Patent ID: 7675763

Claim:
A semiconductor power converter apparatus comprising: a semiconductor power conversion circuit in which a first semiconductor element having a temperature sensing unit and a second semiconductor element having a current sensing unit are connected in parallel, for causing the first and second semiconductor elements to perform switching operations; an overheat protection circuit for performing overheating protection for the first and second semiconductor elements based on temperature information obtained from the temperature sensing unit of the first semiconductor element; an overcurrent protection circuit for performing overcurrent protection for the first and second semiconductor elements based on current information obtained from the current sensing unit of the second semiconductor element; a current sensor for sensing an output current of the semiconductor power conversion circuit, and means for determining that one of the first and second semiconductor elements fails to limit the output current of the semiconductor power conversion circuit if a detected value of the current sensor is equal to or lower than a predetermined set value, during operation of the overcurrent protection circuit or the overheat protection circuit.