Patent ID: 8264071

Claim:
A power semiconductor module having at least one fuse, wherein the power semiconductor module comprises: a housing; outward-extending load terminal elements; and at least one electrically insulating substrate disposed inside said housing, said at least one electrically insulating substrate having an insulating body with at least a first main face oriented toward the power semiconductor module; and at least first and second connecting tracks of different polarity, electrically insulated from one another, located on said first main face, for receiving at least one power semiconductor component; and first connecting elements with a first line cross section to connect said power semiconductor component; wherein said fuse comprises a second connecting element having a second line cross section less than said first line cross section, located between said first connecting track and one of said second connecting track and a load terminal element; and wherein said second connecting element is at least partly sheathed by an explosion protection means, and said second connecting element and said explosion protecting means are enclosed in a frame, said explosion protecting means allowing for the controlled development of an arc, thereby avoiding a rapid increase in pressure due to an explosion.