Power inverter with optical isolation

• US 20040024937A1
• Filed: 04/15/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alrak, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Airak, Inc.
• Inventors: Schroeder, John Alan, Duncan, Paul G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,972,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/100
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections

Abstract

An optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit that includes an input electrical power source, a heat pipe, a power electronic switch or plurality of interconnected power electronic switches, a mechanism for connecting the switch to the input power source, a mechanism for connecting comprising an interconnecting cable and/or bus bar or plurality of interconnecting cables and/or input bus bars, an optically isolated drive circuit connected to the switch, a heat sink assembly upon which the power electronic switch or switches is mounted, an output load, a mechanism for connecting the switch to the output load, the mechanism for connecting including an interconnecting cable and/or bus bar or plurality of interconnecting cables and/or output bus bars, at least one a fiber optic temperature sensor mounted on the heat sink assembly, at least one fiber optic current sensor mounted on the load interconnection cable and/or output bus bar, at least one fiber optic voltage sensor mounted on the load interconnection cable and/or output bus bar, at least one fiber optic current sensor mounted on the input power interconnection cable and/or input bus bar, and at least one fiber optic voltage sensor mounted on the input power interconnection cable and/or input bus bar.

Claims

1. An optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit comprising:

an input electrical power source;

a heat pipe;

a power electronic switch or plurality of interconnected power electronic switches;

a means for connecting said switch to said input power source, said means for connecting comprising an interconnecting cable and/or bus bar or plurality of interconnecting cables and/or input bus bars;

an optically isolated drive circuit connected to said switch;

a heat sink assembly upon which said power electronic switch or switches is mounted;

an output load;

means for connecting said switch to said output load, said means for connecting comprising an interconnecting cable and/or bus bar or plurality of interconnecting cables and/or output bus bars;

at least one a fiber optic temperature sensor mounted on said heat sink assembly;

at least one fiber optic current sensor mounted on the load interconnection cable and/or output bus bar;

at least one fiber optic voltage sensor mounted on the load interconnection cable and/or output bus bar;

at least one fiber optic current sensor mounted on the input power interconnection cable and/or input bus bar; and

,

at least one fiber optic voltage sensor mounted on the input power interconnection cable and/or input bus bar.