CN113595377B

CN113595377B - Bus bar and use of bus bar

Info

Publication number: CN113595377B
Application number: CN202010363251.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 法比安·贝克; 匡子龙
Original assignee: Dongdianhua Electronics Zhuhai Co ltd
Current assignee: Dongdianhua Electronics Zhuhai Co ltd
Priority date: 2020-04-30
Filing date: 2020-04-30
Publication date: 2023-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2040-04-30
Also published as: CN113595377A

Abstract

The present application relates to bus bars and the use of bus bars. A bus bar having improved characteristics is provided. The bus bar includes a first interface, a second interface, and a first track between the first interface and the second interface. The first track includes a central portion having a metal sheet and a dielectric material at least partially covering the central portion.

Description

Bus bar and use of bus bar

Technical Field

The present application relates to an improved bus bar, for example for EMC filter circuits with an improved attenuation level, and to the use of the bus bar, for example in electric vehicles.

Background

The bus bars may be used to conduct electrical power from a power source to a motor, such as a motor drive.

The motor driver may be a source of unwanted radiation (emission) that should be reduced or eliminated to avoid unwanted interference with other circuit components. EMC filter elements may be electrically connected between, for example, a power supply and a motor drive to reduce unwanted radiation.

For example, in an electrically driven vehicle, a battery provides electrical energy to a motor drive. The battery supplies DC (direct current) current at a certain voltage. When the motor driver requires another form of electric energy, such as AC (alternating current) or other voltages, an inverter may be employed to convert the electric energy of the battery so that the electric energy can be well utilized by the motor driver. However, the inverter may also be a source of undesirable radiation. Accordingly, EMC filters may be used to reduce or eliminate unwanted radiation from the inverter.

Accordingly, it is an object to provide a bus bar that enables noise level at its output side to be reduced.

A conventional way of transferring power is to use a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) with metallized conductive structures on a dielectric material.

Accordingly, another object is to provide a low cost alternative to PCBs.

To this end, bus bars and the use of bus bars are provided. Preferred embodiments are provided.

Disclosure of Invention

The bus bar includes a first interface and a second interface. In addition, the bus bar includes a filter element electrically connected between the first interface and the second interface. Further, the bus bar includes a first track between the first interface and the second interface. The first track includes a central portion having a metal sheet and a dielectric material at least partially covering the central portion.

The filter element may be a filter element of a filter, such as an EMC filter (emc=electromagnetic compatibility).

Thus, a bus bar is provided that enables power to be transferred from one of the two interfaces to the respective other interface. Furthermore, since the central portion may be used for mounting circuit elements, e.g. circuit elements of a filter such as one or more of SMD-element (surface mountable device) resistors, inductors and/or capacitors, it is easy to integrate the bus bar into an existing circuit environment. Thus, in particular, a filter element electrically connected between the two interfaces may be mounted at the central portion.

The PCB, which is a conventional device for signal or power transmission, provides an option for mounting circuit elements, has a construction comprising a dielectric core and a metallization structure.

Accordingly, the bus bar as described above is a counterintuitive device because it has an opposite configuration with respect to the first rail including the metal sheet and the cover dielectric.

The described bus bar can be produced at reduced cost. Furthermore, the bus bars may help improve electrical parameters of the system, such as noise, due to the improved flexibility in shaping the metal sheet as compared to the stiffness of the dielectric core of a conventional PCB and the low power transfer capability of the metallization structures on the PCB.

Clearly, the bus bars provided are counterintuitive, as an intuitive approach to increasing transmissible power would be to provide PCBs with thicker metallization structures.

The following are possible: the first and second interfaces are disposed at opposite distal ends of the bus bar, and the central portion is disposed between the first and second interfaces.

In particular, it is possible that the central portion has a flat upper surface.

Thus, mounting the circuit elements on a flat surface provides a dense stack of circuit elements in a vertical or horizontal direction.

