Patent Publication Number: US-2022230808-A1

Title: Capacitor

Description:
CROS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/JP2020/036174 filed Sep. 25, 2020 which designated the U.S. and claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No, 2019-181860 filed on Oct. 2, 2019, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a capacitor. 
     Related Art 
     A capacitor is known, in which a plurality of capacitor elements are arranged in two rows with their negative electrode surfaces facing one another. By arranging a plurality of capacitor elements in this way, the overall thickness of the capacitor can be reduced, and the capacitor can readily be designed to have a low profile. 
     In the above known capacitor, positive electrode bus bars connected to the positive electrode surfaces of the plurality of capacitor elements are formed such as to pass near the negative electrode surfaces of the plurality of capacitor elements that are disposed facing each other. In the above known capacitor, insulation between the positive electrode bus bar and the negative electrode surfaces is secured by bending the positive electrode bus bar such that the parts of the positive electrode bus bar which pass near the negative electrode surfaces are spaced apart from these surfaces. It is thereby attempted to secure the insulation by providing an insulating space between the positive electrode bus bar and the negative electrode surfaces. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the accompanying drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a capacitor according to a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2 , is a cross-sectional view taken along line of FIG. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the periphery of an insulating ember shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a view of  FIG. 1  with sealing material omitted; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the capacitor according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of the positive electrode bus bar and the insulating member in the first embodiment; and 
       FIG,  7  is a schematic cross-sectional view showing how he insulating member is inserted into a through-hole n the positive electrode bus bar, to be positioned with respect to the positive electrode bus bar, with the first embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS 
     In the above known capacitor, as disclosed in International Publication No. WO 2012/098622 since the parts of the positive electrode bus bars that pass near the negative electrode surfaces are bent such as to provide separation from these surfaces, it is made difficult to reduce the overall height of the capacitor. However due to recent demand for low profile capacitors it is desirable to reduce the profile of a capacitor even by a few millimeters, for example. 
     It might be envisaged to provide the electrical insulation simply by interposing an insulating member between the positive electrode bus bars and the negative electrode surfaces. In this case, it would not be necessary to bend the positive electrode bus bars such as to separate them from the negative electrode surface and this could facilitate reducing the height of the capacitor. However, it is then necessary to maintain the insulating member positioned between the positive electrode bus bars and the negative electrode surfaces. Unless suitable means are devised, this could increase the size of the capacitor. 
     In view of the foregoing, it is desired to have a capacitor that can readily be reduced in height. 
     According to one aspect, the present disclosure provides a capacitor including: a capacitor element with a pair of electrode surfaces; a pair of bus bars connected to respective ones of the pair of electrode surfaces; and a plate-shaped insulating member disposed between a specific one of the bus bars, having one polarity, and the l ode surfaces, which have the other polarity, or between the bus bars. In this capacitor, a part of the insulating member is inserted in a bus bar through-hole provided in the specific bus bar. 
     In the capacitor of the above aspect, a part of the insulating member s inserted into a bus bar through-hole in a specific bus bar. The insulating member can thereby be positioned with respect to the specific bus bar, with a simplified positioning structure. In addition, it is made possible to position the insulating member while avoiding increasing the size of the capacitor, 
     A capacitor can thus be provided whose height can readily be reduced, 
     First Embodiment 
     An embodiment of a capacitor  1  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 7 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the capacitor  1  of the present embodiment includes capacitor elements  2 , a set of bus bars, and an insulating member  4 , 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  the capacitor elements  2  have a pair of electrode surfaces, consisting of a positive electrode surface  2 P and a negative electrode surface  2 N. The set of bus bars consist of a positive electrode bus bar  3 P that is connected to the positive electrode surfaces  2 P of the capacitor elements  2  and a pair of negative electrode bus bars  3 N that are connected to the negative electrode surfaces  2 N. As shown in  FIGS. 2, 3 and 6 , the insulating member  4  is arranged between the positive electrode bus bar  3 P and the negative electrode surfaces  2 N, and is plate-shaped. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a part of the insulating member  4  is inserted into bus bar through-holes  30  that are provided in the positive electrode bus bar  3 P. The configuration is described in detail in the following. 
