Patent Description:
Since the commercial deployment of <NUM> communication systems, efforts have been made to develop improved <NUM> or pre-<NUM> communication systems to meet the ever increasing demand for wireless data traffic. As such, <NUM> or pre-<NUM> communication systems are also called "beyond <NUM> network" or "post LTE system". To achieve higher data rates, <NUM> communication systems consider utilization of the mmWave band (e.g., <NUM> band). To decrease path loss and increase the transmission distance in the mmWave band, various technologies including beamforming, massive multiple-input multiple-output (massive MIMO), full dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antennas, analog beamforming, and large scale antennas are considered for <NUM> communication systems. To improve system networks in <NUM> communication systems, technology development is under way regarding evolved small cells, advanced small cells, cloud radio access networks (cloud RANs), ultra-dense networks, device-to-device (D2D) communication, wireless backhaul, moving networks, cooperative communication, coordinated multi-points (CoMP), reception interference cancellation, and the like. In addition, advanced coding and modulation (ACM) schemes such as hybrid FSK and QAM modulation (FQAM) and sliding window superposition coding (SWSC), and advanced access technologies such as filter bank multi carrier (FBMC), non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), and sparse code multiple access (SCMA) are also under development for <NUM> communication systems.

Meanwhile, the Internet is evolving from a human centered network where humans create and consume information into the Internet of Things (IoT) where distributed elements or things process and exchange information. There has also emerged the Internet of Everything (IoE) technology that combines IoT technology with big data processing technology through connection with cloud servers. To realize IoT services, base technologies related to sensing, wired/wireless communication and network infrastructure, service interfacing, and security are needed, and technologies interconnecting things such as sensor networks, machine-to-machine (M2M) or machine type communication (MTC) are under development. In IoT environments, it is possible to provide intelligent Internet technology services, which collect and analyze data created by interconnected things to add new values to human life. Through convergence and combination between existing information technologies and various field technologies, IoT technology may be applied to various areas such as smart homes, smart buildings, smart cities, smart or connected cars, smart grids, health-care, smart consumer electronics, and advanced medical services.

Accordingly, various attempts are being made to apply <NUM> communication systems to IoT networks. For example, sensor networks and machine-to-machine or machine type communication are being realized by use of <NUM> communication technologies including beamforming, MIMO, and array antennas. Application of cloud RANs to big data processing described above may be an instance of convergence of <NUM> communication technology and IoT technology.

<CIT> discloses in a power module package comprising a u-shaped heat sink with cold plates, wherein three power modules are attached to outer surfaces of the heat sink.

<CIT> describes a wireless connector including a plurality of printed circuit boards disposed within a housing.

<CIT> describes a power converter assembly includes a heat sinking plate, a circuit board structure having aside that faces and is spaced by a gap from a surface of the heat sinking plate that is nearer to said side, a relatively thin, high heat density, dissipative semiconductor component mounted on said side, an encapsulating material filling the gap, and relatively taller, lower heat density, components mounted on the other side of the circuit board.

When a converter is operated for a long time, heat is generated by electronic elements disposed inside the converter, and the performance and durability of the converter may be reduced due to the generated heat. Accordingly, the disclosure provides structures for a converter and a power conversion device that can solve the above problem.

According to the invention, it is possible to improve the durability and efficiency of a converter by enhancing the heat dissipation performance of the converter. In addition, because the converter can be configured as a separable structure, the degree of freedom in the design of the converter can be increased.

According to the invention, there is provided a power conversion module as defined in claim <NUM>, including a converter. The converter includes: a first printed circuit board having a first controller for power conversion disposed on an inner surface of the first printed circuit board, the inner surface of the first printed circuit board comprised in an inner surface of the converter; a second printed circuit board having a second controller for power conversion disposed on an inner surface of the second printed circuit board, the inner surface of the second printed circuit board facing the inner surface of the first printed circuit board and comprised in the inner surface of the converter; first connectors disposed on the inner surface of the first printed circuit board ; and second connectors disposed on the inner surface of the second printed circuit board, the second connectors configured to be coupled with the first connectors.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, it is possible to improve the durability and efficiency of a converter by enhancing the heat dissipation performance of the converter. In addition, because the converter can be configured as a separable structure, the degree of freedom in the design of the converter can be increased.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Descriptions of functions and structures well known in the art and not directly related to the disclosure may be omitted for clarity and conciseness without obscuring the subject matter of the disclosure.