Thus, the integration density can be improved.

Furthermore, the shape of the sheet may be selected so that the path to ground may be as short as possible, thereby improving the electrical characteristics and performance of the system comprising the bus bar.

It is feasible that the bus bar further comprises one or more additional tracks.

The rails may be arranged vertically and/or horizontally adjacent to each other, thereby achieving a compact size. Each track at the upper position may have a flat area that can be used for mounting the electrical components.

It is feasible that the first interface and/or the second interface comprise a mechanical connection.

The mechanical connection may be provided and configured for mechanically connecting the component to an external mounting location. The mechanical connection may also be arranged and configured for electrically connecting the filter circuit to the ground potential of the external mounting location in the shortest possible path.

In the bus bar, the first interface may include an electrical connection to the electrical component from which the EMC filter obtains electrical energy. The second interface may comprise an electrical connection via which the EMC filter component provides power to the external circuit environment. In particular, the first interface may be arranged and configured for connecting the bus bar with the battery. The second interface may be used to electrically connect the bus bar to, for example, a motor driver of an electric vehicle or an inverter thereof. Then, the filter element reduces noise originating from the inverter at the location of the battery.

The filter circuit of the EMC filter component may comprise filter elements, such as active or passive filter elements, e.g. inductive elements, resistive elements and/or capacitive elements, constituting a filter network. Conventional filter network topologies are feasible for existing EMC filter components. The external mounting location is disposed in direct proximity to the bus bar. The mechanical connection may be used to mount the circuit in a mechanically stable configuration such that vibration or inertial forces cannot reposition the circuit elements attached to or mounted to the bus bar. The external mounting location may be a mounting location of another electrical component in the vicinity of the bus bar. Specifically, the following is possible: the external mounting location is a mounting location at an electrical component (e.g., a battery, inverter, or motor drive) that is directly connected to the EMC filter component.

It is possible that the circuit further comprises a direct current Link (DC-Link) capacitor as a circuit element.

The following are possible: the external mounting position is a mounting position of a component, such as a semiconductor component, such as an inverter, that supplies a ground potential to a circuit, such as an EMC filter component.

Thus, the mechanical connection is a dual purpose connection that provides a mechanically stable connection and an electrical connection to ground potential with a short effective conductor length.

The following are possible: the mechanical connection and/or the one or more metal sheets comprise or consist of a material selected from the group consisting of metals and alloys.

In particular, the conductive material may comprise or consist of copper, aluminum, silver, gold or alloys thereof.

The following are possible: the mechanical connection has an elongated shape with an extension oriented away from the component.

In order to provide an electrically and mechanically stable connection with the environment of the bus bar, the elongated shape and the extension oriented away from the bus bar ensure the shortest possible connection to the external mounting location.

The following are possible: the elongated shape has a portion having a uniform cross section along the extending direction.

The following are possible: the elongated shape has a cross section that can be selected from the following cross sections providing the possibility of mechanical and electrical connection: square cross-section, rectangular cross-section, circular cross-section, and oval cross-section, or other shapes, such as L-shapes.

Furthermore, the following is possible: the mechanical connection has a distal end including a planar portion, wherein the planar portion has an aperture.

In this respect, the distal end of the mechanical connection is the end of the mechanical connection opposite to the end where the connection is directly attached to the other elements of the EMC filter component.

Providing a flat portion of the mechanical connection ensures that a large contact area with the corresponding connection end of the external mounting location is provided.

Providing holes in the flat portion ensures that a mechanically stable connection can be established with e.g. bolts and nuts.

It is feasible that the mechanical connection comprises one, two, three or more work pieces.

Each workpiece of the mechanical connection provides a separate mechanically stable connection and an electrical connection that utilizes a short effective conductor length. Each workpiece may have a similar configuration, for example having an elongated shape away from the body of the filter component, and including a planar distal portion having an aperture.

The following are possible: all the workpieces of the mechanical connection associated with at least one of the two interfaces are arranged on the same side of the component.

