Abstract: A half-bridge switch arrangement has a high-side switch having a plurality of parallel-connected first semiconductor switching elements, a low-side switch having a plurality of parallel-connected second semiconductor switching elements, a positive busbar, to which a terminal of each of the first semiconductor switching elements of the high-side switch is electrically connected, a negative busbar, to which a terminal of each of the second semiconductor switching elements of the low-side switch is electrically connected, and a heat sink, the heat sink having a recess and two plateau sections which are located in an elevated position relative to the recess, the recess being bounded by the two plateau section, wherein the first semiconductor switching elements and the second semiconductor switching elements are arranged on an upper side of the two plateau sections, wherein the positive busbar and the negative busbar are arranged one above the other within the recess.

Abstract: A power supply circuit in an inverter for driving an electrical machine includes a high-voltage branch, a low-voltage branch, a backup supply branch, an operating DC/DC converter, which is connected on the one hand to the high-voltage branch and on the other hand to the low-voltage branch, a backup supply DC/DC converter, which is connected on the one hand to the high-voltage branch and on the other hand to the backup supply branch, an inverter circuit for connecting the electrical machine to the high-voltage branch, and a safety control device which is set up to switch the inverter circuit to a safe state when a shutdown situation is present, wherein the inverter circuit and the safety control device are supplied with energy from the low-voltage branch, wherein the inverter circuit and the safety control device are additionally supplied or can be supplied with energy from the backup supply branch.

Abstract: A half-bridge switch arrangement includes a high-side switch having a plurality of parallel-connected first semiconductor switching elements, a low-side switch having a plurality of parallel-connected second semiconductor switching elements, a positive busbar to which a terminal of each of the first semiconductor switching elements of the high-side switch is electrically connected, a negative busbar to which a terminal of each of the second semiconductor switching elements of the low-side switch is electrically connected, and a heat sink, the heat sink having a first section and a second section disposed on the first section, the first semiconductor switching elements and the second semiconductor switching elements being disposed on the second section, wherein the positive busbar and the negative busbar are disposed one above the other on an upper surface of the first section.

Abstract: An overvoltage protection circuit for an electric machine has a series connection of at least two overvoltage protection units, each having a switching unit connected in parallel. Each overvoltage protection unit includes at least one overvoltage protection component that limits a voltage, dropping across this component, to a component voltage limit. At least one of the overvoltage protection units includes at least two overvoltage protection components. A voltage tap is provided between two of overvoltage protection components.

Abstract: An activation system for operating an electric machine includes a control circuit device for activating a rotor winding, and having a highside switch, a semiconductor component, and a de-excitation switch. A first terminal of the rotor winding is connectable to a positive supply terminal via the highside switch and to a negative supply terminal via the semiconductor component. A second terminal of the rotor winding is connectable to the negative supply terminal via the de-excitation switch. The activation system is configured to attain a secure state, when at least one fault is present, by disconnecting the rotor winding from the positive supply terminal and/or by de-exciting the rotor winding. A diagnosis may be carried out using an additional highside switch supplied with power via another activation circuit, and/or a fault detection circuit is provided, whose output signal does not change during a de-excitation.

Abstract: A method for determining a temperature of a semiconductor switch which has a control terminal, a current input terminal connected to a potential terminal by a diode, a capacitor, a resistor and a current source, and a current output terminal. includes determining a DESAT voltage applied to the capacitor at a first point in time and at a second point in time, determining a load current flowing between the current input terminal and the current output terminal of the semiconductor switch at the first point in time, determining a drain-source resistance prevailing between the current input terminal and the current output terminal of the semiconductor switch at the first point in time from the DESAT voltage and the load current determined at the first point in time and at the second point in time, and determining the temperature of the semiconductor switch from the drain-source resistance and the load current.

Abstract: An inverter circuit has a low side which has a plurality of controllable semiconductor switching elements connected in parallel with one another between a first DC voltage terminal and a center terminal of the inverter circuit, and a high side which has a plurality of controllable semiconductor switching elements connected in parallel with one another between a second DC voltage terminal and the center terminal of the inverter circuit. The inverter circuit also has a first current sensor, connected in series with exactly one of the switching elements and adapted to measure a first current which flows through the switching element, and a second current sensor, arranged between the center terminal and an output terminal of the inverter circuit and adapted to measure a second current. The first current and the second current are recorded. The second current is then checked for plausibility with the first current.

Abstract: An inverter for driving an electrical machine has a power converter circuit, a safety control device and a power supply circuit for supplying the power converter circuit and the safety control device. The safety control device is configured to switch the power converter circuit to a safe state when a shutdown situation is present. The power supply circuit has a high-voltage branch, a first low-voltage branch and a second low-voltage branch, the high-voltage branch being electrically connected to the first low-voltage branch via an operating DC-DC converter, wherein neither the high-voltage branch nor the first low-voltage branch are electrically connected to the second low-voltage branch, wherein the power converter circuit and the safety control device are supplied with energy from the first low-voltage branch and the second low-voltage branch.

