Bus Bar

Abstract

In an embodiment a bus bar includes a first interface and a second interface, a filter element electrically connected between the first and the second interface and a first rail between the first interface and the second interface, wherein the first rail includes a central section with a metal sheet and a dielectric material at least partially covering the central section.

Claims

1. A bus bar comprising: a first interface and a second interface; a filter element electrically connected between the first and the second interface; and a first rail between the first interface and the second interface, wherein the first rail comprises a central section with a metal sheet and a dielectric material at least partially covering the central section.

2. The bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second interface are arranged at opposite distal ends of the bus bar and the central section is arranged between the first and the second interface.

3. The bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the central section has a flat upper surface.

4. The bus bar according to claim 1, further comprising one or more additional rails.

5. The bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the first interface and/or the second interface comprise(s) a mechanical connection.

6. The bus bar according to claim 5, wherein the mechanical connection is configured to: mechanically connect the bus bar to an external mounting location; and electrically connect the bus bar to the external mounting location.

7. The bus bar according to claim 5, wherein the mechanical connection has an elongated shape that has an extension directed away from the bus bar.

8. The bus bar according to claim 7, wherein the elongated shape has a section along an extension direction with a uniform cross section.

9. The bus bar according to claim 7, wherein the elongated shape has a cross section selected from a quadratic cross section, a rectangular cross section, a circular cross section, or an elliptical cross section.

10. The bus bar according to claim 5, wherein the mechanical connection has a distal end that comprises a flat section with a hole.

11. The bus bar according to claim 5, wherein the mechanical connection comprises two, three or more pieces.

12. The bus bar according to claim 11, wherein all pieces of the mechanical connection are arranged at the same side of the bus bar.

13. The bus bar according to claim 1, further comprising a DC-Link capacitor as a circuit element.

14. The bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the first interface is configured to electrically connect to a component selected from a further electrical component, a semiconductor component, an inverter, a battery or an electric motor drive.

15. The bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the first interface comprises one, two, three or more connections to be connected to a first potential and one, two, three or more connections for connection to a second potential.

16. The bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the second interface is configured to electrically connect to a component selected from a further electrical component, a semiconductor component, an inverter, a battery, or an electric motor drive.

17. The bus bar according to claim 1, further comprising a second mechanical connection at a side of the second interface, wherein the second mechanical connection is configured to mechanically connect the bus bar to a second external mounting location and to electrically connect the filter element to a ground potential of the second external mounting location.

18. The bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the second interface comprises one, two, three or more connections for a first potential, one, two, three or more connections for a second potential, one, two, three or more connections for a ground potential.

19. The bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the filter element comprises resistance elements, capacitance elements and inductance elements.

20. The Bus bar according to claim 1, further comprising: one or more dielectric layers between conducting rails; and/or one or more conducting rails between dielectric layers.

21. The bus bar according to claim 1, further comprising one or more rails electrically connected to a ground potential.

22. The bus bar according to claim 21, wherein the one or more rails have a section along a vertical or ascending or descending direction.

23. A system comprising: a battery; an electrical motor drive; and the bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the bus bar is connected between the batter and the electrical motor drive, and wherein system is an electrical system of a vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0069] Central working principles and details of preferred embodiments are shown in the accompanying schematic figures.

[0070] FIG. 1 shows a basic version of the bus bar in a top view;

[0071] FIG. 2 shows a possible conductor configuration of the bus bar;

[0072] FIG. 3 shows a possible alternative conductor configuration of the bus bar;

[0073] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a possible bus bar with additional circuit elements attached;

[0074] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the bus bar of FIG. 4 from another position;

[0075] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a possible alternative bus bar with additional circuit elements attached; and

[0076] FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the bus bar of FIG. 6 from another position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0077] FIG. 1 illustrates basic elements of the bus bar BB. The bus bar BB comprises a first interface I1 and a second interface I2. At the side of the first interface I1 and second interface I2 mechanical connections MC are arranged. The mechanical connections MC are created with a mechanical strength sufficient for solidly mounting the bus bar BB to external mounting locations. In addition, the mechanical connections MC further provide an electric functionality because the mechanical connections MC are provided and configured for electrically connecting the bus bar BB to an external mounting location of an external circuit environment.

[0078] In FIG. 1 the first interface I1 and the second interface I2, thus, comprise two dual purpose mechanical connections MC for mechanically and electrically connecting the component EFC to an external circuit environment. Further, pure electrical connection means or pure mechanical connection means are also possible.

[0079] FIG. 2 shows a possible conductor configuration of the bus bar. B1 and B2 denote a first and a second rail for conducting power. DI denotes dielectric layers insulating conducting layers against one another. GND denotes a conducting rail connected to a ground potential. A capacitor is attached to the bus bar and connected to the second rail B2 and to ground. To that end, holes are arranged in the rail B2 and in the GND layer and in the dielectric layers, respectively.

[0080] Similarly, FIG. 3 shows a possible configuration with one dielectric layer separating the first rail B1 from the second rail B2. Holes in the respective layers allow contacting the capacitor C.

[0081] FIG. 4 shows a bus bar BB in a perspective view, illustrating only one of a plurality of possible ways of shaping the elements of the bus bar—basing on a metal sheet—to provide a good three-dimensional and high density integration of the bus bar into an existing circuit environment.

[0082] The bus bar has its interfaces I1, I2 at distal ends and a flat surface provided there between. On the flat surface, circuit elements such as capacitance elements of an EMC circuit are arranged on and attached to the flat upper surface.

[0083] Both the first and the second interface comprise rod-shaped extended conductor segments extending in a horizontal and in a vertical direction. This flexibility in shaping the interfaces' conductors is obtained by using bendable metal sheet. At the vertical segments, inductance elements L1, L3 are arranged and magnetically coupled with the interfaces' conducting segments.

[0084] Further, the rails arranged below the flat upper surface contain ground layers GL and separating insulating dielectric layers INS.

[0085] In the view of FIG. RE 4, behind the capacitance elements C1 to C5 on the flat upper surface a further inductance element L2 is arranged.

[0086] FIG. 5 shows the configuration of FIG. 4 from a bottom perspective illustrating the flat bottom surface of the bus bar. The bottom surface shows four holes. An enlarged picture of the first hole H1 is shown on the right side of FIG. 4. The holes can be used for accessing power conductors or ground conductors of the bus bar or other circuit elements of the external circuit environment arranged below the bus bar.

[0087] Also, it is possible to attach and connect circuit elements at the flat bottom surface BS of the bus bar.

[0088] The distal ends of the connections comprise holes which are easy to manufacture, e.g. by punching holes in the sheets, and which can be used to electrically and mechanically connect the bus bar to the corresponding external circuit environment.

[0089] FIG. 6 shows an alternative configuration of the bus bar. Again, circuit elements C1, C2, C3, C4, C5 and L2 are arranged at a flat upper surface on the bus bar between the connections of the first interface I1 and the second interface I2.

[0090] Also, two conductance elements L1, L3 are attached to and magnetically coupled to the interfaces I1, I2.

[0091] However, the interfaces' connections comprise cylindrical segments extending in the vertical direction.

[0092] FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the configuration of the bus bar of FIG. 6 further showing a carrier CA on which the rails are arranged.

[0093] While this invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications and combinations of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description. It is therefore intended that the appended claims encompass any such modifications or embodiments.