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US6005773A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Board-mountable power supply module

Assignee: Lineage Overseas Corp
•
Filing: 1997-06-20
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Granted: 1999-12-21
•
Expires: 2017-06-20
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Abstract

Abstract A power supply module package suitable for both high packaged power density and cost effective manufacture. In an exemplary embodiment, the power supply module includes: (1) at least one printed circuit board containing conductors for interconnecting components of the power supply, (2) a thermally conductive baseplate or case operable for transferring heat generated inside the module to the outside environment, wherein the external package dimensions are of a sufficiently small size to allow the user the greatest flexibility in the design of the overall circuit assembly, (3) at least one power magnetic device operable for providing electrical isolation between the input and the output of the power module, and (4) a set of electrical leads to facilitate communication and power flow between the module and circuitry being powered. The present invention provides a highly compact, thermally conductive package for a power supply module (perhaps a DC/DC converter) that is cost effective, readily manufacturable, durable, and easily mounted to a circuit card, allowing the power module to, for example, form a portion of a distributed power architecture.

Inventors

  • 👤 Allen Frank Rozman
  • 👤 David Leonard Stevens

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 15:46
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K5/00; H05K5/02; H05K5/0247; H02; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/003; H02M3/22; H02M3/24; H02M3/28; H05K3/00; H05K3/22; H05K3/28; H05K3/284; H05K7/00; H05K7/20; H05K7/2089; H05K7/209

