A MODULATION STRATEGY TO REDUCE COMMON-MODE VOLTAGE FOR

CURRENT-CONTROLLED MATRIX CONVERTERS

Lin Hua

He Bi, Zhang Xiaofeng

College of Electric and Electronic Engineering

Huazhong University of Science and Technology
1037#, Luoyu load, Wuhan 430074
CHINA

College of Electric Engineering

Naval University of Engineering
717#, Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430033
CHINA

Lhua@mail.hust.edu.cn

9744103@163.com

Abstract In this paper, a basic hysteresis control strategy for

current-controlled matrix converter (MC) is introduced and
discussed. Based on the rectifier-inverter equivalent circuit, a
novel primary modulation strategy for improving the input
current quality of MC is presented. That is, space vector
modulation is used for control input current, and hysteresis
current strategy with zero vectors is used for control output
current. Furthermore, an optimal modulation strategy that
reduces common-mode voltage at the output is proposed. This
optimal strategy maintains subdivision of 6 input current
sectors and proper selection of zero vectors and switching
sequences. Therefore, by using this optimal strategy, peak value
of common-mode voltage is reduced by 33.3% and RMS value is
reduced by over 50% compared to the unoptimizable
modulation strategy. Finally, simulation and experimental
results are provided to verify the validity and feasibility of
modulation strategy proposed in this paper.

I. INTRODUCTION
The matrix converter was first introduced by Venturini [1].
It has evolved into a direct ac-ac converter which converts
the ac line voltage to a variable-voltage variable-frequency
source without an intermediate DC-link circuit and has the
following advantages: sinusoidal input and output
waveforms; bidirectional power flow; controllable input
power factor; high reliability; and more compact design.
The common-mode voltage produced by a modern power
converter has been reported as a main source of early motor
winding failure and bearing deterioration. Furthermore, the
presence of high frequency and large magnitude of commonmode voltage at the motor neutral point have been shown to
generate high frequency leakage current to ground path as
well as induced shaft voltage [2]. Although, several methods
to reduce common-mode voltage have been proposed in
[3][4], these methods are based on voltage-controlled matrix
converter system. The research on common-mode voltage for
current-controlled matrix converter has not been reported in
published documents.
In this paper, a basic hysteresis control strategy for
current-controlled matrix converter (MC) is introduced and
discussed. In order to improve the input current quality, a
novel primary modulation strategy is proposed. That is, space
vector modulation is used for control input current, and
hysteresis current strategy with zero vectors is used for
control output current. Furthermore, an optimal modulation
strategy to reduce common-mode voltage at the output is

proposed. The advantages of the optimal modulation strategy

are as follows.
1) Peak value of common-mode voltage is reduced by
33.3% and rms value is reduced by over 50%.
2) It reduces the switching loss compared to the primary
current-controlled modulation
II. COMMON-MODE VOLTAGE IN MATRIX
CONVERTER
Fig. 1 shows a matrix converter with nine bidirectional
switches. The voltage and current at the input side of the
converter is noted by a, b, c while the output side is denoted
by A, B, C, and common-mode voltage ucm indicates the
potential between the motor neutral point and ground. The
presence of common-mode voltage contributes to highfrequency leakage current icm generation. The common-mode
voltage ucm is derived as follows:

diA
dt
diB
= riB + L
dt
di
= riC + L C
dt

u A ucm = riA + L
uB ucm
uC ucm

(1)

Where, uA, uB, uC are output phase voltage with respect to

ground. r and L are per-phase equivalent resistance and
inductance of the induction motor respectively. Assuming
iA+ iB+iC 0 , then from equation (1)

a
b
c

SaA

S aB

SaC

SbA

SbB

SbC

ScA

S cB

ScC

A
ZL

ucm Common-mode Voltage

icm

Motor

Leakage Current

Fig. 1 Common-mode voltage circuit of MC

1-4244-0136-4/06/$20.00 '2006 IEEE

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ucm =

u A + u B + uC
3

(2)

