Power module and power module assembly
By combining conductive pillars and flexible conductive parts, the problem of connecting power modules to PCB boards is solved, achieving stable and wear-resistant electrical connections and improving connection efficiency and lifespan.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- VITESCO AUTOMOTIVE (TIANJIN) CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-21
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-19
AI Technical Summary
The positioning accuracy of the soldered terminals or fisheye terminals of power modules currently on the market is poor, which makes connection difficult, easily leads to failure, and causes the device to be scrapped.
The structure combines conductive pillars and flexible conductive parts. The conductive pillars do not need to be perfectly aligned with the connection holes on the PCB board. Electrical connection is achieved by the second connecting part of the flexible conductive part abutting against the second end of the conductive pillar. Combined with the elasticity and wear resistance of the conductive rubber, a stable connection is ensured.
It improves the connection efficiency between the power module and the PCB board, avoids the problem of connecting hole alignment, reduces static electricity accumulation, extends service life, and adapts to complex mechanical environments.
Smart Images
Figure CN224264291U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of automotive electronics technology, and in particular to a power module and a power module assembly. Background Technology
[0002] With the rapid development of new energy technologies, the increasing demands on power electronic devices for high voltage, high current, high power, and small size have rendered the performance of single power electronic devices insufficient. Therefore, numerous electronic devices such as diodes and IGBTs (Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistors) are connected in series and parallel on a substrate to form power modules. These power modules are then connected to a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) to achieve functions such as energy conversion, power amplification, and circuit protection.
[0003] Currently, power modules on the market use conventional solder terminals or fisheye terminals to connect to the PCB board. However, the tolerance control of conventional solder terminals and fisheye terminals is difficult, and their positional accuracy is poor. When multiple power modules are arranged together and connected to the same PCB board, it is common for the solder terminals or fisheye terminals to misalign with the PCB board's connection holes, preventing them from being inserted. If misaligned solder terminals or fisheye terminals are forcibly connected to the PCB board, stress can cause malfunctions during use, and in severe cases, it can lead to component failure and economic losses. Utility Model Content
[0004] The purpose of this invention is to solve the problem of poor positional accuracy of the soldered terminals or fisheye terminals in current power modules on the market. This invention provides a power module and a power module assembly that effectively solves the problems of difficult tolerance control and poor positional accuracy of the soldered terminals or fisheye terminals in current power modules on the market.
[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this utility model discloses a power module, comprising:
[0006] The casing has through holes;
[0007] Conductive posts, used to connect the power module to the PCB board, the conductive posts comprising:
[0008] The first end is located inside the housing;
[0009] The second end extends out of the through hole and is located outside the housing, or the second end extends into the through hole and does not extend out of the outer surface of the housing.
[0010] By adopting the above technical solution, conductive posts are set in the power module, and the power module is electrically connected to the PCB board through the conductive posts. The conductive posts have good positional accuracy. When connecting the power module to the PCB board, the conductive posts do not need to be completely aligned with the connection holes of the PCB board, which effectively improves the connection efficiency between the power module and the PCB board.
[0011] According to a specific embodiment of this utility model, the conductive pillar is a copper pillar.
[0012] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the second end is flush with the outer surface of the shell.
[0013] According to a specific embodiment of this utility model, the cross-section of the conductive post is circular.
[0014] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the PCB board is disposed on one side of the power module along a first direction, and the through hole is disposed on the wall of the housing facing the PCB board.
[0015] This utility model also discloses a power module assembly, comprising:
[0016] The power module as described in any of the specific embodiments above;
[0017] A PCB board, along a first direction, is disposed on one side of the power module, and the PCB board includes:
[0018] Connecting holes, each of which penetrates the PCB board along a first direction;
[0019] The number of connecting holes is the same as the number of conductive posts;
[0020] Flexible conductive portions, the number of which is the same as the number of conductive posts, and the flexible conductive portions include:
[0021] The first connecting part is electrically connected to the PCB board;
[0022] The second connecting part abuts against the conductive post, and the second connecting part is electrically connected to the conductive post;
[0023] The middle part is connected at one end to the first connecting part and at the other end to the second connecting part. Along the first direction, the middle part passes through the connecting hole. The first connecting part and the second connecting part are located on opposite sides of the PCB board.
[0024] By employing the above technical solution, the conductive post is electrically connected to the PCB board via a flexible conductive part. During the connection of the power module to the PCB board, the conductive post does not need to be perfectly aligned with the connection hole of the PCB board. The second connecting part of the flexible conductive part only needs to abut (or press against) the second end of the conductive post to achieve electrical connection between the conductive post and the PCB board, thus effectively improving the efficiency of the connection between the power module and the PCB board. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the conductive post does not need to pass through the connection hole of the PCB board, effectively avoiding the problem of the power module's connection terminals being unable to be inserted into the PCB board's connection hole due to poor positioning.
