Power converter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10355586-B2
Application number	US-201615574079-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2016
Priority date	May 18, 2015
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

A power converter includes: a power module that converts direct-current electric power from a power storage apparatus and alternating-current electrical power to be supplied to a load; a charger that converts alternating-current electrical power supplied via an external connector to direct-current electric power and charges the power storage apparatus therewith; a capacitor module that is arranged between the power module and the charger and that has a capacitor that smoothes voltage; a DC/DC converter that converts direct-current voltage supplied from the power storage apparatus; and a signal line connected to the charger, wherein the power module and the capacitor module are connected by high-voltage wire on one surface side of the capacitor module, and the signal line is connected to the charger by extending via other surface of the capacitor module opposite from the one surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A power converter for converting electrical power between a power storage apparatus and a load, comprising:
a power module configured to convert direct-current electric power from the power storage apparatus to alternating-current electrical power to be supplied to the load;
a charger configured to convert external alternating-current electrical power to direct-current electric power, the charger being configured to charge the power storage apparatus therewith, and the external alternating-current electrical power being supplied via an external connector;
a capacitor module arranged between the power module and the charger, the capacitor module including a capacitor configured to smooth voltage;
a DC/DC converter configured to convert direct-current voltage supplied from the power storage apparatus; and
a signal line connected to the charger, wherein
the power module and the capacitor module are connected by high-voltage wire on one surface side of the capacitor module, and
the signal line is connected to the charger by extending via another surface of the capacitor module opposite from the one surface.

2. The power converter according to claim 1 , further comprising
a case configured to accommodate the power module, the charger, the capacitor module, and the DC/DC converter, wherein
the capacitor module is arranged below the DC/DC converter in the case so as to be layered, and
the signal line is connected to the charger by extending via a top surface of the capacitor module.

3. The power converter according to claim 2 , wherein
a guide part is provided on the top surface of the capacitor module, the guide part being configured to support the signal line.

4. The power converter according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a charge controller configured to control charging of the power storage apparatus by electrical power supplied from outside; and
a case configured to accommodate the power module, the charger, the charge controller, and the capacitor module, wherein
the signal line is connected to the charge controller via a connector through a space between the capacitor module and the case, and
the capacitor module includes a guide surface on which the signal line is mounted, the guide surface being configured to extend in a direction in which the signal line is plugged into the connector.

5. The power converter according to claim 4 , wherein
the connector is provided so as to project out from a board of the charge controller, and
the guide surface is configured to extend in an extending direction of the board.

6. The power converter according to claim 5 , wherein the guide surface is arranged side-by-side with a top surface of the board in a same plane.

7. The power converter according to claim 4 , further comprising
a guide part projected from the guide surface, the guide part being configured to guide the signal line in a direction in which the signal line is plugged into the connector.

8. The power converter according to claim 4 , wherein
the capacitor module is arranged between the signal line and the DC/DC converter.

Assignees

• Calsonic Kansei Corp

Inventors

• Okazaki Fumihiro
• Okuzuka Gen
• Nomura Yuuichirou
• Nagano Masaharu

Classifications

• B60L50/60

  using power supplied by batteries (in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75) · CPC title

• H02J2105/37

  exchanging power with electric vehicles [EV] or with hybrid electric vehicles [HEV] · CPC title

• H02J2207/20

  Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter · CPC title

• H02P27/06

  using DC to AC converters or inverters (H02P27/05 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60L53/22

  Constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging electric vehicles · CPC title