IP Library Granted Patent US 12,394,694
Granted Patent B2
US 12,394,694 · App. 17/973,219 · Granted Aug 19, 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 12,394,694
App. No.
17/973,219
Granted
Aug 19, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrical assembly that with an inverter that is mounted to the field windings of a stator. The inverter has a plurality of power semiconductor packages (PSP), each of which including a semiconductor die, a plurality of electric terminals, which are electrically coupled to the semiconductor die, and a heat sink with a base, which is fixedly and electrically coupled to one of the electric terminals, and a plurality of fins that extend axially from the base in a direction away from the semiconductor die. The PSP's are arranged in a circumferentially spaced apart manner. The fins are arranged in rows and are progressively longer in length from a radially-inner most fin to a radially-outer most fin. Slots are formed in the base on a radially-inner side of the base. Each slot extends toward a radially-outer side of the base and intersects a corresponding one of the rows of fins.

Claims (12)

1. An electrical assembly comprising:

a stator having a plurality of field windings, each of the field windings having an associated phase leads; and

an inverter having an inverter mount and a plurality of power semiconductor packages, the inverter mount having an annular mounting flange and a plurality of phase lead bosses that are coupled to the annular mounting flange, each of the phase leads being received through a corresponding one of the phase lead bosses, each of the power semiconductor packages having a semiconductor die ( 266 ), a plurality of electric terminals, and a heat sink, each of the electric terminals being electrically coupled to the semiconductor die ( 266 ), the heat sink having a base and a plurality of fins, the base being fixedly and electrically coupled to one of the electric terminals, each of the fins extending axially from the base in a direction away from the semiconductor die ( 266 ), each of the power semiconductor packages being mounted to the inverter mount such that at least a portion of the electric terminals of each of the power semiconductor packages extends through the mounting flange, wherein the power semiconductor packages are arranged in a circumferential spaced apart manner, wherein the fins of each heat sink are arranged in rows, wherein the fins in each row taper such that a radially-inner most one of the fins in each of the rows is shorter than a radially-outer most one of the fins in each of the rows, and wherein a plurality of slots are formed in the base on a radially-inner side of the base, each of the slots extending toward a radially-outer side of the base and intersecting a corresponding one of the rows of fins.

2. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , wherein each row that is intersected by one of the slots has a first quantity of the fins and each row that is not intersected by one of the slots has a second quantity of the fins that is greater than the first quantity.

3. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the fins has a first end which is fixedly coupled to the base, and a second end that is opposite the first end, and wherein each of the fins tapers between the first and second ends.

4. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fins in adjacent rows are staggered from one another.

5. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base tapers between the radially-inner side of the base and the radially-outer side of the base.

6. The electrical assembly of claim 5 , wherein the radially-inner side of the base is thinner than the radially-outer side of the base.

7. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the power semiconductor package comprises an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), a metal oxide silicon field effect transistor (MOSFET), or a junction field effect transistor (JFET).

8. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base and the one of the electric terminals are integrally and unitarily formed.

9. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , wherein each heat sink is integrally and unitarily formed.

10. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the heat sink and the one of the electric terminals are unitarily and integrally formed.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 2, 2026
From: AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC.; GKN SINTER METALS, LLC; GKN DRIVELINE NORTH AMERICA, INC.; GKN DRIVELINE NEWTON, LLC; HOEGANAES CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 075331/0836 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2026
From: AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC.; GKN SINTER METALS, LLC; GKN DRIVELINE NORTH AMERICA, INC.; GKN DRIVELINE NEWTON, LLC; HOEGANAES CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075325/0112 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2022
From: DOWNS, JAMES P.; VALENTE, PAUL J.; LAU, CHI-WAI DAVID
To: AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC.
Reel/Frame 061532/0221 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 17503433 · Oct 18, 2021
Continuation In Part PCTUS2020029925 · Apr 24, 2020
Provisional Application 62904199 · Sep 23, 2019
Provisional Application 62838893 · Apr 25, 2019
Provisional Application 63263830 · Nov 10, 2021
Related Publication 20230041227A1 · Feb 9, 2023
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