Motor Controller PCB Layout With Buried Copper Bars

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing high-power motor control units face challenges in cost control, rational layout, and size reduction due to fixed power device modules and limited layout on power circuit boards, making it difficult to select the appropriate module based on system power level.

Innovation Solution

A motor control unit design that integrates copper bars and circuit boards, allowing flexible control of parallel-connected power devices, rational layout, and size reduction by pre-burying copper bars in the circuit board, enhancing electrical connections and shock resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a high-power motor control unit uses fixed power device modules with parallel-connected power devices, then the power handling capability is improved, but the adaptability to different system power levels deteriorates and cost control becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower handling capabilityVSAvoidadaptability to different system power levels
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The power device module is segmented into individual power devices that can be independently selected and connected in parallel. Instead of using a fixed module with predetermined number of parallel devices, the invention allows selecting different quantities of individual power devices based on system power requirements, enabling flexible adaptation to different power levels while maintaining cost control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If a fixed shape power device module is used, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the layout flexibility on power circuit board deteriorates and size reduction becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing process simplicityVSAvoidlayout flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The fixed power device module is divided into individual power devices that can be independently laid out on the power circuit board. This segmentation allows flexible arrangement of power devices according to electrical connection requirements and space constraints, improving layout flexibility and enabling size reduction while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized individual device mounting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a fixed two-dimensional module shape to a flexible two-dimensional layout on the circuit board. By abandoning the rigid module boundary and allowing power devices to be distributed across the board according to electrical requirements, the design achieves adaptive layout that optimizes both manufacturing and size.

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

3Productivity

If copper bars are not pre-buried in the circuit board, then the assembly process is simpler, but the electrical connection quality and shock resistance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly efficiencyVSAvoidelectrical connection quality and shock resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Copper bars are pre-buried in the circuit board during board manufacturing before final assembly. This preliminary action creates ready-made electrical connection pathways within the board structure, ensuring high-quality electrical connections and improved shock resistance. The pre-buried copper bars eliminate the need for separate connection steps, maintaining assembly efficiency while significantly enhancing connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4106175B1Motor controller and vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 CHINA FAW CO LTD
  • EP4106175B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4106175B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4106175B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed in embodiments of the disclosure are a motor control unit and a vehicle. The motor control unit includes a power circuit board, where the power circuit board includes a circuit board and a plurality of bridge arms; the circuit board includes a mounting surface and a non-mounting surface that are arranged oppositely, and the plurality of bridge arms are arranged on a plane where the mounting surface is located; each of the bridge arms includes an upper bridge arm and a lower bridge arm, and each of the upper bridge arms and the lower bridge arms includes a plurality of discrete power tubes; the power circuit board further includes a plurality of first copper bars and a plurality of second copper bars that are buried in the circuit board; the first copper bars correspond to the upper bridge arms one to one, and the plurality of power tubes in the same upper bridge arm are connected in parallel by the first copper bar; the second copper bars correspond to the lower bridge arms one to one, and the plurality of power tubes in the same lower bridge arm are connected in parallel by the second copper bar; and the power circuit board further includes a U-phase copper bar, a V-phase copper bar and a W-phase copper bar that are buried in the circuit board and configured to output a three-phase alternating current.