Exposed Side Wall Component Carrier Heat Dissipation

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Solution Overview

Problem

As electronic components on component carriers become more powerful and densely packed, efficient heat removal and mechanical robustness are increasingly challenging, while maintaining electrical reliability and functionality, especially under harsh conditions.

Innovation Solution

A component carrier is manufactured with a stack of electrically conductive and insulating layer structures, embedding components and exposing at least a portion of their side wall to enable functional connections and sensor applications, while maintaining mechanical protection and compact design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If electronic components are densely packed with smaller spacing between contacts, then product functionality and miniaturization are improved, but heat removal becomes increasingly difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct functionalityVSAvoidheat removal
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent exposes the lateral side walls of embedded components to provide additional heat dissipation surfaces. By utilizing the vertical/d lateral dimension rather than only horizontal spreading, the component carrier dissipates heat more effectively from densely packed components through their exposed side surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If material is removed from the stack to expose component side walls, then functionality is enhanced, but mechanical robustness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidmechanical robustness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent selectively removes material only from specific regions to expose component side walls, while leaving the rest of the stack intact. This extraction approach provides the necessary functionality for lateral connections and heat dissipation while preserving the overall mechanical integrity of the component carrier structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Volume of moving object

If components are embedded in the stack, then compact design is achieved, but access to side walls for connections is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompact designVSAvoidaccess to side walls
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent embeds components within the stacked layer structures to achieve compact vertical integration, then exposes their lateral side walls to provide access for electrical connections and other functionalities. This approach maintains the compact footprint while enabling lateral interfacing through the vertical dimension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3439440B1Component embedded in component carrier and having an exposed side wall
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 AT & S AUSTRIA TECHNOLOGIE & SYSTEMTECHNIK AG
  • EP3439440B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3439440B1 patent drawingFigure 4~12
  • EP3439440B1 patent drawingFigure 13~16

AI summary

A component carrier (100) which comprises a stack (102) comprising a plurality of electrically conductive layer structures (104) and/or electrically insulating layer structures (106), and a component (108) embedded in the stack (102), wherein at least a portion of a side wall (110) of the component (108) is exposed.