Abstract: A drive device for operating an electrical machine has a regulator for driving a rotor winding, which has a highside switch and a de-energization switch. A first terminal of the rotor winding can be connected to a positive supply terminal via the high-side switch, the first terminal of the rotor winding can be connected to a negative supply terminal via a semiconductor component, and a second terminal of the rotor winding can be connected to the negative supply terminal via the de-energization switch. The drive device is arranged to enter a safe state in the presence of at least one fault by disconnecting and/or de-energizing the rotor winding from the positive supply terminal. At least one of the switches is designed to be redundant; and/or the regulator has a plurality of measuring points.

Abstract: A power supply circuit in an inverter for driving an electrical machine includes a high-voltage branch, a low-voltage branch, a backup supply branch, an operating DC/DC converter, which is connected on the one hand to the high-voltage branch and on the other hand to the low-voltage branch, a backup supply DC/DC converter, which is connected on the one hand to the high-voltage branch and on the other hand to the backup supply branch, an inverter circuit for connecting the electrical machine to the high-voltage branch, and a safety control device which is set up to switch the inverter circuit to a safe state when a shutdown situation is present, wherein the inverter circuit and the safety control device are supplied with energy from the low-voltage branch, wherein the inverter circuit and the safety control device are additionally supplied or can be supplied with energy from the backup supply branch.

Abstract: A power supply circuit in an inverter for driving an electrical machine has a high-voltage branch with a high-voltage level and a low-voltage branch with a low-voltage level, the high-voltage level being higher than the low-voltage level, the high-voltage branch being connected to the low-voltage branch via an operating DC/DC converter, the low-voltage branch having a supply branch and a mains branch, the high-voltage branch being connected to the mains branch via a discharge DC/DC converter. A method for operating the power supply circuit includes, in a first operating mode conducting current from the high-voltage branch via the operating DC/DC converter into the supply branch, and in a second operating mode, conducting current from the high-voltage branch via the discharge DC/DC converter into the mains branch.

Abstract: A half-bridge switch arrangement includes a high-side switch having a plurality of parallel-connected first semiconductor switching elements, a low-side switch having a plurality of parallel-connected second semiconductor switching elements, a positive busbar to which a terminal of each of the first semiconductor switching elements of the high-side switch is electrically connected, a negative busbar to which a terminal of each of the second semiconductor switching elements of the low-side switch is electrically connected, and a heat sink, the heat sink having a first section and a second section disposed on the first section, the first semiconductor switching elements and the second semiconductor switching elements being disposed on the second section, wherein the positive busbar and the negative busbar are disposed one above the other on an upper surface of the first section.

Abstract: A half-bridge switch arrangement has a high-side switch having a plurality of parallel-connected first semiconductor switching elements, a low-side switch having a plurality of parallel-connected second semiconductor switching elements, a positive busbar, to which a terminal of each of the first semiconductor switching elements of the high-side switch is electrically connected, a negative busbar, to which a terminal of each of the second semiconductor switching elements of the low-side switch is electrically connected, and a heat sink, the heat sink having a recess and two plateau sections which are located in an elevated position relative to the recess, the recess being bounded by the two plateau section, wherein the first semiconductor switching elements and the second semiconductor switching elements are arranged on an upper side of the two plateau sections, wherein the positive busbar and the negative busbar are arranged one above the other within the recess.

Abstract: An overvoltage protection circuit for an electric machine has a series connection of at least two overvoltage protection units, each having a switching unit connected in parallel. Each overvoltage protection unit includes at least one overvoltage protection component that limits a voltage, dropping across this component, to a component voltage limit. At least one of the overvoltage protection units includes at least two overvoltage protection components. A voltage tap is provided between two of overvoltage protection components.

Abstract: An activation system for operating an electric machine includes a control circuit device for activating a rotor winding, and having a highside switch, a semiconductor component, and a de-excitation switch. A first terminal of the rotor winding is connectable to a positive supply terminal via the highside switch and to a negative supply terminal via the semiconductor component. A second terminal of the rotor winding is connectable to the negative supply terminal via the de-excitation switch. The activation system is configured to attain a secure state, when at least one fault is present, by disconnecting the rotor winding from the positive supply terminal and/or by de-exciting the rotor winding. A diagnosis may be carried out using an additional highside switch supplied with power via another activation circuit, and/or a fault detection circuit is provided, whose output signal does not change during a de-excitation.

Abstract: A drive device for operating an electrical machine has a regulator for driving a rotor winding, which has a highside switch and a de-energization switch. A first terminal of the rotor winding can be connected to a positive supply terminal via the high-side switch, the first terminal of the rotor winding can be connected to a negative supply terminal via a semiconductor component, and a second terminal of the rotor winding can be connected to the negative supply terminal via the de-energization switch. The drive device is arranged to enter a safe state in the presence of at least one fault by disconnecting and/or de-energizing the rotor winding from the positive supply terminal. At least one of the switches is designed to be redundant; and/or the regulator has a plurality of measuring points.