Substrate Spacing Member for Inverter Component Fixation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In compact inverter devices, it is challenging to temporarily fix electronic components between two substrates held at a predetermined spacing, especially due to the narrow space and additional components around them, which complicates the use of pressing-type fixture tools and increases manufacturing costs through additional soldering processes.

Innovation Solution

A substrate spacing member is designed to easily position and hold components between two substrates without soldering or tools, featuring branch holding portions to secure electrodes and adjacent components, and a frame body holding portion to temporarily fix components along the substrates' edges, allowing for improved layout flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a pressing-type fixture tool is used to temporarily fix electronic components between substrates, then the components can be positioned and held, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to the need for additional tools and processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemporary fixation of componentsVSAvoidfixture tool housing portion
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the component-holding function from a separate fixture tool and integrates it directly into the substrate spacing member. The holding portions are formed as integral parts of the spacing member structure, eliminating the need for external fixture tools with housing portions. This allows electronic components to be temporarily fixed between substrates using only the spacing member itself, reducing device complexity while maintaining the temporary fixation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If soldering is used to fix electronic components before disposing substrates, then components can be securely fixed, but the manufacturing cost increases due to additional soldering processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent fixationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent provides preliminary positioning action through the holding portions of the substrate spacing member, which temporarily secure electronic components at predetermined positions between substrates. This preliminary mechanical holding eliminates the need for additional soldering processes, as the holding portions maintain component positions sufficiently for the assembly process. The solution achieves reliable component fixation through the structural design of holding portions rather than through soldering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Volume of moving object

If the space between substrates is reduced for compact inverter design, then the device size is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to inability to attach and detach fixture tools

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinverter device sizeVSAvoidfixture tool attachment and detachment
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the dependency on external fixture tools by integrating holding portions directly into the substrate spacing member. This extraction of the holding function from separate tools allows the spacing member itself to perform the positioning and holding of electronic components. Consequently, the narrow space between substrates is sufficient for operation, as no external fixture tools need to be attached or detached. The compact design is maintained while operational ease is preserved through the integrated holding portions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple electronic components are disposed around existing components in narrow space, then the device functionality is improved, but the device complexity increases due to difficulty in temporarily fixing components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent layout flexibilityVSAvoidcomponent positioning process
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate spacing member is designed with multiple holding portions that can universally accommodate different types of electronic components at various positions between the substrates. The holding portions are structured to provide adaptable positioning for multiple components simultaneously, allowing flexible layout arrangements without increasing process complexity. This multi-functional holding capability enables the dense packing of electronic components while maintaining simple and unified positioning methodology.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2782432B1Substrate spacing member and inverter device
Publication Date: 2025.01.22 TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORP
  • EP2782432B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2782432B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2782432B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A substrate spacing member includes a spacer portion which is disposed between the two substrates in contact with both edge portions thereof to keep a distance between the two substrates constant" spacer member holding portions which hold the spacer members, a frame body portion that connects the spacer member holding portions to each other, a branch portion which extends toward a predetermined position between the two substrates from the frame body portion or the spacer member holding portions, and electrode holding portions which are provided at the branch portions, and hold electrodes at the predetermined positions.