Power Semiconductor Bus Bar Clamping With Single-Screw Pressing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power semiconductor module arrangements face challenges in achieving cost-effective production with high flexibility and efficient external contact of bus bars or conductor rails, often requiring numerous screws for stable electrical connections.

Innovation Solution

A power semiconductor module arrangement featuring a bus bar with a horizontal extension and a pressing element comprising a screw nut and projecting sectors, allowing for a single screw to establish a stable electrical connection over a large area by pressing the bus bar ends together.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple screws are used to secure bus bars, then connection stability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidnumber of screws
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing element is divided into a screw portion and a pressing portion, allowing the fastening function and pressing function to be separated spatially. The screw portion provides secure anchoring while the pressing portion distributes force across multiple bus bars, achieving stable connections with fewer fasteners.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing element acts as an intermediary component between the screw and the bus bars. It converts the localized clamping force from a single screw into distributed pressing force across multiple bus bars, maintaining connection stability while reducing the total number of screws required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If numerous screws are used for stable electrical connections, then connection reliability is improved, but production efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection stabilityVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple bus bars are merged into a single pressing assembly, allowing one screw to secure multiple electrical connections simultaneously. This reduces the number of assembly operations required and improves production efficiency while maintaining reliable electrical connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing element serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical fastening, distributes pressing force, and secures multiple bus bars simultaneously. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components and assembly steps needed, thereby improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If a single screw is used to press multiple bus bars, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of fastening componentsVSAvoidpressing force distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing element features a distributed pressing surface with varying local properties. The pressing portion is designed with specific geometry to distribute force evenly across different bus bars, ensuring uniform contact pressure and reliable electrical connections while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4601424A1Power semiconductor module arrangement
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
  • EP4601424A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4601424A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4A
  • EP4601424A1 patent drawingFigure 4B~6A

AI summary

A power semiconductor module arrangement comprises a housing, a substrate arranged in or forming a bottom of the housing, a bus bar electrically coupled to the substrate and comprising a first end, and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end is electrically and mechanically coupled to the substrate, and the second end extends to the outside of the housing, and a pressing element, wherein the second end of the bus bar extends in a horizontal plane in parallel to the substrate, the second end of the bus bar comprises an opening extending therethrough in a vertical direction, wherein the vertical direction is perpendicular to the horizontal plane, the pressing element is arranged directly adjacent to a surface of the second end which faces towards the substrate, the pressing element comprises a screw nut, wherein the screw nut is aligned with the opening extending through the second end of the bus bar, and the pressing element further comprises one or more projecting sectors extending horizontally from the screw nut.