In the drawings, some elements are exaggerated, omitted, or only outlined in brief, and thus may be not drawn to scale. The same or similar reference symbols are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

The aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The description of the various embodiments is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible instance of the disclosure. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of various embodiments of the disclosure is provided for illustrative purposes only and not for the purpose of limiting the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. The same reference symbols are used throughout the description to refer to the same parts.

Meanwhile, it is known to those skilled in the art that blocks of a flowchart (or sequence diagram) and a combination of flowcharts may be represented and executed by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be loaded on a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or programmable data processing equipment. When the loaded program instructions are executed by the processor, they create a means for carrying out functions described in the flowchart. As the computer program instructions may be stored in a computer readable memory that is usable in a specialized computer or a programmable data processing equipment, it is also possible to create articles of manufacture that carry out functions described in the flowchart. As the computer program instructions may be loaded on a computer or a programmable data processing equipment, when executed as processes, they may carry out steps of functions described in the flowchart.

A block of a flowchart may correspond to a module, a segment or a code containing one or more executable instructions implementing one or more logical functions, or to a part thereof. In some cases, functions described by blocks may be executed in an order different from the listed order. For example, two blocks listed in sequence may be executed at the same time or executed in reverse order.

In the description, the word "unit", "module", or the like may refer to a software component or hardware component such as an FPGA or ASIC capable of carrying out a function or an operation. However, "unit" or the like is not limited to hardware or software. A unit or the like may be configured so as to reside in an addressable storage medium or to drive one or more processors. Units or the like may refer to software components, object-oriented software components, class components, task components, processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines, program code segments, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuits, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, or variables. A function provided by a component and unit may be a combination of smaller components and units, and it may be combined with others to compose large components and units. Components and units may be configured to drive a device or one or more processors in a secure multimedia card. Also, in a certain embodiment, a module or unit may include one or more processors.

<FIG> illustrates a view of the structure of a power conversion module according to the related art.

With reference to <FIG>, in one embodiment, a printed circuit board <NUM> may be disposed on one surface of the converter <NUM>. In various embodiments, the printed circuit board may be a printed circuit board assembly (PBA).

In one embodiment, one surface of the printed circuit board <NUM> may be fixedly coupled to one surface of the converter <NUM> through at least one coupling member. In various embodiments, the at least one coupling member may include a first screw <NUM> and a second screw <NUM>, and coupling holes for coupling with the first screw <NUM> and the second screw <NUM> may be formed in the printed circuit board <NUM> and the converter <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the other surface of the printed circuit board <NUM> may be coupled with a first heat sink plate <NUM>. In various embodiments, some of the heat generated by the operation of the converter <NUM> may be discharged through the first heat sink plate <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the printed circuit board <NUM> and the first heat sink plate <NUM> may be fixedly coupled through at least one coupling member. In various embodiments, at least one coupling member may include a third screw <NUM> and a fourth screw <NUM>, and coupling holes for coupling with the third screw <NUM> and the fourth screw <NUM> may be formed in the printed circuit board <NUM> and the first heat sink plate <NUM>.

In one embodiment, a second heat sink plate <NUM> may be disposed on the other surface of the converter <NUM>. In various embodiments, a thermal conduction pad <NUM> for conducting heat emitted from the converter <NUM> to the second heat sink plate <NUM> may be disposed on one surface of the second heat sink plate <NUM>. In one embodiment, heat dissipation fins <NUM> may be disposed on one surface of the second heat sink plate <NUM> to improve the heat dissipation performance of the power conversion module.

In one embodiment, the first heat sink plate <NUM> and the second heat sink plate <NUM> may be fixedly coupled through at least one coupling member. In various embodiments, the at least one coupling member may include a fifth screw <NUM> and a sixth screw <NUM>, and coupling holes for coupling with the fifth screw <NUM> and the sixth screw <NUM> may be formed in the first heat sink plate <NUM> and the second heat sink plate <NUM>.

In one embodiment, when the first heat sink plate <NUM> and the second heat sink plate <NUM> are fixedly coupled by using the fifth screw <NUM> and the sixth screw <NUM>, the second heat sink plate <NUM> and the converter <NUM> may be not in close contact. In various embodiments, as the second heat sink plate <NUM> and the converter <NUM> are not tightly coupled, the heat dissipation performance of the power conversion module may be reduced and the output of the converter may become unstable.

<FIG> illustrates a view of the structure of a converter according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

With reference to <FIG>, the converter <NUM> is formed by using two printed circuit boards. The converter <NUM> is composed of a first module using the first printed circuit board <NUM> and a second module using the second printed circuit board <NUM>.

