EMC filter components, semiconductor components, and / or DC link EMC systems with improved damping of DC links

Abstract

To provide an EMC filter with reduced noise level on an output side.SOLUTION: An EMC filter component with improved noise levels is provided. The component includes a first interface, a second interface, a filter circuit, and / or a mechanical connection. The filter circuit is electrically connected between the first interface and the second interface. The mechanical connection is provided and configured to mechanically connect the component to an external mounting location. The mechanical connection is also provided and configured to electrically connect the filter circuit to a ground potential of the external mounting location.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an EMC filter component having an improved noise level, e.g., increased attenuation, to a semiconductor component that can be connected to the EMC filter component, and to a corresponding DC-Link EMC system that can include the EMC filter component and the semiconductor component. [Background technology]

[0002] To allow electromagnetic components to be used together with or in the vicinity of one or several other electric or electronic components, EMC filters (EMC = electromagnetic compatibility) can be used to reduce or eliminate the undesired contribution of the electric or electronic components.

[0003] For example, an electric motor drive can be a source of such unwanted emissions that should be reduced or eliminated to avoid unwanted interference with other circuit components. To achieve that end, an EMC filter can be electrically connected, for example, between the power supply and the electric motor drive.

[0004] For example, in an electrically powered vehicle, a battery provides electrical energy to an electric motor drive. The battery provides DC (direct current) current at a particular voltage. When the electric motor drive requires another form of electrical energy, such as AC (alternating current) or another voltage, an inverter can be used to convert the battery's electrical energy so that the electric motor drive can fully utilize the battery. However, the inverter can also be a source of undesired emissions. Accordingly, an EMC filter can be used to reduce or eliminate undesired emissions from the inverter.

[0005] The performance of an EMC filter is characterized by the reduction in the amount of unwanted emissions, ie noise produced at the output of the EMC filter. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Accordingly, the object is to provide an EMC filter with a reduced noise level at its output. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To this end, an EMC filter component and a corresponding further component to be connected to the EMC filter component are provided according to the independent claims. The dependent claims provide preferred embodiments, such as a system comprising the filter component and the further electrical component.

[0008] The EMC filter component includes a first interface, a second interface, a filter circuit, and a mechanical connection. The filter circuit is electrically connected between the first interface and the second interface. The electrical connection is provided and configured to mechanically connect the EMC filter component to an external mounting location. The mechanical connection is provided and configured to electrically connect the filter circuit to a ground potential of the external mounting location.

[0009] The EMC filter component of the present invention is based on the idea of ​​providing an improved ground connection in order to reduce the noise level provided at the output side of the EMC filter component. Conventional EMC filter components have, in addition to the power connection, a separate connection which is connected exclusively to the ground potential of the environment of the EMC filter component.

[0010] Clearly, an intuitive approach to enhancing attenuation by improving the ground connection would be to extend the separate ground connection, for example by adding parallel shunt paths to the ground, thus increasing the number of ground connections and conductors to ground potential compared to conventional EMC filter components.

[0011] Thus, the approach proposed by the EMC filter component of the present invention is counterintuitive, since instead of increasing the number of ground connectors and improving the effort by providing additional ground conductors, the number of specific dedicated ground conductors is reduced. Specifically, ground conductors dedicated solely to providing ground connections are completely eliminated. Instead, it is proposed to use mounting connections to other circuit components and / or ground connections of other circuit components.

[0012] However, while there is a common understanding that omitting special dedicated ground connections results in degradation of component ground connections, it has been found that improved ground connections can be obtained, resulting in reduced noise levels. The reason for this surprising effect is that the resulting ground connections can have a shorter effective connector length. Thus, the reduction in effort to obtain ground connections results in the need for less space, smaller components, reduced conductor material, and / or improved performance.