This ensures a short conductor length and a mechanically stable connection.

Furthermore, the following is possible: the pure electrical connection is arranged in the horizontal plane between two of the workpieces of the mechanical connection, at least between the workpieces of the mechanical connection.

The following are possible: the first interface is arranged and configured for electrical connection to a component selected from the group consisting of an additional electrical component, a semiconductor component, an inverter, a battery, and a motor driver.

The following are possible: the first interface includes one, two, three or more connection portions for establishing connection with a first potential and one, two, three or more connection portions to be connected to a second potential. It is possible that the first potential and the second potential are different from the ground potential.

Similarly, the following is possible: the second interface is arranged and configured for electrical connection to a component selected from the group consisting of an additional electrical component, a semiconductor component, an inverter, a battery, and a motor drive.

In this regard, the motor may also be considered a generator.

It is feasible that the EMC filter component further comprises a second mechanical connection at the second interface side. Similar to the above description, the second mechanical connection may be provided and configured for mechanically connecting the component to the second external mounting location. The second mechanical connection may also be arranged and configured for electrically connecting the filter component to a ground potential of the second external mounting location.

Thus, the following is possible: the second interface includes one, two, three or more connections for the first potential; one, two, three or more connection portions for the second potential; and one, two, three or more connections to ground potential.

In this regard, the electrical connection may be a connection of the first interface and/or the second interface, respectively.

The following is also possible: the filter circuit associated with the bus bar includes a resistive element, a capacitive element, and an inductive element as circuit elements.

It is possible that the two inductive elements of the filter circuit are magnetically coupled.

In a first embodiment of the bus bar, the bus bar comprises a track, i.e. two power lines.

Further, the first interface includes a first workpiece and a second workpiece of the mechanical connection. Furthermore, each of the two mechanical connections of the first interface is electrically coupled to one of the two rails of the bus bar.

Further, at the second interface, the bus bar may have a first connection portion electrically connected to the first rail and a second connection portion electrically connected to the second rail.

The direct current link EMC system may comprise an EMC filter component as described above and a semiconductor component as described below. The EMC filter component and the semiconductor component can be electrically and mechanically connected to each other via their mechanical connections.

The semiconductor component provides the possibility to electrically and mechanically connect further electrical components to the EMC filter component. The semiconductor component may further include a first interface, a second interface, and a semiconductor circuit, and a mechanical connection. The semiconductor circuit is electrically connected between the first interface and the second interface. The mechanical connection is provided and configured for mechanically connecting the component to an external mounting location of the EMC filter component, for example. The mechanical connection is also provided and configured for electrically connecting the semiconductor circuit to a mechanical connection of the EMC filter component.

It is feasible that the semiconductor component is an inverter. Thus, the semiconductor circuits of the semiconductor components include corresponding semiconductor switches and other circuits required to establish inverter functions (e.g., converting battery-supplied electrical energy to electrical energy required by the motor drive).

The following are possible: the bus bar further includes one or more dielectric layers between the conductive tracks and/or one or more conductive tracks between the dielectric layers.

The following are possible: the bus bar also includes one or more tracks electrically connected to ground potential.

The provision of the ground potential makes it possible to shorten the ground path for the circuit element, thereby improving the electrical characteristics.

The provision of more than one ground potential enables individual ground potentials to be provided to critical circuit elements, thereby improving electrical characteristics.

The following are possible: one or more of the tracks has a portion along a vertical direction or a raising or lowering direction.

Such a part enables a specific adaptation of an already existing three-dimensional arrangement of the connections to the external circuit environment. The specific use of sheet metal effectively simplifies the shaping of the bus bar, especially compared to a PCB.

The bus bar may be used in a system selected from the group consisting of an electrical system and an electrical system of a vehicle.

In particular, a corresponding component or a system of components may be used between the battery and the motor drive.