The converter <NUM> includes: a first printed circuit board <NUM> having a first controller <NUM> for power conversion installed on one surface that constitutes one surface of the converter <NUM> and constitutes an inner surface of the converter <NUM>; a second printed circuit board <NUM> having a second controller <NUM> for power conversion installed on one surface that constitutes the other surface of the converter <NUM> facing the one surface of the first printed circuit board <NUM> and constitutes an inner surface of the converter <NUM>; first connectors <NUM> and <NUM> disposed on the one surface of the first printed circuit board <NUM> constituting an inner surface of the converter <NUM>; and second connectors <NUM> and <NUM> disposed on the one surface of the second printed circuit board <NUM> constituting an inner surface of the converter <NUM> to be coupled with the first connectors <NUM> and <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the first printed circuit board <NUM>, the first controller <NUM> and the first connectors <NUM> and <NUM> may constitute a first module of the converter <NUM>, and the second printed circuit board <NUM>, the second controller <NUM>, and the second connectors <NUM> and <NUM> may constitute a second module of the converter <NUM>. In various embodiments, the converter <NUM> may be formed by combining the first module and the second module through the first connectors <NUM> and <NUM> and the second connectors <NUM> and <NUM>. In one embodiment, the converter configured using the first module and the second module may have a separable structure.

In one embodiment, the first controller <NUM> may include at least one of a transistor, an inductor, or a MOSFET for power conversion. In various embodiments, the first controller <NUM> may include elements generating a large amount of heat among the elements constituting the converter.

In one embodiment, the first controller <NUM> may include elements determining the performance of the converter. For example, the first controller <NUM> may include an inductor, and the output voltage of the converter may be determined based on the inductance of the inductor. In various embodiments, the performance of the converter (e.g., output voltage) can be changed by replacing only the first module including the first printed circuit board <NUM> with a new module including other elements and combining the new module with the existing second module. That is, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, it is possible to improve the design freedom of converter performance.

In one embodiment, the second controller <NUM> may include a control circuit for controlling the first controller <NUM>. In various embodiments, the second controller <NUM> may transmit a control signal for controlling the switching operation of a transistor or MOSFET constituting the first controller <NUM>.

In one embodiment, while the second controller <NUM> is fixed to the second module, a third controller having the same coupling position and scheme as the first controller <NUM> may be fixed to the first module instead of the first controller <NUM>. In various embodiments, even if the third controller is coupled to the first module in place of the first controller <NUM>, the third controller may be controlled by the second controller <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the second module to which the second controller <NUM> including a control circuit unrelated to the voltage or power level is fixed may be coupled to the main printed circuit board of an electronic device including the converter <NUM>. In various embodiments, the first module, which includes the first controller <NUM> generating a different amount of heat according to the voltage or power level, may be coupled to the second module through a connector or coupling member.

Hence, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, by detaching the first module from the second module and replacing only the first controller <NUM> included in the first module, it is possible to adjust the performance and heat generation of the converter without replacing the main printed circuit board. In other words, according to the disclosure, it is possible to design a converter having a different performance or generating a different amount of heat can be designed by replacing only the first controller <NUM> with a controller having the same coupling position and scheme as the first controller <NUM>. In addition, according to the disclosure, it may be not necessary to change the design of the second module coupled to the main printed circuit board and the second controller <NUM> disposed on the second module to change the performance of the converter or the amount of heat generated thereby.

Meanwhile, the converter structure illustrated in <FIG> is only an embodiment of the disclosure, and the scope of the disclosure should not be limited thereto.

<FIG> illustrates a circuit schematic of the converter according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

In one embodiment, the converter <NUM> may receive an input voltage of V1 and output an output voltage of V2. In various embodiments, the converter <NUM> may be composed of a first controller <NUM> including an inductor, a transistor, and a MOSFET, and a second controller <NUM> for controlling the first controller <NUM>. That is, according to the disclosure, the converter <NUM> may be composed of the first controller <NUM> including physical elements constituting the converter, and the second controller <NUM> that is implemented through a circuit or a program and controls the first controller <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the first controller <NUM> and the second controller <NUM> may be coupled respectively to separate printed circuit boards, and the first controller <NUM> and the second controller <NUM> may be combined through connectors arranged on the individual printed circuit boards. That is, according to the disclosure, the converter may be composed of a first module including the first controller <NUM> and a second module including the second controller <NUM>, and the first module and the second module may be combined or separated through connectors.

