Patents

US 12188966 B2: Apparatus and method for embedding current measurement and ringing suppression in multichip modules

Granted
2025-01-07
Filed
2024-01-12 application 18411847
Type
Utility · 9 claims
Elsewhere
Google Patents ↗ · USPTO patent document ↗ · USPTO Patent Center record ↗

Abstract

The current disclosure relates to the design of an apparatus for enhancing the operation and reliability of high-power multi-chip modules, which are used in the design and implementation of power electronics converters. This apparatus is especially useful for modules containing recently-commercialized, high-performance wide band-gap semiconductors such as Silicon Carbide (SiC), which commonly emit undesirable high-frequency ringing and oscillation in the “Near-RF” spectral band between 1-30 MHz. The disclosed apparatus provides near-complete elimination of this high frequency spectral content, while leaving the desired frequency range (1-100 kHz) of the module unaffected. In addition to the suppression of this undesirable high-frequency content, the disclosed apparatus also provides for accurate, galvanically-isolated, high-bandwidth, real-time current measurement, which is essential for some types of power electronics converters. Prior to the disclosure of this apparatus, these two features (ringing suppression and current measurement) have required physically-separate circuits for implementation, which increases the size, weight, and cost of the final implementation. The apparatus disclosed here provides both of these features in simple circuit topology that can be implemented compactly inside the geometry of a multi-chip power module.

Source: PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 (ipg250107.xml).

Assignees

AssigneeTypePlaceAlso on furp.orgSource
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA 193 patentsUS company or organizationTuscaloosa, ALThe University of Alabama College or university FUZZY medium confidence: same name (governing-board words and legal endings aside) and statePVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10

Inventors

InventorPlacePatentsPerson pageSource
Andrew N. LemmonTuscaloosa, AL5PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10
Ali ShahabiTuscaloosa, AL2PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10

CPC categories

SubclassCategoryFirst groupSource
G01RMeasuring electric variables; measuring magnetic variablesG01R15/183PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10
H02MApparatus for conversion between ac and ac, between ac and dc, or between dc and dc, and for use with mains or similar power supply systems; conversion of dc or ac input power into surge output power; control or regulation thereofH02M1/348PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10
H01FMagnets; inductances; transformers; selection of materials for their magnetic propertiesH01F38/28PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10
Y02BClimate change mitigation technologies related to buildings, e.g. housing, house appliances or related end-user applicationsY02B70/10PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10

Cooperative Patent Classification, as currently assigned (one row per subclass).

Assignments and security interests

RecordedWhatFromToReel/frameSource
2024-04-12Assignment
Assignment of assignor's interest
LEMMON, ANDREW N. signed 2018-12-14
SHAHABI, ALI signed 2019-01-04
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA TUSCALOOSA, AL67084/233PASDL, file of 2026-10-15

Documents recorded with the USPTO Assignment Recordation Branch that list this patent. A security interest is a lender’s claim on the patent as collateral; a release ends it.

USPTO bulk data: PatentsView granted patents, disambiguated (PVGPATDIS) for patents, assignees, inventors, places and CPC categories; the USPTO Patent Assignment Dataset (ECORSEXC) for assignments and security interests. Patents filed in the last 20 years. No claims or full text. Links to other records are by name (and state): EXACT means the identical full name and state; FUZZY means a looser name match, with the confidence shown.