The output phases of MC are directly connected to the

input phases via switching matrix. There are 27 allowed
switching state combinations, such as acb, acc, bbb. The
three letters are described as the connection state of input
phase and output phase. For example, switching state acc is
represented as turning on SaA, ScB and ScC. The output voltage
vectors based on 27 allowed switching state combinations
can be classified into rotating vectors, stationary vectors and
zero vectors [5]. When every output phase is connected to
different input phase, the rotating vector is obtained, such as
acb. When two of output phase are connected to the same
input phase, the stationary vector is obtained, such as abb.
When three of output phase are connected to the same input
phase, the zero vector is obtained, such as bbb.
Three kinds of voltage vectors generate different commonmode voltages magnitude.
Assuming that the magnitude of input phase voltage is Um,
then from equation (2), the magnitude of common-mode
voltage generated by the rotating vectors is expressed as
follows.

ucm =

ua + ub + uc
=0
3

(3)

The magnitude of common-mode voltage generated by the

stationary vectors is

ucm =

ui + ui + u j
3

1
3
uij
Um
3
3

reach its maximum, and the control strategy of hysteresis

current is used in the imaginary inverter to track command
current [6]. Each period of input voltage can be divided into
6 sections according to the phase-controlled mode. Fig. 3
shows the sections of input voltage.
Assuming the upper limit and the lower limit of output
current are expressed as subscript of up and low
respectively, the error range of hysteresis current of phase A
is shown in Fig. 4. The control strategies of hysteresis output
current are:

1 If iA > 0 and iA > iAup, or iA < 0 and iA < iAlow, then turn
on SAn;

2 If iA > 0 and iA < iAup, or iA < 0 and iA > iAlow, then turn
on SAp;

3 If iB > 0 and iB > iBup, or iB < 0 and iB < iBlow, then turn
on SBn;

4 If iB > 0 and iB < iBup, or iB < 0 and iB > iBlow, then turn
on SBp;

5 If iC > 0 and iC > iCup, or iC < 0 and iC < iClow, then turn
on SCn;

6 If iC > 0 and iC < iCup, or iC < 0 and iC > iClow, then turn
on SCp;
Then the switching rules of hysteresis current control for
MC can be obtained which is shown in Table I, according to
combination of above error range of hysteresis current and
input voltage sections. The combination method is mentioned
in [6][7].

ua

(4)

ub

uc

(i j i, j = a, b, c )
The magnitude of common-mode voltage generated by the
zero vectors is

ucm =

ui + ui + ui
= ui U m
3

(i = a, b, c) (5)

Fig. 3 Input voltage sections

i Aup

III. A NOVEL PRIMARY CURRENT CONTROL

STRATEGIES
i Alow

A. Basic Control Strategy of Hysteresis Current

irefA

The MC is modelled as an imaginary rectifier and an

imaginary inverter as shown in Fig. 2. The two parts are
connected via an imaginary DC-link.
As basic control, phase-controlled mode is adopted in the
imaginary rectifier to make the voltage of imaginary DC-link
S aB