     The capacitor  1  may form, for example, part of a power conversion device. The power conversion device can be an in-vehicle power conversion device mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. The power conversion device is connected between a DC power supply (not shown) and a three-phase AC motor. The capacitor  1  smooths the DC voltage applied from the DC power supply side, and outputs the smoothed DC voltage to a switching circuit. The switching circuit converts the DC voltage to an AC voltage, and the power conversion device applies this AC voltage to the three-phase AC motor. 
     The capacitor elements  2  can, for example, be film capacitors formed by winding a metallized film, having electrode surfaces formed by metallikon at both ends i the winding axis direction. As shown in  FIGS. 1, 4, and 5 , the capacitor  1  of the present embodiment is provided with a plurality of capacitor elements  2 , The arrangement of the plurality of capacitor elements is devised such as to reduce the overall height of the capacitor  1 , i.e., reduce the thickness, 
     In the present embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the plurality of capacitor elements  2  are arranged in two rows along the longitudinal direction of the capacitor  1 , with the negative electrode surfaces  2 N facing one other in the short direction. Since the capacitor elements  2  tend to be elongated in the direction in which the pairs of electrode surfaces face, such an arrangement enables the height of the capacitor  1  to be reduced. Hereinafter, the thickness direction, the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction of the capacitor  1  are respectively referred to as the Z direction, the X direction, and the Y direction. The X, Y, and Z directions are orthogonal to each other. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the plurality of capacitor elements  2  are housed in the capacitor case  5 , 
     As shown in FIG,  5 , the capacitor case  5  is formed in a box shape which opens on one side, in the Z direction, The capacitor case  5  is made for example of an electrically insulating thermoplastic resin. The capacitor case  5  has a bottom wall  51  and side wall  52  erected from the bottom wall  51 , with an opening  53  formed by the side wall  52  opposite the bottom wall  51 . Hereinafter, the open side of the capacitor case  5  in the Z direction is referred to as the Z 1  side, and the opposite side thereof is referred to as the Z 2  side. 
     The bottom wall  1  has a rectangular plate shape with the longitudinal direction in the X direction and the lateral direction in the Y direction. The side wall  52  is erected on the Z 1  side from the peripheral edge of the bottom wall  51 , and is formed such that the cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the Z direction is rectangular. The side wall  52  is provided with attachment portions  54  which project to the exterior of the capacitor case  5  The attachment portions  54  serve to attach the capacitor case  5  to another member. For example, the capacitor may be bolted at the attachment portions  54  to a device case (not shown) constituting the outer shell of a power conversion device. 
     The positive electrode bus bar  3 P, an insulating member  4 , the capacitor elements  2 , and negative electrode bus bars  3 N are arranged in the capacitor case  5 , sealed by a sealing material  6  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The sealing material  6  consists for example of an electrically insulating thermosetting resin. The sealing material  6  is filled in the capacitor case  5  in a fluid condition, at a low temperature, and is then solidified by being heated. The end part of the sealing material  6  on the Z 1  side is formed at the same position as the opening  53  of the capacitor case  5 . The sealing material  6  seals the plurality of capacitor elements  2 , and ensures moisture resistance of each of the capacitor elements  2 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the positive electrode bus bar  3 P has a bus bar bottom surface portion  31 P formed along the bottom wall  51  of the capacitor case  5 , and a bus bar side surface portion  32 P which extends to the Z 1  side from the end edges of the bus bar bottom surface portion  31 P, with respect to the Y direction. The bus bar bottom surface portions  3 . 1 .P and  32 P face the bottom wall  51  and the side wall  52  of the capacitor case  5 , respectively. