System and methods for improving power handling of an electronic device
First Claim
1. An electronic device comprising:
- a heatsink;
a first dual IGBT coupled to the heatsink and configured to provide electrical power to a field exciter;
a second dual IGBT coupled to the heatsink and configured to provide electrical power to a battery;
a third dual IGBT coupled to the heatsink and common to the field exciter and the battery;
a single temperature sensor disposed in the heatsink;
a cooling unit comprising a plenum and a variable source of air flow; and
a controller configured to;
receive a temperature reading from the single temperature sensor and, based on the temperature reading, determine desired levels of cooling for at least two of the dual IGBTs, wherein the desired levels of cooling are different from one another and an air flow rate provided by the cooling unit is determined based on the desired levels of cooling.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided an electronic device that includes a heatsink, a first dual IGBT coupled to the heatsink and configured to provide electrical power to a field exciter, a second dual IGBT coupled to the heatsink and configured to provide electrical power to a battery, a third dual IGBT coupled to the heatsink and common to the field exciter and the battery. The electronic device also includes a temperature sensor disposed in the heatsink, a cooling unit comprising a plenum and a variable source of air flow, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a temperature reading from the temperature sensor and, based on the temperature reading, determine a desired level of cooling for at least one of the dual IGBTs, wherein an air flow rate provided by the cooling unit is determined based on the desired level of cooling.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An electronic device comprising:
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a heatsink; a first dual IGBT coupled to the heatsink and configured to provide electrical power to a field exciter; a second dual IGBT coupled to the heatsink and configured to provide electrical power to a battery; a third dual IGBT coupled to the heatsink and common to the field exciter and the battery; a single temperature sensor disposed in the heatsink; a cooling unit comprising a plenum and a variable source of air flow; and a controller configured to; receive a temperature reading from the single temperature sensor and, based on the temperature reading, determine desired levels of cooling for at least two of the dual IGBTs, wherein the desired levels of cooling are different from one another and an air flow rate provided by the cooling unit is determined based on the desired levels of cooling. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An electronic device comprising:
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a heatsink; a first dual IGBT coupled to the heatsink and configured to provide electrical power to a field exciter; a second dual IGBT coupled to the heatsink and configured to provide electrical power to a battery; a third dual IGBT coupled to the heatsink and common to the field exciter and the battery; a temperature sensor disposed in the heatsink; a cooling unit comprising a plenum and a variable source of air flow; and a controller configured to receive a temperature reading from the temperature sensor and, based on the temperature reading, determine a desired level of cooling for at least one of the dual IGBTs; wherein an air flow rate provided by the cooling unit is determined based on the desired level of cooling, and wherein the controller determines a first desired level of cooling for the second dual IGBT and a second desired level of cooling for the third dual IGBT and sends signals corresponding to the first desired level of cooling and the second desired level of cooling to a system controller that controls the air flow rate based, at least in part, on the signals. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. An electronic device comprising:
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a heatsink; a first dual IGBT coupled to the heatsink and configured to provide electrical power to a field exciter; a second dual IGBT coupled to the heatsink and configured to provide electrical power to a battery; a third dual IGBT coupled to the heatsink and common to the field exciter and the battery; a temperature sensor disposed in the heatsink; a cooling unit comprising a plenum and a variable source of air flow; and a controller configured to; receive a temperature reading from the temperature sensor and, based on the temperature reading, determine a first desired level of cooling and a first power level for the second dual IGBT and determine a second desired level of cooling and a second power level for the third dual IGBT; and if the first power level is greater than the second power level, send signals corresponding to the first power level and the first desired level of cooling to the system controller, otherwise send signals corresponding to the second power level and the second desired level of cooling to the system controller, wherein the system controller controls the air flow rate based, at least in part, on the signals.
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8. A power system for a vehicle comprising:
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a double H-bridge comprising a heatsink, a first dual IGBT coupled to the heatsink and configured to provide electrical power to a field exciter, a second dual IGBT coupled to the heatsink configured to provide electrical power to a battery, and a third dual IGBT coupled to the heatsink and common to the field exciter and the battery charger; a single temperature sensor disposed in the heatsink; a cooling unit comprising a plenum and a variable source of air flow; and a controller configured to; receive a temperature reading from the single temperature sensor and, based on the temperature reading, determine desired levels of cooling for at least two of the dual IGBTs, wherein the desired levels of cooling are different from one another and an air flow rate provided by the cooling unit is determined based on the desired levels of cooling. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A power system for a vehicle comprising:
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a double H-bridge comprising a heatsink, a first dual IGBT coupled to the heatsink and configured to provide electrical power to a field exciter, a second dual IGBT coupled to the heatsink configured to provide electrical power to a battery, and a third dual IGBT coupled to the heatsink and common to the field exciter and the battery charger; a temperature sensor disposed in the heatsink; a cooling unit comprising a plenum and a variable source of air flow; and a controller configured to receive a temperature reading from the temperature sensor and, based on the temperature reading, determine a desired level of cooling for at least one of the dual IGBTs; wherein an air flow rate provided by the cooling unit is determined based on the desired level of cooling, and wherein the controller determines a first desired level of cooling for the second dual IGBT and a second desired level of cooling for the third dual IGBT and sends signals corresponding to the first desired level of cooling and the second desired level of cooling to a system controller that controls the air flow rate based, at least in part, on the signals. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification