公开(公告)号：US11133796B2

公开(公告)日：2021-09-28

申请号：US15067878

申请日：2016-03-11

Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC

Inventor： Zhuxian Xu ,  Chingchi Chen ,  Ke Zou ,  Xi Lu ,  Michael W. Degner ,  Jun Kikuchi

IPC: H02P1/00 ,  H03K17/16 ,  H02M1/08 ,  B60L50/51 ,  H02M1/088 ,  H03K17/567 ,  H02M7/5387 ,  H02M1/15 ,  H02M3/158 ,  H02M1/00

Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine, an IGBT, and a gate driver. The IGBT has a gate, an emitter, and a collector and is configured to flow an electric charge through a phase of the electric machine. The gate driver is configured to flow current onto the gate at a first level, and in response to a time integral of a voltage across the phase exceeding a predetermined level, transition from the first level to a second level less than the first level.

公开(公告)号：US10756648B2

公开(公告)日：2020-08-25

申请号：US16186973

申请日：2018-11-12

Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Inventor： Zhuxian Xu ,  Chingchi Chen

IPC: H02M7/5387 ,  H03K17/16 ,  H02M1/084 ,  H02M1/00 ,  H02P27/08

Abstract: A multiphase inverter for an electric vehicle drive has a plurality of drivers to provide drive signals to respective gate loops of upper and lower transistors in the phase legs. A transformer has a secondary winding in a first gate loop of a first transistor in one phase leg and a primary winding connecting a Kelvin-emitter of the first transistor to a Kelvin-emitter of a second transistor in the other phase leg. Switching transients of transistors are shortened because when gate signal is toggled to change a conduction state of a transistor in a first phase leg, a rate of current change in the first leg is sensed in a transformer primary winding connected across a stray inductance of the first leg. A voltage proportional to the sensed rate is added to the gate signal via a transformer secondary winding, thereby increasing a common source inductance of the transistor.

公开(公告)号：US10361147B1

公开(公告)日：2019-07-23

申请号：US16021156

申请日：2018-06-28

Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Inventor： Zhuxian Xu ,  Nevin Altunyurt ,  Chingchi Chen

IPC: H01L23/495 ,  H02M7/00 ,  H01L23/00 ,  H01L23/367

Abstract: A power module has upper and lower transistor dies carried by a lead frame assembly. The assembly has a positive DC paddle for the upper die and an AC paddle for the lower die. An upper plate interconnects a second side of the upper die with the AC paddle, and a lower plate interconnects a second side of the lower die with a negative power bar. Current flowing via positive and negative power bars defines a power loop creating a main magnetic flux with a first direction in a central region and a return direction outside the central region. The upper and lower plates have outer edges having respective notches to concentrate respective portions of a return magnetic flux. Each die has a gate pad connected in a gate loop, wherein the gate loops each overlap a respective concentrated return flux thereby enhancing a common source inductance for each transistor.

公开(公告)号：US10141254B1

公开(公告)日：2018-11-27

申请号：US15978552

申请日：2018-05-14

Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Inventor： Zhuxian Xu ,  Chingchi Chen

IPC: H01L23/52 ,  H01L23/498 ,  H01L25/18 ,  H01L23/64 ,  H02M7/00 ,  H02K11/33 ,  H01L23/367 ,  H01L23/00

Abstract: A direct bonded copper (DBC) power module with elevated common source inductance is adapted for use as a half bridge in an electric drive for an electric vehicle. Etching patterns on the DBC substrates provide indented notches for concentrating magnetic flux in the power loops. Etched gate traces form gate loops with coil windings disposed within or overlapping the notches in order to enhanced the common source inductance for each switching transistor (such as an IGBT). Switching loss is reduced and fuel economy is improved for the electric vehicle with minimal impact on packaging size and at no additional cost.

公开(公告)号：US20180284154A1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-04

申请号：US15471485

申请日：2017-03-28

Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC

Inventor： Xi Lu ,  Krishna Prasad Bhat ,  Chingchi Chen ,  Mark Allan Lippman ,  Zhuxian Xu ,  Guangyin Lei

IPC: G01R1/073 ,  G01R1/04

CPC classification number: G01R1/07307 ,  G01R1/04

Abstract: A voltage probe holster includes a support member disposed on a base. The support member defines a plurality of apertures sized to receive a plurality of single-ended probes having coaxial leads. Each of the apertures have a conductive periphery configured to conduct electricity from one of the coaxial leads such that a common ground loop through the support member and the base is formed and that differences in ground potential are reduced.

