Power converter

• US 20060086981A1
• Filed: 10/21/2005
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Maeda, Yuuji, Suwa, Tokihito, Yamaguchi, Koji, Sigeta, Satoru
• Granted Patent: US 7,777,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/347
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/0603 Bonding areas having different sizes, e.g. different heights or widths
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48137 the bodies being arranged next to each other, e.g. on a common substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/13055 Insulated gate bipolar transistor [IGBT]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/13091 Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor [MOSFET]
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections

Abstract

The power converter for solving the above-described problem has a module section and a drive section for operating the module section. The drive section has a drive circuit. The drive circuit is provided so as to correspond to the first semiconductor element which is one of the semiconductor elements comprising the parallel circuit; wherein drive signals for operating the first semiconductor element are output. The drive signals that are output from the drive circuit are electrically branched and output to a second semiconductor element which is a separate semiconductor element from the first semiconductor element of the semiconductor elements comprising the parallel circuit. As a result, the second semiconductor element receives the branched drive signals and operates in the same manner as the first semiconductor element. Thereby, a motor converter favorable for control large current at a low cost is provided.

Claims

1. A power converter which converts power output from a power supply source to a prescribed power and outputs the converted power to a power supply destination, the power converter comprising:

a module section; and

a drive section for operating the module section;

the module section comprises a plurality of semiconductor modules;

the plurality of semiconductor modules have semiconductor elements for power conversion;

corresponding semiconductor elements are electrically connected in parallel to form a parallel circuit;

the parallel circuits are electrically connected between the power supply source and the power supply destination;

the drive section comprises a drive circuit;

the drive circuit is provided so as to correspond to the first semiconductor element which is one of the semiconductor elements comprising the parallel circuit;

wherein

drive signals for operating the first semiconductor element are output;

the first semiconductor elements operate by receiving drive signals output from the drive circuit;

the drive signals that are output from the drive circuit are electrically branched and output to a second semiconductor element which is a separate semiconductor element from the first semiconductor element of the semiconductor elements comprising the parallel circuit; and

the second semiconductor element receives the branched drive signals and operates in the same manner as the first semiconductor element.

2. The power converter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of semiconductor modules comprises:

identical module cases;

identical module bases which conduct heat;

identical insulating substrates;

identical input-side terminals; and

identical output-side terminals;

the semiconductor elements which are mounted on the module bases via the insulating substrates so as to have identical arrangement in the plurality of semiconductor modules are stored in the module cases; and

the semiconductor elements and the input-side terminals, as well as the semiconductor elements and the output-side terminals are electrically connected by the same connection method such that the connection configuration is identical in the plurality of semiconductor modules.

3. The power converter of claim 1, wherein

the drive section comprises:

a power source that applies operating voltage to the drive circuit; and

reference potential wires which electrically connect the reference potential side of power source, the reference potential side of the drive circuit, and the electrodes which will represent the reference potential side of the first and second semiconductor elements; and

of the reference potential wires, the reference potential wires which extend to a plurality of the modules are configured such that the current cross-section area of the portion that extends to the plurality of modules is larger than the current cross-section area for the other portions.

4. The power converter of claim 3, wherein of the reference potential wires, those reference potential wires which extend to a plurality of the modules are such that the number of the portions that extend to the plurality of modules are more than the number of the other portions.

5. The power converter of claim 3, wherein of the reference potential wires, those reference potential wires which extend to a plurality of the modules have a means for limiting the current amount.

6. The power converter of claim 1, wherein

the drive section comprises:

a first signal wire that extends from the drive circuit to the first semiconductor element side;

a second signal wire that branches from the first signal wire and reaches to the second semiconductor element; and

the wire distance of the first signal wire and the second signal wire is substantially the same.

7. The power converter of claim 1, wherein

the drive circuit comprises:

a first substrate that is loaded in the first semiconductor module which is one of the plurality of semiconductor modules; and

a second substrate that is loaded in the second semiconductor module which is another of the plurality of semiconductor modules which is separate from the first semiconductor module; and

the first substrate comprises;

a drive circuit;

a first input terminal for receiving control signals output from control devices; and

a first output terminal for outputting the drive signals to the second substrate side; and

the second substrate comprises a second input terminal for receiving the drive signals output from the first output terminal.

8. The power converter of claim 7, wherein

the drive section comprises:

a power source that applies operating voltage to the drive circuit;

reference potential wires which electrically connect the reference potential side of power source, the reference potential side of the drive circuit, and the electrodes which will represent the reference potential side of the first and second semiconductor elements; and

the first substrate has the power source and the reference potential wires; and

the second substrate has the reference potential wires that spans from the first substrate; and

of the reference potential wires, the reference potential wire which spans from the first substrate to the second substrate is configured such that the current cross-section area of the portion that spans to the first substrate, and second substrate is larger than the current cross-section area for the other portions.