The bus bars may be used for high power applications and high current applications, such as high current inverter applications.

Drawings

The principal operating principles and details of the preferred embodiments are shown in the accompanying schematic drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a basic version of a bus bar in top view;

fig. 2 shows a possible conductor configuration of a bus bar;

fig. 3 shows a possible alternative conductor configuration of the bus bar;

fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a possible bus bar with additional circuit elements attached;

fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the bus bar of fig. 4 from another position;

fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a possible alternative bus bar with additional circuit elements attached;

fig. 7 shows an exploded view of the bus bar of fig. 6 from another position.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows basic elements of the bus bar BB. Bus bar BB includes a first interface I1 and a second interface I2. The mechanical connection MC is disposed on the first interface I1 and the second interface I2 sides. The mechanical connection portion MC is created to have mechanical strength sufficient to firmly mount the bus bar BB to the external mounting position. Further, since the mechanical connection portion MC is provided and configured for electrically connecting the bus bar BB to an external mounting position of an external circuit environment, the mechanical connection portion MC also provides an electrical function.

Thus, in fig. 1, the first interface I1 and the second interface I2 comprise two dual-purpose mechanical connections MC for electrically and mechanically connecting the component EFC to the external circuit environment. Furthermore, purely electrical or purely mechanical connections are also possible.

Fig. 2 shows a possible conductor configuration of the bus bar. B1 and B2 represent a first rail and a second rail for conducting electric power. DI denotes a dielectric layer that insulates conductive layers from each other. GND denotes a conductive track connected to the ground potential. The capacitor is attached to the bus bar and connected to the second track B2 and ground. For this purpose, holes are provided in the track B2 and in the GND layer, respectively, and in the dielectric layer.

Similarly, fig. 3 shows a possible configuration with one dielectric layer separating the first track B1 from the second track B2. The holes in the respective layers enable contact with the capacitor C.

Fig. 4 shows bus bar BB in a perspective view, illustrating only one of many possible ways of shaping the elements of a sheet metal based bus bar to provide good three-dimensional and high density integration of the bus bar into an existing circuit environment.

The bus bar has its interfaces I1, I2 at the distal end and has a flat surface disposed between the interfaces. On the flat surface, a circuit element such as a capacitive element of an EMC circuit is arranged on and attached to the flat upper surface.

Both the first interface and the second interface comprise rod-shaped extension conductor segments extending in a horizontal direction and in a vertical direction. This flexibility in shaping the conductors of the interface is obtained by using bendable metal sheets. The inductive elements L1, L3 are arranged at the vertical section and magnetically coupled with the conductor sections of the interface.

Furthermore, the track arranged below the planar upper surface contains a ground layer GL and separates an insulating dielectric layer INS.

In the view of fig. 4, further inductive elements L2 are arranged behind the capacitive elements C1 to C5 on the planar upper surface.

Fig. 5 shows the configuration of fig. 4 from a bottom perspective, and fig. 5 shows a flat bottom surface of the bus bar. The bottom surface shows four holes. An enlarged picture of the first hole H1 is shown on the right side of fig. 4. These holes may be used to access power or ground conductors of the bus bar or other circuit elements of the external circuit environment disposed below the bus bar.

In addition, the circuit elements may be attached and connected at the flat bottom surface BS of the bus bar.

The distal end of the connection portion includes a hole that is easy to manufacture (e.g., by punching a hole in the sheet), and the hole can be used to electrically and mechanically connect the bus bar to a corresponding external circuit environment.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative configuration of the bus bar. Furthermore, the circuit elements C1, C2, C3, C4, C5 and L2 are arranged at the flat upper surface on the bus bar between the connection portions of the first interface I1 and the second interface I2.

In addition, two conductor elements L1, L3 are attached to and magnetically coupled to the interfaces I1, I2.

However, the connection portion of the interface comprises a cylindrical section extending in the vertical direction.

