CONVERTER

The converter comprises: a first housing having a flow path; a second housing coupled to the first housing; a board located between the first housing and the second housing; and a cooling plate located between the board and the first housing. The cooling plate includes a grounding region electrically connected to a grounding pattern of the board, and a position of the cooling plate is located between the first housing and the second housing and exposed to the outside of the first housing.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present embodiment relates to a converter.

BACKGROUND ART

Engine electrical devices (starting devices, ignition devices, and charging devices) and lighting devices are common as automobile electrical devices, but recently, most systems, including chassis electrical devices, are becoming electrically electronic as vehicles become more electronically controlled.

Various electrical components such as lamps, audio systems, heaters, and air conditioners installed in automobiles are designed to receive power from the battery when the car is stopped and from the generator when driving, and at this time, the generation capacity of the 14V power system is used as a normal power supply voltage.

Recently, along with the development of the information technology industry, various new technologies (motor-type power steering, Internet, and the like) aimed to enhance the convenience of automobiles are being adopted by vehicles, and in the future, it is expected that the development of new technologies that can maximally utilize the current automotive systems will continue.

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), regardless of soft or hard type, are equipped with a DC-DC converter (Low Voltage DC-DC Converter) to supply electric loads (12V). In addition, a DC-DC converter, which serves as a generator (alternator) in general gasoline vehicles, lowers the high voltage of the main battery (usually a high-voltage battery of 144V or higher) and supplies 12V voltage for electrical loads.

A DC-DC converter is an electronic circuit device that converts direct current power of a certain voltage into direct current power of a different voltage, and is used in various fields such as television sets and automotive electronics.

The external shape of an electronic device is formed by housing. Inside the housing, a number of electronic components for driving are disposed. The electronic components generate heat when driven. Heat can cause overload of electronic components, disrupting setup functions and causing malfunctions. Accordingly, a structure or means for dissipating heat from components inside an electronic device is required.

In addition, in order to dissipate heat from the components inside the converter, the converter case is generally made of a metal material with good thermal conductivity. However, when implemented with a metal material, the weight of the converter increases and the price becomes expensive, therefore in order to reduce the weight, it is necessary to make a case using materials other instead of metal, and in this case, a means for heat dissipation is also required.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Technical Subject

The present embodiment is intended to provide a converter that can improve heat dissipation efficiency by improving the structure.

In addition, it is intended to solve the problem of heat dissipation occurring when using a case made of a material other than metal, and to provide a converter capable of implementing a heat dissipation function while realizing weight reduction.

Technical Solution

A converter according to the present embodiment comprises: a first housing including a flow path; a second housing being coupled to the first housing; a board being disposed between the first housing and the second housing; and a cooling plate located between the board and the first housing, wherein the cooling plate includes a grounding region being electrically connected to a grounding pattern of the board, and a portion of the cooling plate is located between the first housing and the second housing and exposed to the outside of the first housing.

A plurality of electronic components is disposed on one surface or the other surface of the board, and a portion of the cooling plate may be in contact with the plurality of electronic components.

The cooling plate includes a plurality of contact portions being protruded from the other surface of the base, and the plurality of contact portions may correspond to positions of the plurality of electronic components.

The shape of the flow path may be formed to correspond to the arrangement region of the plurality of electronic components.

A sealing member being disposed between the cooling plate and the second housing and being disposed so as to surround the periphery of the flow path may be included.

The sealing member may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the flow path.

The first housing and the second housing may include a non-metallic material.

The cooling plate may include a metal material.

The cooling plate includes a base including one surface facing the first housing and the other surface facing the second housing, wherein the grounding region is a portion being protruded from the other surface of the base, and wherein a portion of the cooling plate may be formed to be protruded from the side surface of the base.

The first housing may include a groove into which a portion of the cooling plate is inserted.

The grounding region of the cooling plate is protruded from the upper surface of the cooling plate and come into contact with the grounding pattern of the board.