9. The power converter of claim 1, wherein

the drive section comprises one substrate that spans to and is loaded in the plurality of semiconductor modules;

and

the substrate comprises;

the drive circuit;

an input terminal for receiving control signals output from control devices;

a first signal wire that extends from the drive circuit and reaches to the first semiconductor element side; and

a second signal wire that branches from the first signal wire and reaches to the second semiconductor element; and

the wire distance of the first signal wire and the second signal wire is substantially the same.

10. A power converter which converts direct current output from a power supply source to alternating current and outputs the converted alternating current power to a power supply destination, the power converter comprising:

a module section; and

a drive section for operating the module section; and

the module section comprises as plurality of semiconductor modules;

the plurality of semiconductor modules have a plurality of serial circuits which are formed by electrically connecting the plurality of semiconductor elements for power conversion serially;

the serial circuit comprises parallel circuits of corresponding phases that are electrically connected to each other in parallel;

the parallel circuits are electrically connected between the corresponding power supply source and the corresponding power supply destination;

the drive section comprises a drive circuit; and

the drive circuit is provided so as to correspond to the first serial circuit which is one of the serial circuits comprising the parallel circuits;

wherein

drive signals for operating the semiconductor element comprising the first serial circuit are output;

the semiconductor elements comprising the first serial circuit operate by receiving drive signals output from the drive circuit;

the drive signals that are output from the drive circuit are electrically branched and output to a second serial circuit which is a separate serial circuit from the first serial circuit of the serial circuits comprising the parallel circuit; and

the semiconductor element comprising the second serial circuit receives the branched drive signals and operates in the same manner as the semiconductor elements comprising the first serial circuit.

11. The power converter of claim 10, wherein the plurality of semiconductor modules comprise:

identical module cases;

identical module bases which conduct heat;

identical insulating substrates;

identical input-side terminals; and

identical output-side terminals; and

the semiconductor elements which are mounted on the module bases via the insulating substrates so as to have identical arrangement in the plurality of semiconductor element modules are stored in the module cases; and

the semiconductor elements and the input-side terminals, as well as the semiconductor elements and the output-side terminals are electrically connected by the same connection method such that the connection configuration is identical in the plurality of semiconductor modules.

12. The power converter of claim 10, wherein

the drive circuit section comprises:

a plurality of high potential side power sources that apply operating voltage to the drive circuit and are provided to correspond to the high potential side of the parallel circuit of each phase;

a low potential side power source that applies operating voltage to the drive circuit and is provided so as to be shared at the low potential side of the parallel circuit for each phase;

a plurality of high potential side reference potential wires which electrically connect the reference potential side of power source, the reference potential side of the drive circuit, and the electrodes which will represent the reference potential side of the plurality of semiconductor elements at the high potential side of the plurality of serial circuits comprising the parallel circuit;

a low potential side reference potential wire which electrically connects the reference potential side of the low potential power source, the reference potential side of the drive circuit, and the electrodes which will represent the reference potential side of the plurality of semiconductor elements at the low potential side of the plurality of serial circuits comprising the parallel circuit for each phase; and

of the high potential reference potential wires and the low potential reference potential wires, the reference potential wires which span to a plurality of the modules are configured such that the current cross-section area of the portion that spans to the plurality of modules is larger than the current cross-section area for the other portions.

13. The power converter of claim 10, wherein

the drive section comprises:

a first signal wire that extends from the drive circuit reaches to the first semiconductor element side; and

a second signal wire that branches from the first signal wire and reaches to the second semiconductor element; and

the wire distance of the first signal wire and the second signal wire is substantially the same.

14. An on-vehicle power converter which:

electrically connects a vehicle battery device comprising a 14 v system, a 42 v system or a 60 v system on-vehicle power source or alternatively an on-vehicle generator comprising an on-vehicle power source with a vehicle battery device or alternatively a dynamo electric machine in which the on-vehicle generator is the motor power source;

converts DC power output from the vehicle battery device or the on-vehicle generator into three-phase AC power and outputs it to the dynamo electric machine; and

controls the drive of the dynamo electric machine;

wherein the on-vehicle power converter comprises;

a module section; and

a drive section for operating the module section; and

the module section comprises a plurality of semiconductor modules;

the plurality of semiconductor modules have a plurality of serial circuit formed by electrically connecting a plurality of semiconductor elements for power conversion serially;