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim 267 words
A power supply module having an input and an output, comprising: a circuit board containing conductors for interconnecting electrical components of said power supply module; a thermally conductive case having a substantially flat and rectangular base with an integral electrically insulating layer, said base forming first and second short sides and first and second long sides, said flat base located substantially in parallel with said circuit board, said thermally conductive case forming a reservoir receiving said circuit board therein; a power semiconductor device mounted in a space between said circuit board and said thermally conductive case and in electrical communication with said circuit board, wherein said power semiconductor device has a body connected in thermal communication with said thermally conductive case; a power magnetic device in electrical communication with said power semiconductor device, said power magnetic device operable for transferring electrical power between said input and said output of said power supply module; a set of at least three input electrical leads and a set of at least five output electrical leads extending from said power supply module, said input and output leads operable to couple said power supply module to a printed circuit card; wherein said input leads are arranged in a row substantially parallel to said first short side of said base, said input leads comprising at least the functions V IN (+), V IN (-), and ENABLE, and said output leads are arranged in a row substantially parallel to said second short side of said base, said output leads comprising at least the functions V OUT (-), V OUT (-), SENSE(+), SENSE(-), and TRIM.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 267 words
A power supply module having an input and an output, comprising: a circuit board containing conductors for interconnecting electrical components of said power supply module; a thermally conductive case having a substantially flat and rectangular base with an integral electrically insulating layer, said base forming first and second short sides and first and second long sides, said flat base located substantially in parallel with said circuit board, said thermally conductive case forming a reservoir receiving said circuit board therein; a power semiconductor device mounted in a space between said circuit board and said thermally conductive case and in electrical communication with said circuit board, wherein said power semiconductor device has a body connected in thermal communication with said thermally conductive case; a power magnetic device in electrical communication with said power semiconductor device, said power magnetic device operable for transferring electrical power between said input and said output of said power supply module; a set of at least three input electrical leads and a set of at least five output electrical leads extending from said power supply module, said input and output leads operable to couple said power supply module to a printed circuit card; wherein said input leads are arranged in a row substantially parallel to said first short side of said base, said input leads comprising at least the functions V IN (+), V IN (-), and ENABLE, and said output leads are arranged in a row substantially parallel to said second short side of said base, said output leads comprising at least the functions V OUT (-), V OUT (-), SENSE(+), SENSE(-), and TRIM.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 44 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 1, wherein ones of said circuit board conductors are formed as windings and a core is disposed through apertures of said circuit board proximate said windings, said windings and said core forming said power magnetic device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 2, wherein ones of said electrical components are located on said printed circuit board proximate said windings.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 1, wherein said thermally conductive case further comprises an integral electrically conductive circuit layer, portions of said circuit layer capable of being removed to form electrically conductive traces therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 1, wherein an encapsulant substantially fills said reservoir.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 23 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 1, wherein said input and output electrical leads comprise posts extending from said circuit board.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 1, wherein said input and output electrical leads comprise surface mountable leads extending from said circuit board.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 27 words
The power supply module as recited in claims 2 and 4, wherein said first and second short sides of said base are substantially 1.45 inches in width.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 27 words
The power supply module as recited in claims 2 and 4, wherein said first and second short sides of said base are substantially 2.30 inches in length.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 22 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 9, wherein the height of said module is substantially between 0.3 and 0.6 inches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 37 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 10, wherein said row of input leads is substantially in parallel to said row of output leads and separated from said row of output leads by about 2.0 inches.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 271 words
A power supply module having an input and an output, comprising: a circuit board containing conductors for interconnecting electrical components of said power supply module, wherein ones of said circuit board conductors are formed as windings and a core is disposed through apertures of said circuit board proximate said windings, said windings and said core forming a power magnetic device, and said power magnetic device operable for transferring electrical power between said input and said output of said power supply module; a thermally conductive case having a substantially flat and rectangular base, said base forming first and second short sides and first and second long sides, said flat base located substantially in parallel with said circuit board; a power semiconductor device mounted in a space between said circuit board and said thermally conductive case and having a body connected in thermal communication with said thermally conductive case, said power semiconductor device connected in electrical communication with said circuit board and said power magnetic device; and a set of at least three input electrical leads and a set of at least five output electrical leads extending from said power supply module, said input and output leads operable to couple said power supply module to a printed circuit card; wherein said input leads are arranged in a row substantially parallel to said first short side of said base, said input leads comprising at least the functions Vin(+), Vin(-), and Enable, and said output leads are arranged in a row substantially parallel to said second short side of said base, said output leads comprising at least the functions Vout(+), Vout(-), Sense(+), Sense(-), and Trim.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 271 words
A power supply module having an input and an output, comprising: a circuit board containing conductors for interconnecting electrical components of said power supply module, wherein ones of said circuit board conductors are formed as windings and a core is disposed through apertures of said circuit board proximate said windings, said windings and said core forming a power magnetic device, and said power magnetic device operable for transferring electrical power between said input and said output of said power supply module; a thermally conductive case having a substantially flat and rectangular base, said base forming first and second short sides and first and second long sides, said flat base located substantially in parallel with said circuit board; a power semiconductor device mounted in a space between said circuit board and said thermally conductive case and having a body connected in thermal communication with said thermally conductive case, said power semiconductor device connected in electrical communication with said circuit board and said power magnetic device; and a set of at least three input electrical leads and a set of at least five output electrical leads extending from said power supply module, said input and output leads operable to couple said power supply module to a printed circuit card; wherein said input leads are arranged in a row substantially parallel to said first short side of said base, said input leads comprising at least the functions Vin(+), Vin(-), and Enable, and said output leads are arranged in a row substantially parallel to said second short side of said base, said output leads comprising at least the functions Vout(+), Vout(-), Sense(+), Sense(-), and Trim.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 25 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 12, wherein ones of said electrical components are located on said printed circuit board proximate said windings.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 21 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 12, wherein said thermally conductive case further comprises an integral electrically insulating layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 37 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 14, wherein said thermally conductive case further comprises an integral electrically conductive circuit layer, portions of said circuit layer capable of being removed to form electrically conductive traces therein.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 23 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 12, wherein said input and output electrical leads comprise posts extending from said circuit board.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 25 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 12, wherein said input and output electrical leads comprise surface mountable leads extending from said circuit board.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 25 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 15, wherein said first and second short sides of said base are substantially 1.45 inches in width.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 25 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 18, wherein said first and second long sides of said base are substantially 2.30 inches in length.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 22 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 19, wherein the height of said module is substantially between 0.3 and 0.6 inches.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 37 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 20, wherein said row of input leads is substantially in parallel to said row of output leads and separated from said row of output leads by about 2.0 inches.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 253 words
A power supply module having an input and an output, comprising: a circuit board containing conductors for interconnecting electrical components of said power supply module; a thermally conductive case having a substantially flat and rectangular base, said base forming first and second short sides and first and second long sides, said flat base located substantially in parallel with said circuit board; a power semiconductor device having a body connected in thermal communication with said thermally conductive case, said power semiconductor device mounted in a space between said circuit board and said thermally conductive case and in electrical communication with said circuit board; a power magnetic device in electrical communication with said power semiconductor device, said power magnetic device operable for transferring electrical power between said input and said output of said power supply module; and a set of exactly three input electrical leads and a set of exactly five output electrical leads extending from said power supply module, said input and output leads operable to couple said power supply module to a printed circuit card; wherein said input leads are arranged in a row substantially parallel to said first short side of said base, said input leads comprising the functions Vin(+), Vin(-), and Enable, and said output leads are arranged in a row substantially parallel to said second short side of side base, said output leads comprising the functions Vout(+), Vout(-), Sense(+), Sense(-), and Trim, and said row of output leads are separated from said row of input leads by about 2.0 inches.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 253 words
A power supply module having an input and an output, comprising: a circuit board containing conductors for interconnecting electrical components of said power supply module; a thermally conductive case having a substantially flat and rectangular base, said base forming first and second short sides and first and second long sides, said flat base located substantially in parallel with said circuit board; a power semiconductor device having a body connected in thermal communication with said thermally conductive case, said power semiconductor device mounted in a space between said circuit board and said thermally conductive case and in electrical communication with said circuit board; a power magnetic device in electrical communication with said power semiconductor device, said power magnetic device operable for transferring electrical power between said input and said output of said power supply module; and a set of exactly three input electrical leads and a set of exactly five output electrical leads extending from said power supply module, said input and output leads operable to couple said power supply module to a printed circuit card; wherein said input leads are arranged in a row substantially parallel to said first short side of said base, said input leads comprising the functions Vin(+), Vin(-), and Enable, and said output leads are arranged in a row substantially parallel to said second short side of side base, said output leads comprising the functions Vout(+), Vout(-), Sense(+), Sense(-), and Trim, and said row of output leads are separated from said row of input leads by about 2.0 inches.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 42 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 22, wherein said circuit board conductors are formed as windings and a core is disposed through apertures of said circuit board proximate said windings, said windings and said core forming said power magnetic device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 23 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 23, wherein said electrical components are located on said printed circuit board proximate said windings.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 37 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 22, wherein said thermally conductive case further comprises an integral electrically conductive circuit layer, portions of said circuit layer capable of being removed to form electrically conductive traces therein.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 30 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 22, wherein said thermally conductive case forms a reservoir to receive said circuit board therein and an encapsulant substantially fills said reservoir.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 23 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 22, wherein said input and output electrical leads comprise posts extending from said circuit board.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 24 words
The power supply module as recited in claim 22, wherein said input and output electrical leads comprise surface mountable leads extending from said circuit.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-12-20 2003-06-21 2003-12-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-12-20 2007-06-21 2007-12-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-12-20 2011-06-21 2011-12-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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