The cross-sectional area of the cooling plate is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the board and may be larger than the cross-sectional area of the flow path.

The cooling plate may be larger than the region being formed by the outermost portion of the flow path.

A converter according to another embodiment comprise: a first housing including a flow path; a second housing being coupled to the first housing; a board being disposed between the first housing and the second housing; and a cooling plate being disposed between the board and the first housing, wherein the cooling plate includes a base and a plurality of heat dissipation fins being protruded from one surface of the base, and wherein the plurality of heat dissipation fins are disposed inside the flow path.

A converter according to yet another embodiment comprises: a first housing including a flow path; a second housing being coupled to the first housing; a board being disposed between the first housing and the second housing; a cooling plate being disposed between the board and the first housing; and a sealing member being disposed between the cooling plate and the first housing, wherein the first housing includes a plurality of holes being formed around the flow path to discharge refrigerant leaking from the flow path to the outside.

Advantageous Effects

There is an advantage of improving heat dissipation efficiency because the heat generated from the board is dissipated through the cooling plate through the present embodiment.

In addition, there is an advantage of further enhancing the electrical characteristics inside the converter by realizing the grounding structure of the board through the cooling plate.

In addition, there is an advantage of preventing the refrigerant from leaking to other space inside the converter through the refrigerant leaking prevention structure through a plurality of sealing members and holes.

BEST MODE

However, the technical idea of the present invention is not limited to some embodiments to be described, but may be implemented in various forms, and within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, one or more of the constituent elements may be selectively combined or substituted between embodiments.

In addition, the terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the embodiments of the present invention, unless explicitly defined and described, can be interpreted as a meaning that can be generally understood by a person skilled in the art, and commonly used terms such as terms defined in the dictionary may be interpreted in consideration of the meaning of the context of the related technology.

In addition, terms used in the present specification are for describing embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. In the present specification, the singular form may include the plural form unless specifically stated in the phrase, and when described as “at least one (or more than one) of A and B and C”, it may include one or more of all combinations that can be combined with A, B, and C.

In addition, in describing the components of the embodiment of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used.

These terms are merely intended to distinguish the components from other components, and the terms do not limit the nature, order or sequence of the components.

And, when a component is described as being ‘connected’, ‘coupled’ or ‘interconnected’ to another component, the component is not only directly connected, coupled or interconnected to the other component, but may also include cases of being ‘connected’, ‘coupled’, or ‘interconnected’ due that another component between that other components.

In addition, when described as being formed or disposed in “on (above)” or “below (under)” of each component, “on (above)” or “below (under)” means that it includes not only the case where the two components are directly in contact with, but also the case where one or more other components are formed or disposed between the two components. In addition, when expressed as “on (above)” or “below (under)”, the meaning of not only an upward direction but also a downward direction based on one component may be included.

FIG.1is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of a converter according to an embodiment of the present invention;FIG.2is an exploded perspective view of a converter according to an embodiment of the present invention;FIG.3is a cross-sectional view illustrating the internal structure of a converter according to an embodiment of the present invention;FIG.4is a perspective view illustrating an upper surface of a first housing according to an embodiment of the present invention;FIG.5is a plan view illustrating an upper surface of a cooling plate according to an embodiment of the present invention;FIG.6is a plan view illustrating an upper surface of a board according to an embodiment of the present invention; andFIG.7is a plan view illustrating an upper surface of a first housing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS.1to7, the external shape of the converter10according to an embodiment of the present invention may be formed by coupling the first housing100and the second housing200. The first housing100and the second housing200may be coupled in an up and down direction. One or more electronic components for driving the converter10can be accommodated in an internal space formed by coupling the first housing100and the second housing200.

The first housing100and the second housing200may be formed of a non-metallic material. For example, each material of the first housing100and the second housing200may be plastic.

The first housing100may be disposed at a lower portion of the second housing200. The first housing100may have a rectangular cross-sectional shape.