corresponding serial circuits for each phase are electrically connected in parallel to form a parallel circuit;

the parallel circuits are electrically connected between the corresponding phases for each phase of the on-vehicle dynamo electric machine and the vehicle battery device or the on-vehicle generator;

the drive section comprises a drive circuit; and

the drive circuit is provided so as to correspond to the first serial circuit which is one of the serial circuits comprising the parallel circuit;

wherein

drive signals for operating the semiconductor element comprising the first serial circuit are outputted;

the semiconductor element comprising the first serial circuit operates by receiving drive signals output from the drive circuit;

the drive signals that are output from the drive circuit are electrically branched and output to a second serial circuit which is a separate serial circuit from the first serial circuit of the serial circuits comprising the parallel circuit; and

the semiconductor element comprising the second serial circuit receives the branched drive signals and operates in the same manner as the semiconductor elements comprising the first serial circuit.

15. The on-vehicle power converter of claim 14, wherein the plurality of semiconductor modules comprise:

identical module cases;

identical module bases which conduct heat;

identical insulating substrates;

identical input-side terminals; and

identical output-side terminals; and

the semiconductor elements which are mounted on the module bases via the insulating substrates so as to have identical arrangement in the plurality of semiconductor element modules are stored in the module cases; and

the semiconductor elements and the input-side terminals, as well as the semiconductor elements and the output-side terminals are electrically connected by the same connection method such that the connection configuration is identical in the plurality of semiconductor modules.

16. The on-vehicle power converter of claim 14, wherein

the drive circuit section comprises:

a plurality of high potential side power sources that apply operating voltage to the drive circuit and are provided to correspond to the high potential side of the parallel circuit of each phase;

a low potential side power source that applies operating voltage to the drive circuit and is provided so as to be shared at the low potential side of the parallel circuit for each phase;

a plurality of high potential side reference potential wires which electrically connect for each phase the reference potential side of power source, the reference potential side of the drive circuit, and the electrodes which will represent the reference potential side of the plurality of semiconductor elements at the high potential side of the plurality of serial circuits comprising the parallel circuit;

a low potential side reference potential wire which electrically connects the reference potential side of the low potential power source, the reference potential side of the drive circuit, and the electrodes which will represent the reference potential side of the plurality of semiconductor elements at the low potential side of the plurality of serial circuits comprising the parallel circuit for each phase; and

of the high potential side reference potential wires and the low potential side reference potential wires, the reference potential wires which extend to a plurality of the modules are configured such that the current cross-section area of the portion that extends to the plurality of modules is larger than the current cross-section area for the other portions.

17. The on-vehicle power converter of claim 14, wherein

the drive section comprises:

a first signal wire that extends from the drive circuit reaches to the first semiconductor element side; and

a second signal wire that branches from the first signal wire and reaches to the second semiconductor element; and

the wire distance of the first signal wire and the second signal wire is substantially the same.

18. The on-vehicle power converter of claim 14, wherein

the semiconductor module comprises parallel first and second semiconductor modules;

each of the first and second semiconductor modules comprise three serial circuits that are electrically connected in parallel;

of the three serial circuits of the first semiconductor module, the serial circuit positioned in the center and the adjacent serial circuits at the side opposite to the second semiconductor module with respect to the serial circuit positioned at the center comprises the parallel circuit that is electrically connected for one of the three phases of the on-vehicle dynamo electric machine;

of the two serial circuits of the second semiconductor modules, the serial circuit positioned in the center and the adjacent serial circuits at the side opposite to the first semiconductor module with respect to the serial circuit positioned at the center comprises the parallel circuit that is electrically connected to one of the two remaining phases of the on-vehicle dynamo electric machine; and

the remaining serial circuit of the first semiconductor module and the remaining serial circuit of the second semiconductor module comprise the parallel circuit that is electrically connected to the remaining phase of the on-vehicle dynamo electric machine.

19. The on-vehicle power converter of claim 14, wherein

the semiconductor module comprises parallel first through third semiconductor modules;

each of the first through third semiconductor modules comprises three serial circuits that are electrically connected in parallel;

the three serial circuits of the first semiconductor module comprise the parallel circuit that is electrically connected to one of the three phases of the on-vehicle dynamo electric machine;

the three serial circuits of the second semiconductor module comprises the parallel circuit that is electrically connected to one of the two remaining phases of the on-vehicle dynamo electric machine; and

the three serial circuits of the third semiconductor module comprise the parallel circuit that is electrically connected to the remaining phase of the on-vehicle dynamo electric machine.