Inverter apparatus suitable for battery vehicle

• US 8,023,281 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Nichiyu Forklift Co., Ltd. (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Hiroyuki, Nakakita, Osamu, Okazaki, Yoshimi
• Primary Examiner(s): Semenenko; Yuriy
• Application Number:
  US12/129,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20080232073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 174/51, 174/138.D, 361/742, 361/758, 361/770, 361/804, 361/775
• US Class Current: 361/775
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1432 specially adapted for power drive units or power converters
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14322 wherein the control and power circuits of a power converter are arranged within the same casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14329 specially adapted for the configuration of power bus bars

Abstract

An inverter apparatus is composed of an insulated metal substrate, a conductive stud, a printed circuit board, a conductive spacer, and a bus bar. An inverter output stage is mounted on the insulated metal substrate. The conductive stud is coupled to a main surface of the insulated metal substrate, and electrically connected with the inverter output stage. The printed circuit board is supported by the stud. The stud is coupled on the rear surface of the printed circuit board. Provided on the main surface of the printed circuit board is a circuit connected to the inverter output stage. The conductive spacer is coupled on the main surface of the printed circuit board, and electrically connected with the stud. The bus bar is coupled to the spacer.

Claims

1. An inverter apparatus comprising:

a U-phase insulated metal substrate (IMS) board mounting a U-phase output stage that outputs a U-phase voltage;

a V-phase IMS board mounting a V-phase output stage that outputs a V-phase voltage;

a W-phase IMS board mounting a W-phase output stage that outputs a W-phase voltage;

a printed circuit board having a capacitor area on which smoothing capacitors for stabilizing a DC power supply voltage fed to said U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase output stages are mounted;

a U-phase drive circuit provided on said printed circuit board and switches power transistors within said U-phase output stage;

a V-phase drive circuit provided on said printed circuit board and switches power transistors within said V-phase output stage; and

a W-phase drive circuit provided on said printed circuit board and switches power transistors within said W-phase output stage,

wherein said U-phase drive circuit is positioned adjacent to a first edge of said printed circuit board,

wherein said V-phase drive circuit is positioned adjacent to a second edge of said printed circuit board,

wherein said W-phase drive circuit is positioned adjacent to a third edge of said printed circuit board,

wherein said U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase IMS boards are arranged around a center point opposing said capacitor area, such that the U-phase IMS board is not in line with the V-phase and W-phase IMS boards, and the V-phase IMS board is not in line with the W-phase IMS board, and

wherein each of the U-phase IMS board, the V-phase IMS board, and the W-phase IMS board mounts an output stage which incorporates a high-side transistor and a low-side transistor.

2. The inverter apparatus according to claim 1,1

wherein said U-phase drive circuit is connected to said U-phase output stage through a first flat cable,

wherein said V-phase drive circuit is connected to said V-phase output stage through a second flat cable, and

wherein said W-phase drive circuit is connected to said W-phase output stage through a third flat cable.

3. The inverter apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said printed circuit board includes a power supply pattern and a ground pattern,

wherein said smoothing capacitor is electrically connected between said power supply pattern and said ground pattern, and

wherein said DC power supply voltage is maintained between said power supply pattern and said ground pattern.

4. The inverter apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the center point is a center point of a metal base plate on which said U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase IMS boards are mounted.

5. An inverter apparatus comprising:

at least one U-phase insulated metal substrate (IMS) board associated with a U-phase and mounting a U-phase output stage that outputs a U-phase voltage;

at least one V-phase IMS board associated with a V-phase, and mounting a V-phase output stage that outputs a V-phase voltage;

at least one W-phase IMS board associated with a W-phase, and mounting a W-phase output stage that outputs a W-phase voltage; and

a printed circuit board having a capacitor area on which smoothing capacitors for stabilizing a DC power supply voltage fed to said U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase output stages are mounted,

wherein said U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase IMS boards are arranged around a center point opposing said capacitor area, such that the U-phase IMS board is not in line with the V-phase and W-phase IMS boards, and the V-phase IMS board is not in line with the W-phase IMS board, and

wherein each of the U-phase IMS board, the V-phase IMS board, and the W-phase IMS board mounts an output stage which incorporates a high-side transistor and a low-side transistor.

6. The inverter apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein said U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase IMS boards are arranged in first, second, and third regions, respectively, and

wherein one of said first, second, and third regions is positioned adjacent to remaining two of said first, second, and third regions.

7. The inverter apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the center point is a center point of a metal base plate on which said U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase IMS boards are mounted.