The first housing100may include a bottom plate115and a side wall110being protruded upward from an upper surface of the bottom plate115. The side wall110is disposed along the edge of an upper surface of the bottom plate115, and an upper surface of the bottom plate115may have a groove shape due to the side wall110. A first groove112may be disposed on an upper surface of the side wall110to be recessed lower than other regions and form a portion of the hole50through which a grounding terminal490, which will be described later, penetrates.

The first housing100may include a bracket102for fixing the first housing100to the installation region of the converter10. The bracket102is formed as one body with the first housing100and may include a screw hole103for screw-coupling into the installation region. The brackets102may be provided in plural numbers and may be disposed to be spaced apart from one another along the edge of the first housing100.

The first housing100may include a flow path120. The flow path120may be disposed on an upper surface of the bottom plate115. The flow path120may be disposed on an inner surface of an internal space of the converter10. The flow path120may be disposed on a bottom surface of an internal space of the converter10. The flow path120may be formed to be stepped downward from other regions on an upper surface of the bottom plate115of the first housing100. The flow path120may be formed by a portion of the upper surface of the bottom plate115of the first housing100being recessed downward. The flow path120may have a groove shape.

The flow path120may be formed as a single line from one end to the other end, and the flow path120may have a region that is bent at least once. For example, the flow path120may have a cross-section that is approximately letter “⊏” shaped. Refrigerant may flow in the flow path120, and the refrigerant may flow from one end of the flow path120toward the other end. Due to the flow of refrigerant, the heat being generated from electronic components disposed in a space inside the converter10can be dissipated by heat exchange with the refrigerant.

The region where the flow path120is formed on a lower surface of the first housing100may have a shape being protruded more downward than other regions.

A refrigerant inlet122may be disposed at one end of the flow path120. The refrigerant inlet122may have a shape being protruded outward from a side surface of the first housing100, and an inlet123communicating with the flow path120may be formed at an inner side. The refrigerant inlet122may be formed as one body with the first housing100.

A refrigerant discharge port124may be disposed at the other end of the passage120. The refrigerant discharge port124may have a shape that protrudes outward from the side of the first housing100, and a discharge outlet125communicating with the flow path120may be formed at an inner side. The refrigerant discharge port124may be formed as one body with the first housing100.

Accordingly, the refrigerant flowing inside through the refrigerant inlet port122flows along the flow path120and can be discharged to the outside through the refrigerant discharge port124.

The second housing200may be coupled to an upper portion of the first housing100. The second housing200may have a rectangular cross-sectional shape.

The second housing200may include a box-shaped body and a coupling portion210being bent outward from the lower end of the body. The lower surface of the coupling portion210may be in contact with an upper surface of the side wall110of the first housing100. The cross-sectional shape of the coupling portion210may be formed to correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the side wall110. In a region among the lower surface of the coupling portion210facing the first groove112, a second groove (not shown) being formed to be more recessed upward than other regions and forming a portion of the hole50may be disposed so that the grounding terminal490, which will be described later, penetrates. Therefore, when the first housing100and the second housing200are coupled, the hole50may be formed by coupling the first groove112and the second groove. In order to form the hole50, the cross-sectional shapes of the first groove112and the second groove may each be semicircular.

The converter10may include a board300. The board300may be a printed circuit board (PCB). The board300may be disposed between the first housing100and the second housing200. The board300may be disposed in the internal space between the first housing100and the second housing200. The board300is formed in a plate shape, and one or more electronic components310for driving the converter100may be disposed on an upper surface or a lower surface. For example, the electronic component310may include an inductor for obtaining inductance, a transformer for voltage conversion, an FET element, and the like. The electronic components310may be provided in plural and disposed to be spaced apart from one another on the board300. The electronic component310may be referred to as a heating element in that it generates heat when driven.

The board300may be screw-coupled to an inner surface of the first housing100or the second housing200. To this end, a screw hole penetrating from one surface to the other surface may be formed in the board300. The screw holes may be provided in plural numbers and disposed to be spaced apart from one another along the edge of the board300.

