IP Library Granted Patent US 12,199,020
Granted Patent B2
US 12,199,020 · App. 17/503,433 · Granted Jan 14, 2025

Integrated power switching device heat sink

Inventors: James P. Downs (South Lyon, MI); Paul J. Valente (Berkley, MI); Chi-Wai David Lau (LaSalle, CA)
Assignee: AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC.
H01L23/49568H02K1/16H02K1/20H02K5/15H02K5/203H02K5/225H02K7/116H02K9/19H02K9/227H02K11/00H02K11/27H02K11/33H01L23/3736H01L23/49513H01L23/49562H01L24/48H01L24/73H01L24/92H01L2224/48175H01L2224/73265H01L2224/92247H01L2924/13091H02K2211/03
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,199,020
App. No.
17/503,433
Granted
Jan 14, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrical assembly that includes a semiconductor die, a heat sink and a case. The semiconductor die includes a power semiconductor device with a plurality of terminals, and a plurality of electrically conductive leads. Each of the electrically conductive leads is electrically coupled to an associated one of the terminals on the power semiconductor device. The heat sink has a base, a mount, and a plurality of fins. The mount extends from a first side of the base and is coupled to the semiconductor die. The fins are fixedly coupled to the base and extend from a second side of the base that is opposite the first side of the base. The case is formed of a first electrically insulating material. A first one of the leads is integrally and unitarily formed with the mount.

Claims (20)

1. An electrical assembly comprising:

a semiconductor die that includes a power semiconductor device, the power semiconductor device having a plurality of terminals;

a plurality of electrically conductive leads, each of the electrically conductive leads being electrically coupled to an associated one of the terminals on the power semiconductor device;

a heat sink that is formed of an electrically and thermally conductive material, the heat sink having a base, a mount, and a plurality of fins, wherein the mount extends from a first side of the base and is coupled to the semiconductor die, wherein the plurality of fins are fixedly coupled to the base and extend from a second side of the base that is opposite the first side of the base; and

a case formed of a first electrically insulating material, wherein the semiconductor die and the mount are encapsulated in the case,

wherein a first one of the plurality of electrically conductive leads is integrally and unitarily formed with the mount.

2. The electrical assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one electrically conductive lead that is not unitarily and integrally formed with the mount such that the at least one electrically conductive lead not unitarily and integrally formed is electrically coupled to its associated one of the terminals via a bond wire.

3. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor die is coupled to the mount using at least one of a solder material and a sinter material.

4. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fins are unitarily and integrally formed with the base.

5. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electrically and thermally conductive material from which the heat sink is formed comprises at least one of copper and aluminum.

6. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base and the mount are integrally formed.

7. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the power semiconductor device comprises a field effect transistor.

8. The electrical assembly of claim 7 , wherein the field effect transistor is a metal oxide silicone field effect transistor.

9. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of fins has a cuboid shape.

10. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of fins has a cylindrical shape.

11. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fins are orthogonal to the leads.

12. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base of the heat sink has a first side that has a corrugated shape and a second side opposite the first side, and wherein the second side has a linear shape.

13. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , wherein a length of the plurality of fins increases from a first edge of the heat sink to a second edge of the heat sink.

14. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an inverter mount and a plurality of bus bars, the inverter mount being formed of a second electrically insulating material and defining a mounting flange, wherein a portion of the electrically conductive leads are received through the mounting flange and are electrically and mechanically coupled to associated ones of the bus bars.

15. The electrical assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a stator, the stator having a motor winding, and wherein the heat sink is electrically coupled to the motor winding.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2025
From: AMERICAN AXLE MANUFACTURING, INC.; MD INVESTORS CORPORATION; AAM NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073005/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2022
From: AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 060244/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2021
From: DOWNS, JAMES P.; VALENTE, PAUL J.; LAU, CHI-WAI DAVID
To: AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC.
Reel/Frame 057815/0045 →