Coplanar linear dual switch module
First Claim
1. A semiconductor switching device module of reduced inductance adapted for commercial manufacture comprising:
- a module housing having a baseplate;
a first terminal plate having opposed major faces and a contoured edge having spaced mutually aligned contact areas;
a second terminal plate disposed on said baseplate, said second terminal plate member having opposed major faces and a contoured edge having spaced mutually aligned contact areas extending out of the plane of said second terminal plate;
said first terminal plate being disposed in relation to said second terminal plate such that facing major faces of said first and second terminal plates are generally parallel to one another and disposed in generally overlapping relationship, but with said edges in non-overlapping lateral alignment and providing at least one pair of adjacent coplanar contact areas from said first and second terminal plates;
at least one insulated gate semiconductor switching device disposed on said baseplate in close proximity to said pair of contact areas; and
means for respectively interconnecting said pair of adjacent contact areas to input and output regions of said semiconductor switching device, whereby input current to and output current from said semiconductor switching device can pass through said contact areas and said terminal plates in opposite directions and provide reduced net inductance in said module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A readily manufacturable low inductance linear semiconductor switching module having coplanar contacts. Also disclosed is a pretestable terminal subassembly for such a module, and a method of making such a terminal subassembly. The module can contain high power, high frequency semiconductor switching devices, operating at high power but low inductance. The module incorporates compositional, geometrical and electrical symmetry in a linear configuration. The terminal subassembly is readily fabricated and assembled into the module. In addition, it permits use of short internal leads that are readily connected to the terminal subassembly.
38 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A semiconductor switching device module of reduced inductance adapted for commercial manufacture comprising:
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a module housing having a baseplate; a first terminal plate having opposed major faces and a contoured edge having spaced mutually aligned contact areas; a second terminal plate disposed on said baseplate, said second terminal plate member having opposed major faces and a contoured edge having spaced mutually aligned contact areas extending out of the plane of said second terminal plate; said first terminal plate being disposed in relation to said second terminal plate such that facing major faces of said first and second terminal plates are generally parallel to one another and disposed in generally overlapping relationship, but with said edges in non-overlapping lateral alignment and providing at least one pair of adjacent coplanar contact areas from said first and second terminal plates; at least one insulated gate semiconductor switching device disposed on said baseplate in close proximity to said pair of contact areas; and means for respectively interconnecting said pair of adjacent contact areas to input and output regions of said semiconductor switching device, whereby input current to and output current from said semiconductor switching device can pass through said contact areas and said terminal plates in opposite directions and provide reduced net inductance in said module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A terminal plate combination for a semiconductor power module comprising:
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a first terminal plate having aligned and coplanar contact areas along at least one edge; portions of said first terminal plate removed at said edge between said aligned and coplanar contact areas, to form openings between said aligned and coplanar contact areas at said edge; a second terminal plate having aligned and coplanar contact areas along an edge thereof; portions of said second terminal plate removed at said edge between said aligned and coplanar contact areas, to form openings between said aligned and coplanar contact areas at said edge complementarily to the openings formed between the contact areas on the first terminal plate; the aligned and coplanar contact areas on at least one of said terminal plates disposed out of the plane of such terminal plate; said first and second terminal plates being disposed adjacent in parallel relationship, with the contact areas of one terminal plate disposed between but spaced from the contact areas of the other terminal plate, so as to form a coplanar line of such contact areas; and other portions of each of said plates having major surfaces closely spaced and parallel to one another, so as to allow current flow in opposite directions in such other portions; effective to form a low inductance terminal frame combination for a semiconductor switching device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A terminal plate subassembly for a semiconductor dual switch power module comprising:
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a first terminal plate having aligned and coplanar contact areas along each of two parallel edges, so as to form first and second parallel lines of contact areas thereon; portions of said first terminal plate removed at each of its edges between said aligned and coplanar contact areas, so as to form openings between said aligned and coplanar contact areas at each said edge; a second terminal plate having aligned and coplanar contact areas along an edge thereof, said second terminal plate being narrower than the first terminal plate; portions of said second plate removed at its edge between said aligned and coplanar contact areas, so as to form openings between said aligned and coplanar contact areas at said edge complementarily to the openings formed between the contact areas of said first line of contact areas on the first terminal plate; a third terminal plate having aligned and coplanar contact areas along an edge thereof, said third terminal plate being narrower than the first terminal plate; portions of said third plate removed at its edge between said aligned and coplanar contact areas, so as to form openings between said aligned and coplanar contact areas at said edge complementarily to the openings formed between the contact areas of said second line of contact areas on the first terminal plate; the aligned and coplanar contact areas on at least one of said first terminal plate and said second terminal plate being disposed out of the plane of the terminal plate; the aligned and coplanar contact areas on at least one of said first terminal plate and said third terminal plate being disposed out of the plane of the terminal plate; said first and second terminal plates being disposed adjacent in parallel relationship, and also said first and third terminal plates being disposed adjacent in parallel relationship, so as to form two terminal plate pairs, with the contact areas of the terminal plates in each pair disposed between but spaced from the contact areas of the other terminal plate in the pair, so as to form two coplanar and parallel lines of such contact areas; other portions of each of said terminal plate pairs having major surfaces adjacent and parallel to one another, so as to allow adjacent current flow in opposite directions in such other portions; and said terminal plates embedded in a matrix of electrically nonconductive material that leaves said contact areas exposed, effective to form a unitary and pretestable low inductance terminal frame subassembly for a high power semiconductor switching module. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification