Patents by Inventor Raffael Schnell

Raffael Schnell 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: 9984953
    Abstract: A semiconductor assembly includes a stack with a semiconductor module and a cooler, wherein the semiconductor module is provided in contact with the cooler. A clamping assembly is adapted to exert a force on the two sides of the stack. The stack is provided with a through hole between the two sides thereof and a part of the clamping assembly including an electrically conductive part which extends through the through hole of the stack. Thereby, a compact mechanical arrangement is provided while obtaining improved electrical properties, such as lower inductance and more even current distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Olle Ekwall, Erik Doré, Franc Dugal, Raffael Schnell
  • Patent number: 9654085
    Abstract: A reverse-conducting insulated gate bipolar transistor, particularly a bi-mode insulated gate transistor, is controlled by responding to an ON command by applying high-level gate voltage for a first period, during which a current is fed into a connection point, from which it flows either through the RC-IGBT or along a different path. Based hereon, it is determined whether the RC-IGBT conducts in its forward/IGBT or reverse/diode mode, and the RC-IGBT is either driven at high or low gate voltage. Subsequent conduction mode changes may be monitored in the same way, and the gate voltage may be adjusted accordingly. A special turn-off procedure may be applied in response to an OFF command in cases where the RC-IGBT conducts in the reverse mode, wherein a high-level pulse is applied for a second period before the gate voltage goes down to turn-off level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Falah Hosini, Madhan Mohan, Siva Nagi Reddy Pamulapati, Arnost Kopta, Munaf Rahimo, Raffael Schnell, Ulrich Schlapbach
  • Publication number: 20160329264
    Abstract: A semiconductor assembly includes a stack with a semiconductor module and a cooler, wherein the semiconductor module is provided in contact with the cooler. A clamping assembly is adapted to exert a force on the two sides of the stack. The stack is provided with a through hole between the two sides thereof and a part of the clamping assembly including an electrically conductive part which extends through the through hole of the stack. Thereby, a compact mechanical arrangement is provided while obtaining improved electrical properties, such as lower inductance and more even current distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: ABB Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Olle EKWALL, Erik DORÉ, Franc DUGAL, Raffael SCHNELL
  • Publication number: 20140320178
    Abstract: A reverse-conducting insulated gate bipolar transistor, particularly a bi-mode insulated gate transistor, is controlled by responding to an ON command by applying high-level gate voltage for a first period, during which a current is fed into a connection point, from which it flows either through the RC-IGBT or along a different path. Based hereon, it is determined whether the RC-IGBT conducts in its forward/IGBT or reverse/diode mode, and the RC-IGBT is either driven at high or low gate voltage. Subsequent conduction mode changes may be monitored in the same way, and the gate voltage may be adjusted accordingly. A special turn-off procedure may be applied in response to an OFF command in cases where the RC-IGBT conducts in the reverse mode, wherein a high-level pulse is applied for a second period before the gate voltage goes down to turn-off level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Falah Hosini, Madhan Mohan, Siva Nagi Reddy Pamulapati, Arnost Kopta, Munaf Rahimo, Raffael Schnell, Ulrich Schlapbach
  • Patent number: 8749051
    Abstract: A semiconductor device which provides a small and simple design with efficient cooling. A first electrically conducting cooling element is in contact with first electrodes of semiconductor elements for forwarding a heat load from the semiconductor elements and for electrically connecting the first electrodes of the semiconductor elements to an external apparatus. A second electrically conducting cooling element is in contact with second electrodes of the semiconductor elements for forwarding a heat load from the semiconductor elements and for electrically connecting the second electrodes of the semiconductor elements to an external apparatus. The semiconductor device includes an interface which is electrically connected to gates of the semiconductor elements for external control of respective states of the semiconductor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Slavo Kicin, Nicola Schulz, Munaf Rahimo, Raffael Schnell
  • Publication number: 20120199954
    Abstract: A semiconductor device which provides a small and simple design with efficient cooling. A first electrically conducting cooling element is in contact with first electrodes of semiconductor elements for forwarding a heat load from the semiconductor elements and for electrically connecting the first electrodes of the semiconductor elements to an external apparatus. A second electrically conducting cooling element is in contact with second electrodes of the semiconductor elements for forwarding a heat load from the semiconductor elements and for electrically connecting the second electrodes of the semiconductor elements to an external apparatus. The semiconductor device includes an interface which is electrically connected to gates of the semiconductor elements for external control of respective states of the semiconductor elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: ABB RESEARCH LTD
    Inventors: Slavo KICIN, Nicola Schulz, Munaf Rahimo, Raffael Schnell
  • Patent number: 8212283
    Abstract: A reverse-conducting semiconductor device is disclosed with an electrically active region, which includes a freewheeling diode and an insulated gate bipolar transistor on a common wafer. Part of the wafer forms a base layer with a base layer thickness. A first layer of a first conductivity type with at least one first region and a second layer of a second conductivity type with at least one second and third region are alternately arranged on the collector side. Each region has a region area with a region width surrounded by a region border. The RC-IGBT can be configured such that the following exemplary geometrical rules are fulfilled: each third region area is an area, in which any two first regions have a distance bigger (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Liutauras Storasta, Munaf Rahimo, Christoph Von Arx, Arnost Kopta, Raffael Schnell
  • Publication number: 20100276727
    Abstract: A reverse-conducting semiconductor device is disclosed with an electrically active region, which includes a freewheeling diode and an insulated gate bipolar transistor on a common wafer. Part of the wafer forms a base layer with a base layer thickness. A first layer of a first conductivity type with at least one first region and a second layer of a second conductivity type with at least one second and third region are alternately arranged on the collector side. Each region has a region area with a region width surrounded by a region border. The RC-IGBT can be configured such that the following exemplary geometrical rules are fulfilled: each third region area is an area, in which any two first regions have a distance bigger (i.e.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Liutauras STORASTA, Munaf Rahimo, Christoph Von Arx, Arnost Kopta, Raffael Schnell
  • Patent number: 7671639
    Abstract: In the case of an electronic circuit, comprising a drive unit, which generates at least one drive signal, two or more power semiconductor switches each having a first and a second main terminal, which power semiconductor switches can be switched synchronously by the drive signal, the first and the second main terminals of the power semiconductor switches in each case being electrically connected in parallel among one another, for each of the power semiconductor switches a first and a second electrically conductive connection for connection to the drive unit, a uniform dynamic current division between the power semiconductor switches is achieved according to the invention by virtue of the fact that a first inductance is provided in each of the first electrically conductive connections, and a second inductance is provided in each of the second electrically conductive connections, the first inductance being coupled to the second inductance for each of the power semiconductor switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Schlapbach, Raffael Schnell
  • Publication number: 20060226708
    Abstract: In the case of an electronic circuit, comprising a drive unit (20), which generates at least one drive signal, two or more power semiconductor switches (T1, T2, T3) each having a first and a second main terminal, which power semiconductor switches can be switched synchronously by the drive signal, the first and the second main terminals of the power semiconductor switches (T1, T2, T3) in each case being electrically connected in parallel among one another, for each of the power semiconductor switches (T1, T2, T3) a first and a second electrically conductive connection for connection to the drive unit (20), a uniform dynamic current division between the power semiconductor switches (T1, T2, T3) is achieved according to the invention by virtue of the fact that a first inductance is provided in each of the first electrically conductive connections, and a second inductance is provided in each of the second electrically conductive connections, the first inductance being coupled to the second inductance for each of
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Applicant: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Schlapbach, Raffael Schnell