Surrounded Capacitor Busbar Layout for Compact Motor Controllers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor controllers in new energy vehicles face challenges in optimizing the connection structures, layout, cooling, and assembly efficiency of integrated motor and motor controllers, particularly in terms of circuit wiring and capacitor positioning, which affect space utilization and stability.

Innovation Solution

A laminated busbar assembly with capacitors is introduced, featuring a main circuit board, positive and negative electrode connection plates, and a mounting shell with collision avoidance holes and positioning posts, allowing for centralized terminal arrangement and stable capacitor support, optimizing circuit layout and reducing axial dimension.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the motor and motor controller are integrated to reduce footprint, then space utilization is improved, but heat dissipation becomes more challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefootprintVSAvoidheat dissipation
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The motor and motor controller are integrated into a single drive assembly with a unified housing, merging two separate components into one compact unit. This reduces the overall footprint while incorporating shared cooling resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The liquid cooling system serves dual purposes: it cools both the motor controller electronics and the motor simultaneously through a shared cooling channel system, making the cooling infrastructure multi-functional and efficient.

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

2Temperature

If power transistors are annularly arranged around the circuit board, then heat dissipation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidlayout complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power transistors are arranged in an annular (circular) pattern around the circuit board instead of a linear or grid layout. This curved arrangement optimizes heat dissipation by distributing heat sources evenly around the cooling channel while maintaining compactness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Temperature

If integrated liquid cooling is implemented, then heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipation efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The motor cooling groove and controller cooling groove are merged into a single integrated liquid cooling system with shared coolant flow paths, allowing one cooling infrastructure to serve multiple heat-generating components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling system is segmented into distinct cooling grooves for different components (motor cooling groove, controller cooling groove) that are independently designed but hydraulically connected, allowing modular manufacturing and assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Volume of moving object

If the controller is mounted at the rear end in axial direction, then space utilization is improved, but connection structure complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidconnection structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller mounting position is moved to the rear end in the axial direction, utilizing previously unused space in the axial dimension rather than radial or lateral directions, thereby optimizing the overall spatial arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enhances circuit wiring efficiency, improves assembly ease, and achieves a compact, stable, and highly integrated drive assembly by centralizing terminal connections and supporting capacitors, thus optimizing space utilization and operational stability.

Implementation Method 1

an outer wall of the housing is provided with a liquid cooling channel which includes a motor cooling groove and a controller cooling groove that communicate with each other

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The waste heat of the power transistors can be efficiently conducted to the interconnected controller cooling groove and motor cooling groove, realizing integrated liquid cooling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4181362B1Motor controller with capacitors surrounded, drive assembly and vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 ZHUHAI ENPOWER ELECTRIC
  • EP4181362B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4181362B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4181362B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to the field of new energy, and provides a motor controller with capacitors surrounded, a drive assembly, and a vehicle. The motor controller includes multiple capacitors, a main circuit board, a positive electrode connection plate in a form of a bottomed cylinder, and a negative electrode connection plate, wherein the main circuit board is provided with positioning posts with different diameters on a bottom, and outer edges of the positive and the negative electrode connection plates are each circumferentially provided with multiple pins. The multiple capacitors are arranged in a device accommodating space, the positioning posts and the negative electrode connection plate facilitate a stable connection of the capacitors, and the laminated assembly is simple.