S aC

S ap Sbp Scp

b
SbA

SbB

SbC

ScA

ScB

ScC

I p p S Ap SBp

Fig.4 Error range of hysteresis current

SCp

I-1
I-2
I-3
I-4
I-5
I-6

A
B

b
c

c
A

TABLE I
THE SWITCHING RULES OF HYSTERESIS CURRENT CONTROL FOR MC

a
S aA

iA

C
S an Sbn S cn

S An S Bn S Cn

Fig.2 Fundamental circuit and equivalent circuit of MC

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1
4
6

1
3
6

2
3
6

2
3
5

2
4
5

1
4
5

U-1

U-2

U-3

U-4

U-5

U-6

caa
cca
aca
acc
aac
cac

cbb
ccb
bcb
bcc
bbc
cbc

abb
aab
bab
baa
bba
aba

acc
aac
cac
caa
cca
aca

bcc
bbc
cbc
cbb
ccb
bcb

baa
bba
aba
abb
aab
bab

u AB

ia

The basic control strategy of hysteresis current is studied

by computer simulation. A fixed step Ts is selected in
simulation. The simulation waveform of input current ia and
output voltage UAB are shown in Fig. 5. Apparently, the input
current is non-sine wave and has plenty of harmonic
components. In each cycle, the magnitude of input current is
zero during the two periods, and the input current is high
frequency oscillatory from positive magnitude to negative
during the other part of the cycle.
Because phase-controlled mode is adopted in the
imaginary rectifier, one phase input current always equals to
zero during two input voltage sections, which can be
explained. What reason causes high frequency oscillation in
the other time?
Suppose the section of input voltage is unchanged,
according to hysteresis current control strategy, when the
output current exceeds a prescribed upper limit band, the
upper switching in imaginary inverter is turned off and the
lower switching is turned on. As a result, the output line
voltage transitions from positive value to negative value, and
the output current starts to decay, therefore, the polarity of
input current changes. As the output current crosses the
lower band limit, the lower switching is turned off and the
upper switching is turned on, the polarity of input current
changes again.

u AB

ia

Fig. 5 Simulation waveform of input current and output voltage using

basic control Strategy of Hysteresis Current

Fig. 6 Simulation waveform of input current and output voltage using

control Strategy of Hysteresis Current with zero vectors
Ib

B. Control Strategy of Hysteresis Current With Zero Vectors

I 2 (bc)

I 3 (ba )

It is obvious that the high frequency oscillation of input

current will occur inevitably, if only 18 stationary vectors are
used to decrease the absolute value of output currents. Then,
zero vectors are adopted to solve this problem. When zero
vectors are used, the absolute value of output currents
decreases, and the input currents equal to zero. The control
strategy of hysteresis current with zero vectors can be
summarized as follows:
1) When the output current exceeds upper limit band, zero
vectors are used;
2) When the output current is between the upper band and
lower band or crosses the lower band limit, 18 stationary
vectors are used. Switching states of MC are selected based
on Table I;
Simulation results show that the input current waveform is
improved by using zero vectors, which is shown in Fig. 6.
C. Control Strategy of Hysteresis Current With Input Current
Vector Control
When phase-controlled mode is adopted in the imaginary
rectifier, the input currents equal to zero during two input
voltage sections. Vector control strategy of imaginary
rectifier can be used to improve further the quality of input
current. The input current vector hexagon and synthetic input
current vector are shown in Fig. 7.
PWM is used to obtain uniform rotational current vector Ii
by impressing the adjacent vector IM and IN with the duty
cycles dM, dN and d0 which is expressed as:

IN

Ii

I1 (ac )
Ia

I 4 (ca)

I 6 ( ab)
Ic

IM

dN IN

dM IM

I 5 (cb)

(a) Input current hexagon

(b) Synthetic input current vector
Fig. 7 Space vector modulation of input current vector

Ii = d M I M + d N I N + d0 I 0
d M = TM / Ts = mi sin(60 i )
d N = TN / Ts = mi sin i

(6)

d 0 = T0 / Ts = 1 d M d N
Where, mi is the input current modulation index.
The novel primary control strategy is proposed, that is,
space vector control modulation is used for control input
current, and hysteresis current control with zero vectors is
used for control output current. The combinatorial switching
rules of novel current control strategy are shown in Table II.
The control strategy of hysteresis current with input current
vector control can be summarized as follows:
1) When the output current exceeds upper limit band, the
whole switching state will choose zero vectors;
2) When the output current is between the upper band and
lower band or crosses the lower band limit, switching states
of MC are selected based on Table II;
Simulation and experimental waveform of current and
voltage by using the novel current control strategy is shown
in Fig. 8. Apparently, the input current quality is further
improved.

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TABLE II
SWITCHING RULES OF N OVEL CURRENT CONTROL STRATEGY
Rectifier II
Rectifier III
Rectifier IV

