Patents Examined by William H. Beja, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4979090
    Abstract: Prior power converters have utilized discrete components mounted on circuit boards of different design. Failure of one or more of the components requires the components to be separately tested to determine which is faulty. The faulty component or the board containing same must then be replaced. This results in significant down time for the inverter and can require stocking of a large number of specialized boards. In order to overcome these problems, an inverter is assembled using a series of circuit boards of standardized type. Each circuit board includes separate layers which interconnect components mounted thereon together with a heat exchanger which cools high power components. When a malfunction of a component occurs, the entire board may be replaced so that inverter down time is minimized. Also, the use of standardized boards reduces stocking requirements and inventory costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: John Huss, Richard J. Hoppe, Lawrence E. Crowe, Thomas Sutrina, Eric D. Lakin