Parallel Half-Bridge Power Switch Layout for Low Inductance

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power switches for electric vehicles face challenges in achieving low inductance, small footprint, efficient heat dissipation, and ease of mounting, while also being scalable to meet diverse electrical and mechanical constraints.

Innovation Solution

A power switch design featuring a pair of half bridges with parallel current flow, encapsulated in a protective polymer envelope, and a PCB controller, which reduces total power loop inductance to less than 2.5 nH, and includes terminals for easy soldering or sintering to a heatsink.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If power switches are designed to carry large currents and be turned ON and OFF rapidly, then power delivery capability is improved, but inductance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower delivery capabilityVSAvoidinductance

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power switch is divided into two separate half-bridge modules, each handling half of the total current. This segmentation allows each module to have lower individual inductance while collectively achieving high current capability. The two half-bridges operate in parallel with currents flowing in the same direction, which minimizes the total power loop inductance to less than 2.5 nH.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of energy

If power switches are designed with low inductance, then power delivery efficiency is improved, but footprint area increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower loop inductanceVSAvoidfootprint

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functional components including the two half-bridge modules, control circuitry, and interconnects are merged into a single integrated power switch module. This consolidation achieves low inductance by minimizing the power loop area while maintaining a compact footprint suitable for electric vehicle applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Speed

If power switches are designed for rapid switching, then power delivery response is improved, but heat dissipation requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswitching speedVSAvoidheat dissipation

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The power switch is divided into two separate half-bridge modules, each handling half of the total current. This segmentation allows each module to have lower individual inductance while collectively achieving high current capability. The two half-bridges operate in parallel with currents flowing in the same direction, which minimizes the total power loop inductance to less than 2.5 nH.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4527002B1Small footprint power switch

Publication Date: 2026.02.11 VISIC TECH

Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 2A

AI summary

An electrical power switch, the power switch comprising: a pair of substantially parallel half bridges; a printed circuit board (PCB) controller operable to turn ON and turn OFF the half bridges; power terminals for coupling a high energy power source to the half bridges; a power phase output terminal for connecting a load to the half bridges; wherein the half bridges, PCB, power terminals, and power phase output terminal, are encapsulated in a same encapsulation envelope having a relatively large planar first face surface on which contact surfaces of the terminals are exposed.