[0013] In the EMC filter component, the first interface can include an electrical connection to an electrical component from which the EMC filter obtains electrical energy. The second interface can include an electrical connection through which the EMC filter component supplies power—with reduced noise levels and reduced amounts of undesired emissions—to an external circuit environment. Specifically, the first interface can be provided and configured to connect the EMC filter component to a battery or an inverter electrically connected between the battery and the EMC filter component. The second interface can be used to electrically connect the EMC filter component to an electric motor drive, for example, of an electric vehicle.

[0014] The filter circuit of the EMC filter component can include filter elements, such as active or passive filter elements, such as inductive, resistive, and / or capacitive elements, that form a filter network. Conventional filter network topologies are possible for the current EMC filter component. The external mounting locations are located within the direct vicinity of the EMC filter component. Mechanical connections can be used to mount the EMC filter component in a mechanically stable configuration such that vibrations or inertial forces cannot relocate the EMC filter component. The external mounting locations can be mounting locations of further electrical components within the vicinity of the EMC filter component. In particular, the external mounting locations can be mounting locations on electrical components to which the EMC filter component is directly connected, such as a battery, an inverter, or an electric motor drive.

[0015] The EMC filter component may further include a DC link capacitor as a circuit element.

[0016] The external mounting location can be, for example, the mounting location of a component such as a semiconductor component, for example an inverter, which provides a ground potential for the EMC filter component.

[0017] The mechanical connection is thus a dual purpose connection providing a mechanically stable connection and an electrical connection to ground potential with a short effective conductor length.

[0018] The mechanical connection may include or consist of a material selected from conductive materials, metals and / or alloys.

[0019] Specifically, the conductive material may include or consist of copper, aluminum, silver, gold, or alloys thereof.

[0020] The mechanical connection may have an elongated shape with an extension directed away from the component.

[0021] The component may have a housing or chassis in which the electrical elements of the filter circuit are located. To provide an electrically and mechanically stable connection to the environment of the EMC filter component, the elongated shape and extensions directed away from the component's housing or chassis ensure the shortest possible connection to the external mounting location.

[0022] The elongate shape may have sections along its length with uniform cross sections.

[0023] The elongated shape can have a cross section that can be selected from a quadratic cross section, a rectangular cross section, a circular cross section, an elliptical cross section, or other shapes, for example an L-shape, that provide the possibility of mechanical and / or electrical connections.

[0024] Additionally, the mechanical connection can include a flat area, the flat area having a hole.

[0025] In this regard, the distal end of the mechanical connection is the end of the mechanical connection opposite the end that directly attaches the connection to another element of the EMC filter component.

[0026] Providing a flat area of ​​the mechanical connection ensures that a large contact area is provided to the corresponding connection end of the external attachment location.

[0027] Providing holes in the flat areas of the mechanical connection ensures that a mechanically stable connection can be ensured, for example, by means of bolts and nuts.

[0028] The mechanical connection can include one, two, three or more pieces.

[0029] Each part of the mechanical connection provides a separate, mechanically stable connection and an electrical connection with a short effective conductor length. Each part can have a similar structure, for example, with an elongated shape directed away from the body of the filter component and a flat distal end with a hole.

[0030] At least all parts of the mechanical connection relating to one of the two interfaces can be located on the same side of the component.

[0031] This ensures short conductor lengths and a mechanically stable connection.

[0032] Furthermore, a purely electrical connection can be arranged between two of the parts of the mechanical connection, at least in the horizontal plane between the parts of the mechanical connection.

[0033] The first interface may be provided and configured for electrical connection to a component selected from a further electrical component, a semiconductor component, an inverter, a battery, an electric motor drive.

[0034] The first interface may include one, two, three or more connections for connection to a first potential and one, two, three or more connections to be connected to a second potential, which may be different from ground potential.

[0035] Similarly, a second interface may be provided and configured for electrical connection to a component selected from a further electrical component, a semiconductor component, an inverter, a battery, an electric motor drive.

[0036] In this respect, the electric motor can also be thought of as a generator.

