Motor controller power switch arrangement

Abstract

A polyphase inverter employs multiple power semiconductor switches both for its operation and to distribute the current and heat loads for improved operation and cooling. The inherently high currents required for motor operation are divided among a plurality of smaller conductors and semiconductor switches, making a printed wiring board feasible both for power distribution and for control. The approach also permits shorter path lengths to the switches, reduced inductance, faster possible operation of the power switches, and reduced transient activity outside of the immediate switch area. Signals derived from various power points can enable the controller to assess actual current and power distribution and to apportion losses appropriately, or to limit total power output should the losses be deemed excessive.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 09 / 392,402 filed on Sep. 9, 1999.[0002] The present invention relates to apparatus used to drive a multi-phase motor from a direct current source. In particular it considers not the detailed circuitry, but rather the method and arrangement of the power components and electrical switches used.[0003] In the design of inverters for operating multi-phase motors from a DC power source, various types of solid-state or semiconductor switches are employed. Although modern semiconductor switches, such as MOS-FETs have very low losses, the problems caused by the heat losses of the switching devices cannot be avoided when motors of even modest power are controlled.[0004] Traditionally this problem has been solved by employing large heat sinks. These require space that is not always available. Alternatively, liquid cooling has been successful in some cases, but the physical problems of large power conductors used to conne...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] Another objective is to improve the cooling of the switching elements by permitting multiple heat flow paths from the various switching elements to the heat sink(s).

[0015] Another objective is to reduce the inductance of the switching arrangement (and thereby increase its effective switching speed) by allowing each of the switching circuits to be essentially self-contained.

[0019] Thus, the present invention presents an improvement over existing arrangements, wherein a plurality of electronic switches are arranged and / or mounted in a manner so as to distribute the switch heat losses among a plurality of locations. Each of the electronic switches is provided with its own connections to the power supply, as well as to the motor being controlled. The use of equal length conductors from the power supply to the switches and to the load tends to enhance the equality of load sharing among the multiple electronic switches. This also enables the use of thinner and more flexible conductors, which are more easily handled and terminated, and which permits them to be terminated to a printed wiring board. Printed board mounting is especially important, since the ancillary circuitry needed for control and protection of the power devices can be mounted to the board as well--in close proximity, and with minimal wiring between them. In particular, each switch can have its own power supply filter capacitor (from which surges of current may be drawn) close by. In addition, a smaller capacitor may be mounted directly across the electronic switch (and on the printed board) which can constrain switching transients to the area of the switch itself, preventing them from radiating and in particular preventing them from reaching as far as the current sensing resistor which is used for monitoring the switch current. The novel arrangement allows the electronic switches to be mounted around a portion of the periphery of the motor frame so as to use the motor frame as a heatsink. The arrangement around the motor frame periphery is not critical. A symmetrical arrangement can be used, and such an arrangement provides for good distribution of heat. However, an asymmetric arrangement can also be employed. This use of the motor frame as a heatsink is particularly advantageous if the motor frame is submerged in a fluid, or if it can be liquid cooled. Additional electronic switches can be accommodated by "doubling up" the mounting in pairs, which requires the use of an intermediate heat distributing body to conduct the heat from the electronic switch elements to the motor frame. These can be used as additional switches, or the pairs of elements can be connected electrically in parallel to form each switching element. The arrangement also allows means for sampling or measuring the actual voltage drops across the electronic switches when in their closed state. This voltage drop can be used by the controller to compensate for variations in the "on" resistance of the various electronic switches, and to alter the duty cycles so as to equalize the heat load among them or to shut the system down if this can not be accomplished. To aid in control, the switch output currents can be monitored by an ohmic sensing resistor of low wattage, which can also be mounted to the printed board.

Problems solved by technology

However, these arrangements have in the past required greater physical space as well as larger electrical conductors for their interconnection.

Also, as the heat sinks become larger physically the electrical inductance is increased and other switching problems develop.

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