Power Inverter Busbar Orientation for Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Power inverters used in vehicles generate significant noise, which affects the controllability of electrical motors and can interfere with vehicle auxiliary components like radios, necessitating a reduction in noise-related deterioration and interference.

Innovation Solution

The power inverter design includes a power semiconductor module, control circuit board, driver circuit board, conductive base plate with a fine and long wiring opening, control wiring, and AC busbars arranged perpendicular to the wiring opening, with current sensors and a magnetic core to reduce noise immunity and electromagnetic interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the AC busbar is arranged parallel to the wiring opening portion, then the wiring layout is simplified, but electromagnetic noise increases and noise immunity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewiring layout simplicityVSAvoidelectromagnetic noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The AC busbar is arranged perpendicular to the wiring opening portion rather than parallel, creating an asymmetric layout that minimizes the coupling between the AC busbar and the control wiring. This asymmetric arrangement reduces electromagnetic noise interference while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

A conductive base plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the driver circuit board and the control circuit board. The base plate provides a reference potential that shields the control wiring from electromagnetic noise generated by the AC busbar, effectively mediating the interaction between noisy power components and sensitive control circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the conductive base plate is removed to reduce component count, then device complexity decreases, but noise immunity and electromagnetic interference protection worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent countVSAvoidelectromagnetic interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive base plate serves as an intermediary shielding component that provides electromagnetic noise protection. By placing the base plate between the power circuit components and control circuit components, it creates a reference potential barrier that prevents noise coupling, justifying its inclusion despite the increase in component count.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The conductive base plate, which could be seen as an additional component increasing complexity, actually converts the electromagnetic noise problem into a benefit by providing a controlled reference potential that actively shields sensitive circuits. The base plate transforms the noise environment into a protected environment through its shielding function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the AC busbar extends parallel to the wiring opening, then the magnetic field distribution is more uniform, but magnetic field leakage to the control circuit board increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic field distribution uniformityVSAvoidmagnetic field leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The AC busbar is positioned perpendicular to the wiring opening portion, creating an asymmetric orientation that minimizes the projection of the busbar's magnetic field onto the control circuit board. This perpendicular arrangement reduces magnetic field leakage to sensitive areas while maintaining adequate uniformity in the power distribution region.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The conductive base plate acts as an intermediary that provides magnetic shielding between the AC busbar and the control circuit board. The base plate's high permeability material properties redirect magnetic flux lines, preventing leakage to the control circuits while maintaining stable magnetic field distribution in the power circuit region.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This configuration enhances noise immunity by shortening the induced current detour path, reducing magnetic fields that leak to the control circuit board and minimizing electromagnetic noise, thereby improving the reliability and performance of the power inverter.

Implementation Method 1

a conductive base plate arranged in a space between the driver circuit board and the control circuit board

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic shielding: Faraday Cage

Implementation Method 2

at least a portion of the AC busbar that faces the wiring opening portion extends in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the fine and long wiring opening portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 3

a power semiconductor device inverting a DC current into an AC current

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical power conversion:

Implementation Method 4

a control circuit board that outputs a control signal used for controlling the power semiconductor device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical signal control:

Data Source

PatentEP2660969B1Electrical power conversion device
Publication Date: 2020.04.08 HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYST LTD
  • EP2660969B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2660969B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2660969B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a power inverter including a power semiconductor module (300) that includes a power semiconductor device, a control circuit board (20) that outputs a control signal used for controlling the power semiconductor device, a driver circuit board (22) that outputs a driving signal used for driving the power semiconductor device, a conductive metal base plate (11) arranged in a space between the driver circuit board (22) and the control circuit board (20) in which a fine and long opening portion (113) is formed, a wiring (115) that connects the driver circuit board (22) and the control circuit board (20) through the opening portion (113) and delivers the control signal to the driver circuit board (22), and an AC busbar (802) that is arranged on a side opposite to the metal base plate (11) through the driver circuit board (22) and delivers an AC current output from the power semiconductor module (300) to a drive motor, and at least a portion of the AC busbar (802) that faces the opening portion (113) extends in a direction directly running in a longitudinal direction of the fine and long opening portion (113).