# US 2016/0355210 A1 · Electronic Control Unit, Electric Power Steering Device, and Vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0355210 A1 - Document ID: US20160355210A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/103,116 - Filed: 2014-12-12 - Published: 2016-12-08 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-13 - Assignees: Nsk Ltd. - Applicants: NSK Ltd. - Inventors: Yoshikatsu INADA; Kotaro TAGAMI; Takaaki SEKINE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160355210A1 ## CPC - B62D 5/0406: {including housing for electronic control unit} - B62D 5/0457: {characterised by control features of the drive means as such} - B62D 5/0463: {calculating assisting torque from the motor based on driver input} - H02K 11/33: Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics (H02K11/38 takes precedence) - H02P 27/06: using DC to AC converters or inverters (H02P27/05 takes precedence) - H05K 7/14322: {wherein the control and power circuits of a power converter are arranged within the same casing} - H05K 7/20854: {Heat transfer by conduction from internal heat source to heat radiating structure (H05K7/20863 takes precedence)} - H05K 7/209: {Heat transfer by conduction from internal heat source to heat radiating structure (H05K7/20909 takes precedence)} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract An electronic control unit, an electric power steering device, and a vehicle are provided, such that the power loss from output terminals of two power modules including first and second power modules to the electric current joining point is suppressed. The electronic control unit includes an input and output board connected with the first and second power modules. First and second conductor patterns respectively connected with output terminals of the first and second power modules and extending independently of each other are formed in the input and output board. A terminal is mounted on the output connector, the terminal including first and second board connection portions respectively connected with the first and second conductor patterns. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic control unit comprising: first and second power modules on which switching elements are respectively mounted; an input and output board on which an input connector and an output connector to be connected to an electric motor are mounted, and which is connected with the first and second power modules; and a control board on which a controller configured to control output currents from the first and second power modules, wherein first and second conductor patterns respectively connected with output terminals of the first and second power modules and extending independently of each other are formed in the input and output board, and wherein a terminal is mounted on the output connector, the terminal comprising: an output terminal portion to be connected to the electric motor; and first and second board connection portions extending from the output terminal portion to be respectively connected to the first and second conductor patterns. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic control unit according to claim 1, wherein the first and second conductor patterns are arranged to be line-symmetric when the first and second conductor patterns are viewed from a plane of the input and output board. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic control unit according to claim 1, wherein a first output terminal of the first power module comprises a first A-phase output terminal, a first B-phase output terminal, and a first C-phase output terminal respectively corresponding to an A phase, a B phase, and a C phase of the electric motor, wherein a second output terminal of the second power module comprises a second A-phase output terminal, a second B-phase output terminal, and a second C-phase output terminal respectively corresponding to the A phase, the B phase, and the C phase of the electric motor, wherein the first conductor pattern comprises a first A-phase conductor pattern connected with and extending from the first A-phase output terminal of the first power module, a first B-phase conductor pattern connected with and extending from the first B-phase output terminal of the first power module, and a first C-phase conductor pattern connected with and extending from the first C-phase output terminal of the first power module, and wherein the second conductor pattern comprises a second A-phase conductor pattern connected with and extending from the second A-phase output terminal of the second power module, a second B-phase conductor pattern connected with and extending from the second B-phase output terminal of the second power module, and a second C-phase conductor pattern connected with and extending from the second C-phase output terminal of the second power module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronic control unit according to claim 3, wherein the terminal comprises an A-phase terminal, a B-phase terminal, and a C-phase terminal respectively corresponding to the A phase, the B phase, and the C phase of the electric motor, wherein the A-phase terminal comprises the output terminal portion, the first board connection portion to be connected to the first A-phase conductor pattern, and the second board connection portion to be connected to the second A-phase conductor pattern, wherein the B-phase terminal comprises the output terminal portion, the first board connection portion to be connected to the first B-phase conductor pattern, and the second board connection portion to be connected to the second B-phase conductor pattern, and wherein the C-phase terminal comprises the output terminal portion, the first board connection portion to be connected to the first C-phase conductor pattern, and the second board connection portion to be connected to the second C-phase conductor pattern. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electronic control unit according to claim 4, wherein the A-phase terminal, the B-phase terminal, and the C-phase terminal are insert-molded to be insulated from each other and overlap each other, when a housing is formed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The electronic control unit according to claim 4, wherein the first and second board connection portions of the A-phase terminal, the first and second board connection portions of the B-phase terminal, and the first and second board connection portions of the C-phase terminal are arranged to be line-symmetric when viewed from a plane of the output connector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An electric power steering device comprising the electronic control unit according to claim 1. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A vehicle comprising the electric power steering device according to claim 7. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The electronic control unit according to claim 2, wherein a first output terminal of the first power module comprises a first A-phase output terminal, a first B-phase output terminal, and a first C-phase output terminal respectively corresponding to an A phase, a B phase, and a C phase of the electric motor, wherein a second output terminal of the second power module comprises a second A-phase output terminal, a second B-phase output terminal, and a second C-phase output terminal respectively corresponding to the A phase, the B phase, and the C phase of the electric motor, wherein the first conductor pattern comprises a first A-phase conductor pattern connected with and extending from the first A-phase output terminal of the first power module, a first B-phase conductor pattern connected with and extending from the first B-phase output terminal of the first power module, and a first C-phase conductor pattern connected with and extending from the first C-phase output terminal of the first power module, and wherein the second conductor pattern comprises a second A-phase conductor pattern connected with and extending from the second A-phase output terminal of the second power module, a second B-phase conductor pattern connected with and extending from the second B-phase output terminal of the second power module, and a second C-phase conductor pattern connected with and extending from the second C-phase output terminal of the second power module. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The electronic control unit according to claim 5, wherein the first and second board connection portions of the A-phase terminal, the first and second board connection portions of the B-phase terminal, and the first and second board connection portions of the C-phase terminal are arranged to be line-symmetric when viewed from a plane of the output connector.