[0025] According to one specific embodiment of the present invention, the flexible conductive part is made of conductive rubber.
[0026] Using the above technical solution, the flexible conductive part made of conductive rubber exhibits excellent conductivity, effectively conducting current and static electricity while reducing static buildup. Simultaneously, the flexible conductive part made of conductive rubber possesses good elasticity, allowing for stretching and compression deformation within a certain range, thus adapting to complex mechanical environments. Furthermore, the flexible conductive part made of conductive rubber exhibits good wear resistance and chemical resistance, enabling it to maintain good performance under friction and compression conditions and withstand the erosion of chemical media, resulting in a long service life.
[0027] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, along the first direction, a portion of the first connecting portion can abut against the PCB board, and a portion of the second connecting portion can abut against the PCB board to confine the flexible conductive portion to the PCB board.
[0028] By adopting the above technical solution, a portion of the first connecting part abuts against the PCB board along the first direction, and a portion of the second connecting part abuts against the PCB board along the first direction, so as to confine the flexible conductive part to the PCB board, effectively preventing the flexible conductive part from detaching from the connecting hole, thereby ensuring the stability of the electrical connection between the PCB board and the conductive post.
[0029] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the cross-section of the first connecting part is circular, and the outer diameter of the first connecting part is larger than the inner diameter of the connecting hole.
[0030] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the cross-section of the second connecting part is circular, and the outer diameter of the second connecting part is larger than the inner diameter of the connecting hole.
[0031] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, it further includes:
[0032] A cooling plate is connected to the power module, and along the first direction, the power module is located between the cooling plate and the PCB board. Attached Figure Description
[0033] Figure 1 A perspective view of a power module assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.
[0034] Figure 2 A perspective view of the power module of the power module assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.
[0035] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the power module assembly of an embodiment of the present invention after the PCB board is hidden.
[0036] Figure 4 A perspective view of the flexible conductive portion of a power module assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.
[0037] Figure 5 This is a perspective view showing the flexible conductive part of the power module assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention connected to the PCB board and the power module.
[0038] Figure 6 This diagram illustrates a comparison of the uncompressed and compressed states of the flexible conductive portion of the power module assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0039] Explanation of icon numbers:
[0040] 10. Power module assembly;
[0041] 100. Power module; 110. Housing; 111. Through hole; 120. Conductive post; 121. First end; 122. Second end;
[0042] 200. PCB board, 201. Top surface, 202. Bottom surface, 210. Connecting hole;
[0043] 300. Cooling plate;
[0044] 500. Flexible conductive part, 510. First connecting part, 511. Lower surface, 520. Second connecting part, 521. Upper surface, 522. Lower surface, 530. Middle part. Detailed Implementation
[0045] The following specific embodiments illustrate the implementation of this utility model. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of this utility model from the content disclosed in this specification. Although the description of this utility model will be presented in conjunction with preferred embodiments, this does not mean that the features of this utility model are limited to this embodiment. On the contrary, the purpose of describing the utility model in conjunction with the embodiments is to cover other options or modifications that may be derived based on the claims of this utility model. To provide a deep understanding of this utility model, many specific details will be included in the following description. This utility model may also be implemented without using these details. Furthermore, to avoid confusion or obscuring the focus of this utility model, some specific details will be omitted in the description. It should be noted that, without conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this utility model can be combined with each other.
[0046] It should be noted that in this specification, similar reference numerals and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.
[0047] In the description of this embodiment, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "bottom", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship that the utility model product is usually placed in during use. They are only for the convenience of describing the utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the utility model.
[0048] The terms “first”, “second”, etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be interpreted as indicating or implying relative importance.
[0049] In the description of this embodiment, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "set up," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this embodiment based on the specific circumstances.
[0050] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the embodiments of this utility model will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0051] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2This application provides a power module assembly 10, which includes three power modules 100, a PCB board 200, a cooling plate 300, and a flexible conductive portion 500. The three power modules 100 are located between the PCB board 200 and the cooling plate 300 along a first direction X (i.e., the thickness direction of the power module assembly 10). Each of the three power modules 100 is electrically connected to the PCB board 200 via the flexible conductive portion 500. The cooling plate 300 is connected to the power module 100 and is used to contact a cooling medium (e.g., cooling water) to remove heat dissipated by the power module 100, thereby providing heat dissipation for the power module assembly 10.
