Electronic device with cooling function

• US 9,877,417 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2014
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Higashi, Yuki, Omiya, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoffberg, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dhillon, Matt
• Application Number:
  US15/104,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20170006731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0008 assembled by screws
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/061 sealed by a gasket held between a removable cover and a body, e.g. O-ring, packing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1432 specially adapted for power drive units or power converters
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/2089 for power electronics, e.g. for inverters for controlling motor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20927 Liquid coolant without phase change

Abstract

An electronic device with a cooling function includes a cap nut, a case, a semiconductor unit, a second bus bar for external output, and a connecting bolt. The case includes a side wall and a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the case has a coolant passage and a recessed portion to receive the cap nut. The coolant passage is open to above and is generally U-shaped. The recessed portion is positioned in a position surrounded by the coolant passage and the side wall of the case, and the cap nut is received in the recessed portion. The semiconductor unit includes a first bus bar that extends from the semiconductor unit. The semiconductor unit is fixed to the case in a posture and position that closes off the coolant passage from above. The second bus bar passes through the side wall of the case. Inside the case, the connecting bolt passes through the first bus bar and the second bus bar and screws into the cap nut, and the cap nut and a head portion of the connecting bolt bring the first bus bar and the second bus bar into close contact.

Claims

1. An electronic device with a cooling function, the electronic device comprising:

a cap nut;

a case that includes a side wall and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the case having a coolant passage and a recessed portion to receive the cap nut, the coolant passage being open to above, the coolant passage being generally U-shaped, the recessed portion being positioned in a position surrounded by the coolant passage and the side wall of the case, and the cap nut being received in the recessed portion;

a semiconductor unit that includes a first bus bar that extends from the semiconductor unit, the semiconductor unit being fixed to the case in a posture and position that closes off the coolant passage from above;

an second bus bar for external output, the second bus bar passing through the side wall of the case; and

a connecting bolt that passes through the first bus bar and the second bus bar and screws into the cap nut inside of the case, and the cap nut and a head portion of the connecting bolt bringing the first bus bar and the second bus bar into close contact.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an O-ring interposed between the bottom surface of the case and the semiconductor unit; and

a fixing bolt that passes through the semiconductor unit, the fixing bolt screwing into a threaded hole provided in the bottom surface of the case, the semiconductor unit being fixed to the case by the fixing bolt,

wherein the O-ring is compressed between the case and the semiconductor unit, and the cap nut is pulled toward the head portion of the connecting bolt from the recessed portion.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the semiconductor unit includes a semiconductor module, and a plate that is fixed to the semiconductor module.