[0037] The EMC filter component can further include a second mechanical connection on a side of the second interface. Similar to the description above, the second mechanical connection can be provided and configured to mechanically connect the component to a second external mounting location. The second mechanical connection can also be provided and configured to electrically connect the filter component to the ground potential of the second external mounting location.

[0038] Thus, the second interface may include one, two, three or more connections for a first potential, one, two, three or more connections for a second potential, and one, two, three or more connections for a ground potential.

[0039] In this respect, the electrical connections can be connections of the first and / or second interface, respectively.

[0040] The filter circuit may further include resistance elements, capacitance elements, and inductance elements as circuit elements.

[0041] The two inductance elements of the filter circuit may be magnetically coupled.

[0042] In a first embodiment of the EMC filter component, the EMC filter includes two power lines. In each power line, two inductance elements are electrically connected in series. Each of the inductance elements is magnetically coupled to a corresponding inductance element in a respective other power line. Three capacitance elements can be electrically connected between the two power lines. The first interface can include three connections electrically connected to one of the two power lines and three other connections electrically connected to the respective other power lines.

[0043] The first interface further includes a first part and a second part of a mechanical connection. Each of the two mechanical connections of the first interface is electrically coupled to one of the two power lines of the filter. Specifically, the coupling can be achieved by a series connection of a resistive element and a parallel connection of two capacitive elements. The parallel connection of the capacitive elements can establish a Y2 class safety capacitor, i.e., a safety capacitor with pulse capability up to 5000V.

[0044] Furthermore, at the second interface, the EMC filter component can have a first connection electrically connected to the first power line, a second connection electrically connected to the second power line, and an additional ground connection, for example via the above-mentioned mechanical connection on the side of the second interface. The ground connections can be electrically connected to each of the two power lines with respective series connections of resistive and / or capacitive elements. The capacitive elements can also correspondingly establish a Y2 class safety capacitor.

[0045] In the second embodiment, the first interface differs from the first interface described above in that there is only one mechanical connection, which is electrically connected to each of the two power lines via a series connection of two parallel connections of capacitance and resistance elements, respectively.

[0046] The DC link EMC system may include EMC filter components as described above and semiconductor components as described below. The EMC filter components and / or semiconductor components may be electrically and / or mechanically connected to each other via their mechanical connections.

[0047] The semiconductor component establishes the possibility for further electrical components to be electrically and mechanically connected to the EMC filter component. The semiconductor component can include a first interface, a second interface, and a semiconductor circuit, along with mechanical connections. The semiconductor circuit is electrically connected between the first interface and the second interface. The mechanical connections are provided and configured to mechanically connect the component to, for example, an external mounting location of the EMC filter component. The mechanical connections are also provided and configured to electrically connect the semiconductor circuit to the mechanical connections of the EMC filter component.

[0048] The semiconductor component can be an inverter, so that the semiconductor circuit of the semiconductor component includes corresponding semiconductor switches and further circuits required to establish the inverter function, for example to convert the power energy provided by a battery into the power energy required by the electric motor drive.

[0049] For example, a component, such as a filter component or a semiconductor component or a system including a semiconductor component and a filter component, can be used in a system selected from an electrical system and a vehicle electrical system, in particular between a battery and an electric motor drive.

[0050] The core operating principles and / or details of preferred embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying schematic drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0051] [Figure 1] The basic elements of the EMC filter component EFC are shown. [Figure 2] The basic elements of a semiconductor circuit SC are shown. [Figure 3] 1 shows a system including a semiconductor component SC and an EMC filter component EFC. [Figure 4] 1 shows a perspective view of a first interface of an EMC filter component EFC. [Figure 5] 1 shows a perspective view of a system including a semiconductor component and a filter component. [Figure 6] 1 shows a close-up of the actual contact area of ​​the mechanical connection. [Figure 7] 1 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of one possible filter circuit. [Figure 8] 1 shows an alternative equivalent circuit diagram of the filter circuit FC. [Figure 9] 1 illustrates the performance of an EMC filter component with a conventional ground connection. [Figure 10] A comparison is shown between the performance levels of conventional and improved EMC filter components. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0052] 1 shows the basic elements of an EMC filter component EFC. The filter component EFC comprises a first interface I1 and a second interface I2. A mechanical connection MC is arranged on the side of the first interface I1. The mechanical connection MC is made with sufficient mechanical strength to securely attach the EMC filter component EFC to an external mounting location. In addition, the mechanical connection MC also provides electrical functionality, since it is provided and configured to electrically connect the EMC filter component EFC to the ground potential of the external mounting location.