[0052] It should be noted that the specific number of power modules 100 in each power module assembly 10 is not specifically limited in the embodiments of this application. In some possible implementations, the number of power modules 100 in each power module assembly 10 may be one, two, four, or five, etc.
[0053] refer to Figure 3 and combined Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this embodiment of the application, three power modules 100 are spaced apart along the second direction Y (i.e. the length direction of the power module assembly 10), and the second direction Y is perpendicular to the first direction X.
[0054] For example, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 Each power module 100 includes a housing 110 and five conductive posts 120, with the housing 110 facing the PCB board 200 along the first direction X. Figure 1 Five through holes 111 are provided on one side of the housing 110 (i.e., the side of the housing 110 facing away from the cooling plate 300 along the first direction X), and the five through holes 111 are arranged along the first direction X on the wall of the housing 110 facing the PCB board 200. The five through holes 111 are spaced apart along the third direction Z (i.e., the width direction of the power module assembly 10). The five through holes 111 correspond one-to-one with five conductive posts 120. Each through hole 111 allows a conductive post 120 to extend out of the housing 110 and be electrically connected to the PCB board 200. The third direction Z is perpendicular to the first direction X and the second direction Y. In some other possible embodiments, the conductive posts 120 may not extend out of the housing 110, for example, the conductive posts 120 may be flush with the outer surface of the housing 110.
[0055] The present application does not impose a specific limit on the number of conductive posts 120 in each power module 100. For example, in other possible implementations, the number of conductive posts 120 in each power module 100 may be two, three, four, or six, etc. Correspondingly, the present application does not impose a specific limit on the number of through holes 111 in the housing 110 of each power module 100. Exemplarily, in other possible implementations, the number of through holes 111 in the housing 110 of each power module 100 may be two, three, four, or six, etc., and the number of through holes 111 in the housing 110 of each power module 100 is the same as the number of conductive posts 120.
[0056] Specifically, refer to Figure 5 and combined Figures 1 to 4 Each conductive post 120 extends along a first direction X, and each conductive post 120 includes a first end 121 and a second end 122. The first end 121 is located inside the housing 110 of the power module 100 and is electrically connected to the electronic components inside the power module 100. The second end 122 extends out of the through hole 111 and is located outside the housing 110. The second end 122 is electrically connected to the PCB board 200 (see description below). In some other possible embodiments, the second end 122 may not extend out of the through hole 111. For example, the second end 122 may be flush with the outer surface of the housing 110.
[0057] For example, in this embodiment of the application, the cross-section of the conductive post 120 is circular, that is, the conductive post 120 in this embodiment of the application is a cylinder. However, it is not limited to this. In other possible embodiments, the cross-section of the conductive post 120 can also be rectangular, triangular, or other shapes.
[0058] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the housing 110 is a plastic housing. Specifically, in the production process of the power module 100 in this embodiment, the conductive pillar 120 and other electronic components inside the power module 100 are first placed into an injection molding machine (not shown in the figure), and then injection molding material is injected to encapsulate the electronic components and at least a portion of the conductive pillar 120. That is to say, in this embodiment, the hole wall (not shown in the figure) of the through hole 111 is in close contact with the conductive pillar 120, thereby giving the conductive pillar 120 better tolerances.
[0059] Continue to refer to Figure 5The PCB board 200 includes an upper surface 201 and a lower surface 202. Along a first direction X, the upper surface 201 and the lower surface 202 are located on opposite sides of the PCB board 200. The lower surface 202 faces the power module 100 along the first direction X. The PCB board 200 has fifteen connection holes 210, each of which penetrates the PCB board 200 along the first direction X, and each of the fifteen connection holes 210 corresponds to a conductive post 120.
[0060] The present application does not impose a specific limit on the number of connection holes 210 on the PCB board 200, as long as the number of connection holes 210 is the same as the number of conductive posts 120.
[0061] For example, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this embodiment, the second end 122 of the conductive post 120 is flush with the outer surface of the housing 110 of the power module 100. However, it is not limited to this. In other possible embodiments, the second end 122 of the conductive post 120 may also extend out of the through hole 111, that is, the second end 122 of the conductive post 120 is located outside the housing 110. In this embodiment, the second end 122 of the conductive post 120 is connected to the PCB board 200 through the flexible conductive part 500.
[0062] Specifically, refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 and combined Figure 1 and Figure 2 The PCB board 200 has fifteen connection holes 210, each of which penetrates the PCB board 200 along a first direction X. The flexible conductive part 500 includes a first connection part 510, a second connection part 520, and a middle part 530. In the embodiments of this application, the extension direction of the middle part 530 is the same as the first direction X. For ease of description, the following description will use the first direction X as the extension direction of the middle part 530.
