Patent US5537074A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5537074A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Power semiconductor packaging
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1993-08-24
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Granted: 1996-07-16
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Expires: 2013-08-24
Abstract
Abstract Power output switching circuit (215) for use in high current and high frequency applications. The output circuit provides a series of geometrically symmetric parallel spaced semiconductor converters (214A, 214B, 216A, 216B) arranged such that the voltage for each semiconductor output device is substantially equal and minimal for each device. In this way, each device exhibits substantially the same impedance, such that circuit performance is largely a function of intrinsic device characteristics, and substantially independent of cross coupling and another external influences.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur H. Iversen
- 👤 George Gabor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 02:44
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M1/00; H02M1/42; H02M1/4208; G; G05; G05F; G05F1/00; G05F1/70; H10; H10W; H10W72/00; H10W72/50; H10W72/541; H10W72/547; H10W72/5475; H10W90/00; H10W90/701; H10W90/751; H10W90/754; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B70/00; Y02B70/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
310 words
A power control unit having first and second power connections, said unit comprising at least one cluster of semiconductor devices wherein the intrinsic characteristics of such semiconductor devices dominate the impedance of the unit, said cluster comprising: first and second cluster power terminals; first and second cluster control terminals; a plurality of like semiconductor devices each having first and second power ports defining a controlled current path therebetween, and first and second control ports defining a control path for controlling the current flow through said controlled current path; and first and second electrically conductive interconnects; the first interconnect being connected, at a predetermined first juncture, to the first cluster power terminal; said plurality of devices being disposed relative to said first interconnect such that the current flow paths between the first juncture and the first power ports of each of the plurality of devices are each of substantially equal impedance; the second interconnect connecting a second power port of each of the plurality of devices in common and being connected, at a predetermined second juncture, to the second cluster power terminal; the plurality of devices being disposed relative to said second interconnect such that current flow paths between said device second power ports and the second juncture are each of substantially equal impedance; the first control ports of each of the plurality of devices being electrically connected to the first cluster control terminal such that the current paths between the first cluster control terminal and the first control port of each of the plurality of devices are of substantially equal impedance; and the second control ports of each of the plurality of devices being electrically connected to the second cluster control terminal such that the current paths between the second cluster control terminal and the second control port of each of the plurality of devices are of substantially equal impedance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
310 words
A power control unit having first and second power connections, said unit comprising at least one cluster of semiconductor devices wherein the intrinsic characteristics of such semiconductor devices dominate the impedance of the unit, said cluster comprising: first and second cluster power terminals; first and second cluster control terminals; a plurality of like semiconductor devices each having first and second power ports defining a controlled current path therebetween, and first and second control ports defining a control path for controlling the current flow through said controlled current path; and first and second electrically conductive interconnects; the first interconnect being connected, at a predetermined first juncture, to the first cluster power terminal; said plurality of devices being disposed relative to said first interconnect such that the current flow paths between the first juncture and the first power ports of each of the plurality of devices are each of substantially equal impedance; the second interconnect connecting a second power port of each of the plurality of devices in common and being connected, at a predetermined second juncture, to the second cluster power terminal; the plurality of devices being disposed relative to said second interconnect such that current flow paths between said device second power ports and the second juncture are each of substantially equal impedance; the first control ports of each of the plurality of devices being electrically connected to the first cluster control terminal such that the current paths between the first cluster control terminal and the first control port of each of the plurality of devices are of substantially equal impedance; and the second control ports of each of the plurality of devices being electrically connected to the second cluster control terminal such that the current paths between the second cluster control terminal and the second control port of each of the plurality of devices are of substantially equal impedance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The power control unit of claim 1 wherein said cluster further includes: an electrically and thermally conductive substrate having a first surface to which a power port of each of the plurality of devices is electrically and thermally connected in predetermined relative disposition, the substrate operating as a heat sink for the plurality of devices; said substrate being electrically connected to one of the interconnects.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
The power control unit of claim 2 wherein: the substrate first surface includes a first edge, the plurality of devices being disposed on the substrate first surface such that a nominal line joining the centers of the devices is substantially parallel to said edge; and the substrate includes a second surface at which heat is dissipated, the second surface including cooling fins extending in planes generally orthogonal to said nominal line joining the centers of the devices.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The power control unit of claim 1 wherein the second control port of each of the plurality of devices comprises one of the power ports of the device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The power control unit of claim 2 wherein the second control port of each of the plurality of devices comprises one of the power ports of the device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
The power control unit of claim 4 wherein the device power ports comprise conductive elements, such that the control path includes a portion of the controlled current path and a portion of the device power port conductive element, and the electrical connection to the second cluster control terminal is disposed to minimize the impedance of the portion of the controlled current path and device power port conductive element included in the control path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The power control unit of claim 2 wherein the plurality of clusters are relatively disposed in a generally circular configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The power control unit of claim 1 wherein at least one of the interconnects comprises a conductive sheet tapered to an apex.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The power control unit of claim 2 wherein at least one of the interconnects comprises a conductive sheet tapered to an apex.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The power control unit of claim 8 wherein the tapered conductive sheet includes apertures to provide plural current paths to the apex of substantially equal impedance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The power control unit of claim 1 including a plurality of semiconductor device clusters.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The power control unit of claim 2 including a plurality of semiconductor device clusters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
179 words
The power control unit of claim 11 wherein; the unit further includes a first power unit interconnect, electrically connecting the first power terminal of each cluster to the unit first power connection, such that the impedance of the current flow paths between the first juncture of each cluster to the unit first power connection is substantially the same; a second power unit interconnect electrically connecting the second power terminal of each cluster to the unit second power connection, such that the impedance of the current flow paths between the second juncture of each cluster to the unit second power connection are substantially the same; the first interconnects of each of the clusters are of substantially the same impedance; the second interconnects of each of the clusters are of substantially the same impedance; the first cluster control terminal of each of the clusters is electrically isolated from the first cluster control terminal of the other clusters; and the second cluster control terminal of each of the clusters is electrically isolated from the second cluster control terminal of the other clusters.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The power control unit of claim 11 wherein the clusters are disposed in a generally circular configuration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The power control unit of claim 11 wherein the clusters are connected in series between the unit power connections.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
The power control unit of claim 11 including a plurality of parallel groups of series connected clusters wherein: each group of series connected clusters is electrically connected to the unit first power connection through substantially the same impedance; each group of series connected clusters is electrically connected to the unit second power connection through substantially the same impedance.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The power control unit of claim 1 wherein the first interconnect provides substantial uniform current sharing between the respective devices.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The power control unit of claim 17 wherein the second interconnect provides substantially uniform current sharing between the respective devices.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The power control unit of claim 1 wherein the impedance of the current flow paths between the first juncture and first power ports of the devices is minimized.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The power control unit of claim 2 wherein the impedance of the current flow paths between the first juncture and first power ports of the devices is minimized.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The power control unit of claim 1 wherein the impedance of the current flow paths between the second juncture and second power ports of the devices is minimized.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The power control unit of claim 2 wherein the impedance of the current flow paths between the second juncture and second power ports of the devices is minimized.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-16 | 2000-01-15 | 2000-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-16 | 2004-01-15 | 2004-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-16 | 2008-01-15 | 2008-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |