Power module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018048141-A1
Application number	US-201615543173-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 6, 2016
Priority date	Apr 6, 2016
Publication date	Feb 15, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

When a short-circuit failure has occurred in a power semiconductor device provided in a power module, a radical and rapid temperature increase is prevented by instantly interrupting a short-circuit current. A power module 10 has a package 10 a. Provided in the package 10 a are: a MOSFET 21 serving as the power semiconductor device; a resistor 23 serving as a detecting means for detecting an operation state of the MOSFET 21 and outputting a detection signal; and a MOSFET 22 serving as a current-interrupting purpose switch connected in series to the MOSFET 21. In response to a control signal Si 2 generated on the basis of the detection signal, the MOSFET 22 goes into a conduction state during a normal operation of the MOSFET 21 and goes into an interruption state so as to interrupt a current flowing in the MOSFET 21 when a short-circuit failure has occurred in the MOSFET 21.

First claim

1 . A power module wherein a package houses therein:
a power semiconductor device used for a switching purpose to conduct/interrupt a current; a detecting means for detecting an operation state of the power semiconductor device and outputting a detection signal; and a switch for a current-interrupting purpose that is connected in series to the power semiconductor device and is configured to, in response to a control signal generated on a basis of the detection signal, go into a conduction state so as to conduct a current flowing in the power semiconductor device during a normal operation of the power semiconductor device and to go into an interruption state so as to interrupt the current flowing in the power semiconductor device when a short-circuit failure has occurred in the power semiconductor device.

2 . The power module according to claim 1 , wherein
the detecting means is a current detecting means for detecting the current flowing in the power semiconductor device and outputting a current detection signal.

3 . The power module according to claim 2 , wherein
the current detecting means has a resistor connected in series to the switch and outputs a voltage between two ends of the resistor as the current detection signal.

4 . The power module according to claim 2 , wherein
the current detecting means has a resistor connected in series to the switch and outputs a voltage between two ends of a circuit including the switch and the resistor, as the current detection signal.

5 . The power module according to claim 2 , wherein
the current detecting means has a resistor connected in series to a current detection terminal installed with the switch and outputs a voltage between two ends of the resistor as the current detection signal.

6 . The power module according to claim 1 , wherein
the detecting means is a temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature exhibited during an operation of the power semiconductor device and outputting a temperature detection signal.

7 . The power module according to claim 6 , wherein
the temperature detecting means is a temperature sensing device including a thermistor of which an electrical characteristic changes in accordance with a temperature in a vicinity of the power semiconductor device.

8 . The power module according to claim 1 , comprising a control circuit provided either inside or outside of the package, wherein
when the detection signal exceeds a predetermined value, the control circuit determines that the short-circuit failure has occurred in the power semiconductor device and generates the control signal.

Assignees

• Shindengen Electric Mfg

Inventors

• Suzuki Kenichi

Classifications

• H03K17/0822

  in field-effect transistor switches · CPC title

• H02M1/08

  Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters · CPC title

• H02M1/32

  Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection · CPC title

• H02H7/222

  for switches · CPC title

• H02M3/33592

  having a synchronous rectifier circuit or a synchronous freewheeling circuit at the secondary side of an isolation transformer · CPC title