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US4858074A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method of assembling power circuits and control circuits on several levels in the same module and a module thus obtained

Assignee: Power Compact SA
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Filing: 1988-04-22
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Granted: 1989-08-15
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Expires: 2008-04-22
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Abstract

Abstract The invention provides a method for assembling power circuits and control circuits on several levels in the same module and the module thus obtained, which method consists in grouping on one so called low level the power circuits (1) in grouping on at least one so called mid-height level (3) the control circuits, in forming the electric connections between the circuits of the two levels of elements in the form of helical springs (4) made from a relatively rigid and weldable metal material, disposed vertically, in welding the lower ends of the springs (4) to the appropriate positions of the circuits of the low level (1) while holding the springs in position by means of a guide plate (13), in fixing the wall (6) of the module, in placing inside the wall, by means of positioning projections, (8) the substrate (3) carrying the control circuits, in welding the upper ends of the springs (4) to the appropriate positions on the upper face of the substrate and, finally, in filling the inside of the wall with resin.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jean-Louis Mallet
  • 👤 Jean-Louis Landais

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 15:49
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W76/00; H10W76/40; H10W76/42; H10W76/47; H05; H05K; H05K5/00; H05K5/0091; H05K5/0095; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1422; H05K7/1427; H05K7/1432; H05K7/14322; H10W72/00; H10W74/00; H10W74/10; H10W74/111; H10W74/121; H10W90/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/49126

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 114 words
A power module having power circuits and control circuits, comprising: a ceramic substrate fixed to a heat dissipating base; a plurality of power circuits mounted to said ceramic substrate to form a lower level; a plurality of control circuits mounted to a desired substrate to form a middle level over said lower level; at least one electrically conductive spring means providing electrical connection between said lower and middle levels; said electrically conductive spring means being disposed substantially perpendicular to said lower and middle levels, said electrically conductive spring means being welded to desired positions in said lower level and said middle level; and at least one resin material embedding said lower and middle levels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 114 words
A power module having power circuits and control circuits, comprising: a ceramic substrate fixed to a heat dissipating base; a plurality of power circuits mounted to said ceramic substrate to form a lower level; a plurality of control circuits mounted to a desired substrate to form a middle level over said lower level; at least one electrically conductive spring means providing electrical connection between said lower and middle levels; said electrically conductive spring means being disposed substantially perpendicular to said lower and middle levels, said electrically conductive spring means being welded to desired positions in said lower level and said middle level; and at least one resin material embedding said lower and middle levels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 30 words
The power module according to claim 1, further comprising a wall enclosing said lower and middle levels, said wall having a seat formed thereon for receiving said middle level substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
The power module according to claim 2 wherein said seat forms a dovetailed joint.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 38 words
The power module according to claim 1, wherein said resin material is a soft resin material for absorbing any thermal expansion which occurs in said power circuits and wherein said electrically conductive spring means is a helical spring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 51 words
The power module according to claim 1, wherein said resin material comprises: a first layer of a soft resin material for absorbing any thermal expansion which occurs in said power circuits; said first layer embedding said lower level; and a second layer of a harder resin material embedding said middle level.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 123 words
A method of assembling a power module having power circuits and control circuits, comprising: fixing a ceramic substrate to a heat dissipating base; mounting a plurality of power circuits to said ceramic substrate a form a lower level; mounting a plurality of control circuits to a desired substrate to form a middle level over said lower level; electrically connecting said lower and middle levels with at least one electrically conductive spring means; fixing a wall which encloses said lower and middle levels to said heat dissipating base; and providing the portion of the module bounded by said wall and said base with at least a first layer of a soft resin material to absorb any thermal expansion which occurs in said power circuits.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 123 words
A method of assembling a power module having power circuits and control circuits, comprising: fixing a ceramic substrate to a heat dissipating base; mounting a plurality of power circuits to said ceramic substrate a form a lower level; mounting a plurality of control circuits to a desired substrate to form a middle level over said lower level; electrically connecting said lower and middle levels with at least one electrically conductive spring means; fixing a wall which encloses said lower and middle levels to said heat dissipating base; and providing the portion of the module bounded by said wall and said base with at least a first layer of a soft resin material to absorb any thermal expansion which occurs in said power circuits.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 70 words
The method according to claim 6, further comprising: welding a lower end of said spring means to a desired position in said lower level; positioning said spring means with a guide plate means, said guide plate means having holes disposed therein to receive said spring means, said spring means comprising a helical spring; and welding an upper end of said spring means to a desired position on said middle level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method according to claim 6, further comprising forming a seat on said wall to receive said middle level substrate.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2740097A Cited
US2853656A Cited
US3383565A Cited
FR2080949A1 Cited
US3924918A Cited
US4092487A Cited
US4225900A Cited
US4386390A Cited
US4558510A Cited
EP0138697A2 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-08-14 1993-02-13 1993-08-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-08-14 1997-02-13 1997-08-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-08-14 2001-02-13 2001-08-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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