Semiconductor Circuit Assembly Thermal Expansion Pressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing semiconductor circuit arrangements face inefficiencies in thermal coupling between the circuit substrate and heat sink, leading to suboptimal heat transfer.

Innovation Solution

The semiconductor circuit arrangement incorporates pressure elements with cavities and thermomechanical force knobs, where the pressure bodies, potentially made of silicone with a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the housing material, expand to press the circuit substrate against the heat sink, enhancing thermal dissipation through thermomechanical forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If pressure elements are used to press the circuit substrate against the heat sink, then thermal coupling is improved, but the contact pressure decreases as temperature increases due to thermal expansion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal couplingVSAvoidcontact pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies thermal expansion by selecting materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion for the pressure element and housing. The pressure element has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the housing, so when temperature increases, the pressure element expands more than the housing, maintaining or increasing the contact pressure between the circuit substrate and heat sink despite the initial problem of pressure loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #37Thermal expansion

2Ease of manufacture

If the housing is made of plastic material, then manufacturing ease is improved, but dimensional stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing manufacturingVSAvoiddimensional stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite materials by combining plastic housing material with metal inserts. The metal inserts are embedded in the plastic housing to provide localized areas of high dimensional stability and stiffness, particularly in regions where precision is critical, while maintaining the overall ease of manufacture and cost benefits of using plastic for the housing structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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

This design significantly reduces thermal resistance between the circuit substrate and heat sink, allowing for improved heat dissipation as the semiconductor circuit arrangement heats up, optimizing cooling efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the pressure bodies, potentially made of silicone with a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the housing material, expand to press the circuit substrate against the heat sink

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

the thermal resistance between the circuit substrate and the heat sink is correspondingly reduced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2463899B1Semiconductor circuit assembly
Publication Date: 2016.01.06 SEMIKRON DANFOSS ELEKTRONIK GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2463899B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The arrangement (10) has a circuit substrate (14) including a housing (12) that is provided with semiconductor components (20) and arranged on a cooling body (24). The housing is formed with a pressure element (26), which includes a knob-shaped pressure body (28) to be made of material whose thermal expansion coefficient is larger than material of the housing. The housing is formed with hollow cavities (30) of the pressure body that is provided with a head section (32) from the hallow cavities. A metal insert is embedded in the housing and formed by a metallic sheet.