[0063] For example, the middle portion 530 extends along the first direction X, and one end of the middle portion 530 is connected to the first connecting portion 510 along the first direction X, and the other end of the middle portion 530 is connected to the second connecting portion 520. The first connecting portion 510 is electrically connected to the PCB board 200, and the second connecting portion 520 is electrically connected to the second end 122 of the conductive post 120.
[0064] refer to Figure 5 and combined Figures 1 to 4The middle portion 530 of the flexible conductive part 500 is accommodated within the connecting hole 210. Along the first direction X, the second connecting portion 520 of the flexible conductive part 500 is located between the housing 110 of the power module 100 and the PCB board 200, and the first connecting portion 510 of the flexible conductive part 500 is located on the side of the PCB board 200 away from the power module 100. That is, the first connecting portion 510 and the second connecting portion 520 are located on opposite sides of the PCB board 200 along the first direction X.
[0065] For example, along the first direction X, the upper surface 521 of the second connecting portion 520 abuts against the lower surface 202 of the PCB board 200, and the lower surface 522 of the second connecting portion 520 abuts against (or presses against) the second end 122 of the conductive post 120. Furthermore, the second connecting portion 520 is in a compressed state, thereby ensuring the stability of the electrical connection between the conductive post 120 and the second connecting portion 520. (See reference...) Figure 6 , Figure 6 A comparison diagram is shown of the second connection portion 520 of the flexible conductive portion 500 in an uncompressed state and a compressed state. Figure 6 The second connecting portion 520 of the flexible conductive portion 500 on the left side is not compressed, while the second connecting portion 520 of the flexible conductive portion 500 on the right side is compressed. Along the first direction X, the length of the second connecting portion 520 of the flexible conductive portion 500 on the right side is less than the length of the second connecting portion 520 of the flexible conductive portion 500 on the left side.
[0066] The lower surface 511 of the first connecting part 510 abuts against the upper surface 201 of the PCB board 200. Thus, the conductive post 120 of the power module 100 is electrically connected to the PCB board 200 through the flexible conductive part 500.
[0067] It is understood that the first connecting portion 510 and the second connecting portion 520 in this embodiment also have a limiting function. Specifically, since the upper surface 521 of the second connecting portion 520 abuts against the lower surface 202 of the PCB board 200, the flexible conductive portion 500 is prevented from moving away from the conductive post 120 along the first direction X. Since the lower surface 511 of the first connecting portion 510 abuts against the upper surface 201 of the PCB board 200, the flexible conductive portion 500 is prevented from moving towards the conductive post 120 along the first direction X. In other words, the first connecting portion 510 and the second connecting portion 520 together limit the flexible conductive portion 500 on the PCB board 200, effectively preventing the flexible conductive portion 500 from disengaging from the connecting hole 210, thereby ensuring the stability of the connection between the PCB board 200 and the conductive post 120.
[0068] The specific shapes of the first connecting portion 510 and the second connecting portion 520 are not specifically limited in the embodiments of this application. (See reference...) Figure 4 and Figure 5In this embodiment, both the first connecting portion 510 and the second connecting portion 520 have circular cross-sectional shapes, with the outer diameter of the first connecting portion 510 being larger than the inner diameter of the connecting hole 210, and the outer diameter of the second connecting portion 520 being larger than the inner diameter of the connecting hole 210. This allows a portion of the first connecting portion 510 to abut against the PCB board 200 along the first direction X, and a portion of the second connecting portion 520 to abut against the PCB board 200 along the first direction X, thereby confining the flexible conductive portion 500 within the PCB board 200. In other possible embodiments, the cross-sectional shapes of the first connecting portion 510 and the second connecting portion 520 can also be triangular, rectangular, trapezoidal, or other shapes, as long as they can effectively confine the flexible conductive portion 500 within the PCB board 200.
[0069] In this embodiment, the first connecting part 510, the second connecting part 520 and the middle part 530 are integrally formed, but not limited thereto. In other possible embodiments, the first connecting part 510, the second connecting part 520 and the middle part 530 may also be formed by connecting three different parts by means of, for example, assembly, welding, or gluing.
[0070] In this embodiment, the number of flexible conductive parts 500 is fifteen. However, this embodiment does not impose a specific limit on the number of flexible conductive parts 500 in the power module assembly 10, as long as the number of flexible conductive parts 500 is the same as the number of conductive posts 120. For example, in other possible embodiments, the number of flexible conductive parts 500 in the power module assembly 10 may be ten, twenty, or twenty-five, etc. Correspondingly, this embodiment also does not impose a specific limit on the number of connection holes 210 in the PCB board 200, as long as the number of connection holes 210 is the same as the number of conductive posts 120. For example, in other possible embodiments, the number of connection holes 210 in the PCB board 200 may be ten, twenty, or twenty-five, etc.
