Inverter Bridge Busbar Spatial Arrangement

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inverters face challenges in efficiently utilizing identical components for various current and voltage ratios, leading to complex configurations and increased costs due to different semiconductor switch connections (parallel vs. series) and potential capacitive coupling issues.

Innovation Solution

The design features an inverter bridge with semiconductor switches connected in either parallel or series, using structurally identical components by adjusting the spatial arrangement of connections and employing a connection element that protrudes under the DC busbars, allowing for flexible configuration without complex shapes or busbar connections, and ensuring insulation to minimize capacitive coupling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If semiconductor switches are connected in parallel to increase current-carrying capacity, then high alternating currents can be handled, but the inverter requires different configurations for different current ratios leading to increased complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent-carrying capacityVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a single inverter circuit that can operate with different current and voltage ratios using the same semiconductor components. The inverter bridge is configured to handle both parallel-connected switches (for high current) and series-connected switches (for high voltage) without requiring different hardware configurations, making the device multi-functional and adaptable to various operating conditions.

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

2Power

If semiconductor switches are connected in series to allow voltage to drop across multiple switches, then high input voltages can be handled, but the inverter requires different configurations for different voltage ratios leading to increased complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage handling capabilityVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a single inverter circuit that can operate with different current and voltage ratios using the same semiconductor components. The inverter bridge is configured to handle both parallel-connected switches (for high current) and series-connected switches (for high voltage) without requiring different hardware configurations, making the device multi-functional and adaptable to various operating conditions.

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

3Ease of manufacture

If connection elements are routed through areas not overlapped by DC busbars, then connections can be made to semiconductor components, but capacitive coupling between DC busbars and connection elements occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection accessibilityVSAvoidcapacitive coupling
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing an insulating barrier between the DC busbars and the connection elements. This insulating layer acts as a mediator that allows the connection elements to be routed through the area overlapped by DC busbars for manufacturing convenience, while simultaneously preventing harmful capacitive coupling by providing electrical isolation between the high-voltage busbars and the connection paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2976832B1Inverter having at least one inverter bridge between two busbars
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 SMA SOLAR TECH AG
  • EP2976832B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP2976832B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6
  • EP2976832B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

An inverter has an inverter bridge which is connected between two DC busbars (8, 9) on the input side and is connected to an AC output (4) on the output side. The two DC busbars (8, 9) run, in a manner overlapping one another, in planes which are parallel to one another. The inverter bridge has a partial circuit having a plurality of semiconductor switches between the AC output (4) and each DC busbar (8, 9). Semiconductor modules (7) which form the two partial circuits are connected, in a manner arranged beside one another, to the two DC busbars (8, 9) and to the AC output (4) via connections (11 to 13). A connection element (17) which leads to the AC output (4) begins on that side of the DC busbar (8, 9) which faces the semiconductor modules (7) in a region overlapped by the DC busbars (8, 9) and connects the semiconductor modules (7) of the two partial circuits to one another there.