[0053] Thus, in FIG. 1, the first interface comprises two purely electrical connections located between the mechanical connection MC and two further dual-purpose mechanical connections MC for mechanically and / or electrically connecting the component EFC to the external circuit environment.

[0054] On each other side, the second interface I2 includes dedicated electrical connections for carrying power to and from the filter components.

[0055] Of course, the provision of a mechanical connection MC as provided in the first interface I1 is also possible in the second interface I2.

[0056] Correspondingly, Figure 2 shows the basic elements of a dedicated circuit component to be connected to an EMC filter component EFC as shown in Figure 1. By way of example only, the component can be a semiconductor component SC which, in addition to the electrical connection at the second interface I2, also has a mechanical connection MC at the second interface I2. The semiconductor component SC has a further electrical connection at the first interface I1.

[0057] Figure 3 shows a system including the semiconductor component SC of Figure 2 electrically and mechanically connected to an EMC filter component as shown in Figure 1. The mechanical connections MC of the EMC filter component EFC are mechanically and electrically connected to corresponding mechanical connections MC of the semiconductor component SC. In particular, a first interface I1 of the EMC filter component EFC is electrically and / or mechanically connected to a second interface I2 via a mechanical connection.

[0058] It is possible for the components shown in this application that the first interface is an interface electrically configured to receive electrical energy from an external circuit environment, while the second interface is an interface provided for transferring electrical energy to other elements of the electrical circuit environment. Correspondingly, the semiconductor circuit can receive electrical energy at its first interface I1 and provide it to the EMC filter component EFC at its second interface I2, while the EMC filter component EFC receives electrical energy at its first interface I1 and provides it via its second interface I2, for example to a motor drive.

[0059] The semiconductor circuit SC may have a good connection to the ground potential of the system's circuit environment, in which case the mechanical connection MC may also be utilized to use the ground connection of the semiconductor component for the circuit components of the EMC filter component so that efforts to form separate ground connections at the sides of the EMC filter component are not required, while improving the performance of the EMC filter component.

[0060] The number of connections per interface can be two (as shown in FIG. 2), three (as shown for the first interface in FIG. 2), or more. When the number of connections is three, the interface can be configured to handle three-phase power signals.

[0061] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the housing side of the EMC filter component EFC, where the connection of the first interface I1 is located. Specifically, the first interface can include a first piece of mechanical connection MC and a second piece of mechanical connection MC, where the two pieces are located on opposite sides of the body of the filter component EFC. Between the two pieces of mechanical connection MC, the first interface has three connections C1 dedicated to electrical connection to a first potential and three further electrical connections C2 dedicated to connection to a second potential. Furthermore, the component has a compartment for accommodating a Y2 capacitor on the side of the corresponding piece of mechanical connection MC. The piece of mechanical connection itself has an elongated shape facing away from the body of the filter component EFC. The elongated part has a section with a rectangular or quadratic cross section. The distal end of the piece has a flat section with holes that allow for easy-to-perform yet rigid connection via bolts and / or nuts.

[0062] For each of the connections C1, C2 of the interface and for each of the parts of the mechanical connection MC, a corresponding counter element is provided on the side of the component with the external mounting location so that a good electrical and / or mechanical connection is obtained.

