Electronic module configured for air flow therethrough and system including same

• US 7,554,804 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innomotics GmbH
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Kunkle, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): CHERVINSKY, BORIS LEO
• Application Number:
  US11/769,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20080304235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 361/695
• 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: H05K 7/209 Heat transfer by conduction from internal heat source to heat radiating structure H05K7/20909 takes precedence

Abstract

An electronic module. The electronic module includes a chassis, a plurality of capacitors, a plurality of bus bars, and a heat sink. The chassis includes a first end and a second end. The first end is opposite the second end. The capacitors are positioned within the chassis, and at least one of the capacitors is proximate the first end. The bus bars are positioned within the chassis proximate the second end. The heat sink is positioned between the capacitors and the bus bars. The capacitors, the heat sink and the bus bars are positioned such that when an airflow enters the chassis at the first end, a portion of the airflow sequentially comes in contact with the capacitors, the heat sink, and the bus bars before exiting at the second end.

Claims

1. An electronic module, comprising:

a chassis having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;

a plurality of capacitors positioned within the chassis, wherein at least one of the capacitors is proximate the first end;

a plurality of bus bars positioned within the chassis proximate the second end; and

a heat sink positioned between the capacitors and the bus bars, wherein the capacitors, the heat sink and the bus bars are positioned such that when an airflow enters the chassis at the first end, a portion of the airflow sequentially comes in contact with the capacitors, the heat sink, and the bus bars before exiting at the second end.

2. The electronic module of claim 1, further comprising a power plug connector connected to one of the bus bars, wherein the power plug connector is positioned such that the portion of the airflow also comes in contact with the power plug connector before exiting at the second end.

3. The electronic module of claim 1, further comprising a first switching device positioned between the heat sink and the chassis, wherein the first switching device is positioned such that the portion of the airflow also comes in contact with the first switching device before coming in contact with the bus bars.

4. The electronic module of claim 3, further comprising a second switching device positioned between the first switching device and the second end, wherein the second switching device is positioned such that the portion of the airflow also comes in contact with the second switching device before coming in contact with the bus bars.

5. The electronic module of claim 4, wherein the second switching device is positioned such that the portion of the airflow sequentially comes in contact with the first switching device and the second switching device before coming in contact with the bus bars.

6. The electronic module of claim 1, further comprising a capacitor tray positioned between the capacitors and the chassis, wherein the capacitor tray is positioned such that when the airflow enters the chassis at the first ends a second portion of the airflow comes in contact with the capacitor tray before exiting at the second end.

7. The electronic module of claim 6, wherein the capacitor tray defines an opening which is aligned with the at least one capacitor.

8. The electronic module of claim 7, wherein the opening is positioned such that the second portion of the airflow also comes in contact with the at least one capacitor before exiting at the second end.

9. The electronic module of claim 6, further comprising a control board positioned between the capacitor tray and the chassis, wherein the control hoard is positioned such that the second portion of the airflow also comes in contact with the control board before exiting at the second end.

10. The electronic module of claim 9, further comprising a ramp positioned between the capacitors and the second end, wherein the ramp is positioned such that the second portion of the airflow also comes in contact with the ramp after coming in contact with the control board and the capacitor tray.

11. The electronic module of claim 6, further comprising a ramp positioned between the capacitors and the second end, wherein the ramp is positioned such that the second portion of the airflow sequentially comes in contact with the capacitor tray and the ramp before exiting at the second end.

12. The electronic module of claim 11, wherein the ramp is configured to deflect a portion of the second portion of the airflow toward the heat sink.

13. The electronic module of claim 11, further comprising a resistor positioned between the ramp and the second end, wherein a portion of the second portion of the airflow passes through an opening defined by the ramp and comes in contact with the resistor before exiting at the second end.

14. The electronic module of claim 1, further comprising a control board positioned between the capacitors and the chassis, wherein the control board is positioned such that when the airflow enters the chassis at the first end, a second portion of the airflow comes in contact with the control board before exiting at the second end.

15. A system, comprising:

a fan; and

an electronic module, wherein the electronic module comprises;

a chassis having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;

a plurality of capacitors positioned within the chassis, wherein at least one of the capacitors is proximate the first end;

a plurality of bus bars positioned within the chassis proximate the second end; and

a heat sink positioned between the capacitors and the bus bars, wherein the capacitors, the heat sink and the bus bars are positioned such that when the fan generates an airflow, a portion of the airflow sequentially comes in contact with the capacitors, the heat sink, and the bus bars.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a switching device positioned between the heat sink and the chassis, wherein the switching device is positioned such that the portion of the airflow also comes in contact with the switching device before coming in contact with the bus bars.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a power plug connector connected to one of the bus bars, wherein the power plug connector is positioned such that the portion of the airflow also comes in contact with the power plug connector before exiting at the second end.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the electronic module further comprises:

a capacitor tray positioned between the capacitors and the chassis; and

a ramp positioned between the capacitors and the second end, wherein the capacitor tray and the ramp are positioned such that when the fan generates the airflow, a second portion of the airflow sequentially comes in contact with the capacitor tray and the ramp.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the electronic module further comprises a control board positioned between the capacitor tray and the chassis, wherein the control board is positioned such that the second portion of the airflow also comes in contact with the control board before coming in contact with the ramp.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the electronic module further comprises a resistor positioned between the ramp and the second end, wherein the resistor is positioned such that a portion of the second portion of the airflow passes through an opening defined by the ramp and comes in contact with the resistor before exiting at the second end.