Motor Driver Power Board Layout for Compact Air-Cooled Heat Dissipation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric vehicle motor controller power boards face challenges with heat dissipation, leading to low power density and performance limitations due to concentrated heat generation, which is exacerbated by the weight and volume constraints of large aircraft, necessitating complex and heavy water-cooled systems.

Innovation Solution

A motor-driven power board with a compact, air-cooled design featuring transistors arranged along the edge of a PCB with capacitors and terminal posts near the center, utilizing a hexagonal or circular structure for efficient heat dissipation, and conductive strips for improved current handling, allowing for convective cooling and reduced weight and volume.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If power semiconductors are arranged on one side of the PCB board, then assembly is simplified, but heat dissipation performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidheat dissipation performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The power board is divided into multiple independent power modules, each containing power semiconductors arranged on different sides of the PCB. This segmentation allows heat to be distributed across multiple locations rather than concentrated on one side, improving heat dissipation while maintaining assembly simplicity through modular construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the PCB board are designed with different component arrangements optimized for their specific functions. Power semiconductors are placed on sides with better heat dissipation characteristics, while other areas maintain simplified layouts for assembly ease. This local optimization resolves the contradiction between assembly simplicity and heat dissipation performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Power

If power density is increased to meet the power needs of large aircraft, then power output capability is improved, but heat generation increases leading to temperature rise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower output capabilityVSAvoidheat generation
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The design transitions from two-dimensional component placement to three-dimensional heat dissipation structures, including vertical heat sinks and multi-layer PCB configurations. This allows high power density to be achieved while providing multiple pathways for heat to escape in different spatial dimensions, preventing temperature rise despite increased power output.

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

Solution Approach 2:

Heat dissipation components such as heat sinks, thermal vias, and cooling channels are introduced as intermediary elements between the power semiconductors and the environment. These intermediaries efficiently transfer heat away from the high-power components, enabling high power density operation without excessive temperature increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional rectangular layout with one-sided power semiconductor arrangement is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but heat dissipation efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidheat dissipation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The design employs asymmetric PCB layouts and non-uniform component distribution optimized for heat flow patterns. Power semiconductors are positioned asymmetrically on different sides of the board according to heat generation and dissipation requirements, rather than following a symmetric conventional pattern. This asymmetric arrangement maintains manufacturing simplicity while significantly improving heat dissipation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design enhances heat dissipation and current-sharing capacity, reduces assembly complexity, and decreases the weight and volume of the motor driver, making it more compact and cost-effective compared to water-cooled systems.

Implementation Method 1

The motor driver is further provided with an air flow channel to provide air flow for heat dissipation for the power components on the PCB board

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4258825A1Motor-driven power board and a motor driver using the same
Publication Date: 2023.10.11 SHANGHAI AUTOFLIGHT CO LTD
  • EP4258825A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4258825A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4258825A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A motor-driven power board having a PCB (10) and a plurality of transistors (2) uniformly arranged along the edge of the PCB (10) and a plurality of capacitors (6) uniformly arranged along the inner side of the transistor (2). There is a plurality of terminal posts (8) uniformly arranged along the inner side of the transistor (2). The board further includes a positive pole of power bus (3), a negative pole of power bus (4) and a signal wire (5) which are all located in the middle of the PCB (10). The invention improves the heat dissipation and current-sharing capacity of the power board by uniformly setting the power components from the inside to the outside according to the heat value while at the same time reduces the heat value in the middle of the power board, so that the motor of the driver using the power board can be assembled near the middle of the power board.