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the bus bar bottom surface portion  31 P has a rectangular plate-shaped form that is elongated in the X direction and short in the Y direction. As shown in FIGS,  2  and  3 , the bus bar bottom surface portion  31 P faces the bottom wall  51  of the capacitor case  5  and forms a minute gap with the bottom wall  51 . The sealing material  6  is also arranged in the minute region that is formed between the bottom surface portion  31 P of the positive electrode bus bar  3 P and the bottom wall  51 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a plurality of bus bar through-holes  30  are formed penetrating the bus bar bottom surface portion  31 P in the Z direction. The bus bar through-holes  30  serve to pass the sealing material  6  into the capacitor case  5 , when the capacitor case  5  is being filled with the sealing material  6  in a condition of fluidity. That is, by forming the bus bar through-holes  30 , the sealing material  6  can be readily spread throughout the interior of the capacitor case  5 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the plurality of bus bar through-holes  30  include a plurality of central through-holes  300 , arrayed along the X direction at a central position with respect to they direction in the bus bar bottom surface portion  3 I.P. The plurality of central through-holes  300  are disposed overlapping, in the Z direction, the spaces in which the capacitor elements  2  face one another in they direction. When filling the capacitor case  5  with sealing material  6  in a state of fluidity, from the opening  53  in the capacitor case  5 , the sealing material  6  passes in the direction between the capa t elements  2 , then through the central through-holes  300 , and so penetrates between the bus bar bottom surface portion  31 P and the capacitor case  5 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the bus bar side surface portions  32 P are formed as a pair which stand upright to the Z 1  side, from respective side edges of the bus bar bottom l  51  with respect to the direction. As shown in  FIG. 2 , each bus bar side surface portion  32 P is in close proximity to the side wall  52  of the capacitor case  5 . The bus bar side surface portion  32 P on one side, with respect to the direction is connected to the respective positive electrode surfaces  2 P of the capacitor elements  2  constituting one row of the capacitor elements  2 , arranged in the two rows. The bus bar side surface portion  32 P on the other side, with respect to the Y direction, connected to the positive electrode surfaces  2 P of the capacitor elements  2  that form the other row of the capacitor elements  2 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the bus bar terminals  33 P, for electrically connecting the positive electrode bus bar  3 P to the switching element of the switching circuit in the power conversion device, extend from one bus bar side surface portion  32 R As show in  FIG. 1 , the bus bar terminals  33 P are located outside the capacitor case  5 , formed such as to project outward from the capacitor case  5  in the Y direction. 
     As shown n  FIGS. 2, 3, 5 to 7 , the insulating member  4  is fixed to the  21  side surface of the bus bar bottom surface portion  31 P of the positive electrode bus bar  3 P. The insulating member  4  serves to ensure electrical insulation between the negative electrode surfaces  2 N of the capacitor elements  2  and the positive electrode bus bar  3 P. The insulating member  4  is interposed between the negative electrode surfaces  2 N of the two rows of capacitor elements  2  which face one other and the bottom surface portion  31 P of the positive electrode bus bar  3 P, and secures electrical insulation between them. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the insulating member  4  is formed extending in the X direction along the entire length of the bus bar bottom surface portion  31 R In the present embodiment, the length of the insulating member  4  in the X direction is made greater than the length of the bus bar bottom surface portion  31 P in the X direction, and the insulating member  4  is arranged such as to project in the X direction on both sides of the bus bar bottom surface portion  31 P. 
     The insulating member  4  is made elastically deformable and plate-shaped, for example. That is, when an external force is applied and the insulating member  4  is deformed from the free state (is bent), then since it is elastically deformable will return to its substantially original state when the external force is released. The insulating member  4  is made of a sheet of PET, for example. Here, the concept of “plate shape” includes the general concept of a shape having a small thickness, such as that of a film or a sheet. The entire insulating member  4  is embedded in the sealing material  6  within the capacitor case  5 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the insulating member  4  includes a main body portion  41  that is disposed on the Z 1  side of the bus bar bottom surface portion  31 P of the positive electrode bus bar  3 P, and extension portions  42  that extend from the main body portion  41  such as to pass through bus bar through holes  30 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the end part  43  of each extension portion  42  is disposed to face the Z 2  side of the bus bar bottom surface portion  31 P of the positive electrode bus bar  3 R As a result, the insulating member  4  is engaged with the bus bar bottom surface portion  31 P of the positive electrode bus bar  3 P. 
