Electronic power device

• US 6,442,023 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2001
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alstom SA
• Original Assignee: Alstom SA
• Inventors: Fellmann, Daniel, Pettibon, Alain, Cettour-Rose, Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): CHERVINSKY, BORIS LEO
• Application Number:
  US09/852,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20010055714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 361/688, 361/689, 361/699, 361/701-704, 361/707, 361/709-711, 361/714-716, 165/80.4, 257/714, 174/15.1
• US Class Current: 361/690
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/2089 for power electronics, e.g. for inverters for controlling motor

Abstract

An electronic power device comprising support plates each having one face receiving one or more power components and an opposite face in contact with a cooling fluid for cooling said power components by conduction, wherein at least one support plate is associated with another support plate disposed facing it and provided with similar power components, and wherein the power components of the two facing support plates are disposed facing one another and in the immediate vicinity of one another.

Claims

1. An electronic power device comprising:

a plurality of support plates, each support plate having (1) a first face receiving at least one power component, and (2) a second face in contact with a cooling fluid for cooling said at least one power component by conduction, said first and said second faces facing in opposite directions,

wherein respective first faces of at least two support plates face one another, such that respective power components of said at least two facing support plates are disposed facing one another.

2. An electronic power device according to claim 1, wherein all of said support plates are arranged such that each first face faces another first face.

3. An electronic power device according to claim 1, further comprising:

two frames made of electrically insulating material, each of said frames having openings respectively receiving said support plates, which are distributed over said two frames, said two frames being positioned one against the other; and

two cooling boxes respectively provided on free faces of said two frames, each of said cooling boxes having a cooling fluid circulation volume.

4. An electronic power device according to claim 3, wherein said two frames are identical.

5. An electronic power device according to claim 1, wherein each support plate is fed with electricity via at least one emitter and at least one collector projecting respectively from two opposite edges of said support plate so that said emitter feeding one support plate is disposed on the same side as said collector feeding a facing support plate.

6. An electronic power device according to claim 3, wherein each support plate is fed with electricity via at least one emitter and at least one collector projecting respectively from two opposite edges of said support plate so that said emitter feeding one support plate is disposed on the same side as said collector feeding a facing support plate, and wherein said frames support said emitters, said collectors, and a control circuit for controlling said power components.

7. An electronic power device according to claim 3, wherein each of said support plates receives two IGBT components presenting a common emitter disposed between said two IGBT components and projecting laterally from one side of one of said frames, each of said IGBT components having an independent collector projecting laterally from another side of said one of said frames.

8. An electronic power device according to claim 1, further comprising:

strips of heat conducting material one of brazed and soldered respectively to said second faces of said support plates, said strips having folds to encourage heat exchange with said fluid.

9. An electronic power device according to claim 3, wherein said frames and said boxes are molded out of a plastics material.

10. An electronic power device according to claim 1, wherein said support plates comprise an assembly of (1) an electrically insulating material that conducts heat, and (2) a composite material that conducts heat and has a coefficient of expansion matching that of said electrically insulating material, said electrically insulating material supporting said power components and said composite material being in contact with said cooling fluid.