Power conversion apparatus

• US 7,826,231 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Kuramoto, Yuji, Nishiyama, Ryoji, Yamabuchi, Hiroshi, Maekawa, Hirotoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh; Tuan T
• Application Number:
  US11/642,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20070183130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 361775-784, 439/76.2
• US Class Current: 361/775
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1432 specially adapted for power drive units or power converters
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14329 specially adapted for the configuration of power bus bars

Abstract

A power conversion apparatus comprising a base which includes a first fixation portion and a second fixation portion that are coupled to each other at a desired angle, wherein power modules are fixed on the first fixation portion of the base, a control circuit board is fixed with its first principal surface held in direct or indirect touch with the second fixation portion of the base, and components constituting a control circuit are packaged on the second principal surface of the control circuit board. Owing to the configuration, a versatility for the installation of the power conversion apparatus on a vehicle becomes high, the vibration-proofness of the control circuit board is enhanced, and heats generated by the electronic components, etc. packaged on the control circuit board are sufficiently emitted.

Claims

1. A power conversion apparatus comprising

power modules which include semiconductor elements constituting a power conversion circuit for converting powers between DC and AC;

a control circuit board on which components constituting a control circuit for driving and controlling said semiconductor elements are packaged;

bus bars which connect said power conversion circuit and an external equipment; and

a base on which, at least, said power modules and said control circuit board are fixed,

wherein said base includes a first fixation portion and a second fixation portion which are coupled to each other at an angle,

wherein said power modules are fixed on said first fixation portion of said base,

wherein a first principal surface of said control circuit board extends along the second fixation portion and is held in direct or indirect contact with said second fixation portion of said base, and

wherein said components are packaged on a second principal surface of said control circuit board.

2. A power conversion apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said control circuit board is fixed to said second fixation portion of said base by at least either of an adhesive and screws.

3. The power conversion apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first fixed portion and the second fixed portion have fins.

4. The power conversion apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the second fixed portion has fins on an outer surface and wherein inner surface of the second fixed portion is directly fixed to said control circuit board via adhesive or screws.

5. The power conversion apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said control circuit board is fixed to an inner surface of the second fixed portion.

6. The power conversion apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said control circuit board is positioned not to be parallel to the power modules.

7. The power conversion apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said control circuit board is fixed to said second fixation portion of said base by an adhesive and screws.

8. The power conversion apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein larger part of said first principal surface is fixed to the second fixation portion.

9. A power conversion apparatus comprising:

power modules which include semiconductor elements constituting a power conversion circuit for converting powers between DC and AC,

a control circuit board on which components constituting a control circuit for driving and controlling said semiconductor elements are packaged,

bus bars which connect said power conversion circuit and an external equipment, and

a base on which, at least, said power modules and said control circuit board are fixed;

wherein said base includes a first fixation portion and a second fixation portion which are coupled to each other at an angle, said power modules are fixed on said first fixation portion of said base, a first principal surface of the control circuit board is held in direct or indirect contact with said second fixation portion of said base, and said components are packaged on a second principal surface of said control circuit board, and

wherein the power conversion apparatus further comprises terminal members which transfer signals between said control circuit board and said power modules, wherein said terminal members include crooked portions which absorb mechanical displacements of said terminal members.

10. A power conversion apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said crooked portions are formed in said terminal members by a working method other than bending.

11. A power conversion apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said terminal members are formed in a plurality of arrays, and said terminal members are unitarily fixed to one another through electrically insulating members.

12. A power conversion apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said terminal members are packaged and fixed on said control circuit board.

13. A power conversion apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said terminal members are electrically connected to signal electrode terminals provided on said power modules, by at least one of brazing, soldering and welding.