Diamond-based transformers and power convertors

• US 6,181,231 B1
• Filed: 04/06/1998
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Silicon Graphics Incorporated (Graphics Properties Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bartilson, Bradley W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gellner, Michael L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAI, ANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/055,554
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 336/200, 336/219, 336/232, 336/223
• US Class Current: 336/200
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/2804 Printed windings
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/323 Insulation between winding turns, between winding layers

Abstract

Diamond is used as an electrically insulating substrate in multi-layer devices. In a transformer, the first electrical conductor forms a coil. The first electrical conductor is formed in a plurality of layers. Electrical carriers are formed on a layer to make an electrical path around a core of ferrous material. The second conductor forms a second coil of the transformer and also wraps around the core of ferrous material. Using diamond is advantageous in a transformer since the diamond is very effective at transferring heat from the core. The diamond also electrically insulates the various portions of the transformer. An electronic packaging concept includes mounting one or more electronic components to a substrate including a layer of diamond. The layer of diamond is sufficient to transfer heat from the one or more electronic components attached to the diamond substrate. The entire substrate can also be made of diamond. Diamond is unique in that it is a good electrical conductor as well as a good thermal conductor.

Claims

1. An electrical transformer apparatus comprising:

a first layer having a first electrical coil;

a second layer having a second electrical coil; and

a layer of diamond positioned between the first electrical coil and the second electrical coil, the layer of diamond electrically insulating the first electrical coil from the second electrical coil and conducting heat from the first electrical coil and the second electrical coil.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 where in the first coil is formed in a plurality of layers.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a core formed in a plurality of layers of ferrous material, said first coil wrapping around the core of ferrous material.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the second coil is formed in a plurality of layers and wraps around the core of ferrous material.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

first magnetic core passing through the first layer, the second layer, and the layer of diamond, wherein the first magnetic core forms a first magnetic path between the first electrical coil and the second electrical coil.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a second magnetic core passing through the first layer, the second layer, and the layer of diamond, wherein the second magnetic core forms a second magnetic path between the first electrical coil and the second electrical coil, the first magnetic core forming an opposite magnetic polarity as the second magnetic core.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a second magnetic core, third magnetic core and fourth magnetic core passing through the first layer, the second layer, and the layer of diamond, wherein the second magnetic core, the third magnetic core and the fourth magnetic core each form a magnetic path between the first electrical coil and the second electrical coil.

5. An electronic package comprising:

a first electrical device;

a second electrical device; and

a substrate including the first electrical device and the second electrical device, and a layer of diamond, the first electrical device positioned on one side of the layer of diamond and the second electrical device positioned on the other side of the layer of diamond, the layer of diamond serving to electrically insulate the first electrical device from the second electrical device and to thermally conduct heat from the first electrical device and the second electrical device.

6. The electronic package of claim 5 wherein a plurality of electrical components are attached to said substrate.

7. The electronic package of claim 5 wherein the layer of diamond within the substrate is sized to transfer the heat produced by the first electrical device and by the second electrical device from said substrate.

8. The electronic package of claim 5 wherein the first electrical device and the second electrical device and the layer of diamond form a portion of a transformer, said transformer formed in layers.

9. The electronic package of claim 5 wherein the substrate includes a plurality of layers of diamond.

10. The electronic package of claim 6 wherein said electrical component is a capacitor.

11. The electronic package of claim 6 wherein said electrical component is an inductor.

15. An electrical transformer apparatus comprising:

a first magnetic core;

a first coil layer having a first coil forming an electrically conducting path interacting with a magnetic field in the first magnetic core;

a second coil layer having a second coil forming an electrically conducting path interacting with the magnetic field in the first magnetic core; and

a first layer of diamond positioned between the first coil and the second coil, the layer of diamond providing electrical insulation and heat conduction between the first electrical coil and the second electrical coil.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

a second magnetic core passing through the first coil layer, the second coil layer, and the first layer of diamond, wherein the second magnetic core forms a second magnetic path between the first electrical coil and the second electrical coil, the first magnetic core forming an opposite magnetic polarity as the second magnetic core.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

a second magnetic core, a third magnetic core and a fourth magnetic core passing through the first coil layer, the second coil layer, and the layer of diamond, wherein the second magnetic core, the third magnetic core and the fourth magnetic core each form a magnetic path between the first coil and the second coil.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

a third layer having a third coil forming an electrically conducting path interacting with a magnetic field in the first magnetic core; and

a second layer of diamond positioned between the second coil and the third coil, the second layer of diamond providing electrical insulation and heat conduction between the second coil and the third coil.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

a third layer having a third coil fob an electrically conducting path interacting with a magnetic field in the first magnetic core;

a second layer of diamond positioned between the second coil and the third coil, the second layer of diamond providing electrical insulation and heat conduction between the second coil and the third coil; and

a second magnetic core, a third magnetic core and a fourth magnetic core passing through the first layer, the second layer, and the layer of diamond, wherein the second magnetic core, the third magnetic core and the fourth magnetic core each form a magnetic path between the first coil, the second coil and the third coil.