Patent ID: 12207402

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The depictions in the figures are schematic and not true to scale. Where the same reference signs are used in different figures in the description of the figures that follows, these denote identical or similar elements. Identical or similar elements may also be denoted by different reference signs, however.

FIG.1shows a first conductor track12acomprising a superconducting material. The first conductor track12amay be a high-temperature superconductor (HTS). The first conductor track has a multilayer structure, wherein the multilayer structure is surrounded by a copper sheath. The first conductor track12amay be designed in the form of a thin, flat strip21which has a maximum thickness of 0.08 mm.

FIG.2shows an arrangement of a plurality of conductor tracks12a,12c,12dcomprising superconducting material, which are described in relation toFIG.1. All of these conductor tracks12a,12c,12dare formed as strips21and secured to a frame22of a printed circuit board10. The conductor tracks may mutually cross one another at crossings27in order to form a connecting or contact surface between them. The conductor tracks12a,12c,12dare coupled to one another at the connecting surface by a solder connection. The conductor tracks are preferably each soldered to one another over their entire width in order to provide a maximum contact surface area.

FIG.3shows a stacked arrangement26of a plurality of conductor tracks12a,12c,12dcomprising superconducting material. Even in the stacked arrangement26, the conductor tracks12a,12c,12dmay each be coupled to one another via a solder connection. The solder connection may be provided in certain areas between the conductor tracks12a,12c,12dsuch that the conductor tracks12a,12c,12dare not soldered to one another over their entire length.

FIG.4schematically shows the structure of a printed circuit board10having a plurality of conductor tracks12. The conductor tracks12may comprise conductor tracks12with superconducting material properties and likewise also conductor tracks with non-superconducting material properties. In one example, conductor tracks12with superconducting material properties may be used for the purpose of power supply, whereas the conductor tracks12with non-superconducting material properties are used for signal transmission. The conductor tracks12are held together mechanically by way of electrically non-conductive or electrically insulating components of the frame22of the printed circuit board10. The conductor tracks12may be applied to the printed circuit board10in the region of the top layers and/or may be integrated or embedded in the frame22in the form of an inlay. The printed circuit board10may be produced by so-called “thick copper” technology with additional integration of the conductor tracks12with superconducting material properties.

FIG.5Ashows an electrical terminal connection23which is designed to connect the first electrical conductor track12ato a power electronics system, not illustrated, or to an energy source, likewise not illustrated. The electrical terminal connection23is formed at a first end23ain the manner of a connection screw which, as illustrated inFIG.5B, projects out of a surface11of the printed circuit board10in order to be connected to the power electronics system or to the energy source. The electrical terminal connection23is soldered at a second end23bto the first electrical conductor track12a, as can be seen inFIG.5C. For this purpose, the electrical terminal connection23has at its second end23ban interface region25(FIG.5A) for connecting the electrical terminal connection23to the first electrical conductor track12a(FIG.5C) by a solder connection. The interface region25in this case forms an electrically conductive contact surface.

FIG.6shows a system100having the printed circuit board10, in particular having a plurality of printed circuit boards10.FIG.6may in this case show a system integration of a superconducting printed circuit board10in an electric on-board aircraft power supply system, wherein the system100is formed at least partly by the on-board aircraft power supply system. The printed circuit boards10are arranged together with power electronics systems14a,14b,14c,14din a delimited region40of the aircraft which has cryogenic temperature properties (approximately 21 K to approximately 77 K), with the result that the superconducting material properties of the superconducting conductor tracks of the respective printed circuit board10may be realized. The system100is fed with electrical energy by way of one or more energy stores18, wherein the energy stores18in the illustrated example comprise a battery and a fuel cell as energy source. The power electronics systems are formed by way of miniature circuit breakers14a, electrical converters14b(for example DC-DC converters) and an inverter14c(for example DC-AC converter), which are arranged between the energy stores18and consumers19. In the example illustrated, the consumers19are electric motors. As can be seen, an electric motor is also located in the cryogenic region40of the aircraft. This electric motor comprises in particular an integrated power electronics system14dwhich has for example a printed circuit board10which in turn comprises superconducting conductor tracks12. Almost all the components including the power electronics systems are thus arranged in the cryogenic temperature region40of the on-board aircraft power supply system, which reduces the occurrence of disadvantageous temperature transitions in the conductor tracks12or between the electronic component parts of the on-board power supply system. As illustrated, even an electric motor19may be arranged in the cryogenic temperature region41, such that a temperature jump between the power electronics systems14a,14bwhich are connected upstream and the power electronics system14dwhich is integrated into the electric motor19is not present or is present only in a weakened form.

The electric current intensity I of the on-board power supply system shown may be for example a few 100 A to a few kA. The voltage U may be lower than 600 V and the power P may be a few 100 kW to a few MW. However, it is understood that the system according to the disclosure herein may also be operated within other electrical and thermal boundary conditions, provided the superconducting conductor tracks of the printed circuit boards10are able to develop the aforementioned properties.

FIG.7shows a printed circuit board10having power and signal electronics systems and a plurality of electrical conductor tracks12which connect the power and signal electronics systems to one another and to external terminal connections. In particular,FIG.7shows a printed circuit board10comprising integrated superconducting materials12a,14(power unit) and signal electronics systems12b,15,16,17for the purpose of supply, actuation and measurement value detection (in a standard copper design). Electrical conductor tracks12a,13aclose an electrical circuit between an electrical energy store18and a power electronics system14. The power input is provided via the first conductor track12awhich is designed comprising superconducting material and the power output is provided via the further conductor track13awhich is designed comprising superconducting material. It should be noted that component part18may also be a power consumption element, that is to say a consumer, instead of an energy store.

The printed circuit board10illustrated here is designed in such a way that all of the signal electronics systems15,16,17are formed by conventional conductor tracks12b,13bwith non-superconducting material properties. The signal electronics systems comprise an actuation electronics system15, a supply16and a measurement electronics system17. In contrast, the power electronics system14is formed by conductor tracks12a,13awith superconducting material properties. In this case, both the signal electronics systems15,16,17and the power electronics system14are formed on one and the same printed circuit board10. All of the described power and signal electronics systems14,15,16,17and conductor tracks12a,12b,13a,13bmay be mounted in particular on or in the frame22of the printed circuit board10.

In comparison with conventionally designed printed circuit boards which are connected to power electronics systems and do not have superconducting properties, the design of the printed circuit board10shown here offers a significantly more compact structure, better electrical properties, in particular higher switching frequencies, less interference coupling, a better switching behavior, a lower weight and an improved connection of all of the constituent parts of the electrical circuit as well as a higher flexibility in the configuration of the electrical structure.

FIG.8shows an aircraft200in particular having the system100or on-board aircraft power supply system described and shown inFIG.6. In this case, one or more printed circuit boards10with the properties described herein are provided within the system100.

It is additionally pointed out that “comprising” does not rule out other elements or steps, and “a” or “an” do not rule out a multiplicity. It is also pointed out that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the above example embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other example embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be regarded as limiting.

While at least one example embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the example embodiment(s). As noted, in this disclosure the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a”, “an” or “one” do not exclude a plural number, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.