     Furthermore, the insulating member  4  is restricted from moving to the side at which an extension portion  42  extends with respect to the bus bar bottom surface portion  31 P, That is, if the insulating member  4  were to tend to move to the side at which an extension portion  42  extends with respect to the bus bar bottom surface portion  31 P (for example, to the left side of the paper surface in  FIG. 7 ), the movement of the insulating member  4  would be restricted, due to interference between the extension portion  42  and the bus bar through-hole  30 . As a result, the insulating member  4  is positioned such that It is difficult for it to he moved, with respect to the bus bar bottom surface portion  31 P, toward the side to which an extension portion  42  extends. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the insulating member  4  has two extension portions  42  (which are also referred to as the pair of extension portions  421  in the following) in a region on one side with respect to the X direction, and another two extension portions  42  (also referred to as a second pair extension portion  422  in the following) on the other side with respect to the X direction, fora total of four extension portions  42 . 
     One of the first pair of extension portions  421  extends to one side in the X direction from the main body portion  41  of the insulating member  4 , while the other one of that pair extends to one side in the Y direction from the main body portion  41  of the insulating member  4 . As a result, the insulating member  4  is positioned, with respect to the positive electrode bus bar  3 P, in both an X direction and a Y direction that are orthogonal to each other in the extending direction of the bus bar bottom surface portion  31 P. 
     Furthermore, one of the second pair of extension portions  421  protrudes to side in the X direction from the main body portion  41  of the insulating member  4 , while the other one of that pair protrudes to one side in the Y direction from the main body portion  41  of the insulating member  4 . The extension direction of the extension portion  42  that protrudes in the X direction in the first pair of extension portion  421  and the extension direction of the extension portion  42  that protrudes in the X direction in the second pair of extension portions  422  are opposite to each other, and in this embodiment these extension portions  42  face each other. Furthermore, the extension direction of the extension portion  42  that protrudes in the Y directions in the first pair extension portion  421  and the extension direction of the extension portion  42  that protrudes in the Y direction in the second pair of extension portions  422  are opposite to each other, and in this embodiment these extension portions  42  face away from each other As a result, the insulating member  4  is more firmly positioned with respect to the positive electrode bus bar  3 P in both the X direction and the Y direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the insulating member  4  is arranged on the Z 1  side surface of the bus bar bottom surface portion  31 P such as to cover all of the central through-holes  300  of the bus bar bottom surface portion  31 P, from the Z 1  side. The insulating member  4  is formed with insulating through-holes  420  which are formed at positions such as to be overlapped by the central through-holes  300 , with respect to the Z direction. As a result, the insulating through-holes  420  are located in regions between the plurality of capacitor elements  2 , as viewed from the Z direction, which is the opening direction of the capacitor case 5 . Hence, when the capacitor case  5  is filled with the sealing material  6  in a condition of fluidity, the sealing material  6  passes through the insulating through-holes  420  and the central through-holes  300 , and can then penetrate between the bottom wall portion  31 P of the positive electrode bus bar  3 P and the bottom wall  51  of the capacitor case  5 . 
     A plurality of the insulating through-holes  420  are formed, aligned in a row along the X direction. The insulating through-holes  420  are formed such as to be smaller than the central through-holes  300  in the bus bar through-holes  30 , which overlap them in the Z direction, and are accommodated within the peripheries of these bus bar through-holes  30 . As a result, creepage distance is secured between the negative electrode surfaces  2 N of the capacitor elements  2  and the bus bar bottom surface portion  31 P of the positive electrode bus bar  3 P, and electrical insulation between them is secured. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , a negative electrode bus bar  3 N is connected to the negative electrode surface  2 N of each capacitor element  2 . In this embodiment there are two negative electrode bus bars  3 N, i.e., a negative electrode bus bar  3 N which is connected to each negative electrode surface  2 N of the capacitor elements  2  in one of the two rows of capacitor elements  2 , and a negative electrode bus bar  3 N which is connected to each negative electrode surface  2 N of he capacitor elements  2  in the other row of capacitor elements  2 . 
