Power module and vehicle having the same

• US 8,598,733 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2010
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Magna E-Powertrain Co. Ltd. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Ryu, Seunghee, Lim, Junyoung, Kim, Jungbum, Park, Jinsoo, Lee, Dongcheol, Lee, Dongwoo
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US12/945,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20110114397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/33 Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics H02K11/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

Provided is a power module in which a motor and a motor driving unit are efficiently configured and a vehicle having the same. The power module includes a power module case forming an external form; an inverter provided within the power module case and configured to convert a direct current (DC) power into an alternating current (AC) power; an AC power conductor provided in the power module case and connected to the inverter to cause the AC power converted by the inverter to flow therethrough; and a motor provided in the power module case and connected to the AC power conductor to receive the AC power and generate a rotational force.

Claims

1. A power module, comprising:

a power module case having an upper portion formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape and a lower portion formed in a cylindrical shape;

a motor provided in the lower portion of the power module case having a cylindrical shape and configured to generate a rotational force;

an inverter provided in the upper portion of the power module case having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, disposed at an upper side of the motor and configured to convert a direct current (DC) power into an alternating current (AC) power; and

an AC power conductor provided in the upper portion of the power module case having a rectangular parallelepiped shape and formed in an inverted ‘

L’

shape to connect the inverter to the motor.

2. The power module according to claim 1, wherein the AC power conductor is formed such that the AC power conductor connecting the inverter to the motor is shortest.

3. The power module according to claim 1, wherein the power module case includes a DC power cable connection unit connected to the DC power cable that supplies the DC power.

4. The power module according to claim 3, wherein the DC power connection unit is disposed at a side of an upper portion of the module case.

5. The power module according to claim 1, further comprising a capacitor provided in the power module case and configured to smooth the DC power supplied to the inverter.

6. The power module according to claim 1, further comprising a controller provided in the power module case and configured to control the inverter.

7. A vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of rotatable front wheels;

a front suspension system configured to support the plurality of front wheels;

a plurality of rotatable rear wheels disposed to be spaced apart from the front wheels;

a rear suspension system disposed to be spaced apart from the front suspension system and configured to support the plurality of rear wheels;

a battery disposed between the front suspension system and the rear suspension system and configured to supply a direct current (DC) power; and

a power module disposed at an upper side of the front suspension system, configured to convert the DC power into an alternating current (AC) power to generate a rotational force, and having an upper portion formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape and a lower portion formed in a cylindrical shape.

8. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the power module includes

a motor provided in the lower portion of the power module having a cylindrical shape and configured to generate a rotational force;

an inverter provided in the upper portion of the power module having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, disposed at an upper side of the motor and configured to convert the DC current power into the AC power; and

an AC power conductor provided in the upper portion of the power module having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and formed in an inverted ‘

L’

shape to connect the inverter to the motor.

9. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the power module includes

a motor provided in the lower portion of the power module having a cylindrical shape and configured to generate a rotational force;

an inverter provided in the upper portion of the power module having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, disposed at an upper side of the motor and configured to convert the DC current power into the AC power; and

an AC power conductor provided in the upper portion of the power module having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and formed such that the AC power conductor connecting the inverter to the motor is shortest.