3D printed cold plates and methods for cooling power devices embedded in 3D printed circuit boards
View Patent ↗A system and method of forming integrated power electronic packages includes 3D-printing a cold plate having a hollow interior recess and a plurality of fins. The method includes printing, using a 3D printer, an electrical insulation layer and a conductor substrate onto a top surface of the cold plate, such that the electrical insulation layer and conductor substrate are embedded within the top surface of the cold plate. The method further includes embedding power devices in the conductor substrate, printing, using a 3D printer, a circuit board on and around the power devices, and mounting electronic components on the circuit board.
1. A device comprising:
a 3D printed cold plate having a hollow interior recess;
a plurality of fins positioned within the hollow interior recess of the cold plate; and
an inlet port and an outlet port fluidly coupled to the hollow interior recess of the cold plate; and
a conductor substrate and an electrical insulation layer embedded into a top surface of the cold plate;
wherein the device is a single monolithic structure.
2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a power device embedded into the conductor substrate.
3. The device of claim 2 , further comprising a circuit board 3D printed on and around the power device, wherein the circuit board includes one or more insulating portions and one or more conductive portions.
4. The device of claim 3 , further comprising one or more electrical components mounted to the 3D printed circuit board.
5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a flow channel within the hollow interior recess of the 3D printed cold plate.
6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the flow channel is a porous serpentine wall.