Semiconductor apparatus, power converter and automobile

• US 6,791,854 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2002
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Shirakawa, Shinji, Innami, Toshiyuki, Mishima, Akira, Mashino, Keiichi, Fukumoto, Hideshi
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US10/277,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20030031038A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 363/131, 363/144, 363/147, 361/720, 361/728
• US Class Current: 363/147
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/49111 the connectors connecting two common bonding areas, e.g. Litz or braid wires
• 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 semiconductor apparatus includes positive and negative side conductors for bridge-connecting semiconductor switches, constituted to a wide conductor, and laminated by sandwiching an insulator between them. A semiconductor apparatus includes positive and negative side conductors extended from its case, and an electrolytic capacitor connected to the extension portion of the positive and negative side conductors. A power converter uses the semiconductor apparatus.

Claims

1. A semiconductor apparatus including at least two controllable semiconductor switches, at least one output terminal and a case equipped with said output terminal, wherein a positive side conductor plate and a negative side conductor plate for bridge-connecting said semiconductor switches are laminated while sandwiching an insulator between at least a part thereof in said case, and portions of said positive side conductor plate and negative side conductor are exposed to a surface of said case.

2. A semiconductor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein six of said controllable semiconductor switches and three of said output terminals are provided.

3. A semiconductor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exposed portions of said negative conductor plate and said positive conductor plate are wide sides of said conductors.

4. A semiconductor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor switches are on the insulating substrate, and widths of said exposed portions of said positive side conductor plate and said negative side conductor plate are greater than a width of said insulating substrate.

5. An automobile including said semiconductor apparatus according to claim 2, wherein six of said controllable semiconductor switches and three of said output terminals are provided.

6. An automobile including said semiconductor apparatus according to claim 2, wherein six of said controllable semiconductor switches and three of said output terminals are provided.

7. An automobile including said semiconductor apparatus according to claim 3, wherein six of said controllable semiconductor switches and three of said output terminals are provided.

8. An automobile including said semiconductor apparatus according to claim 4, wherein six of said controllable semiconductor switches and three of said output terminals are provided.

9. A semiconductor apparatus including at least two controllable semiconductor switches, at least one output terminal and a case equipped with said output terminal, wherein portions of a positive side conductor plate and a negative side conductor plate for bridge-connecting said semiconductor switches are exposed to a surface of said case, and the exposed portions of said negative conductor plate and said positive conductor plate are wide sides of said conductors.

10. An automobile including said semiconductor apparatus according to claim 9.

11. A semiconductor apparatus including at least two controllable semiconductor switches, at least one output terminal and a case equipped with said output terminal, wherein said semiconductor switches are on the insulating substrate, portions of a positive side conductor plate and a negative side conductor plate for bridge-connecting said semiconductor switches are exposed to a surface of said case, and widths of said exposed portion of said positive side conductor plate and said negative side conductor plate are greater than a width of said insulating substrate.

12. An automobile including said semiconductor apparatus according to claim 11.