Electric power conversion/inversion apparatus

• US 6,618,278 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2001
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Takahashi, Kenji, Shirakawa, Shinji, Innami, Toshiyuki, Fujino, Shinichi, Mishima, Akira, Suzuki, Osamu, Mori, Hideaki, Anan, Hiromichi, Mashino, Keiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, YOUNGHUIE JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US09/810,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20020034087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 363/131, 363/132, 363/144, 363/141, 361/686, 361/687, 361/688, 361/707
• US Class Current: 363/144
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/32245 the item being metallic
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/33181 On opposite sides of the body
• 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 2924/13055 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

In an electric power conversion/inversion apparatus, including, such as an inverter therein, for obtaining reduction in circuit inductance and wiring resistance therein by bringing small as a whole, having good installability and high reliability and efficiency of electric power conversion, as well, semiconductor chips 1 are disposed, being put between a positive input bus bar 14p and a negative input bus bar 14n and plural output bus bars 18 at crossing positions thereof, and are connected electrically and thermally, to the positive input bus bar 14p in a pole direction consistent therewith while to the negative input bus bar 14n in a pole direction consistent therewith, and further to the common output bus bars 18 in pole directions being different from side by side.

Claims

1. An electric power conversion/inversion apparatus, comprising:

a plural number of input bus bars for inputting electric power from an outside;

a plural number of output bus bars for outputting electric power to the outside; and

a plural number of semiconductor chips, being electrically connected to said input bus bars and said output bus bars for converting/inverting the electric power inputted into an output, wherein said plural number of input bus bars include a positive input bus bar and a negative input bus bar, being provided extending in parallel to each other, while said plural number of output bus bars are provided extending in parallel to each other and crossing over said positive and said negative input bus bars in longitudinal directions thereof, said plurality of semiconductor chips are disposed, being put between said positive input bus bar and said negative input bus bar and said plurality of output bus bars at crossing positions thereof, and connected electrically and thermally, to said positive input bus bar in a pole direction consistent therewith while to said negative input bus bar in a pole direction consistent therewith, and further to said common output bus bars in pole directions being different from side by side.

2. An electric power conversion/inversion apparatus, as defined in the claim 1, wherein said positive input bus bar and said negative input bus bar are elongated in a manner of a straight line and disposed in parallel to each other upon a same plane, while said output bus bars are elongated in a manner of a straight line and disposed in parallel to each other upon a same plane, so that said output bus bars cross over said positive and said negative input bus bars at about right angles, in the longitudinal directions thereof.

3. An electric power conversion/inversion apparatus, as defined in the claim 1, wherein said positive input bus bar and said negative input bus bar are connected to a positive input terminal and a negative input terminal, being formed in a laminated manner, from a side being same in the longitudinal direction thereof, respectively, while said plural number of output bus bars are connected to output terminals, respectively, from a side being same thereto but different from that of the positive and the negative input terminals, in the longitudinal direction thereof.

4. An electric power conversion/inversion apparatus, as defined in the claim 1, wherein said semiconductor chips, each one being constructed with a MOSFET having a semiconductor switching element and a diode connected thereto in reverse-parallel direction, are connected between said input bus bars and said output bus bars, while said output bus bars being formed three in number, so that said semiconductor chips form a three-phase bridge, thereby inverting DC electric power inputted into three-phase AC electric power.

5. An electric power conversion/inversion apparatus, comprising:

a plural number of input bus bars for inputting electric power from an outside;

a plural number of output bus bars for outputting electric power to the outside; and

a plural number of semiconductor chip carriers, being electrically connected to said input bus bars and said output bus bars for converting/inverting the electric power inputted into an output, wherein said plural number of input bus bars include a positive input bus bar and a negative input bus bar, being provided extending in parallel to each other, while said plural number of output bus bars are provided extending in parallel to each other and crossing over said positive and said negative input bus bars in longitudinal directions thereof, said plurality of semiconductor chip carriers, each having a semiconductor chip including a semiconductor switching element therein and a metal member being electrically and thermally connected to a positive surface and a negative surface on both sides of said semiconductor chip, are disposed, being put between said positive input bus bar and said negative input bus bar and said plurality of output bus bars at crossing positions thereof, and connected electrically and thermally, to said positive input bus bar in a pole direction consistent therewith while to said negative input bus bar in a pole direction consistent therewith, and further to said common output bus bars in pole directions being different from side by side.

6. An electric power conversion/inversion apparatus, as defined in the claim 5, wherein said metal member is formed of a low thermal expansion metal material having a low linear thermal expansion coefficient being near to that of said semiconductor chip, and is connected to said semiconductor chip through a bonding material.

7. An electric power conversion/inversion apparatus, as defined in the claim 6, wherein said metal member is formed of a low thermal expansion metal material having a low linear thermal expansion coefficient within a range from 3 to 10.

8. An electric power conversion/inversion apparatus, as defined in the claim 5, wherein a projection portion and an engagement portion of said semiconductor chip carrier and said input bus bar or said output bus bar are engaged, thereby providing a positioning mechanism for fixing both positions.