The board300may have a rectangular cross-sectional shape.

The board300may be disposed so that at least a portion of the board300is overlapped with the flow path120in an up and down direction. The electronic component310may be disposed to be overlapped with the flow path120in an up and down direction.

The converter10may include a cooling plate400. The cooling plate400may be a heat sink for dissipating heat being generated by one or more electronic components310in the converter10, and may include a material with high thermal conductivity. The cooling plate400is formed in a plate shape and may be disposed at an internal space between the first housing100and the second housing200. The cooling plate400may be disposed at a lower portion of the board300inside the internal space.

The cooling plate400may be made of a metal material.

The cooling plate400may be disposed to cover the flow path120. The cooling plate400may be disposed at an upper portion of the flow path120. A portion of the lower surface of the cooling plate400may be in contact with an upper surface of the first housing100. The cross-sectional area of the cooling plate400may be smaller than the cross-sectional area of the board300and larger than the cross-sectional area of the flow path120. The cooling plate400may be larger than a region being formed by the outermost portion of the flow path120.

The cooling plate400may include a base401being formed in the shape of a metal plate. The upper surface of the base401may include a contact portion450being protruded more upward than other regions. The contact portion450may be disposed to be overlapped with the electronic component310being disposed on the board300in an up and down direction. The contact portion450may be disposed at a position corresponding to the electronic component310. The contact portion450may be in contact with the electronic component310. For example, when the electronic component310is disposed on an upper surface of the board300and the cooling plate400is disposed on a lower surface of the board300, the upper surface of the contact portion450may be in contact with a lead of the electronic component310that penetrates the board300or a solder region for soldering the electronic component310to the board300. By bringing the contact portion450into contact with the electronic component310or a region of the board300, heat being generated from the electronic component310can be efficiently transferred to the cooling plate400.

The cooling plate400may include a grounding terminal490. The grounding terminal490may be formed to be protruded more outward than other regions from the side of the base401. The grounding terminal490may be disposed between the first housing100and the second housing200and exposed to the outside of the first housing100or the second housing200. The grounding terminal490may be exposed to the outside through the hole50. Accordingly, a portion of the grounding terminal490is disposed in the first groove112of the first housing100, and another portion may be disposed in the second groove formed in the second housing200. A sealing member (not shown) may be disposed between the inner circumferential surface of the hole50and the grounding terminal490to prevent foreign substances from entering the converter10. Although not shown, the grounding terminal490is electrically connected to a grounding region on the system (not shown) side being connected to the converter10, and also, it is electrically connected to the grounding pattern or grounding region exposed on the surface or included in the inner surface of the board300so that noise or electromagnetic waves being generated from the electronic components310disposed on the board300may be discharged to the outside of the converter10.

The cooling plate400may include heat dissipation fins420(seeFIG.3). The heat dissipation fins420may be formed to be protruded more downward than other regions on a lower surface of the base401. The heat dissipation fins420may be disposed within the flow path120. Therefore, when the refrigerant flows in the flow path120, the contact area between the cooling plate400and the refrigerant can be expanded by the heat dissipation fins420. Thus, the heat of the electronic component310transferred to the cooling plate400or the heat dissipation fins420can be efficiently transferred to the refrigerant.

The heat dissipation fins420may be provided in plural numbers. For example, the heat dissipation fins420may include a first fin422being disposed in the center and a plurality of second fins424being disposed opposite to one another on both sides of the first fin422. The plurality of second pins424may be spaced apart from the first pin422by a predetermined distance. The length of the first fin422being protruded from the lower surface of the base401may be longer than the length of the second fins424being protruded from the lower surface of the base401. The lower end of the first pin422may be spaced apart from the bottom surface of the flow path120by a predetermined distance.

The heat dissipation fins420may be formed to correspond to the shape of the flow path120. The arrangement region of the heat dissipation fins420may correspond to the arrangement region of the flow path120. That is, each of the first pin422and the plurality of second pins424may be spaced apart from each other and have a length corresponding to the shape of the flow path120.

