Active solid-state devices (e.g. – transistors – solid-state diode – Integrated circuit structure with electrically isolated... – Including high voltage or high power devices isolated from...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-06
2003-04-01
Loke, Steven (Department: 2811)
Active solid-state devices (e.g., transistors, solid-state diode
Integrated circuit structure with electrically isolated...
Including high voltage or high power devices isolated from...
C257S784000, C257S691000, C257S723000, C257S724000, C361S018000, C361S100000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06541838
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power module suitable for driving a switched reluctance motor (which will be hereinafter referred to as an “SR” motor).
2. Description of the Background Art
FIG. 10
is a circuit diagram showing a circuit structure of a conventional power module for driving an induction motor, a DC motor or the like. In the power module, three series circuits are connected in parallel with one another between a P power wiring
85
for transmitting a high potential side power potential and an N power wiring
86
for transmitting a low potential side power potential, each of the series circuits having two switching elements
81
connected in series. For example, an IGBT is used for the switching element
81
.
Each series circuit is further provided with a diode element
82
connected to each switching element
81
in antiparallel. The “antiparallel connection” implies such a parallel connection that a direction of a main current flowing in the switching element
81
is reverse to that of a forward current flowing in the diode element
82
. Consequently, the diode element
82
functions as a flywheel diode for preventing the switching element
81
from being damaged by a backward current.
An output terminal
83
,
84
or
85
is connected to a connecting portion of the two switching elements
81
belonging to the series circuit. Six switching elements
81
are selectively turned on and off out of phase so that outputs having three phases, that is, U, V and W phases are fetched from the output terminals
83
,
84
and
85
, respectively. Accordingly, the induction motor or the like can be driven through a connection of the output terminals
83
,
84
and
85
to three-phase inputs of the induction motor or the like, respectively.
In recent years, the SR motor different from a conventional induction motor or DC motor has appeared. However, a special connecting system for driving the SR motor is required and the power module shown in
FIG. 10
cannot be used. For this reason, each of a switching element and a diode element as discrete elements or a combination of conventional power modules has been employed as a driving device for driving the SR motor. As a result, there has been a problem in that the driving device is large-sized and is lacking in versatility and a manufacturing cost is increased. Consequently, the spread of the SR motor is obstructed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to eliminate the above-mentioned problems of the conventional art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a power module capable of driving the SR motor, giving a small size and high versatility and reducing the manufacturing cost.
A first aspect of the present invention is directed to a power module comprising a substrate, first and second power wirings provided over the substrate, first to Nth (N≧2) terminal pairs provided on the substrate, each pair thereof having first and second output terminals, and first to Nth circuits provided over the substrate, each circuit thereof being connected to the first and second power wirings, the nth circuit including, for all n (n=1 to N), a first series circuit having a first switching element connected to the first power wiring and a first diode element connected to the second power wiring which are connected in antiseries, a connecting portion thereof being connected to the first output terminal of the nth terminal pair, and a second series circuit having a second diode element connected to the first power wiring and a second switching element connected to the second power wiring which are connected in antiseries, a connecting portion thereof being connected to the second output terminal of the nth terminal pair, wherein the first to Nth circuits are arranged in this order, all of switching elements and diode elements connected to the first power wiring are arranged to form a first line, all of switching elements and diode elements connected to the second power wiring are arranged to form a second line aligned with the first line, the switching elements and the diode elements are arranged alternately in all of directions along the first line, along the second line and crossing the first and second lines, at least a portion of the first output terminal and at least a portion of the second output terminal are arranged between the first line and the second line for each of the first to Nth terminal pairs, and for the all n, the first switching element and the first diode element which belong to the nth circuit are connected through a first bonding wire, a middle portion of the first bonding wire being connected to the at least a portion of the first output terminal belonging to the nth terminal pair, and the second switching element and the second diode element which belong to the nth circuit are connected through a second bonding wire, a middle portion of the second bonding wire being connected to the at least a portion of the second output terminal belonging to the nth terminal pair.
A second aspect of the present invention is directed to a power module comprising a substrate, first and second power wirings provided over the substrate, first to Nth (N≧2) terminal pairs provided over the substrate, each pair thereof having first and second output terminals, and first to Nth circuits provided over the substrate, each circuit thereof being connected to the first and second power wirings, the nth circuit including, for all n (n=1 to N), a first series circuit having a first switching element connected to the first power wiring and a first diode element connected to the second power wiring which are connected in antiseries, a connecting portion thereof being connected to the first output terminal of the nth terminal pair, and a second series circuit having a second diode element connected to the first power wiring and a second switching element connected to the second power wiring which are connected in antiseries, a connecting portion thereof being connected to the second output terminal of the nth terminal pair, wherein the first to Nth circuits are arranged in this order, all of switching elements and diode elements connected to the first power wiring are arranged to form a first line, all of switching elements and diode elements connected to the second power wiring are arranged to form a second line aligned with the first line, the switching elements and the diode elements are arranged alternately in all of directions along the first line, along the second line and crossing the first and second lines, at least a portion of the first output terminal and at least a portion of the second output terminal are arranged like a band extended along the first line and the second line therebetween for each of the first to Nth terminal pairs, the second power wiring has a band-shaped portion extended along the first and second lines therebetween, and the band-shaped portion is arranged in parallel with the at least a portion of all of the first and second output terminals.
A third aspect of the present invention is directed to a power module comprising a substrate, first and second power wirings provided over the substrate, first to Nth (N≧2) terminal pairs provided over the substrate, each pair thereof having first and second output terminals, and first to Nth circuits provided over the substrate, each circuit thereof being connected to the first and second power wirings, the nth circuit including, for all n (n=1 to N), a first series circuit having a first switching element connected to the first power wiring and a first diode element connected to the second power wiring which are connected in antiseries, a connecting portion thereof being connected to the first output terminal of the nth terminal pair, and a second series circuit having a second diode element connected to the first power wiring and a second switching element connected to the second power wiring which are connected in antiseries, a connecting portion thereof being connected to the second ou
Fukada Masakazu
Suetsugu Eiji
Loke Steven
Mitsubishi Denki & Kabushiki Kaisha
Parekh Nitin
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