9. An electric power conversion/inversion apparatus, as defined in the claim 5, wherein said metal member has an area being larger than that of a projection area of said semiconductor chip, and a thickness thereof is thin, around from 1 mm to 2 mm in thickness thereof.

10. An electric power conversion/inversion apparatus, comprising:

a plural number of input bus bars for inputting electric power from an outside;

a plural number of output bus bars for outputting electric power to the outside;

a plural number of semiconductor chip carriers, being electrically connected to said input bus bars and said output bus bars for converting/inverting the electric power inputted into an output; and

a suppression mechanism for suppressing said input bus bars and said output bus bars onto said semiconductor chip carriers, wherein said plural number of input bus bars include a positive input bus bar and a negative input bus bar, being provided extending in parallel to each other, while said plural number of output bus bars are provided extending in parallel to each other and crossing over said positive and said negative input bus bars in longitudinal directions thereof, said plurality of semiconductor chip carriers, each having a semiconductor chip including a semiconductor switching element therein and a low thermal expansion metal member being electrically and thermally connected to a positive surface and a negative surface on both sides of said semiconductor chip, are disposed, being put between said positive input bus bar and said negative input bus bar and said plurality of output bus bars at crossing positions thereof, and connected electrically and thermally, to said positive input bus bar in a pole direction consistent therewith while to said negative input bus bar in a pole direction consistent therewith, and further to said common output bus bars in pole directions being different from side by side.

11. An electric power conversion/inversion apparatus, as defined in the claim 10, wherein a ratio between a width and a thickness of said input bus bar is set within a range from 5 to 10.

12. An electric power conversion/inversion apparatus, comprising:

a plural number of input bus bars for inputting electric power from an outside;

a plural number of output bus bars for outputting electric power to the outside;

a plural number of semiconductor chip carriers, being electrically connected to said input bus bars and said output bus bars for converting/inverting the electric power inputted into an output;

a case for having said and semiconductor chip carriers built-in; and

a cooler for cooling said plural number of input bus bars or said plural number of output bus bars, wherein said plural number of input bus bars and said plural number of output bus bars are provided so that they intersect to each other, said plurality of semiconductor chip carriers, each having a semiconductor chip including a semiconductor switching element therein and a metal member being electrically and thermally connected to a positive and a negative surfaces on both sides of said semiconductor chip, are disposed, being put between said input bus bars and said plurality of output bus bars at crossing positions thereof, and connected electrically and thermally, to said positive input bus bar in a pole direction consistent therewith while to said negative input bus bar in a pole direction consistent therewith, and further to said common output bus bars in pole directions being different from side by side, said case, being made of plastic as a whole, is molded with said input bus bars or said output bus bars in one body with exposing surfaces thereof on anti-semiconductor side, when being formed from the plastic, and said cooler is disposed on an outside said case, being connected thermally to a surface of the anti-semiconductor side, on which said input bus bars or said output bus bars are exposed, through an electric insulator layer.

13. An electric power conversion/inversion apparatus, as defined in the claim 12, wherein suppression mechanisms are provided onto said input bus bars or said output bus bars, which are molded with said case in one body, so as to suppress said output bus bars or said input bus bars.

14. An electric power conversion/inversion apparatus, comprising:

a plural number of input bus bars for inputting DC electric power from a battery;

a plural number of output bus bars for outputting electric power to an electrical rotating machine for use in an automobile;

a plural number of semiconductor chip carriers, being electrically connected to said input bus bars and said output bus bars for converting/inverting the DC electric power inputted into three-phase AC output;

a case for having said and semiconductor chip carriers built-in;

a cooler for cooling said plural number of input bus bars or said plural number of output bus bars; and

a suppression mechanism for suppressing said input bus bars and said output bus bars onto said semiconductor chip carriers, wherein, said plural number of input bus bars, including a positive input bus bar and a negative input bus bar therein, and said plural number of output bus bars being provided three in number thereof, are disposed, so that they intersect each other, said plurality of semiconductor chip carriers, each having a semiconductor chip, including a semiconductor switching element and a diode connected in a reverse-parallel direction thereto in a form of MOSFET, and a metal member being electrically and thermally connected to a positive and a negative surfaces on both sides of said semiconductor chip, are disposed, being put between said input bus bars and said plurality of output bus bars at crossing positions thereof, and connected electrically and thermally, to said positive input bus bar in a pole direction consistent therewith while to said negative input bus bar in a pole direction consistent therewith, and further to said common output bus bars in pole directions being different from side by side, thereby forming a three-phase bridge circuit, said case made of plastic is formed with said input bus bars or said output bus bars in one body when being formed from the plastic, while exposing surfaces thereof on anti-semiconductor side to an outside, said cooler is disposed on an outside of said case, being connected thermally through an electrical insulating layer to the surface on the anti-semiconductor side, on which said input bus bars or said output bus bars are exposed, and said suppression mechanism is provided for suppressing said input bus bars or said output bus bars, which are formed with said case in one body, to said output bus bars or said input bus bars on an opposing side thereto.