Power Electronics Switching Device Pressure Contact Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power electronic switching devices face challenges in reducing manufacturing complexity and effort while enhancing performance, reliability, and service life, with a need for improved assembly methods to minimize costs.

Innovation Solution

A power electronic switching device with a substrate, power semiconductor component, connecting device, and pressure device, featuring a non-positive electrically conductive connection instead of a material bond, using a pressure body with a recess and elastomer pressure elements to ensure efficient thermal and electrical conductivity with a thin thermally conductive layer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a material bond is used to connect the power semiconductor component to the substrate, then connection strength is improved, but manufacturing complexity and effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the adhesive bonding step from the manufacturing process by using a pressure device that creates mechanical pressure contact instead. The power semiconductor component is pressed directly onto the substrate with a defined contact pressure, eliminating the need for adhesive materials and the associated bonding process steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the chemical bonding mechanism (adhesive bonding) with a mechanical bonding mechanism (pressure contact). The pressure device applies mechanical pressure to create a stable electrical and thermal connection between the power semiconductor component and the substrate without requiring chemical adhesives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If adhesive bonding is used to fix the power semiconductor component, then connection reliability is improved, but manufacturing time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure device is designed with a predefined contact pressure and contact area that is optimized in advance. This preliminary design allows the component to be secured to the substrate in a single pressing operation without requiring additional time for adhesive application, spreading, and curing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the bonding parameter from chemical (adhesive properties) to physical (pressure and contact area). By controlling the contact pressure and contact area parameters, the system achieves reliable connections without the time-consuming adhesive curing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Temperature

If a thick thermally conductive layer is used, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but device complexity and material usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies thermal conductivity enhancement locally at the contact interface between the power semiconductor component and the substrate. The pressure device creates a localized high-pressure contact zone with improved thermal conductivity, rather than requiring a thick thermal conductive layer across the entire device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure contact interface creates a composite structure where the direct contact between the component and substrate, under high pressure, forms a thermally conductive path that is more efficient than thick thermal paste layers. The system utilizes the inherent thermal conductivity of the materials in direct contact.

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 configuration reduces manufacturing complexity, enhances reliability and performance by forming efficient non-positive connections with low contact resistance and effective heat transfer, while minimizing material usage and manufacturing costs.

Implementation Method 1

a non-positive electrically conductive connection is formed between a contact area of a first main area of the power semiconductor component and a first contact area of an associated conductor track of the substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure-induced electrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

efficient thermal and electrical conductivity with a thin thermally conductive layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3273473B1Power electronics switching device, arrangement using the same, and method for producing the switch device
Publication Date: 2020.09.09 SEMIKRON DANFOSS ELEKTRONIK GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3273473B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3273473B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3273473B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A switching device is presented comprising a substrate, a power semiconductor device arranged thereon, a connection device, and a pressure device, wherein the substrate has electrically insulated conductor tracks and a power semiconductor device is arranged on one of the conductor tracks, wherein the connection device is designed as a foil composite with an electrically conductive and an electrically insulating foil and thus forms a first and a second main surface, wherein the switching device is internally connected in a circuit-oriented manner by means of the connection device, and wherein a contact surface of the first main surface of the power semiconductor device is force-fit and electrically conductively connected to a first contact surface of an associated conductor track of the substrate.The pressure device comprises a pressure body and a pressure element projecting from it in the direction of the power semiconductor device, wherein the pressure element presses on a first section of the second main surface of the foil composite and this first section is arranged in projection along the normal direction of the power semiconductor device within the surface of the power semiconductor device.