IP Library Granted Patent US 12,614,867
Granted Patent B2
US 12,614,867 · App. 18/516,437 · Granted Apr 28, 2026

Power converter, inter-component connection system, and inter-component connection method

Inventors: Motohiko Fujimura (Osaka, JP); Hiroshi Ogura (Tokyo, JP); Kazuhiro Nishikawa (Osaka, JP); Yoshihiro Kawakita (Osaka, JP); Hidetoshi Kitaura (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.
H01R12/718H01R13/631H01R43/26H05K1/0269H05K2201/09063H05K2201/10318H05K2201/10325
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,614,867
App. No.
18/516,437
Granted
Apr 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power converter includes first and second components on which male and female fitting members of each of a plurality of pairs of fitting members are arranged, with a pair of first alignment keys formed in the first and second components as reference positions. The first and second components are coupled to each other by the female fitting member clamping an insertion portion of the male fitting member inserted between first and second clamping portions of the female fitting member arranged so as to face each other in a state where the pair of first alignment keys are positionally aligned. The first and second clamping portions are each bent so as to form one of protrusions toward one of surfaces thereof facing each other. A gap is formed in a distal end portion of each of the first and second clamping portions.

Claims (54)

1 . An inter-component connection system for connecting components of a power converter to each other, wherein the power converter includes:

a first component in which one alignment key of a pair of first alignment keys is formed;

a second component in which the other alignment key of the pair of first alignment keys is formed; and

a plurality of pairs of fitting members each including:

a male fitting member having an insertion portion; and

a female fitting member having a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion arranged so as to face each other, wherein

in each of the plurality of pairs of fitting members,

the male fitting member is arranged on one of the first component and the second component, with the first alignment key as a reference position, and

the female fitting member is arranged on the other of the first component and the second component, with the first alignment key as a reference position,

the first component and the second component are coupled to each other by the female fitting member clamping the insertion portion of the male fitting member inserted between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion in each of the plurality of pairs of fitting members in a state where the pair of first alignment keys are positionally aligned,

the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion are each bent so as to form one of protrusions toward one of surfaces thereof facing each other, and

a gap is formed in a distal end portion of each of the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion,

wherein the inter-component connection system comprises:

a plurality of cameras that image the first component and the second component;

a moving device that changes a relative position of the second component with respect to the first component;

a memory; and

a hardware processor coupled to the memory, the hardware processor being configured to:

control the plurality of cameras and recognize each of the pair of first alignment keys; and

control the moving device, and change a relative position of the second component with respect to the first component until the pair of first alignment keys are positionally aligned based on a recognition result of the pair of first alignment keys.

2 . The inter-component connection system according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of first alignment keys are formed on surfaces of the first component and the second component, the surfaces facing each other.

3 . The inter-component connection system according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of first alignment keys are formed on surfaces of the first component and the second component, the surfaces facing the same side.

4 . The inter-component connection system according to claim 1 , wherein the first alignment keys have pattern shapes formed in the first component and the second component.

5 . The inter-component connection system according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of first alignment keys have identical pattern shapes.

6 . The inter-component connection system according to claim 1 , wherein

one of the pair of first alignment keys is at least two positioning pins disposed in the first component, and

the other of the pair of first alignment keys is at least two holes formed in the second component.

7 . The inter-component connection system according to claim 1 , wherein

one of the pair of first alignment keys has a pattern shape formed on a surface of each of at least two positioning pins disposed in the first component, the surface facing the second component, and

the other of the pair of first alignment keys has a pattern shape formed near each of at least two holes formed in the second component.

8 . The inter-component connection system according to claim 1 , wherein

a plurality of second alignment keys are further formed with the first alignment keys as reference positions in the first component and the second component, and

each of the male fitting member and the female fitting member is disposed at a position corresponding to one of the plurality of second alignment keys.

9 . The inter-component connection system according to claim 1 , wherein the power converter further-comprising includes:

a third component to be coupled to the second component, wherein

each of the pair of first alignment keys is further formed on one of the second component and the third component,

the plurality of pairs of fitting members are further disposed on the second component and the third component, and

in each of the plurality of pairs of fitting members arranged on the second component and the third component,

the male fitting member is disposed on one of the second component and the third component, with the first alignment key as a reference position, and

the female fitting member is disposed on the other of the second component and the third component, with the first alignment key as a reference position.

10 . The inter-component connection system according to claim 1 , wherein the insertion portion of the male fitting member has a substantially flat plate shape.

11 . An inter-component connection method comprising:

forming one alignment key of a pair of first alignment keys in a first component;

forming the other alignment key of the pair of first alignment keys in a second component;

arranging a plurality of pairs of fitting members each including:

a male fitting member having an insertion portion; and

a female fitting member having a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion to be arranged so as to face each other,

in the first component and the second component with each of the pair of alignment keys as a reference position such that the male fitting member and the female fitting member in each of the plurality of pairs of fitting members are arranged on different components;

recognizing the pair of alignment keys;

changing a relative position of the second component with respect to the first component until the pair of alignment keys are positionally aligned based on a recognition result of the pair of alignment keys;

controlling a plurality of cameras that image the first component and the second component to recognize each of the pair of first alignment keys;

controlling a moving device to change a relative position of the second component with respect to the first component until the pair of first alignment keys are positionally aligned based on a recognition result of the pair of first alignment keys; and

coupling the first component and the second component to each other by the female fitting member clamping the insertion portion of the male fitting member inserted between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion in each of the plurality of pairs of fitting members in a state where the pair of first alignment keys are positionally aligned, wherein

the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion are each bent so as to form one of protrusions toward one of surfaces thereof facing each other, and

a gap is formed in a distal end portion of each of the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2024
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 068328/0764 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 22, 2024
From: FUJIMURA, MOTOHIKO; OGURA, HIROSHI; NISHIKAWA, KAZUHIRO; KAWAKITA, YOSHIHIRO; KITAURA, HIDETOSHI
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 067175/0288 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-097653 · Jun 10, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2022000774 · Jan 12, 2022
Related Publication 20240088588A1 · Mar 14, 2024
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