Patent ID: 7301755

Claim:
A power converter, comprising: a first phase terminal; and at least two switch modules, each of the switch modules comprising: a housing forming an interior compartment; a conductive base plate; a number of switches, each of the switches comprising a first active terminal, a second active terminal, and a control terminal, the first active terminals surface mounted to the conductive base plate; a conductive member supported by the housing, the conductive member comprising at least one portion extending externally from the housing and at least one portion extending internally in the interior compartment of the housing; and a number of wire bonds electrically coupling the second active terminal of the switches to the portion of the conductive member that extends internally in the interior compartment of the housing; wherein the conductive base plate of a first one of the switch modules comprises an upright portion extending at an approximately right angle with respect to the respective conductive base plate, and the conductive member of a second one of the switch modules comprises an upright portion extending at an approximately right angle with respect to the respective conductive base plate, and wherein the upright portions of the first and the second ones of the switch modules are parallel to each other and are electrically connected to the first phase terminal.