     The two negative electrode bus bars  3 N are arranged such as to overlap each other in the Z direction at positions on the Z 1  side of one of the rows of capacitor elements. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a plurality of bus bar through-holes  30  penetrating in the Z direction are also formed in the negative electrode bus bars  3 N. As shown in  FIG. 4 , a part of the plurality of bus bar through-holes  30  are formed at positions which overlap, in the Z direction, with the regions between the capacitor elements  2  that face one another in the Y direction. In that way, penetration of the sealant  6  into these regions is made less likely to be obstructed, 
     On the opposite side of each negative electrode bus bar  3 N fro  3  the side connected to the capacitor elements  2 , bus bar terminals  33 N are formed for electrically connecting the negative electrode bus bar  3 N to the switching elements. As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 , the bus bar terminals  33 N are disposed outside the capacitor case  5  and are formed extending outward from the capacitor case  5  in the Y direction. Each negative electrode bus bar  3 N has two bus bar terminals  33 N, and the bus bar terminals  33 N of the respective negative electrode bus bars  3 N are arranged such as to overlap one other in the Z direction. 
     The effects obtained with this embodiment are as follows. 
     In the capacitor  1  of the present embodiment, parts of the insulating member  4  are inserted into the bus bar through-holes  30  provided in the positive electrode bus bar  3 P. By thus inserting parts of the insulating member  4  into the s bar through-holes  30 , the insulating member  4  can be positioned relative to the positive electrode bus bar  3 P with a simplified positioning structure. Furthermore, this positioning of the insulating member  4  can be achieved while avoiding an increase in the size of the capacitor L. 
     When ensuring electrical insulation between components in the capacitor case  5  by disposing an insulating member  4  in the capacitor case  5 , fixedly positioning the insulating member  4  within the capacitor case  5  presents a technically difficult point. If the insulating member  4  becomes misaligned in the capacitor case  5 , it is possible that the desired electrical insulation cannot be ensured. In this respect, it would be possible to simply attach the insulating member  4  in the capacitor case  5  by using an adhesive material, or a double-sided adhesive tape. However, in that case the issues arise that another element (member) will be required, while also the adhesive material or double-sided adhesive tape must be selected taking into consideration reactivity with the sealing material  6  that will be filled in the capacitor case  5 , and that the thickness of the capacitor  1  as a whole will tend to be increased. 
     However, by positioning the insulating member  4  with respect to the positive electrode bus bar  3 P by inserting portions of the insulating member  4  in the bus bar through-holes  30  of the positive electrode bus bar  3 P, as with the present embodiment it is made unnecessary to use a separate element (member) for this purpose, and it is also made unnecessary to consider reactivity with the sealing material  6 , while also an increase in thickness can be avoided. 
     Furthermore, the insulating member  4  includes a main body portion  41  disposed on one side of the positive electrode bus bar  3 P, and an extension portion  42  extending from the main body portion  41  such as to pass through a bus bar through-hole  30 , with a part of the extension portion  42  disposed facing the other side of the positive electrode bus bar  3 P. As a result, the insulating member  4  is positioned in both of the Z directions with respect to the positive electrode bus bar  3 P. It is thus easy to prevent the insulating member  4  from being displaced from the positive electrode bus bar  3 P. 
     Moreover, the insulating member  4  is positioned relative to the positive electrode bus bar  3 P in both the X and Y directions, which are vertical and lateral directions that are orthogonal to one another other and are extending directions of the surface of the positive electrode bus bar  3 P on which the insulating member  4  is arranged, It is thereby made possible to prevent the insulating member  4  from being displaced with respect to the positive electrode bt. bar  3 P in a direction orthogonal to the Z direction. 