Rectifier I
Sectioms

dM

dN

d0

dM

dN

d0

dM

dN

d0

dM

dN

Inverter 1

abb

acc

ccc

acc

bcc

ccc

bcc

baa

aaa

baa

caa

Inverter 2

aab

aac

aaa

aac

bbc

bbb

bbc

bba

bbb

bba

cca

Inverter 3

bab

cac

ccc

cac

cbc

ccc

cbc

aba

aaa

aba

aca

d0

Rectifier V

Rectifier VI

dM

dN

d0

dM

dN

d0

aaa

caa

cbb

bbb

cbb

abb

bbb

ccc

cca

ccb

ccc

ccb

aab

aaa

aaa

aca

bcb

bbb

bcb

bab

bbb

Inverter 4

baa

caa

aaa

caa

cbb

bbb

cbb

abb

bbb

abb

acc

ccc

acc

bcc

ccc

bcc

baa

aaa

Inverter 5

bba

cca

ccc

cca

ccb

ccc

ccb

aab

aaa

aab

aac

aaa

aac

bbc

bbb

bbc

bba

bbb

Inverter 6

aba

aca

aaa

aca

bcb

bbb

bcb

bab

bbb

bab

cac

ccc

cac

cbc

ccc

cbc

aba

aaa

ia

ua

uc
t

u AB

ub

(a) Selection of zero vectors according to Table.II

(c)

Simulation waveform

ua

uc
t

uBC

ua

u AC

ub

ia

(b) Selection of zero vectors to reduce common-mode voltage

Fig.9 Selection of zero vectors

(d)

Experimental waveform (without input filter)

zero vector, when 0<i</6; and bbb is selected as zero

vector, when /6<i</3.

Fig.8 Simulation and experimental waveform using novel primary

current control strategy

B. Adjustment of Switching Sequence

IV. A OPTIMAL CONTROL STRATEGIES TO REDUCE
COMMON-MODE VOLTAGE
A. Selection of Zero Vectors
According to the equation (3)(5), the magnitude range of
common-mode voltage ucm generated by stationary vectors is
(00.577)Um, and range of ucm generated by zero vectors is
(01)Um. Therefore, by using zero vectors, the magnitude
range of common-mode voltage may be higher compared
with the basic modulation strategy. Since the matrix
converter is able to use three different kinds of zero vectors
such as aaa, bbb, ccc, a proper selection of zero will decrease
the magnitude of ucm
It is shown in Fig. 9(a) that the magnitude range of ucm is
(0~0.866)Um if zero vectors are selected according to Table
II. Dividing each input current space vector sector into
0<i</6 and /6<i</3, if a input phase voltage with
medium value within an input current vector sector is chosen
as a zero vector, the maximum magnitude of common-mode
voltage ucm is reduced to 0.5Um , which is shown in Fig. 9(b).
For example, during rectifier I-inverter 1, ccc is selected as

However, zero vectors are continually used in the

proposed current-controlled modulation. The following
guidelines are derived to make number of switching to be
minimum.
1) When 0 <i< /6 and the sum of the rectifier section and
inverter section is even, the output switching sequence must
be
d0 1 d N 2
d
d
2
1

d M
N
0
2
2
2
2
2) When 0 <i< /6 and the sum of the rectifier section
and inverter section is odd, the output switching sequence
must be
d0 2 d N 1
d
d
1
2

d M
N
0
2
2
2
2
3) When /6 <i< /3 and the sum of the rectifier section
and inverter section is even, the output switching sequence
must be
d0 1 dM 2
d
d
2
1

d N
M
0
2
2
2
2

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4) When /6 <i< /3 and the sum of the rectifier section

and inverter section is odd, the output switching sequence
must be
d0 2 d M 1
d
d
1
2

d N
M
0
2
2
2
2
The figure over the arrow indicates switching times during
state transformation. When the zero vectors are partly used in
the switching period, the switching times are six. When the
zero vectors are used in the whole period, the switching times
are zero. Zero vectors can be chosen according to above
method.
V. SIMULATION AND EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS ON
COMMON-MODE VOLTAGE REDUCTION
Simulations have been built to validate proposed strategy.
Simulation parameters are: Ts=0.0001s, input phase voltage
220V/50Hz, load resistance 24, load inductance 50mH,
simulation time 0.1s.
When output frequency is 20Hz, and under the condition
of different current command, the simulation waveform of
common-mode voltage and spectrum are shown in Fig. 10. It
can be seen, under large current command, the highfrequency component (around 10kHz) of common-mode
voltage ucm is obviously restrained and the magnitude of lowfrequency component around 150Hz is decreased nearly by
50% by selecting appropriate zero vectors, and the highfrequency component of ucm is more restrained and the lowfrequency component has no change by adjusting switching
sequence. Under small current command, the harmonic
component of ucm is centralized around low frequency