Fig. 7 shows an exploded view of the configuration of the bus bar of fig. 6, which additionally shows the carrier CA in which the tracks are arranged.

List of reference numerals

B1 and B2: power conductor

BB: bus bar

BS: flat bottom surface

C. C1 … … C5: capacitive element

CA vector

DI: dielectric medium

FS: flat upper surface

GL: ground layer

GND: ground (floor)

H1: hole(s)

I1 and I2: first and second interfaces

L1, L2, L3: inductance element

MC: mechanical connection

SC: a semiconductor component.

Claims

1. A bus bar, comprising:

a first interface and a second interface,

a filter element electrically connected between the first interface and the second interface,

a first track and a second track between the first interface and the second interface, each of the first track and the second track comprising a central portion having a bendable sheet of metal, wherein the sheet of metal is arranged in layers in the central portion,

at least one dielectric layer separating the first track from the second track in the central portion,

wherein the first interface is arranged and configured for electrical connection to a component selected from the group consisting of an additional electrical component, a semiconductor component, an inverter, a battery, a motor drive,

wherein the second interface is arranged and configured for electrical connection to a component selected from the group consisting of an additional electrical component, a semiconductor component, an inverter, a battery, a motor drive,

wherein the first interface and/or the second interface comprises a mechanical connection,

wherein the mechanical connection is a dual-purpose connection providing an electrical connection to ground potential and a mechanically stable connection with a short effective conductor length,

wherein the bendable metal sheet of the first rail forms a flat upper surface for mounting circuit elements, and

wherein the bus bar comprises a further track electrically connected to the ground potential, the further track being located between the first track and the second track.

2. The bus bar of claim 1, wherein the first interface and the second interface are disposed at opposite distal ends of the bus bar, and the central portion is disposed between the first interface and the second interface.

3. The bus bar of claim 1, wherein the mechanical connection is provided and configured for:

mechanically connecting the bus bar to an external mounting location, and

the bus bar is electrically connected to the external mounting location.

4. The bus bar according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a direct-current link capacitor as a circuit element.

5. The bus bar of claim 1 or 2, wherein the mechanical connection has an elongated shape with an extension oriented away from the component.

6. The bus bar of claim 5, wherein the elongated shape has a portion with a uniform cross section along an extension direction.

7. The bus bar of claim 5, wherein the elongated shape has a cross-section selected from a square cross-section, a rectangular cross-section, a circular cross-section, an oval cross-section.

8. The bus bar of claim 6, wherein the elongated shape has a cross-section selected from a square cross-section, a rectangular cross-section, a circular cross-section, an oval cross-section.

9. The bus bar of claim 1 or 2, wherein the mechanical connection has a distal end comprising a flat portion having an aperture.

10. The bus bar of claim 1 or 2, wherein the mechanical connection comprises two, three, or more pieces.

11. The bus bar of claim 10, wherein all of the pieces of the mechanical connection are disposed on the same side of the component.

12. The bus bar of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first interface comprises:

one, two, three or more connection portions to be connected to a first potential, and

one, two, three or more connection portions for connection to the second potential.

13. The bus bar according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a second mechanical connection on the second interface side,

wherein:

the second mechanical connection is arranged and configured for mechanically connecting the component to a second external mounting location,

the second mechanical connection is further arranged and configured for electrically connecting the filter circuit to a ground potential of the second external mounting location.

14. The bus bar of claim 1 or 2, wherein the second interface comprises:

for one, two, three or more connections of the first potential,

for one, two, three or more connections of the second potential,

one, two, three or more connections to ground potential.

15. The bus bar according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the filter circuit includes a resistive element, a capacitive element, and an inductive element.

16. The bus bar of claim 1 or 2, wherein one or more rails have a portion along a vertical direction or a rising or falling direction.

17. Use of a bus bar according to one of claims 1 to 16 for:

in a system selected from the group consisting of electrical systems, electrical systems of vehicles,

between the battery and the motor drive.