# US 11,909,327 B2 · Half-bridge module for an inverter of an electric drive of an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle and an inverter for an electric drive of an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,909,327 B2 - Document ID: US11909327B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/233,189 - Filed: 2021-04-16 - Published: 2021-11-04 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-29 - Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG - Applicants: ZF Friedrichshafen AG - Inventors: Manuel Raimann; Ivonne Trenz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11909327B2 ## CPC - H02M 7/003: {Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections} - H02P 27/06: using DC to AC converters or inverters (H02P27/05 takes precedence) - H10W 40/255: {having a laminate or multilayered structure, e.g. direct bond copper [DBC] ceramic substrates} - H10W 70/468: {Circuit boards} - H10W 70/481: {for devices being provided for in groups H10D8/00 - H10D48/00} - H10W 90/00: Package configurations - H10W 90/701: {characterised by the relative positions of pads or connectors relative to package parts} - H10W 90/811: {Multiple chips on leadframes} - H10W 70/429: {being the outer leads} - H10W 70/611: {for connecting multiple chips together} - H10W 70/65: Shapes or dispositions of interconnections - H10W 90/763: {between laterally-adjacent chips} - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS - H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 ## Abstract In a half-bridge module for an inverter, semiconductor switches and signal and power connections are arranged on a first surface of a substrate and coated with a casting compound, and external connection contacts for the signal and power connections extend through the casting compound to the exterior. In various embodiments, the external connection contacts extend from the casting compound from four second surfaces that are orthogonal to the first surface, and have a first right angle bend outside the casting compound, such that the ends of the external connection contacts are perpendicular to the first surface. The invention also relates to a corresponding inverter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A half-bridge module for an inverter for an electric drive for an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, the half-bridge module comprising: a substrate; semiconductor switches; power connections; and signal connections, wherein the signal connections are electrically connected to the semiconductor switches such that the semiconductor switches are configured to be switched via the signal connections, and wherein the power connections are electrically connected to the semiconductor switches such that the semiconductor switches allow or interrupt transmission of electricity between the power connections, wherein the semiconductor switches, the signal connections, and the power connections are all arranged on a first surface of the substrate and coated with a casting compound, wherein external connection contacts for the signal connections and external connection contacts for the power connections extend through the casting compound to the exterior from four second surfaces that are orthogonal to the first surface, wherein at least one of the external connection contacts for the signal connections or the external connection contacts for the power connections have a first right angle bend outside the casting compound, such that ends of the at least one of the external connection contacts for the signal connections or the ends of the external connection contacts for the power connections are perpendicular to the first surfaces, and wherein the external connection contacts for the power connections extend from the four second surfaces. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The half-bridge module according to claim 1, wherein the external connection contacts for the signal connections form signal connection contact pins, and wherein the external connection contacts for the power connections form extended legs on lead frames. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The half-bridge module according to claim 1, wherein: the external connection contacts for the signal connections each have the first right angle bend outside the casting compound such that the ends of the external connection contacts for the signal connections are perpendicular to the first surface, and wherein the external connection contacts for the power connections each have a first right angle bend and a second right angle bend outside the casting compound, such that the ends of the external connection contacts for the power connections are parallel to the first surface, and lie within a base surface spanning the substrate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The half-bridge module according to claim 1, wherein the external connection contacts for the signal connections extend from two parallel, opposing second surfaces. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The half-bridge module according to claim 1, wherein the power connections comprise at least one negative connection, at least one phase connection, and at least one positive connection, wherein the at least one negative connection and the at least one phase connection extend from two parallel, opposing second surfaces. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The half-bridge module according to claim 1, wherein the half-bridge module comprises two additional external connections, the electrical connection of which to the half-bridge module is configured for returning a control current. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An inverter for an electric drive in an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, comprising at least three of the half-bridge modules according to claim 1. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The half-bridge module according to claim 1, wherein: the external connection contacts for the power connections each have the first right angle bend outside the casting compound such that the ends of the external connection contacts for the power connections are perpendicular to the first surface, and wherein the external connection contacts for the signal connections each have a first right angle bend and a second right angle bend outside the casting compound such that the ends of the external connection contacts for the signal connections are parallel to the first surface, and lie within a base surface spanning the substrate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The half-bridge module according to claim 5, wherein the at least one positive connection further comprises at least two positive connections extending from two parallel, opposing second surfaces, which are orthogonal to the two second surfaces from which the at least one negative connection and the at least one phase connection extend. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The half-bridge module according to claim 6, wherein external connection contacts for the two additional external connections extend from the same second surfaces as the external connection contacts for the signal connections. ### Claim 11 A half-bridge module for an inverter for an electric drive for an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, the half-bridge module comprising: a substrate; semiconductor switches; power connections; and signal connections, wherein the signal connections are electrically connected to the semiconductor switches such that the semiconductor switches are configured to be switched via the signal connections, and wherein the power connections are electrically connected to the semiconductor switches such that the semiconductor switches allow or interrupt transmission of electricity between the power connections, wherein the semiconductor switches, the signal connections, and the power connections are all arranged on a first surface of the substrate and coated with a casting compound, wherein external connection contacts for the signal connections and external connection contacts for the power connections extend through the casting compound to the exterior from four second surfaces that are orthogonal to the first surface, wherein at least one of the external connection contacts for the signal connections or the external connection contacts for the power connections have a first right angle bend outside the casting compound, such that ends of the at least one of the external connection contacts for the signal connections or the ends of the external connection contacts for the power connections are perpendicular to the first surface, and wherein the power connections comprise at least one negative connection, at least one phase connection, and at least one positive connection, wherein the at least one negative connection and the at least one phase connection extend from two parallel, opposing second surfaces. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The half-bridge module according to claim 11, wherein the external connection contacts for the power connections extend from the four second surfaces. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The half-bridge module according to claim 11, wherein the at least one positive connection further comprises at least two positive connections extending from two parallel, opposing second surfaces, which are orthogonal to the two second surfaces from which the at least one negative connection and the at least one phase connection extend. ### Claim 14 A half-bridge module for an inverter for an electric drive for an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, the half-bridge module comprising: a substrate; semiconductor switches; power connections; and signal connections, wherein the signal connections are electrically connected to the semiconductor switches such that the semiconductor switches are configured to be switched via the signal connections, and wherein the power connections are electrically connected to the semiconductor switches such that the semiconductor switches allow or interrupt transmission of electricity between the power connections, wherein the semiconductor switches, the signal connections, and the power connections are all arranged on a first surface of the substrate and coated with a casting compound, wherein external connection contacts for the signal connections and external connection contacts for the power connections extend through the casting compound to the exterior from four second surfaces that are orthogonal to the first surface, wherein at least one of the external connection contacts for the signal connections or the external connection contacts for the power connections have a first right angle bend outside the casting compound, such that ends of the at least one of the external connection contacts for the signal connections or the ends of the external connection contacts for the power connections are perpendicular to the first surface, and wherein the half-bridge module comprises two additional external connections, the electrical connection of which to the half-bridge module is configured for returning a control current. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The half-bridge module according to claim 14, wherein external connection contacts for the two additional external connections extend from the same second surfaces as the external connection contacts for the signal connections.