Meanwhile, in order to prevent the refrigerant inside the flow path120from leaking to other regions, the converter10may include a sealing member500.

In detail, a first partition wall140and a second partition wall170, being protruded more upward than other regions, may be disposed on an upper surface of the bottom plate115of the first housing100. The first partition wall140may be disposed along the edge of the flow path120. The second partition wall170is disposed outside the first partition wall140and may be spaced apart from the first partition wall140by a predetermined distance.

The sealing member500may include a first sealing member520being disposed between the cooling plate400and the first partition wall140, and a second sealing member510being disposed between the cooling plate400and the second partition wall170. The first sealing member520is formed to correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the first partition wall140, and the second sealing member510may be formed to correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the second partition wall170.

A first guide rib130being protruded more upward than other regions may be formed on an upper surface of the first partition wall140. The first guide rib130is formed along the inner edge of the first partition wall140to firmly fix the first sealing member520on the first partition wall140. The upper surface of the first guide rib130may be in contact with the lower surface of the cooling plate400.

A second guide rib160being protruded more upward than other regions may be formed on an upper surface of the second partition wall170. The second guide rib160is formed along the inner edge of the second partition wall170to firmly fix the second sealing member510on the second partition wall170. The upper surface of the second guide rib160may be in contact with the lower surface of the cooling plate400.

Therefore, the double shielding structure through the first sealing member520and the second sealing member510can prevent the refrigerant in the flow path120from leaking to other regions.

Meanwhile, a refrigerant discharge region180may be formed between the first partition wall140and the second partition wall170. The refrigerant discharge region180is a region for discharging the leaked refrigerant to the outside of the first housing100when the refrigerant leaks between the first sealing member520and the cooling plate400, and may include at least one hole150.

In detail, the refrigerant discharge region180may have a groove shape between the first partition wall140and the second partition wall170. The upper surface of the refrigerant discharge region180may form the same plane as the upper surface of the bottom plate115of the first housing100, however, unlike this, the upper surface of the refrigerant discharge region180may be formed to be more stepped downward than the upper surface of the bottom plate115of the first housing100.

The refrigerant discharge region180is disposed outside the flow path120and may include the hole150. The hole150is formed to penetrate from the inner surface to the outer surface of the first housing100, so that when the refrigerant leaks into the refrigerant discharge region180, the leaked refrigerant can be discharged to the outside.

The holes150may be provided in plural numbers and may be disposed to be spaced apart from one another around the flow path120. The plurality of holes150may be disposed to be overlapped with the cooling plate400in an up and down direction. Accordingly, the plurality of holes150are disposed between the first sealing member520and the second sealing member510, so even if the refrigerant flowing in the flow path120leaks through the gap between the first sealing member520and the first partition wall140or the cooling plate400, it flows in the space between the first housing100and the second housing200, so it is possible to prevent the refrigerant from flowing to other components in the converter10since the leaked refrigerant can be discharged to the outside of the converter10through the hole150so as to prevent damage to other components including electronic components310. In addition, the second sealing member510can prevent the refrigerant from leaking into the space between the first housing100and the second housing200.

In the above description, it is described that all the components constituting the embodiments of the present invention are combined or operated in one, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to these embodiments. In other words, within the scope of the present invention, all of the components may be selectively operated in combination with one or more. In addition, the terms “comprise”, “include” or “having” described above mean that the corresponding component may be inherent unless specifically stated otherwise, and thus it should be construed that it does not exclude other components, but further include other components instead. All terms, including technical and scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art unless otherwise defined. Terms used generally, such as terms defined in a dictionary, should be interpreted to coincide with the contextual meaning of the related art, and shall not be interpreted in an ideal or excessively formal sense unless explicitly defined in the present invention.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make various modifications and changes without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical idea of the present invention but to describe the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The protection scope of the present invention should be interpreted by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the equivalent scope should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.