[0063] In this regard, it should be noted that the connections C1, C2 that provide the electrical connection can also provide a certain degree of mechanical stability when connected to their corresponding counterparts, however the mechanical stability of the connection via the mechanical connections is substantially stronger in terms of tensile or shear forces, for example by a factor of 2, 5 or 10.

[0064] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a system including an EMC filter component EFC on one side and a semiconductor component SC on the respective other side.

[0065] The semiconductor component also has a first interface I1 for receiving power, and the filter component EFC has a corresponding second interface I2 for providing power.

[0066] Figure 6 illustrates an enlarged view of the connection area of ​​the mechanical connection MC of one of the components shown in Figure 5. The flat surface of the distal end of the mechanical connection MC of the filter component is in direct contact with the corresponding flat surface of the mechanical connection MC of the semiconductor component. Each of the corresponding distal ends has a hole. The attachment is performed so that the holes overlap relative to their positions so that a common bolt can be inserted into the common hole of the mechanical connection.

[0067] FIG. 7 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of one embodiment of a filter circuit FC. The filter circuit FC includes a first power line PL1 and a second power line PL2. The first power line PL1 electrically connects a connection of the second interface I2 to three connections of the first interface. The second power line PL2 electrically connects each of the other connections of the second interface I2 to three connections of the first interface I1. Each power line includes two inductance elements electrically connected in series with each other. Each inductance element is magnetically coupled to the inductance element of the respective other power line. Furthermore, three capacitance elements C5, C6, and C7 electrically connect the two power lines PL1 and PL2 to each other. A ground connection GND established by the mechanical connection MC2 of the second interface I2 is electrically connected to the first power line through a series connection of a capacitance element C9 and a resistance element R4, and to the second power line PL2 through a series connection of a capacitance element C8 and a resistance element R3.

[0068] A first component and / or a second component of the mechanical connection MC is disposed on a side of the first interface I1. The first component is electrically connected to the first power line PL1 via a series connection. The series connection includes a resistive element R2 and a parallel connection of capacitance elements C3 and C4 that establish a Y2-class safety capacitor. Furthermore, each second component of the mechanical connection MC is electrically connected to the second power line PL2 via a series connection. The series connection includes a resistive element R1 and a parallel connection of two capacitance elements C1 and C2 that also establish a Y2-class safety capacitor.

[0069] Providing a ground connection via a very short conductor reduces the effort of the ground connection, reduces the spatial area required for the component, and enhances the performance of the filter component.

[0070] An alternative possibility for the filter circuit FC is shown in FIG. 8. The circuit configuration of the filter functionality and the circuit configuration on the side of the second interface correspond to those shown in FIG. 7. However, the component shown in FIG. 8 only has one part, the mechanical connection MC. This part is electrically connected to the second power line PL2 via a series connection consisting of a resistive element R2 and a parallel connection of capacitive elements C3 and / or C4. The connection between the mechanical connection MC part and the first power line PL1 is established via the series connection of the resistive element R1 and the parallel connection of the capacitive elements C1 and C2.

[0071] 9 and / or 10 illustrate the electrical performance of a conventional EMC filter component compared to the improved EMC filter component described above. In particular, the upper left portion of Fig. 9 shows (curve A) the differential mode attenuation and (curve B) the typical common mode attenuation.

[0072] The top right of Figure 9 shows typical noise from a filtered motor drive as curve C.

[0073] The bottom right part of FIG. 9 shows the common mode noise CMN with respect to ground potential and the differential mode noise DMN as noise between potentials for a typical noise.

[0074] In contrast, the top left of Figure 10 shows (curve D) the differential mode attenuation and (curve F) the common mode attenuation with a non-optimized ground connection, and (curve E) the common mode attenuation with the improved ground connection as described above.

[0075] The top right part of Figure 10 shows the typical noise of an inverter system with a filter (peak G of the curve).

