QUASI FIVE-LEVEL INVERTER

According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide an inverter comprising an input, an output, a plurality of DC busses, a mid-point bus, an LC filter, a common node coupled to the LC filter, a plurality of switches coupled to the plurality of DC busses and the common node, a bidirectional switch coupled between the mid-point bus and the common node, and a controller configured to operate the plurality of switches and the bidirectional switch in a first mode of operation to generate a voltage at the common node at a first positive DC voltage level, in a second mode of operation to generate the voltage at a second positive DC voltage level, in a third mode of operation to generate the voltage at a first negative DC voltage level, and in a fourth mode of operation to generate the voltage at a second negative DC voltage level.