Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Yukio Onishi

Hiroshi Ukegawa

Takato Sato

Yosuke Osanai

Takeshi Yasuda

Akihiro Yamanaka

Hiromi Yamasaki

Yasushi Shinojima

Toshio Watari

Hideo Itano

Masaru Shimono

Hiroaki Yoshizawa

Shigeki Katsumata

Hiroyuki Kono

A current breaker includes a semiconductor substrate in which a switching element is provided, a first electrode provided on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, a second electrode provided on the surface and separated from the first electrode, a resistive film provided on the surface and connecting the first electrode and the second electrode, a terminal, a bonding wire connecting the first electrode and the terminal, and a control element configured to turn on the switching element when a voltage between both ends of a current path including the resistive film exceeds a threshold value. The switching element is connected to at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode.

Current breaker

A solder degradation information generation apparatus related to a motor drive circuit that includes a power supply, a converter, a smoothing capacitor, and an electric motor is disclosed. The solder degradation information generation apparatus includes a semiconductor element that forms an upper arm of the converter and is bonded to a substrate via a solder, the substrate being cooled by a coolant, a measuring unit configured to measure a temperature of the semiconductor element and a processing device that generates information indicating a degradation state of the solder based on a measurement result of the measuring unit that is obtained during a period in which the smoothing capacitor is charged.

Solder degradation information generation apparatus

An information output apparatus includes: a first switching element joined through a solder part, and forming one arm of a power conversion apparatus; a second switching element connected in series with the first switching element, and forming the other arm of the power conversion apparatus; a smoothing capacitor; a measuring unit configured to measure a temperature of the first switching element to output a measured value; an applying unit configured to apply two or more continuous pulses in a state where a potential difference across the smoothing capacitor is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the pulses causing the first switching element and the second switching element to simultaneously turn on; an adjusting unit configured to adjust pulse widths of the pulses; and an output unit configured to output information indicating a deterioration of the solder part based on a manner of a change in measured values.

Information output apparatus

A semiconductor control device includes a switching element including a main element, and a sense element connected in parallel with the main element; and a control circuit configured to bias a sense electrode of the sense element by a negative voltage, and to detect a leakage current of another switching element connected in series with the main element. The control circuit biases the sense electrode by the negative voltage, for example, so as to turn on the sense element, without turning on the main element.

Semiconductor control device, switching device, inverter, and control system

A power conversion apparatus includes a first switching device at a high side and a second switching device at a low side. The first switching device and the second switching device are connected in series. The power conversion apparatus further includes a third switching device connected in series with the first switching device or the second switching device. Upon detection of an overcurrent flowing through one of the first switching device and the second switching device due to a short-circuit failure of another of the first switching device and the second switching device, the power conversion apparatus turns off the one of the first switching device and the second switching device, and turns off the third switching device.

Power conversion apparatus

There is provided an electronic device comprising: a plurality of switching elements connected to a power supply; a plurality of specific information storage units provided for the corresponding switching elements and configured to store specific information of respective corresponding switching elements; a processing unit configured to control the switching elements; and a communication line disposed between the specific information storage units and the processing unit, through which the specific information of the respective switching elements is sent from the specific information storage units to the processing unit.

Electronic device for acquiring specific information of respective switching elements

A power supply apparatus is provided which includes a power supply; a DC/DC converter including a switching element of an upper arm, a switching element of a lower arm and a reactor; a first switch provided between the switching element of the lower arm and the negative electrode of the power supply, the first switch being normally closed; a power supply fuse provided between the positive electrode of the power supply and the other end of the reactor; a second power supply fuse connected to the power supply fuse in parallel; a second switch connected to the second power supply fuse in series and connected to the power supply in parallel, the second switch being normally opened; and a controller that opens the first switch and closes the second switch upon a short circuit failure of the switching element of the lower arm being detected.

Power supply apparatus

A power conversion device implementing an electrical-path-cutoff only if a power semiconductor element short-circuits, and to implement the cutoff at a timing earlier than when a battery fuse fuses, includes a pair of power semiconductor elements configured to be an upper arm element and a lower arm element, being connected in series between a positive-polarity electrode and a negative-polarity electrode; a short circuit detection circuit configured to detect a short circuit in the lower arm element; switching element for fusing, configured to be disposed between positive-polarity-side terminal of upper arm element on the positive-polarity electrode side, and negative-polarity-side terminal of lower arm element on the negative-polarity electrode side, and to be driven to have the positive-polarity-side terminal connected with the negative-polarity electrode when the short circuit is detected; and a cutoff part configured to be made of thin metallic wire for having the negative-polarity-side terminal connected with the negative-polarity electrode.

Power conversion device

A power conversion system includes: a switching element; an output circuit that outputs a transmission signal for transmitting information on a physical quantity that indicates a state of the switching element and for transmitting information on abnormality of the switching element; an isolating element that transmits the transmission signal in an electrically isolated state; a filter that deletes the information on the physical quantity from a signal transmitted through the isolating element; a control circuit to which the signal transmitted through the isolating element but not through the filter is input; and a shutdown circuit that shuts down power supply to the switching element on the basis of the signal through the filter.

Power conversion system

A semiconductor module is provided in a power system of an apparatus. The semiconductor module includes a semiconductor switch, a voltage applying device configured to apply a first voltage that is equal to or higher than a rated voltage of the apparatus to the semiconductor switch in an off-state in a case where the apparatus is not in practical use, and a leak detecting circuit configured to detect a leak current from the semiconductor switch. The rated voltage of the apparatus is a rated voltage when the apparatus is in practical use.

Semiconductor module

In a semiconductor device, a semiconductor module is pressed against a cooler by a spring member. The spring member is compressed by a beam member that is connected with a strut fixed to the cooler. The cooler has a pressed part in which the semiconductor module is pressed, and a strut fixing part to which the strut is fixed. The strut fixing part has higher rigidity than the pressed part.

Semiconductor device

A signal control device controls the period of a three-phase signal used to control a three-phase high-voltage converter. An arithmetic unit of the signal control device determines a timing for changing the period for each phase so that the period of the signal for a V phase or a W phase is changed at the point when the phase difference between a U phase and the V or W phase reaches a prescribed phase difference after the period of the signal for the U phase has been changed. A control unit performs control such that the signal period for each phase is changed at the timing determined by the arithmetic unit.

Signal control device

In the case of the on setting of an eco switch signal ESW, when a torque demand Tr* is less than a good fuel consumption-assuring minimum torque Temin, the hybrid vehicle of the invention stops the operation of an engine and controls a motor MGto output a required torque for constant speed drive. When the torque demand Tr* is not less than the good fuel consumption-assuring minimum torque Temin, on the other hand, the engine is driven at a drive point in a good fuel consumption range among drive points on an optimum fuel consumption operation curve to ensure output of the required torque for the constant speed drive. Such control enhances the fuel efficiency for the constant speed drive.

Growing community of inventors

Nagoya, Japan

Yukio Onishi