Patents by Inventor Ernst Schimanek

Ernst Schimanek has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7800220
    Abstract: The invention concerns a power electronic arrangement comprising an insulating substrate, a cooling element arranged beneath the insulating substrate and one or more power electronic components disposed on a respective metallization surface of the insulating substrate. Disposed on the surface of the insulating substrate is a metal layer portion which projects beyond the insulating substrate at all sides. The region of the metal layer portion, that projects beyond the insulating substrate, forms a metal flange which borders the insulating substrate. The cooling element, on its side towards the insulating substrate, beneath the insulating substrate, has one or more recesses, whereby a cavity delimited by the insulating substrate and wall surfaces of the one or more recesses is formed beneath the insulating substrate for receiving a liquid cooling agent. The metal flange is further connected to the cooling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: ECPE Engineering Center for Power Electronics GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Marz, Ernst Schimanek, Dieter Brunner, Andreas Schletz
  • Publication number: 20090219694
    Abstract: The invention concerns a power electronic arrangement comprising an insulating substrate, a cooling element arranged beneath the insulating substrate and one or more power electronic components disposed on a respective metallization surface of the insulating substrate. Disposed on the surface of the insulating substrate is a metal layer portion which projects beyond the insulating substrate at all sides. The region of the metal layer portion, that projects beyond the insulating substrate, forms a metal flange which borders the insulating substrate. The cooling element, on its side towards the insulating substrate, beneath the insulating substrate, has one or more recesses, whereby a cavity delimited by the insulating substrate and wall surfaces of the one or more recesses is formed beneath the insulating substrate for receiving a liquid cooling agent. The metal flange is further connected to the cooling element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: ECPE Engineering Center for Power Electronics GmbH
    Inventors: Martin März, Ernst Schimanek, Dieter Brunner, Andreas Schletz
  • Patent number: 7035064
    Abstract: Dynamic thresholds for power circuit switch operation are calculated in real-time using instantaneous operating parameter measurements. The dynamic thresholds are self-adapting and are used to provide shutdown criteria independent of switch control systems. A characteristics field containing information related to operation parameters is used to make overload evaluations in real-time. These dynamic overload evaluations allow complete protection against thermal overload for entire power circuits in addition to power components. Reserve load capacity can also be determined based on well known component characteristics, which permits the power circuit to be driven at optimal efficiency. The power circuit output profile can also be modified in response to dynamic overload evaluation, thus preventing overload shutdown or damage to components, while operating at optimal efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Semikron Elektronik GmbH
    Inventors: Ernst Schimanek, Markus Billmann
  • Publication number: 20030214770
    Abstract: Dynamic thresholds for power circuit switch operation are calculated in real-time using instantaneous operating parameter measurements. The dynamic thresholds are self-adapting and are used to provide shutdown criteria independent of switch control systems. A characteristics field containing information related to operation parameters is used to make overload evaluations in real-time. These dynamic overload evaluations allow complete protection against thermal overload for entire power circuits in addition to power components. Reserve load capacity can also be determined based on well known component characteristics, which permits the power circuit to be driven at optimal efficiency. The power circuit output profile can also be modified in response to dynamic overload evaluation, thus preventing overload shutdown or damage to components, while operating at optimal efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: SEMIKRON ELEKTRONIK GMBH
    Inventors: Ernst Schimanek, Markus Billmann
  • Patent number: 6262876
    Abstract: A contact sleeve passing through a central region of a capacitor provides a low-inductance connection between a lower contact surface of a capacitor and a first outer port. The sleeve is separated from the windings of the capacitor by an insulative layer. A second outer port is formed in close proximity to and insulated from the first outer port so that arcing between the outer ports is prevented. The resulting capacitor has a low inductance and is useful in, for example, the intermediate circuit design of converters, resulting in a compact and reliable configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Semikron Elektronik GmbH
    Inventor: Ernst Schimanek
  • Patent number: 6097617
    Abstract: Capacitors and power electronic components, such as power switches of hybrid configuration, are positioned with low inductance and in close proximity to each other on one said of an intermediate-circuit assembly, below a flat intermediate-circuit bus. The bus and the capacitors and power electronic components are electrically and conductively connected. An electrically insulated and heat-dissipating cooling body is positioned on the other side of the intermediate-circuit assembly. At least a portion of the converter circuitry or the entire converter is arranged in a single housing. The result is a compact and reliable electronic circuit arrangement for a converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Semikron Elektronic GmbH
    Inventor: Ernst Schimanek
  • Patent number: 5852356
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dc/ac inverter for the supply of alternating current to the windings of a synchronous electrical motor, especially for the traction of an electrical vehicle. During each half-wave of the alternating current, the dc/ac inverter with solid-state switches delivers steady levels of constant intensity. During each steady level, the intensity of the current is determined by the cyclical ratio of a chopping signal that controls the conduction of the transistor-based or thyristor-based switches. At zero speed of the rotor, the frequency f of the chopping signal has a value (f', 1 khz) smaller than the chopping frequency (8 kHz) for a speed different from zero. Thus the starting losses or the losses with the rotor off are minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignees: Thomson-CSF, Semikron International
    Inventors: Alain Levy, Ernst Schimanek, Wolfram Dietze
  • Patent number: 5831807
    Abstract: An overcurrent and short circuit protection device for a power semiconductor component is responsive to output current signals representing the actual output current(s) of the semiconductor component. A short-circuit window comparator receives the output current signals and produces an error signal when the sum of all output current signals is less than a minimum allowable value or more than a maximum allowable value. An overcurrent window comparator receives the same output current signals, determines a positive maximum instantaneous value and a negative maximum instantaneous value, and produces an error signal when either one of these exceeds a maximum allowable value. An error signal from either window comparator interrupts operation of the power semiconductor component and locks out all higher level control signals to the power semiconductor component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Semikron Elektronik GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Masannek, Ernst Schimanek