Power Conversion Device Circuit Board Layout for Delay Management

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In power conversion devices, communication delays between control circuits and drive circuits pose challenges in preventing shoot-through currents and require effective management, while existing designs often result in larger device sizes due to irregular wiring lengths.

Innovation Solution

A circuit board configuration with a control circuit arrangement area interposed between two drive circuit arrangement areas, along with separate current detection and high voltage circuit areas, ensures equalized wiring lengths and facilitates communication delay management, allowing for a compact power conversion device design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the control circuit and drive circuits are mounted on separate boards connected by wire harness, then the device size is larger, but the communication delay management is simpler

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidcommunication delay management
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit and drive circuits are merged onto a single circuit board, eliminating the need for wire harness connections. This integration reduces the overall device volume while the symmetrical layout design manages communication delays by equalizing signal path lengths between the control circuit and multiple drive circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit board layout transitions from a linear or asymmetrical arrangement to a symmetrical two-dimensional configuration where the control circuit is centrally positioned and drive circuits are arranged symmetrically on both sides. This dimensional reorganization equalizes communication path lengths and simplifies delay management.

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

2Ease of manufacture

If the drive circuits are arranged irregularly on the circuit board, then the wiring is simpler, but the communication delay times between control circuit and drive circuits become unequal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewiring simplicityVSAvoidcommunication delay equality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The circuit board layout employs deliberate asymmetry in the sense that the control circuit is positioned centrally while drive circuits are distributed symmetrically on both sides. This creates equal communication path lengths from the central control circuit to drive circuits on either side, ensuring equal communication delay times while maintaining wiring simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The symmetrical arrangement of drive circuits around the central control circuit creates equipotential communication conditions, where signal transmission distances and delays are equalized. This ensures that all drive circuits receive control signals with identical timing characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

3Volume of moving object

If multiple functional areas are integrated on a single circuit board, then the device size is reduced, but the circuit board layout complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidcircuit board layout
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The circuit board is segmented into distinct functional areas: a central control circuit arrangement area and drive circuit arrangement areas positioned on both sides. This segmentation organizes multiple functions into structured zones, reducing layout complexity while maintaining compact integration and minimizing interference between different circuit functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11336197B2Power conversion device
Publication Date: 2022.05.17 ASTEMO LTD
  • US11336197B2 patent drawing
  • US11336197B2 patent drawing
  • US11336197B2 patent drawing

AI summary

This power conversion device includes a power module that has a plurality of power devices, and a circuit board that is connected to the power module, in which the circuit board has a drive circuit arrangement area in which a plurality of drive circuits for driving the plurality of power devices are disposed and a control circuit arrangement area in which a control circuit for controlling the drive circuit is disposed, and two drive circuit arrangement areas are provided with the control circuit arrangement area interposed therebetween.