Press (non-soldered) contacts for high current electrical connections in power modules

• US 20020111050A1
• Filed: 09/20/2001
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Ballard Power Systems Corporation (Superior Plus Corporation)
• Inventors: Flett, Fred, Ahmed, Sayeed, Parkhill, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 6,793,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/65
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2223/665 Bias feed arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/50 for integrated circuit devices, e.g. power bus, number of leadsH01L23/482 - H01L23/498 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/66 High-frequency adaptations
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/072 the devices being arranged next to each other
• 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 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01039 Yttrium [Y]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/19041 being a capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/30107 Inductance
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 Impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0215 Grounding of printed circuits by connection to external grounding means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0231 Capacitors or dielectric substances
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0237 High frequency adaptations H05K1/0216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0306 Inorganic insulating substrates, e.g. ceramic, glass
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09345 Power and ground in the same plane; Power planes for two voltages in one plane
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10446 Mounted on an edge soldering edge mounted components H05K3/3405; edge terminals H05K2201/1034
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10636 Leadless chip, e.g. chip capacitor or resistor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/049 Wire bonding
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

An electrical connector for use in a power module includes a first end portion for forming an electrical connection with a substrate, a second end portion, and a compliant portion situated between the first end portion and the second end portion. The compliant portion includes a compressed position and a decompressed position. The first end portion is configured for forming an electrical connection with a substrate if the compliant portion is in the compressed position.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for use in a power module, comprising:

a first end portion for forming an electrical connection with a substrate;

a second end portion;

a compliant portion situated between said first end portion and said second end portion, wherein said compliant portion comprises a compressed position and a decompressed position; and

wherein said first end portion is configured for forming an electrical connection with a substrate if said compliant portion is in said compressed position.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein said first end portion extends outward from said second end portion.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein said first end portion extends inward to said second end portion.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein said compliant portion is curved.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein said compliant portion is curved outward from said second end portion

6. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein said compliant portion is curved inward to said second end portion.

7. The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising a means for compressing said compliant portion from said uncompressed position to said compressed position.

8. The electrical connector of claim 7, wherein said means for compressing is downward pressure applied to said compliant portion.

9. The electrical connector of claim 7, wherein said means for compressing is a component placed on said second end portion for exerting downward pressure to said compliant portion.

10. The electrical connector of claim 7, wherein said means for compressing is a fastener.

11. The electrical connector of claim 10, wherein said fastener is a bolt.

13. The DC Bus of claim 12, wherein said first end portion extends outward from said second end portion.

14. The DC Bus of claim 12, wherein said first end portion extends inward to said second end portion.

15. The DC Bus of claim 12, wherein said compliant portion is curved.

16. The DC Bus of claim 12, wherein said compliant portion is curved outward from said second end portion

17. The DC Bus of claim 12, wherein said compliant portion is curved inward to said second end portion.

18. The DC Bus of claim 12, further comprising a means for compressing said compliant portion from said uncompressed position to said compressed position.

19. The DC Bus of claim 18, wherein said means for compressing is downward pressure applied to said compliant portion.

20. The DC Bus of claim 18, wherein said means for compressing is a component placed on said second end portion for exerting downward pressure to said compliant portion.

21. The DC Bus of claim 18, wherein said means for compressing is a fastener.

22. The DC Bus of claim 21, wherein said fastener is a bolt.

12. A DC Bus for use in a power module, comprising:

a positive DC conductor bus plate;

a negative DC conductor bus plate placed parallel to said positive bus;

a connector fastenable from at least one of said positive bus or said negative bus to a substrate in a power module;

wherein said connector further comprises;

a first end portion for forming an electrical connection with a substrate;

a second end portion fastenable from at least one of said positive bus or said negative bus to a substrate in a power module;

a compliant portion situated between said first end portion and said second end portion, wherein said compliant portion comprises a compressed position and a decompressed position; and

wherein said first end portion is configured for forming an electrical connection with said substrate if said compliant portion is in said compressed position.