Abstract: A metal base plate has two spaced thermally conductive ceramic bars fixed to one surface. The outwardly facing surface of the bars has spaced conductive pads. A plurality of diodes which are of alternating opposite polarity have axially extending leads extending between the bars in spaced parallel relationship with respect to one another, and are soldered to the conductive pads on the bars to define a series connection of the diodes. The suspended diodes and their leads are then encapsulated in a body of polymerizable material containing thermally conductive electrically insulative particles suspended therein such that the particles occupy more than about 75% of the encapsulating mass.

Abstract: The inverter includes a DC to AC converter circuit including a plurality of transistors which are switched on and off to convert a DC signal into an AC signal. The converter circuit also includes diodes which are alternately forward and reverse biased during the operation of the converter circuit, the diode having a reverse recovery period whenever the diode is switched from a forward to a reverse biased condition during which the reverse resistance of the diode is substantially zero. An inductor is connected to the diode for limiting the current through the diode during the reverse recovery period such that shoot through currents which pass through both the diode and the inductor are limited to desired levels.