Patent ID: 8054660

Claim:
An inverter module for use in a vehicle, the inverter module comprising: a first electrical base having an electrically conductive mounting surface; a first semiconductor switch having a surface terminal, wherein the first semiconductor switch is affixed to the first electrical base such that the surface terminal of the first semiconductor switch is coupled to the electrically conductive mounting surface of the first electrical base; and a second semiconductor switch having a surface terminal, wherein the second semiconductor switch is affixed to the first electrical base such that the surface terminal of the second semiconductor switch is coupled to the electrically conductive mounting surface of the first electrical base; a second electrical base having an electrically conductive mounting surface, the second electrical base being electrically coupled to the first electrical base, wherein the second electrical base and the first electrical base are physically distinct; a first semiconductor diode having a surface terminal, wherein the first semiconductor diode is affixed to the second electrical base such that the surface terminal of the first semiconductor diode is coupled to the electrically conductive mounting surface of the second electrical base; and a second semiconductor diode having a surface terminal, wherein the second semiconductor diode is affixed to the second electrical base such that the surface terminal of the second semiconductor diode is coupled to the electrically conductive mounting surface of the second electrical base.