[0071] In this embodiment, the flexible conductive part 500 is made of conductive rubber, which is a material composed of conductive filler (such as carbon black, metal particles, etc.) and rubber matrix. The conductive rubber has strong plasticity and can be processed into the structure of the first connecting part 510, the second connecting part 520 and the middle part 530.
[0072] Furthermore, the flexible conductive part 500, made of conductive rubber, possesses excellent conductivity, effectively conducting current and static electricity while reducing static buildup. Simultaneously, the flexible conductive part 500 exhibits good elasticity, allowing for stretching and compression deformation within a certain range, thus adapting to complex mechanical environments. Moreover, the flexible conductive part 500 demonstrates excellent wear resistance and chemical resistance, enabling it to maintain good performance under friction and compression conditions and withstand the erosion of chemical media, resulting in a long service life.
[0073] The specific material of the flexible conductive part 500 is not specifically limited in this application embodiment. In some possible implementations, the flexible conductive part 500 may also be made of other flexible conductive materials.
[0074] In this embodiment, a conductive post 120 is provided on the power module 100. The manufacturing process of the conductive post 120 is simple and the cost is lower. Furthermore, the conductive post 120 has better positional accuracy. During the process of connecting the power module 100 to the PCB board 200, the conductive post 120 does not need to be completely aligned with the connection hole 210 of the PCB board 200. It is sufficient for the second connecting portion 520 of the flexible conductive part 500 to abut (or press against) the second end 122 of the conductive post 120 to electrically connect the conductive post 120 to the PCB board 200, thereby achieving an electrical connection between the power module 100 and the PCB board 200, effectively improving the efficiency of the connection between the power module 100 and the PCB board 200. Moreover, in this embodiment, the conductive post 120 does not need to pass through the connection hole 210 of the PCB board 200, effectively avoiding the problem of the power module 100's connection terminals being unable to be inserted into the connection hole 210 of the PCB board 200 due to poor positional accuracy.
[0075] Secondly, the second end 122 of the conductive post 120 is flush with the outer surface of the housing 110 of the power module 100, which effectively reduces the size of the power module assembly 10 along the first direction X, which is beneficial to the requirement of product miniaturization.
[0076] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the above description is a further detailed explanation of the present invention in conjunction with specific embodiments, and should not be construed as limiting the specific implementation of the present invention to these descriptions. Those skilled in the art can make various changes in form and detail, including some simple deductions or substitutions, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A power module, characterized in that, include: The casing has through holes; Conductive posts, used to connect the power module to the PCB board, the conductive posts comprising: The first end is located inside the housing; The second end extends out of the through hole and is located outside the housing, or the second end extends into the through hole and does not extend out of the outer surface of the housing.
2. The power module as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The conductive pillar is a copper pillar.
3. The power module as described in any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that, The second end is flush with the outer surface of the housing.
4. The power module as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The PCB board is disposed on one side of the power module along the first direction, and the through hole is disposed on the wall of the housing facing the PCB board.
5. A power module assembly, characterized in that, include: The power module as described in any one of claims 1-4; PCB board, including: Connecting holes, each of which penetrates the PCB board along a first direction; The number of connecting holes is the same as the number of conductive posts; Flexible conductive portions, the number of which is the same as the number of conductive posts, and the flexible conductive portions include: The first connecting part is electrically connected to the PCB board; The second connecting part abuts against the conductive post, and the second connecting part is electrically connected to the conductive post; The middle part is connected at one end to the first connecting part and at the other end to the second connecting part. Along the first direction, the middle part passes through the connecting hole. The first connecting part and the second connecting part are located on opposite sides of the PCB board.
6. The power module assembly as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The flexible conductive part is made of conductive rubber.
7. The power module assembly as described in claim 5, characterized in that, Along the first direction, a portion of the first connecting portion can abut against the PCB board, and a portion of the second connecting portion can abut against the PCB board to confine the flexible conductive portion to the PCB board.
8. The power module assembly as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that, The first connecting part has a circular cross-section, and the outer diameter of the first connecting part is larger than the inner diameter of the connecting hole.
9. The power module assembly as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that, The cross-section of the second connecting part is circular, and the outer diameter of the second connecting part is larger than the inner diameter of the connecting hole.
10. The power module assembly as described in any one of claims 5-9, characterized in that, Also includes: A cooling plate is connected to the power module, and along the first direction, the power module is located between the cooling plate and the PCB board.