IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,095,353
Granted Patent B2
US 12,095,353 · App. 17/872,402 · Granted Sep 17, 2024

Capacitor module and power conversion device

Inventor: Yuuki Suzuki (Kariya, JP)
Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
H02M1/15H01G4/38H02M1/44H02M7/003H02M7/48
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,095,353
App. No.
17/872,402
Granted
Sep 17, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A capacitor module includes a smoothing capacitor, a P-side Y capacitor and a N-side Y capacitor as noise absorbing capacitors, a capacitor case, a P-side bus bar, a N-side bus bar, and a ground bus bar. A virtual plane along a P-side electrode surface, which is an electrode surface on a high potential side of the smoothing capacitor, is referred to as a P-side virtual plane. A virtual plane along a N-side electrode surface, which is an electrode surface on a low potential side of the smoothing capacitor, is referred to as a N-side virtual plane. A region between the P-side virtual plane and the N-side virtual plane is defined as a PN region. The entire noise absorbing capacitor and the entire ground bus bar are arranged in the PN region.

Claims (64)

1. A capacitor module, comprising:

a smoothing capacitor connected to an upper and lower arm circuit that generates and outputs AC power, and configured to smooth voltage pulsations;

a noise absorbing capacitor connected to the upper and lower arm circuit, and configured to absorb noise;

a capacitor case that houses the smoothing capacitor and the noise absorbing capacitor inside;

a P-side bus bar connected to the noise absorbing capacitor;

a N-side bus bar connected to the noise absorbing capacitor; and

a ground bus bar having one end connected to the noise absorbing capacitor and the other end connected to a member having a ground potential and located outside the capacitor case, wherein

the smoothing capacitor has a P-side electrode surface, which is on a high potential side of the smoothing capacitor, and a N-side electrode surface, which is is on a low-potential side electrode surface of the smoothing capacitor,

when a region between a P-side virtual plane along the P-side electrode surface and a N-side virtual plane along the N-side electrode surface is defined as a PN region, the entire noise absorbing capacitor and the entire ground bus bar are arranged in the PN region,

the noise absorbing capacitor comprises a P-side noise absorbing capacitor connected to the P-side bus bar and an N-side noise absorbing capacitor connected to the N-side bus bar, and

the P-side noise absorbing capacitor and the N-side noise absorbing capacitor are arranged at positions separated from each other in a direction perpendicular to the P-side electrode surface and the N-side electrode surface.

2. The capacitor module according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an electrical insulating plate laminated and arranged between the P-side bus bar and the N-side bus bar, wherein

the P-side bus bar has a P-side flat plate portion having a flat plate shape and facing the electrically insulating plate,

the N-side bus bar has a N-side flat plate portion having a flat plate shape and facing the electrically insulating plate, and

the noise absorbing capacitor is arranged at a position different from the electrically insulating plate when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the P-side electrode surface and the N-side electrode surface.

3. The capacitor module according to claim 1 , wherein

components forming the upper and lower arm circuit are housed in a housing that functions as a member having the ground potential,

the capacitor case has a fastening portion that is fastened and fixed to the housing, and

the ground bus bar is electrically connected to the housing by being fastened to the housing together with the fastening portion.

4. The capacitor module according to claim 3 , wherein

the capacitor case has an insertion port into which the smoothing capacitor and the noise absorbing capacitor are inserted,

the ground bus bar extends from an inside to an outside of the capacitor case through the insertion port,

the capacitor case has a plurality of fastening portions, and

the ground bus bar is fastened to the housing together with the fastening portion closest to the insertion port.

5. The capacitor module according to claim 1 , wherein

the capacitor case has an insertion port into which the smoothing capacitor and the noise absorbing capacitor are inserted in a direction,

the insertion port is formed so that the direction to be inserted is parallel to the P-side electrode surface and the N-side electrode surface, and

the ground bus bar extends from an inside to an outside of the capacitor case through the insertion port.

6. A power conversion device, comprising:

a semiconductor module having a plurality of switching elements forming an upper and lower arm circuit that generates and outputs AC power;

a capacitor module connected to the upper and lower arm circuit; and

a case housing the capacitor module and the semiconductor module, wherein

the capacitor module comprises:

a smoothing capacitor connected to the upper and lower arm circuit, and configured to smooth voltage pulsations,

a noise absorbing capacitor connected to the upper and lower arm circuit, and configured to absorb noise;

a capacitor case that houses the smoothing capacitor and the noise absorbing capacitor inside;

a P-side bus bar connected to the noise absorbing capacitor;

a N-side bus bar connected to the noise absorbing capacitor; and

a ground bus bar having one end connected to the noise absorbing capacitor and the other end connected to a member having a ground potential and located outside the capacitor case,

the smoothing capacitor has a P-side electrode surface, which is on a high potential side of the smoothing capacitor, and a N-side electrode surface, which is on a low-potential side electrode surface of the smoothing capacitor,

when a region between a P-side virtual plane along the P-side electrode surface and a N-side virtual plane along the N-side electrode surface is defined as a PN region, the entire noise absorbing capacitor and the entire ground bus bar are arranged in the PN region,

the noise absorbing capacitor comprises a P-side noise absorbing capacitor connected to the P-side bus bar and an N-side noise absorbing capacitor connected to the N-side bus bar, and

the P-side noise absorbing capacitor and the N-side noise absorbing capacitor are arranged at positions separated from each other in a direction perpendicular to the P-side electrode surface and the N-side electrode surface.

7. The capacitor module according to claim 1 , wherein

the entire ground bus bar is arranged in the PN region.

8. The capacitor module according to claim 1 , wherein

a z direction is perpendicular to the P-side electrode surface and the N-side electrode surface, and

a region, in which the P-side noise absorbing capacitor is located in the z direction, and a region, in which the N-side noise absorbing capacitor is located in the z direction, at least overlap one another.

9. The capacitor module according to claim 1 , wherein

the smoothing capacitor comprises a plurality of smoothing capacitors arranged in a predetermined direction, and

the P-side noise absorbing capacitor and the N-side noise absorbing capacitor are arranged in the predetermined direction with respect to the smoothing capacitors.

10. The capacitor module according to claim 9 , wherein

the entire P-side noise absorbing capacitor and the entire N-side noise absorbing capacitor are arranged in a region in which the smoothing capacitors are projected in the predetermined direction.

11. The capacitor module according to claim 9 , wherein

the smoothing capacitors are arranged in a singular row.

12. The capacitor module according to claim 1 , wherein

the P-side noise absorbing capacitor is closer to the P-side electrode surface than the N-side noise absorbing capacitor, and

the N-side noise absorbing capacitor is closer to the N-side electrode surface than the P-side noise absorbing capacitor.

13. The capacitor module according to claim 1 , wherein

the smoothing capacitor comprises a plurality of smoothing capacitors,

each of the P-side noise absorbing capacitor, the N-side noise absorbing capacitor, and the smoothing capacitors is a film capacitor in which a film is wound,

a z direction is perpendicular to the P-side electrode surface and the N-side electrode surface, and

each of the P-side noise absorbing capacitor, the N-side noise absorbing capacitor, and the smoothing capacitors, is arranged such that a center line, around which the film is wound, is along the z direction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2022
From: SUZUKI, YUUKI
To: DENSO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 060606/0349 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-058522 · Mar 27, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2021003556 · Feb 1, 2021
Related Publication 20220360164A1 · Nov 10, 2022