IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,214,233
Granted Patent B2
US 10,214,233 · App. 15/480,182 · Granted Feb 26, 2019

Drive apparatus and electric power steering apparatus using the same

Inventor: Masashi Yamasaki (Kariya, JP)
Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
B62D5/0463B62D5/0406B62D15/021H02K5/225H02K11/30H02K11/33H02M7/003H02P6/16H02P27/06H02K2211/03
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,214,233
App. No.
15/480,182
Granted
Feb 26, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

The drive apparatus includes a motor, a plurality of substrates, a connector, and a connection terminal. The substrates are provided in one side of the motor in its axial direction. The connector is provided at an opposite side of the motor across the substrates in the axial direction. The connection terminal is connected to the substrates. The substrates are arranged such that a part of the substrates are overlapped when the substrates are projected in the axial direction. An overlapped region is defined as a region where the part of the substrates are overlapped. The connection terminal penetrates, in the overlapped region, at least a part of the substrates, the connection terminal being connected to the substrates in the overlapped region.

Claims (63)

1. A drive apparatus comprising:

a motor having a plurality of winding groups, rotating about a rotation axis extending in an axial direction thereof;

a switching element serving as a conduction switch of the winding groups;

a control component performing driving control of the motor;

a plurality of substrates provided at one side of the motor in the axial direction, including the switching element and the control component mounted thereon;

a connector provided at an opposite side of the motor across the substrates in the axial direction; and

a connection terminal connected to the substrates, wherein

the substrates are arranged such that a part of the substrates are overlapped when the substrates are projected in the axial direction, an overlapped region being defined as a region where the part of the substrate are overlapped; and

the connection terminal penetrates, in the overlapped region, at least a part of the substrates, the connection terminal being connected to the substrates in the overlapped region.

2. The drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the drive apparatus includes a frame that forms an outline of the motor in one side thereof in the axial direction;

the plurality of substrates are two in number, including a first substrate disposed in a motor side close to the motor, and a second substrate disposed in a connector side close to the connector;

the switching element is mounted on a motor side surface of the firsts substrate, and arranged to be capable of radiating heat to the frame; and

the control component is mounted on the second substrate.

3. The drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the drive apparatus includes a heat sink;

the plurality of substrates are two in number, including a first substrate disposed in a motor side close to the motor, and a second substrate disposed in a connector side close to the connector;

the heat sink is provided between the first substrate and the second substrate;

each of the first substrate and the second substrate includes a plurality of switching elements and the control component mounted thereon; and

at least a part of the switching elements are mounted on a heat sink side surface of the substrates, and arranged to be capable of radiating heat to the heat sink.

4. The drive apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the plurality of switching elements includes a first switching elements and a second switching elements,

the first switching elements mounted on the first substrate are arranged to be capable of radiating heat to the frame; and

the second switching elements mounted on the second substrate are arranged to be capable of radiating heat to the heat sink.

5. The drive apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the plurality of winding groups are two in number, the winding groups including a first winding group and a second winding group;

the first switching elements serves as conduction switches for the first winding group;

the first switching elements and the control component are mounted on the first substrate;

the second switching elements serves as conduction switches for the second winding group; and

the second switching elements and the control component are mounted on the second substrate.

6. The drive apparatus according claim 1 , wherein

each of the substrate is provided with a spring terminal including an insertion portion capable of being elastic deformed by inserting a terminal, and a substrate connecting portion electrically connected to the substrate; and

the connection terminal contacts the spring terminal, as being inserted into the spring terminal, so as to connect the plurality of substrates.

7. The drive apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein

the first substrate provided in a portion proximate to the motor is provided with a rotation sensor that detects rotation of the motor.

8. The drive apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

the rotation sensor includes a plurality of sensors that detect a rotational angle of the motor.

9. The drive apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein

the plurality of sensors are mounted on the motor side surface.

10. The drive apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein

a part of the sensors are mounted on the motor side surface; and

rest of the sensors are mounted on a surface in an opposite side of the motor.

11. The drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

The motor is provided with a rotation sensor that detects rotation of the motor;

the rotation sensor includes a rotation sensor terminal that penetrates a part of the substrates in the overlapped region, the rotation sensor terminal being capable of transmitting a detection signal to one substrate other than a motor side substrate disposed proximate to the motor in the plurality of substrates.

12. The drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the connection terminal includes a power terminal that connects a battery with the substrates, and a ground terminal that connects a ground with the substrates.

13. The drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the connection terminal includes an external signal terminal capable of transmitting a signal acquired from an external member.

14. The drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the connection terminal includes an internal signal terminal used for transmitting a signal among the plurality of substrates.

15. An electric power steering apparatus comprising:

a drive apparatus including:

a motor having a plurality of winding groups, rotating about a rotation axis extending in an axial direction thereof,

a switching element serving as a conduction switch of the winding groups,

a control component performing driving control of the motor,

a plurality of substrates provided at one side of the motor in the axial direction, including the switching element and the control component mounted thereon,

a connector provided at an opposite side of the motor across the substrates in the axial direction, and

a connection terminal connected to the substrates, wherein

the substrates are arranged such that a part of the substrates are overlapped when the substrates are projected in the axial direction,

an overlapped region being defined as a region where the part of the substrate are overlapped, and the connection terminal penetrates, in the overlapped region, at least a part of the substrates, the connection terminal being connected to the substrates in the overlapped region, and

a power transmission member that transmits power of the motor outputting an auxiliary torque to a drive object, the auxiliary torque assisting a steering operation of a driver using a steering member.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2017
From: YAMASAKI, MASASHI
To: DENSO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 042707/0298 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2016-076674 · Apr 6, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170291635A1 · Oct 12, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 12,691,928