[0076] The lower right portion of Figure 10 illustrates the difference in performance in terms of noise level. Specifically, at an operating frequency of 400 KHz, the improved EMC filter component (curve I), due to its counterintuitive yet effective ground connection, has a noise level that is reduced by approximately 20 dB compared to the noise level without the filter (curve H). [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] C1, C2: First electrical connection, second electrical connection CMN Common Mode Noise DMN Differential Mode Noise EFC EMC filter components FC filter circuit GND Connection to ground HV-, HV+ First potential, Second potential I1, 12 First interface, second interface MC: Mechanical connection MC2: Mechanical connection PL1, PL2: First and second power lines of the filter circuit SC Semiconductor Components Y2 Y2 class safety capacitor

Claims

1. a first interface, a second interface, a filter circuit, and a mechanical connection; 1. An EMC filter component, comprising: the filter circuit is electrically connected between the first interface and the second interface; the mechanical connection is provided and configured to mechanically connect the EMC filter component to an external mounting location; the mechanical connection is provided and configured to electrically connect the filter circuit to a ground potential of the external mounting location; the first interface includes an electrical connection; the mechanical connection includes at least two parts; the electrical connection is disposed between the two parts of the mechanical connection; EMC filter components.

2. 2. The EMC filter component of claim 1, wherein the external mounting location is a mounting location for a semiconductor component that provides a ground potential to the EMC filter component.

3. 3. The EMC filter component according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical connection comprises or is made of a material selected from a conductive material, a metal, and an alloy.

4. An EMC filter component according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mechanical connection has an elongated shape with an extension directed away from the EMC filter component.

5. 5. An EMC filter component according to claim 4, wherein the elongated shape has an area along the direction of the extension with a uniform cross section.

6. 6. An EMC filter component according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the elongated shape has a cross section selected from a square cross section, a rectangular cross section, a circular cross section, an elliptical cross section.

7. An EMC filter component according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the mechanical connection has a distal end including a flat area with a hole.

8. An EMC filter component according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the mechanical connection comprises three or more parts.

9. 9. The EMC filter component of claim 8, wherein all parts of the mechanical connection are located on the same side of the EMC filter component.

10. 10. An EMC filter component according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first interface is provided and configured for electrical connection to a component selected from a further electrical component, a semiconductor component, an inverter, a battery, an electric motor drive.

11. The first interface includes: one, two, three or more connections to be connected to a first potential; one, two, three or more connections for connection to a second potential; An EMC filter component according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. 12. An EMC filter component according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the second interface is provided and configured for electrical connection to a component selected from a further electrical component, a semiconductor component, an inverter, a battery, an electric motor drive.

13. a second mechanical connection on the side of the second interface; the second mechanical connection is provided and configured to mechanically connect the EMC filter component to a second external mounting location; the second mechanical connection is also provided and configured to electrically connect the filter circuit to a ground potential of the second external mounting location. An EMC filter component according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. The second interface includes: one, two, three or more connections for a first potential; one, two, three or more connections for a second potential; one, two, three or more connections for ground potential; An EMC filter component according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. An EMC filter component according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the filter circuit comprises a resistive element, a capacitive element and an inductive element.

16. An EMC filter component according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein two inductance elements are mechanically coupled.

17. an EMC filter component according to any one of claims 15 or 16; a semiconductor component including a first interface, a second interface, a semiconductor circuit, and a mechanical connection; the semiconductor circuit is electrically connected between the first interface and the second interface, the mechanical connection is provided and configured for mechanically connecting the EMC filter component to an external mounting location, and the mechanical connection is also provided and configured for electrically connecting the semiconductor circuit to the mechanical connection of the EMC filter component; the EMC filter component and the semiconductor component are electrically and mechanically connected to each other via their mechanical connections; DC link EMC system.

18. 20. The DC link EMC system of claim 17, wherein the semiconductor component is an inverter.

19. A system selected from an electrical system or an electrical system of a vehicle, an EMC filter component according to any one of claims 1 to 16 or a DC link EMC system according to any one of claims 17 to 18 arranged between a battery and an electric motor drive; system.

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