     Furthermore, the capacitor case  5  is filled with a sealing material  6  for sealing the capacitor elements  2 , and the insulating member  4  is located on the Z 1  side of the positive electrode bus bar  3 P, which is the side to which the capacitor case  5  opens. It is thereby made easy to prevent the insulating member  4  from becoming displaced from the positive electrode bus bar  3 P. In this respect, if the insulating member  4  were to be arranged on the Z 2  side of the positive electrode bus bar  3 P there is a danger that the insulating member  4  would be pushed away from the positive electrode bus bar 3 P by the sealing material  6  when it flows intra the capacitor case  5 , and so might become displaced from the positive electrode bus bar  3 P. However if the insulating member  4  is arranged with respect to the positive electrode bus bar  3 P on the side to which the capacitor case  5  opens (i,e, the Z 1  side), as with the present embodiment, then when the liquid sealing material  6  is filled in the capacitor case  5  in a condition of fluidity, the insulating member  4  will be pressed against the positive electrode bus bar  3 P by the sealing material  6  as it flows into the capacitor case  5 , thereby eliminating the danger that the insulating member  4  will become displaced. 
     Furthermore, the plurality of capacitor elements  2  are arranged in a plurality of rows along an arrangement direction (X direction) that is orthogonal to the direction (Y direction) in which the negative electrode surfaces  2 N face one another. As a result, the overall height of the capacitor  1  can be reduced. On the other hand, the negative electrode surfaces  2 N and the positive electrode bus bar  3 P are close to one other, and it is necessary to secure electrical insulation between them. However, by arranging the insulating member  4  between the positive electrode bus bar  3 P and the negative electrode surfaces  2 N that face one other in the plurality of capacitor elements  2 , electrical insulation in the capacitor  1  can be ensured while also reducing the height of the capacitor. 
     Furthermore, the insulating member  4  is formed in its alignment direction (X direction) over the entire length of the surface portion of the positive electrode bus bar  3 P where the insulating member  4  is arranged. This facilitates securing electrical insulation between the positive electrode bus bar  3 P and the negative electrode e surfaces  2 N. 
     Moreover the insulating member  4  has insulating through-holes  420  that open toward the bus bar through-holes  30  of the positive electrode bus bar  3 P. The sealing material  6  that flows into the capacitor case  5  can thereby readily penetrate around the entire interior of the capacitor case  5 , by passing through the insulating through-holes  420 . 
     Furthermore, the insulating through-holes  420  are located in the region between the plurality of capacitor elements  2  when viewed from the opening direction (Z direction) of the capacitor case  5 . Since the region between the capacitor elements  2  is a region through which the sealing material  6  should passes as it flows into the capacitor case  5  by arranging the insulating through-hole 420  in such a region it is possible to prevent obstruction of the penetration of the sealing material  6  into the capacitor case  5  and the sealing material  6  can thereby penetrate to the entire interior of the capacitor case 
     With the present embodiment, as described above, it is possible to provide a capacitor that can be easily reduced in height. 
     The present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be applied to various embodiments without departing from the gist thereof. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which a part of the insulating member is inserted into a bus bar through-hole provided in the positive electrode bus bar to secure electrical insulation between the positive electrode bus bar and the negative electrode surfaces of the capacitor elements. However, the disclosure is not limited to this, For example, a part of the insulating member may be inserted into a bus bar through-hole provided in a negative electrode bus bar to ensure electrical insulation between the negative electrode bus bar and the positive electrode bus bar or between a negative electrode bus bar and a positive electrode surface. Furthermore, for example, the insulating member may be positioned with respect to a bus bar by forming a part of the insulating member with an extension portion that projects in a columnar shape, and press-fitting the extension portion into a bus bar through-hole. 
     The present disclosure is described in compliance with the embodiments. However, it should be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments or the structures thereof. The present disclosure encompasses various modified examples and modifications within the range of equivalency. In addition, the scope of the present disclosure and the range of ideas thereof include various combinations and forms and other combinations and forms additionally including one or more elements or a portion of one element.