Power Module Housing Layout for Control Board Heat Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Power electronic components and modules generate significant heat during operation, which can lead to increased temperatures in adjacent electronic components and control boards, reducing their reliability and potentially causing malfunctions.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating thermally insulating materials above the power electronic semiconductor chips and within the housing of the power electronic component to limit heat transfer to other electronic components, thereby preventing excessive heating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If heat transfer path is designed to be effective for transferring heat to heatsink, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but temperature of control board increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol board temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into a first housing part and a second housing part, with the first housing part serving as a thermal bridge to conduct heat away from the semiconductor chip, while the second housing part provides thermal insulation to protect the control board from heat. This segmentation allows the housing to simultaneously achieve effective heat transfer to the heatsink while protecting temperature-sensitive components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing acts as an intermediary thermal management component between the heat-generating semiconductor chip and the temperature-sensitive control board. By designing the housing with specific thermal conductivity characteristics in different regions, it mediates the heat flow to achieve both efficient heat dissipation and thermal protection of sensitive components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If power electronic semiconductor chips are placed in close vicinity to improve integration, then device integration is improved, but heat damage to other components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration degreeVSAvoidheat damage to components
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The housing exhibits local quality variations in thermal conductivity, with the first housing part having higher thermal conductivity to conduct heat away from the chip, and the second housing part having lower thermal conductivity to insulate the control board. This local differentiation allows close integration of components while protecting sensitive areas from heat damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 use of thermally insulating materials effectively restricts heat transfer from the power electronic semiconductor chips to other components, reducing the risk of overheating and enhancing the reliability of adjacent electronic components and control boards.

Implementation Method 1

a thermal insulator (21) which increases a thermal resistance from the power electronic semiconductor chip (3) towards a top of the power electronic component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3637461B1Power electronic module
Publication Date: 2025.06.04 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP3637461B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3637461B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3637461B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A power electronic component comprising a surface adapted to be attached to a heatsink, the surface forming a bottom surface of the power electronic component, one or more power electronic semiconductor chips (3) mounted on a substrate (4) above the bottom surface, and a housing (2) enclosing the one or more power electronic semiconductor chips. The power electronic component comprises a thermal insulator (21; 31; 41; 51) disposed above the one or more power electronic semiconductor chips, such that the bottom surface and the thermal insulator (21; 31; 41; 51) are on the opposite sides of the one or more power electronic semiconductor chips (3).