公开(公告)号：US20170302263A1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-19

申请号：US15132490

申请日：2016-04-19

Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC

Inventor： Zhuxian Xu ,  Chingchi Chen ,  Xi Lu ,  Ke Zou

IPC: H03K17/10 ,  B60L11/18 ,  H02M3/158 ,  H03K17/284

CPC classification number: H03K17/107 ,  B60L11/1816 ,  H02M1/08 ,  H02M3/158 ,  H02M2001/0045 ,  H02P27/06 ,  H03K17/042 ,  H03K17/166 ,  H03K17/168 ,  H03K17/284 ,  Y02T10/7258

Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an IGBT and a gate driver. The IGBT is configured to energize an electric machine. The gate driver is configured to apply an off voltage less than a threshold voltage onto a gate of the IGBT while the IGBT is operating in a saturation mode, and in response to expiration of a delay from a transition from saturation to linear mode, apply a voltage pulse above the off voltage to reduce flyback from the electric machine. The gate driver may be configured to, in response to expiration of a delay from a transition from saturation to linear mode, apply a voltage pulse above the off voltage and below the threshold to reduce flyback from the electric machine.

公开(公告)号：US11075589B2

公开(公告)日：2021-07-27

申请号：US16416548

申请日：2019-05-20

Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Inventor： Zhuxian Xu ,  Chingchi Chen

IPC: H02M7/5387 ,  H02M1/08 ,  H02P27/08 ,  B60K6/22 ,  B60L50/00

Abstract: Current imbalances between parallel switching devices in a power converter half leg are reduced. A gate driver generates a nominal PWM gate drive signal for a respective half leg. A first feedback loop couples the nominal PWM gate drive signal to a gate terminal of a respective first switching device. The first feedback loop has a first mutual inductance with a current path of a first parallel switching device and has a second mutual inductance with a current path of a second parallel switching device. The first and second mutual inductances are arranged to generate opposing voltages in the first feedback loop, so that when all the parallel switching devices carry equal current then the voltages cancel.

公开(公告)号：US20190222108A1

公开(公告)日：2019-07-18

申请号：US15873198

申请日：2018-01-17

Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Inventor： Zhuxian Xu ,  Chingchi Chen

IPC: H02M1/088 ,  H02M7/5387 ,  B60L11/18

CPC classification number: H02M1/088 ,  B60L50/51 ,  H02M7/53871 ,  H02M2001/0054 ,  H02M2001/0058 ,  H03K17/127

Abstract: An electrified vehicle propulsion system uses current feedback to modify gate drive signals to suppress voltage spikes and increase switching efficiency. A DC link having a link capacitor and a link inductance is connected to first and second converters. A first converter bridge has a first phase leg with first upper and lower switching devices, each switching device having a respective gate loop. A second converter bridge has a second phase leg with second upper and lower switching devices, each switching device having a respective gate loop. A plurality of gate drivers provide gate drive signals to respective gate loops for turning the respective switching devices on and off. A plurality of gate coils are provided, wherein each gate coil is connected in series between a respective gate driver and a respective gate loop. Each gate coil is respectively inductively coupled to the link inductance.

公开(公告)号：US10114041B2

公开(公告)日：2018-10-30

申请号：US15471485

申请日：2017-03-28

Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC

Inventor： Xi Lu ,  Krishna Prasad Bhat ,  Chingchi Chen ,  Mark Allan Lippman ,  Zhuxian Xu ,  Guangyin Lei

IPC: G01R1/04 ,  G01R1/073

Abstract: A voltage probe holster includes a support member disposed on a base. The support member defines a plurality of apertures sized to receive a plurality of single-ended probes having coaxial leads. Each of the apertures have a conductive periphery configured to conduct electricity from one of the coaxial leads such that a common ground loop through the support member and the base is formed and that differences in ground potential are reduced.

公开(公告)号：US20180284158A1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-04

申请号：US15471214

申请日：2017-03-28

Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC

Inventor： Chingchi Chen ,  Xi Lu ,  Guangyin Lei ,  Zhuxian Xu

IPC: G01R15/14

CPC classification number: G01R1/203

Abstract: A shunt includes a power terminal having a planar first potential region (FPR) connected to a second potential region (SPR) through a resistive element, the SPR being offset from and parallel to the FPR. The shunt includes a sensor terminal having a first potential lead (FPL) connected to the FPR, and a second potential lead (SPL) connected to the SPR and separated from the FPL by an insulation sheet. The SPL and sheet cover the resistive element.