INVERTER DEVICE

• US 20150289411A1
• Filed: 10/24/2013
• Published: 10/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
• Inventors: Kamiya, Yasunobu, Higashikawa, Naoki
• Application Number:
  US14/646,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20150289411A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 24/72 Detachable connecting means consisting of mechanical auxiliary parts connecting the device, e.g. pressure contacts using springs or clips
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/071 the devices being arranged next and on each other, i.e. mixed assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/18 the devices being of types provided for in two or more different subgroups of the same main group of groups H01L27/00 - H01L33/00, or in a single subclass of H10K, H10N
• 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 2924/1305 Bipolar Junction Transistor [BJT]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/13055 Insulated gate bipolar transistor [IGBT]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/1306 Field-effect transistor [FET]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/13091 Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor [MOSFET]
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/007 Plural converter units in cascade push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/493 the static converters being arranged for operation in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/5387 in a bridge configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20263 Heat dissipaters releasing heat from coolant
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20927 Liquid coolant without phase change

Abstract

An inverter device includes: a housing; semiconductor modules; a first heat exchanger having a first passage, wherein a heat generating component is thermally coupled to the first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger provided inside the housing; a supply port connected to a supply pipe for supplying coolant; a discharge port connected to a discharge pipe, wherein the discharge pipe discharges coolant from the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger to a coolant supply source; a discharge port connected to a discharge pipe, which discharges coolant from the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger to the coolant supply source; and communication lines which allow the first passage and a second passage to communicate with each other.

Claims

1. An inverter device comprising:

a housing;

a semiconductor module accommodated in the housing;

a first heat exchanger having a first passage defined by an outer surface of the housing and a passage forming member that covers at least a portion of the outer surface, wherein the first heat exchanger is thermally coupled to a heat generating component;

a second heat exchanger arranged in the housing, wherein the second heat exchanger has a second passage stacked on the first passage and is thermally coupled to the semiconductor module;

a supply port connected to a supply pipe for supplying coolant from a coolant supply source to the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger;

a discharge port connected to a discharge pipe, wherein the discharge pipe discharges coolant from the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger to the coolant supply source; and

a communication line that allows the first passage and the second passage to communicate with each other,

wherein the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are formed separately.

2. The inverter device according to claim 1, wherein

the communication line includes a first communication line and a second communication line different from the first communication line,

one of the first passage and the second passage has a supply passage and a discharge passage, wherein the supply passage has the supply port and is connected to the first communication line, and the discharge passage has the discharge port and is connected to the second communication line, and

the other one of the first passage and the second passage and the discharge passage have a flow-reversing structure.

3. The inverter device according to claim 2, wherein

the first passage has:

a supply passage that has the supply port and is connected to the first communication line; and

a discharge passage that has the discharge port and is connected to the second communication line, and

the second passage and the discharge passage have a flow-reversing structure.

5. The inverter device according to claim 1, wherein

the first passage has a first fin molded integrally with the first heat exchanger through die casting, and

the second passage has a second fin that is formed separately from the second heat exchanger.

6. The inverter device according to claim 1, wherein

the heat generating component includes an electronic component joined to a metal base substrate, and

the metal base substrate functions also as the passage forming member.

4. (canceled)