Laminated Bus Structures

The two power distribution technologies are used in modern electronic equipment are wiring harnesses and bus bars (laminated bus structures). Wiring harnesses are cost effective in low-volume, low-current applications and typically provide adequate performance except in applications where high capacitance, low impedance, electrical predictability, and dense packaging are required.

Bus bars began to replace conventional wiring harnesses in the early 1960's. Much more than just a rectangular conductor, the modern bus bar is a precision electrically and mechanically-engineered passive circuit component.

Advantages of Laminated bus bars versus conventional wire harnesses.

There are a multitude of challenges caused by increasing logic and memory circuit switching rates, shrinking space availability, and demanding noise, thermal, and reliability constraints. To help meet these challenges, packaging designers have increased their use of bus structures in their designs These structures are the standard method for the transfer of power in telecommunications, electronic power conversion, motor drives, AC, DC or high frequency power distribution and other related electronic applications. .

Our laminated bus structures consist of several layers of electrically conductive metal (usually copper), separated by insulating materials (Capton for high temperature applications, and Mylar/Tevlor for lower temperature applications). All conductors, insulation and terminations are laminated under controlled heat and pressure into a single structure for the purpose of making a connection between two or more points or circuits, whereas a conventional bus bar uses only a single layer metal conductor.

Types of Bus Structures

Laminar bus Laminar bus consists of multiple copper and insulation layers which are stacked and laminated then potted with insulation compound to completely enclose the conductors. Single conductors can be close-molded with insulation. Multiple terminations and multiple forms can be chosen. Laminar busses are excellent for high current capacity and structural stiffness.

Planar bus Planar bus uses multiple conductors laid side by side and then close-molded with insulation. Multiple terminations and multiple forms can be chosen. Planar busses are excellent for medium current capacity and permit multiple bends to fit compact spaces.

Epoxy bus Epoxy bus uses a single thick conductor which is insulated with an electrostatic epoxy coating. Several can be mechanically assembled with value added hardware. These structures work well with high current and will tolerate high temperatures.

To find out if your application can benefit from this technology please e-mail us the following information and/or your drawings in IGES or DXF format:

* Number of circuits ( Current required * Number of returns desired ( Maximum voltage drop required * Capacitance and inductance limits ( Minimum dielectric breakdown * Number of terminations ( Space available * Temperature required ( Chemical resistance * Regulatory UL / CSA / TUV

Why is inductance a concern?

When using IGBT's, low inductance is a critical element for safe and efficient operation. Stray inductance on the source-return path of the DC bus from the DC capacitor bank to the inverter devices can cause:

* reduced switching frequency.
Parasitic oscillations may get out of control and cause the inverter to exceed its safe operating area.

* excessive transient overshoots in conventional hard switching converters resulting in increased device heating, which eventually exceeds the device's safe operating area causing device failure.

Typically, complex snubbers are used to reduce the destructive effects of the bus inductance introduced when long interconnection distances are used between switching devices to minimize the effects of heat generated by the power devices.

Complex snubber circuits also add more components making the system more costly and more difficult to manufacture.

Controlling Inductance

Self inductance

Mutual inductance