Snap-lock heat sink clip
First Claim
1. An electronic module comprising:
- a heat sink disposed in said electronic module, said heat sink having a contact surface and a slot located above said contact surface;
circuitry disposed within said electronic module, said circuitry including at least one heat generating power component which generates heat during operation, said at least one heat generating power component disposed proximate said contact surface and below said slot; and
a clip pressing said heat generating power component into said heat sink, said clip having first end engaging said slot, said clip having a second end extending from said first end;
said second end having a resilient biasing that presses said heat generating power component into thermal contact with said heat sink contact surface, said clip having a corner connecting said first end and said second end;
said first end and said slot being structured and arranged to allow said first end to extend and slide into said slot, said slot having a lip which extends proximate an opening of said slot, said first end having a length which allows said corner to abut said lip and inhibit movement of said first end out of said slot whereby said clip engages said slot and said lip retains said first end within said slot.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention involves a heat sink clip which engages a slot of a heat sink to press a power component into a heat sink of an electronic module, such as a power converter circuit for a vehicle. A power converter module for a vehicle comprises a casing having at least one heat sink with a plurality of fins, power converter circuitry disposed within the casing and including at least one power component; and a clip for pressing the power component into the heat sink. The clip has a first end engaging a slot of the casing and a second end extending from the first end with a resilient biasing that presses the power component into thermal contact with the heat sink. The casing slot includes a lip which retains the clip within the slot, and a sloped surface which facilitates entry of the clip. The clip has a generally L-shaped configuration for engaging the slot, with a corner that abuts a lip of the casing slot to retain the corner within the slot. The clip also includes an end flange for engaging the slot in an interference fit. A thermally conductive, electrically insulating layer is disposed between the power component and the heat sink, and the clip includes an articulated portion extending beyond said power component so that only the clip second end contacts the power component. The clip is made of a metallic material.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An electronic module comprising:
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a heat sink disposed in said electronic module, said heat sink having a contact surface and a slot located above said contact surface; circuitry disposed within said electronic module, said circuitry including at least one heat generating power component which generates heat during operation, said at least one heat generating power component disposed proximate said contact surface and below said slot; and a clip pressing said heat generating power component into said heat sink, said clip having first end engaging said slot, said clip having a second end extending from said first end;
said second end having a resilient biasing that presses said heat generating power component into thermal contact with said heat sink contact surface, said clip having a corner connecting said first end and said second end;said first end and said slot being structured and arranged to allow said first end to extend and slide into said slot, said slot having a lip which extends proximate an opening of said slot, said first end having a length which allows said corner to abut said lip and inhibit movement of said first end out of said slot whereby said clip engages said slot and said lip retains said first end within said slot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electronic module for a vehicle comprising:
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a casing having at least one heat sink with a plurality of fins, said heat sink defining a wall, said wall having a contact surface and a slot located in said wall and above said contact surface; power converter circuitry disposed within said casing, said power converter circuitry including at least one power component which produces heat as a result of operation, said at least one power component disposed proximate said contact surface and below said slot; and means for clamping said power component into said wall contact surface of said heat sink, said clamping means engaging said slot and pressing said power component into thermal contact with said heat sink wall contact surface; said clamping means and said slot being structured and arranged to allow an engaging portion of said clamping means to extend and slide into said slot, said slot having a lip which extends proximate an opening of said slot, said engaging portion having a length which extends to an abutment portion and which allows said abutment portion to abut said lip and inhibit movement of said engaging portion out of said slot whereby said clamping means engages said slot and said lip retains said engaging portion within said slot. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A power converter module for a vehicle comprising:
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a casing, said casing including a heat sink including a plurality of fins, said heat sink defining a wall, said wall having a contact surface and a slot located in said wall above said contact surface, circuitry disposed within said casing, said circuitry capable of performing power amplification or transformation, said circuitry including at least one heat generating component which generates heat during operation, said at least one heat generating component disposed proximate said contact surface and below said slot; and clamping means for clamping said heat generating component into said wall contact surface of said heat sink, said clamping means engaging said slot and pressing said heat generating component into thermal contact with said heat sink wall contact surface; said clamping means and said slot being structured and arranged to allow an engaging portion of said clamping means to extend and slide into said slot, said slot having a lip which extends proximate an opening of said slot, said engaging portion having a length which extends to an abutment portion and which allows said abutment portion to abut said lip and inhibit movement of said engaging portion out of said slot whereby said clamping means engages said slot and said lip retains said engaging portion within said slot. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of installing a heat sink clip to press an electrical component into a heat dissipating device, comprising the steps of:
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providing a heat sink with a contact surface and a slot located above the contact surface, the slot having a lip which extends proximate an opening of the slot; providing a clip with a first end adapted to engage the slot, a second end extending from the first end with a resilient biasing that is adapted to press the electrical component into thermal contact with the heat sink contact surface, and a corner connecting the first and second ends; inserting the first end into the slot; pressing the first end until the corner abuts the lip and inhibits movement of the first end out of the slot whereby the clip engages the slot and the lip retains the first end within the slot.
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Specification