Converter device

Abstract

A plurality of converter circuits is connected in parallel while reducing conduction loss. A converter circuit is formed on each of a plurality of circuit boards, and a plurality of types of terminal connection patterns containing power input terminal connection patterns and power output terminal connection patterns are formed on the end portions of each of the circuit boards with the disposition positions substantially matching each other. The terminal connection patterns at the same position of each circuit board are sandwiched by each of clips of a common terminal member, each of the circuit boards is laminated and fixed, and the converter circuits of each of the circuit boards are connected in parallel. The conduction path for electrically connecting the converter circuit of each circuit board becomes short, making it possible to reduce conduction loss. Also, it is possible to mount a plurality of converter circuits without increasing the occupied area of a motherboard to be mated therewith in comparison with a case in which the circuit boards are provided side-by-side.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A converter device comprising: 
 a plurality of circuit boards each having a converter section for converting an input voltage/current into a voltage/current appropriate to specification conditions and outputting the voltage/current, a power input terminal connection pattern and a power output terminal connection pattern, the power input terminal connection pattern and the power output terminal connection pattern being electrically connected to the converter section and provided on each circuit board; and    a plurality of first and second mating members for holding and fixing the circuit boards in a stacking manner with a spacing therebetween,    wherein the power input terminal connection patterns of each of the circuit boards are electrically connected to each other by common ones of the plurality of first mating members, and the power output terminal connection patterns of the circuit boards are electrically connected to each other by common ones of the plurality of second mating members, said power output terminal connection patterns being thereby connected in parallel.    
     
     
         2 . The converter device of  claim 1 , wherein each converter section has a coil section, and the coil section is formed as a circuit-board-integrated-type coil section having a core member attached to a coil pattern formed on the circuit board.  
     
     
         3 . The converter device of  claim 1 , wherein the second mating members connect between power output terminal connection patterns to sum the output currents of the respective circuit boards, the second mating members have cross sections larger than the others at a region where the sum of the output currents flow.  
     
     
         4 . The converter device of  claim 2 , wherein the second mating members connect between power output terminal connection patterns to sum the output currents of the respective circuit boards, the second mating members have cross sections larger than the others at a region where the sum of the output currents flow.  
     
     
         5 . The converter device of  claim 1 , wherein each conduction pattern for power output on a high potential side and on a low potential side of the converter section mounted on each circuit board is formed on both obverse and reverse surfaces of each circuit board, and a plurality of power output terminal connection patterns are provided via a spacing with end portions of each of the conduction patterns on a high potential side and on a low potential side, so that both parallel connection and serial connection of the plurality of converter sections can be obtained by combination of a conduction connection between the end portions of each of said conduction patterns for power output and the power output terminal connection patterns.  
     
     
         6 . The converter device of  claim 2 , wherein each conduction pattern for power output on a high potential side and on a low potential side of the converter section mounted on each circuit board is formed on both obverse and reverse surfaces of each circuit board, and a plurality of power output terminal connection patterns are provided via a spacing with end portions of each of the conduction patterns on a high potential side and on a low potential side, so that both parallel connection and serial connection of the plurality of converter sections can be obtained by combination of a conduction connection between the end portions of each of said conduction patterns for power output and the power output terminal connection patterns.  
     
     
         7 . The converter device of  claim 3 , wherein each conduction pattern for power output on a high potential side and on a low potential side of the converter section mounted on each circuit board is formed on both obverse and reverse surfaces of each circuit board, and a plurality of power output terminal connection patterns are provided via a spacing with end portions of each of the conduction patterns on a high potential side and on a low potential side, so that both parallel connection and serial connection of the plurality of converter sections can be obtained by combination of a conduction connection between the end portions of each of said conduction patterns for power output and the power output terminal connection patterns.  
     
     
         8 . The converter device of  claim 4 , wherein each conduction pattern for power output on a high potential side and on a low potential side of the converter section mounted on each circuit board is formed on both obverse and reverse surfaces of each circuit board, and a plurality of power output terminal connection patterns are provided via a spacing with end portions of each of the conduction patterns on a high potential side and on a low potential side, so that both parallel connection and serial connection of the plurality of converter sections can be obtained by combination of a conduction connection between the end portions of each of said conduction patterns for power output and the power output terminal connection patterns.  
     
     
         9 . The converter device of  claim 1 , wherein each mating member is formed such that a conduction plate member is cut and raised, a plurality of alligator clips is formed at intervals of a predetermined spacing, and each circuit board is sandwiched and fixed by each of the clips.  
     
     
         10 . The converter device of  claim 2 , wherein each mating member is formed such that a conduction plate member is cut and raised, a plurality of alligator clips is formed at intervals of a predetermined spacing, and each circuit board is sandwiched and fixed by each of the clips.  
     
     
         11 . The converter device of  claim 3 , wherein each mating member is formed such that a conduction plate member is cut and raised, a plurality of alligator clips is formed at intervals of a predetermined spacing, and each circuit board is sandwiched and fixed by each of the clips.  
     
     
         12 . The converter device of  claim 4 , wherein each mating member is formed such that a conduction plate member is cut and raised, a plurality of alligator clips is formed at intervals of a predetermined spacing, and each circuit board is sandwiched and fixed by each of the clips.  
     
     
         13 . The converter device of  claim 5 , wherein each mating member is formed such that a conduction plate member is cut and raised, a plurality of alligator clips is formed at intervals of a predetermined spacing, and each circuit board is sandwiched and fixed by each of the clips.  
     
     
         14 . The converter device of  claim 9 , wherein each alligator clip comprises a support section for supporting the circuit board in such a manner as to be brought into abutment with one of the obverse surface and the reverse surface of the circuit board; and a pressing section for applying a pressing force to the other surface of said circuit board by using resilience, the circuit-board-abutment surfaces of the support section of each of said clips being substantially parallel to each other, and each of the circuit boards being laminated and fixed substantially parallel to each other.  
     
     
         15 . The converter device of  claim 9 , wherein a mating member for electrically connecting between the power output terminal connection patterns of each circuit board is formed such that the output current of each converter section merges and the amount of supplied current is increased, and a conduction plate member which comprises said mating member is formed such that a current conduction path on a downstream side of the output current is made wider than on an upstream side so as to increase the cross-sectional area thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The converter device of  claim 14 , wherein a mating member for electrically connecting between the power output terminal connection patterns of each circuit board is formed such that the output current of each converter section merges and the amount of supplied current is increased, and a conduction plate member which comprises said mating member is formed such that a current conduction path on a downstream side of the output current is made wider than on an upstream side so as to increase the cross-sectional area thereof.