1. Background to the problem

In less than thirty years, modern power electronics has established itself as a key technology for optimizing the efficiency and control of systems dedicated to the conversion and processing of electrical energy. The last ten years have been marked by numerous conceptual and technological developments. The most significant advances have been in conversion topologies (maturity of multi-level converters in the broadest sense of the term), the intrinsic performance of materials and components (large-gap semiconductors and high-frequency filter elements, fast analog and digital close control circuits), integration technologies and cost-reducing collective manufacturing processes. These recent advances now enable more compact assembly, control adaptability, new local or remote diagnostic functionalities and, above all, remarkably improved energy efficiency for most specifications.