Power conversion apparatus for interchangeably converting alternating current and direct current

• US 6,327,165 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2000
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Maekawa, Hirotoshi, Yamane, Toshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Bao Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/604,462
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 363/40, 363/55, 363/58, 363/132, 363/141, 363/131
• US Class Current: 363/132
• 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: H01L 2924/19107 off-chip wires
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections

Abstract

A power conversion apparatus comprising a switching power module (1) for conducting power conversion in a switching manner, a plurality of smoothing capacitors (6A) for smoothing a direct-current power supply output to be applied to the switching power module (1), and a switching power module connecting wiring board (19) for establishing connection of the smoothing capacitor (6A) to the switching power module (1). A ceramic capacitor is used as the smoothing capacitors (6A). The smoothing capacitors (6A), a smoothing capacitor case (23) accommodating the ceramic capacitors and the switching power module connection wiring board (19) are integrated structurally with each other to construct a smoothing capacitor assembly (24). This smoothing capacitor assembly (24) is connected to the switching power module (1).

Claims

1. A power conversion apparatus comprising:

a switching power module for converting direct current into alternating current using a control circuit and a plurality of switching devices;

a smoothing capacitor for smoothing a direct-current power supply output to be applied to said switching power module;

a switching power module connecting wiring board for connecting said smoothing capacitor to said switching power module, and

a smoothing capacitor case accommodating a plurality of ceramic capacitors, wherein said ceramic capacitors, said smoothing capacitor case and said switching power module connection wiring board are integrated structurally with each other to form a smoothing capacitor assembly,

wherein said smoothing capacitor comprises a ceramic capacitor.

2. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of sets of smoothing capacitors, switching power module connection wiring boards and positive-electrode (P) and negative-electrode (N) direct-current input wiring sections are provided to be located in a divided condition for each phase of an alternating-current output, and the number of said sets is the same as that of said phases of said alternating-current output.

3. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a predetermined gap is defined between said plurality of ceramic capacitors so that each of said ceramic capacitors is not affected by radiant heat from the other ceramic capacitor close thereto.

4. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of ceramic capacitors and said switching power module connection wiring board are connected to each other through an electrically conductive adhesive material.

5. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising cooling means for cooling said smoothing capacitor,

wherein said smoothing capacitor is fixed to said cooling means so as to cool said smoothing capacitor via said smoothing capacitor case.