because zero vectors are continually used, and magnitude of

ucm is larger than that under large current command. It is
obviously that the magnitude of low-frequency component is
restrained by selecting appropriate zero vectors.
Fig. 11(a) and (b) shows rms and peak value of ucm for
various output frequency respectively by using novel primary
strategy and optimal strategy. By using optimal strategy, the
rms value of common-mode voltage ucm is reduced by over
50% and the peak value is reduced to 0.577Um from
0.866Um.
A 5kVA 110V MC prototype was developed to validate
the theoretical analysis and simulation. The prototype
consists of a DSP board using TMS320LF2407, a CPLD
board and analog board for commutation, gate drives, a
power supply board, a power board containing IGBT
modules (1MBH60D-100), voltage and current sensors, and
filters.
In the experiment, a resistance-inductance load (24,
50mH) is operated with constant frequency 20Hz and
switching frequency is 5kHz. Fig. 12 shows the experimental
waveform of common-mode voltage by using different
modulation strategies. It can be seen that the common-mode
voltage can been greatly reduced by using the optimal
modulation method.
VI. CONCLUSION
In this paper, a basic hysteresis control strategy for
current-controlled matrix converter (MC) is introduced and
discussed. A novel primary modulation strategy is proposed
for improving the input current quality of current controlled

(a) Primary modulation strategy under large current command

(b) Primary modulation strategy under small current command

(c) Selection of zero vectors under large current command

(d) Selection of zero vectors under small current command

(e) Selection of zero vectors and switching sequence

under large current command

(f) Selection of zero vectors and switching sequence

under small current command

Fig. 10 Common-mode voltage and spectrum simulation waveform under different current command

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RMS/(25V/m)

ucm

(a) Comparison of rms value

(b) Comparison of peak value

ucm

(70V/m)

Fig.11 Comparison between primary strategy and optimal strategy

(a) Under large current command

(b) Under small current command

Fig. 12 Experimental waveform of the common-mode voltage

MC, based on the basic hysteresis current control strategy.

That is, space vector modulation is used for control input
current, and hysteresis current strategy with zero vectors is
used for control output current. Furthermore, an optimal
modulation strategy to reduce common-mode voltage at the
output is proposed. The optimal strategy has been
accomplished by choosing a medium-valued phase voltage
within an input current vector sector as a zero vector and
adjusting switching sequence. Therefore the rms value of
common-mode voltage is reduced by over 50% and peak
value is reduced by 33.3% compared to the primary method.
Simulation and experimental results are provided to verify
the validity and feasibility of modulation strategy proposed
in this paper.
VII. REFERENCE
[1] M. Venturini, A new sine wave in sine wave out,
conversion technique which eliminates reactive
elements, in Proc. POWERCON 7, 1980, pp. E3_1
E3_15.
[2] D. A. Rendusara and P. N. Enjeti, An improved inverter
output filter configuration reduces common and

differential mode dv/dt at the motor terminals in PWM

drive systems, IEEE trans. Power Electro, vol. 13, Nov.
1998, pp. 1135-1143.
[3] Liu Hongchen, Chen Xiyou, Feng Yong et al, A
research on common-mode voltage for matrix converter
based on two line voltage synthesis, Proceeding of the
CSEE, vol. 24, no. 12, 2004, pp. 82-186.
[4] Han Ju Cha and Prasad N. Enjeti, An approach to reduce
common-mode voltage in matrix converter, IEEE
Trans. on Industry Applications, vol. 39, no. 4, 2003, pp.
1151-1159.
[5] Lars Helle, Kim B Larsen and Blaabjerg F. Evaluation
of modulation schemes for three-phase to three-phase
matrix converters, IEEE Trans. on Industry Electronics,
vol. 51, no. 1, 2004, pp. 158-171.
[6] Zhang Zhixue, Ma Hao, Current control strategies for
matrix converter, Proceeding of the CSEE, vol. 24, no.
8, 2004, pp. 61-66.
[7] Peter Mutschler, Matthias Marcks, A direct control
method for matrix converters, IEEE Trans. on Industrial
Electronics, vol. 49, no. 2, pp. 362-369.

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