switch drive signals for a multi-level converter comprises an input for a first pulse-width-modulation signal and a second pulse-width-modulation signal and an input for a polarity signal indicating a first polarity or a second polarity. The signal converter comprises four outputs for four switch drive signals for driving four switches of the multi-level converter. Also, the signal converter comprises a logic circuit for driving the switch drive signals in dependence on the polarity signal. The logic is configured to drive the switch drive signals in dependence on the polarity signal. The logic is configured such that, in the presence of the first polarity, the logic is operational to set the first switch drive signal according to one of the pulse-width-modulation input signals, to set the third switch drive signal according to another of the pulse width modulation input signals, to set the second switch drive signal to a given signal level indicating a closed state of the second switch and to set the fourth switch drive signal to a given signal level indicating an opened state of the fourth switch. The logic is configured such that, in the presence of the second polarity, the logic is operational to set the second switch drive signal according to one of the pulse-width-modulation input signals, to set the fourth switch drive signal according to another of the pulse-width-modulation input signals, to set the first switch drive signal to a given signal level indicating an opened state of the first switch, and to set the third switch drive signal to a given signal level indicating a closed state of the third switch.