Planar Busbar With L-Shaped Impedance Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current busbar designs in power conversion applications fail to adequately minimize inductance, leading to voltage overshoots and reduced system efficiency due to high impedance across interconnections.

Innovation Solution

The busbar design incorporates L-shaped impedance elements on planar conductors with insulators to create a gap, reducing impedance by configuring these elements to be parallel and perpendicular to the conductor planes, thereby minimizing inductance across the busbar.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional busbar designs are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the inductance is high leading to voltage overshoots and reduced system efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem efficiencyVSAvoidbusbar structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The busbar is divided into multiple planar conductors (first planar conductor and second planar conductor) with insulators positioned between them. This segmentation allows the creation of a multi-layer structure that reduces inductance by separating current paths and minimizing loop area, directly addressing the high inductance problem in conventional single-structure busbars.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a conventional two-dimensional busbar layout to a three-dimensional multi-planar configuration. By stacking conductors and insulators in multiple layers with impedance elements extending in perpendicular directions, the design creates a compact 3D structure that reduces current loop area and inductance while maintaining a manageable form factor.

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

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the busbar uses parallel planar conductors with impedance elements, then inductance is reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage overshootsVSAvoidbusbar manufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into integrated components. The impedance elements are formed by extending conductor material perpendicular to the planar conductor surfaces, merging the conductor and impedance element into a single piece. The insulators are positioned to simultaneously provide electrical isolation and mechanical support, reducing the need for separate fastening components and simplifying assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The planar conductors serve multiple functions: they provide the primary current path, form impedance elements when extended perpendicular to the plane, and create defined gaps for insulation. The insulators simultaneously provide electrical isolation between conductors and mechanical spacing. This multi-functionality reduces the total component count and simplifies the manufacturing process.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2493043B1Busbar for power conversion applications
Publication Date: 2018.09.12 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
  • EP2493043B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2493043B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2493043B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A busbar (10) for power conversion applications that includes two planar conductors (20, 30) that have terminal locations (22, 32); a first planar insulator (40) located between the planar conductors (20, 30); two impedances elements (24, 34) that are electrically connected to each of the planar conductors (20, 30), wherein the impedance elements (24, 34) each extend in a plane that is non-coplanar from the planar conductors (20, 30), further wherein the impedance elements (24, 34) are configured so as to defme a gap (50) between them; and a second planar insulator (45) is located in the gap (50). The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiment(s), and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims.