Power conversion apparatus and electric vehicle

• US 8,863,869 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2013
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Astemo Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakatsu, Kinya, Suzuki, Hideyo, Nishikimi, Fusanori, Matsuo, Takeshi, Satou, Toshiya
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US13/743,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20130128645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.21, 363/141, 363/144, 369/689, 369/699, 361/689, 361/699
• US Class Current: 180/65.21
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/00 Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle with power supply from force of nature, e.g. sun or wind, B60L8/00; for monorail vehicles, suspension vehicles or rack railways B60L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48227 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48472 the other connecting portion not on the bonding area also being a wedge bond, i.e. wedge-to-wedge
• 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 2924/1305 Bipolar Junction Transistor [BJT]
• 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: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0026 provided with connectors and printed circuit boards [PCB], e.g. automotive electronic control units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/02 Arrangements of circuit components or wiring on supporting structure
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20 Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/209 Heat transfer by conduction from internal heat source to heat radiating structure H05K7/20909 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20927 Liquid coolant without phase change

Abstract

The metallic case of a power conversion apparatus includes a casing having a side wall, as well as an upper case and a lower case, a first area being formed between a cooling jacket provided at the inner periphery of the side wall and the lower case, the metal base plate dividing the first area between the cooling jacket and the upper case into a lower side second area and an upper side third area, first and second power modules being fastened to a top surface and a capacitor module being provided in the first area, driving circuits that drive inverter circuits of the power modules respectively being provided in the second area, and a control circuit that controls the driver circuits being provided in the third area.

Claims

1. A power converter apparatus comprising:

a power module;

a control circuit board;

a metal base disposed between the power module and the control circuit board;

an apparatus casing accommodating the power module, the control circuit board, and the metal base;

a connector disposed at the apparatus casing; and

a signal cable connecting the control circuit board with the connector;

wherein the metal base has a guide board provided toward an inner surface of the apparatus casing, and the signal cable is guided from the connector to the control circuit board in contact with the guide board.

2. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cooling jacket forming a cooling path in which a cooling medium flows, wherein the power module is attached on the cooling jacket, the cooling jacket is connected with the apparatus casing, and the metal base is connected with the cooling jacket.

3. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connector is disposed closer to the power module than the control circuit board, and the guide board is provided toward an inner surface of the apparatus casing near the connector.

4. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a driving circuit board having a power transformer, wherein the driving circuit board is disposed between the power module and the metal base, the metal base provides a first opening in a first area of the metal base facing the driving circuit board, and a part of the power transformer is disposed in the first opening.

5. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the metal base has a first support supporting the driving circuit board and a second support supporting the control circuit board, and the metal base connects the apparatus casing.

6. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control circuit board provides a second opening facing the first opening, and a part of the power transformer is disposed in the first opening and the second opening.

7. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a capacitor module, wherein the capacitor module is disposed at an opposite side of the power module from the driving circuit board.

8. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connector is a current sensor for detecting an alternate current output from the power module.

9. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the metal base provides an opening used to pass the first signal cable, and the guide board forms toward the inner surface of the apparatus casing from an edge for forming the opening.

10. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a driving circuit board, and a second signal cable connecting the control circuit board with the driving circuit board, wherein the driving circuit board is disposed between the power module and the metal base, and the metal base provides an opening for passing the second cable signal.