Apparatus for enclosing a power unit and for centring a control unit with respect to the power unit
A power converter includes an apparatus for enclosing a power unit, which is at least partially inside and/or on a heat sink, and for centering a control unit with respect to the power unit. The power unit includes a semiconductor component and a substrate. The apparatus includes a frame designed to at least partially, preferably completely, surround the substrate, two protruding pieces of a first type designed to engage in a recess or an opening in a heat sink, a protruding piece of a second type designed to engage in a recess or an opening in a control unit, and a fixing element, with at least one of the two protruding pieces of a first type and the fixing element being connected to one another and designed to project in opposite directions. The control unit includes an electronic component and is connected to the power module by the fixing element.
1 . A power converter, comprising:
a power module comprising:
a heat sink,
a power unit disposed at least partially inside and/or on the heat sink and comprising a semiconductor component and a substrate, said substrate including three layers defined by a first layer which faces the heat sink and comprises copper, a second layer which adjoins the first layer and comprises ceramic, and a third layer which adjoins the second layer and comprises copper,
an apparatus enclosing the power unit and comprising a frame at least partially surrounding the substrate and fixed directly on the heat sink through bonding, the frame further comprising a plurality of outer corners, said apparatus comprising two protruding pieces of a first type designed to each engage in a recess or an opening of the heat sink, and a fixing element, with at least one of the two protruding pieces of the first type and the fixing element being connected to one another, connected to one of the plurality of outer corners and designed to project in opposite directions, and
a protruding piece of a second type, with at least another one of the two protruding pieces of the first type and the protruding piece of the second type being connected to one another connected to another one of the plurality of outer corners and designed to project in opposite directions; and
control unit comprising an electronic component and fixed by the fixing element of the apparatus, said control unit connected to the power module by the fixing element and centered with respect to the power module by engagement of the protruding piece of the second type of the power module in a recess or an opening of the control unit.
2 . The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the frame completely surrounds the substrate.
3 . The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the frame is rectangular in shape.
4 . The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes polyphenylene sulfide.
5 . The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the frame is designed in such a way that an applied casting compound remains within an area which is delimited by the frame and the power module.