Power module layout for automotive power converters

Abstract

An automotive power converter is provided. The automotive power converter includes a substrate, first and second electronic devices on the substrate, at least one conductive member coupled to the substrate and having a first device portion electrically coupled to the first electronic device and a second device portion electrically coupled to the second electronic device, and first and second terminals electrically coupled to the at least one conductive member. When a power supply is coupled to the first and second terminals, current flows from the first terminal to the first device portion substantially in a first direction and from the second terminal to the second device portion substantially in a second direction. The first direction has a first component and the second direction has a second component opposing the first component.

1 . An automotive power converter comprising:
 a substrate;   first and second electronic devices on the substrate;   at least one conductive member coupled to the substrate and having a first device portion electrically coupled to the first electronic device and a second device portion electrically coupled to the second electronic device; and   first and second terminals electrically coupled to the at least one conductive member such that when a power supply is coupled to the first and second terminals, current flows from the first terminal to the first device portion substantially in a first direction and from the second terminal to the second device portion substantially in a second direction,   wherein the first direction has a first component and the second direction has a second component opposing the first component.   
     
     
         2 . The automotive power converter of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive member is shaped and the first and second terminals are configured such that the current that flows from the first terminal to the first device portion flows substantially in the first direction at the first device portion and the current that flows from the second terminal to the second device portion flows substantially in the second direction at the second device portion. 
     
     
         3 . The automotive power converter of  claim 2 , wherein an angle between the first and second directions is at least 90 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The automotive power converter of  claim 3 , wherein the angle between the first and second direction is approximately 180 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The automotive power converter of  claim 2 , further comprising third and fourth electronic devices on the substrate and wherein the at least one conductive member comprises first and second conductive members, the first conductive member comprising the first and second device portions and the second conductive member having a third device portion electrically coupled to the third electronic device and a fourth device portion electrically coupled to the fourth electronic device. 
     
     
         6 . The automotive power converter of  claim 5 , further comprising third and fourth terminals electrically coupled to the second conductive member such that when a power supply is coupled to the third and fourth terminals, current flows from the third terminal to the third device portion substantially in a third direction and from the fourth terminal to the fourth device portion substantially in a fourth direction, and wherein the third direction is substantially parallel with the first direction and the fourth direction is substantially parallel with the second direction. 
     
     
         7 . The automotive power converter of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second electronic devices are coupled to the first conductive member and further comprising a plurality of wire bonds interconnecting the third and fourth electronic devices and the respective third and fourth device portions of the second conductive member. 
     
     
         8 . The automotive power converter of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second terminals are located on opposing sides of the first and second device portions of the and the third and fourth terminals are located on opposing sides of the third and fourth device portions. 
     
     
         9 . The automotive power converter of  claim 8 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth electronic devices each include a semiconductor substrate having a transistor or a diode formed thereon. 
     
     
         10 . The automotive power converter of  claim 9 , wherein the substrate comprises first, second, third, and fourth sides, the first side opposing the second side and the third side opposing the fourth side, and the first and third terminals are on the first side of the substrate and the second and fourth terminals are on the second side of the substrate, and further comprising a fifth terminal on the third side of the substrate and coupled to the first and second conductive members and the first, second, third, and fourth electronic devices such that when current flows from the respective terminals to the first, second, third, and fourth devices portions, current also flows from the first, second, third, and fourth electronic devices to the fifth terminal. 
     
     
         11 . An automotive power inverter comprising:
 a substrate;   first and second electronic devices on the substrate;   a bus bar coupled to the substrate and having a first device portion electrically coupled to the first electronic device and a second device portion electrically coupled to the second electronic device; and   first and second terminals electrically coupled to the bus bar on opposing sides of the first and second electronic devices such that when a power supply is coupled to the first and second terminals, current flows from the first terminal to the first device portion substantially in a first direction and from the second terminal to the second device portion substantially in a second direction, wherein an angle between the first and second directions is at least 90 degrees.   
     
     
         12 . The automotive power inverter of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second terminals are located on respective first and second opposing sides of the substrate, and further comprising a third terminal on a third side of the substrate and coupled to the bus bar and the first and second electronic devices such that when current flows from the respective terminals to the first and second device portions, current also flows from the first and second electronic devices to the third terminal. 
     
     
         13 . The automotive power inverter of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second electronic devices are configured to convert continuous current to alternating current. 
     
     
         14 . The automotive power inverter of  claim 13 , wherein the bus bar is shaped and the first and second terminals are configured such that the current that flows from the first terminal to the first device portion flows substantially in the first direction at the first device portion and the current that flows from the second terminal to the second device portion flows substantially in the second direction at the second device portion. 
     
     
         15 . The automotive power inverter of  claim 14 , wherein the substrate is ceramic and the bus bar is made of copper bonded to the substrate. 
     
     
         16 . An automotive drive system comprising:
 an electric motor;   a direct current (DC) power supply coupled to the electric motor;   a power inverter coupled to the electric motor and the DC power supply to receive DC power from the DC power supply and provided alternating current (AC) power to the electric motor, the power inverter comprising:
 a substrate; 
 first and second electronic devices on the substrate; 
 at least one conductive member coupled to the substrate and having a first device portion electrically coupled to the first electronic device and a second device portion electrically coupled to the second electronic device; and 
 first and second terminals electrically coupled to the at least one conductive member such that when a power supply is coupled to the first and second terminals, current flows from the first terminal to the first device portion substantially in a first direction and from the second terminal to the second device portion substantially in a second direction, wherein an angle between the first and second directions is at least 90 degrees; and 
   a processor in operable communication with and configured to control the electric motor, the DC power supply, and the power inverter.   
     
     
         17 . The automotive drive system of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second terminals are located on respective first and second opposing sides of the substrate, and further comprising a third terminal on a third side of the substrate and coupled to the bus bar and the first and second electronic devices such that when current flows from the respective terminals to the first and second device portions, current also flows from the first and second electronic devices to the third terminal. 
     
     
         18 . The automotive drive system of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second terminals are electrically coupled to the DC power supply and the third terminal is electrically coupled to the electric motor. 
     
     
         19 . The automotive drive system of  claim 18 , wherein the first electronic device semiconductor substrate having a transistor formed thereon and the second electronic device is a semiconductor substrate having a diode formed thereon. 
     
     
         20 . The automotive drive system of  claim 19 , wherein the substrate is ceramic and the bus bar is made of copper bonded to the substrate.