<FIG> illustrates a view of the structure of a power conversion module according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

With reference to <FIG>, in one embodiment, the power conversion module includes a converter. The converter may includes:
a first printed circuit board <NUM> having a first controller <NUM> for power conversion installed on one surface that constitutes one surface of the converter and constitutes an inner surface of the converter; a second printed circuit board <NUM> having a second controller <NUM> for power conversion installed on one surface that constitutes the other surface of the converter facing the one surface of the first printed circuit board <NUM> and constitutes an inner surface of the converter; first connectors <NUM> and <NUM> disposed on the one surface of the first printed circuit board <NUM> constituting an inner surface of the converter; and second connectors <NUM> and <NUM> disposed on the one surface of the second printed circuit board <NUM> constituting an inner surface of the converter to be coupled with the first connectors <NUM> and <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the first printed circuit board <NUM>, the first controller <NUM> and the first connectors <NUM> and <NUM> may constitute a first module of the converter, and the second printed circuit board <NUM>, the second controller <NUM>, and the second connectors <NUM> and <NUM> may constitute a second module of the converter. In various embodiments, the converter may be formed by combining the first module and the second module through the first connectors <NUM> and <NUM> and the second connectors <NUM> and <NUM>. In one embodiment, the converter configured using the first module and the second module may have a separable structure.

According to the invention, the second controller <NUM> includes a control circuit for controlling the first controller <NUM>. In various embodiments, the second controller <NUM> may transmit a control signal for controlling the switching operation of a transistor or MOSFET constituting the first controller <NUM>.

According to the invention, a first heat sink plate <NUM> is disposed on the other surface of the first printed circuit board <NUM>, and a second heat sink plate <NUM> is disposed on the other surface of the second printed circuit board <NUM>.

In one embodiment, a thermal conduction pad <NUM> may be disposed between one surface of the first heat sink plate <NUM> and one surface of the first printed circuit board <NUM>, and heat dissipation fins <NUM> may be disposed on the other surface of the first heat sink plate <NUM> to dissipate heat that is generated by the converter and conducted through the thermal conduction pad <NUM>.

According to the invention, the first printed circuit board <NUM> is fixedly coupled to the first heat sink plate <NUM> through at least one coupling member. In various embodiments, the at least one coupling member may include a first screw <NUM> and a second screw <NUM>, and coupling holes for coupling with the first screw <NUM> and the second screw <NUM> may be formed in the first printed circuit board <NUM> and the first heat sink plate <NUM>.

In one embodiment, when the converter operates, heat may be generated by the elements arranged in the first controller <NUM>. The heat generated by the first controller <NUM> may be transferred to the first heat sink plate <NUM> through the thermal conduction pad <NUM> and radiated to the outside of the power conversion module.

According to the invention, the second printed circuit board <NUM> is fixedly coupled to the second heat sink plate <NUM> through at least one coupling member. In various embodiments, the at least one coupling member may include a third screw <NUM> and a fourth screw <NUM>, and coupling holes for coupling with the third screw <NUM> and the fourth screw <NUM> may be formed in the second printed circuit board <NUM> and the second heat sink plate <NUM>.

The first heat sink plate <NUM> and the second heat sink plate <NUM> may be fixedly coupled through at least one coupling member. In various embodiments, the at least one coupling member may include a fifth screw <NUM> and a sixth screw <NUM>, and coupling holes for coupling with the fifth screw <NUM> and the sixth screw <NUM> may be formed in the first heat sink plate <NUM> and the second heat sink plate <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the first printed circuit board <NUM> constituting the first module of the converter may be fixedly coupled to the first heat sink plate <NUM> and the thermal conduction pad <NUM> through the first screw <NUM> and the second screw <NUM>, and the second printed circuit board <NUM> constituting the second module of the converter may be fixedly coupled to the second heat sink plate <NUM> through the third screw <NUM> and the fourth screw <NUM>. Hence, according to the structure of the power conversion module proposed in the disclosure, heat generated from the first controller <NUM> combined with the first printed circuit board <NUM> and heat generated from the second controller <NUM> combined with the second printed circuit board <NUM> can be efficiently conducted through the corresponding heat sink plates coupled with the printed circuit boards.

Meanwhile, the power conversion module structure illustrated in <FIG> is only an embodiment of the disclosure, and the scope of the disclosure should not be limited thereto. For example, the first screw <NUM> and the second screw <NUM> for coupling the first printed circuit board <NUM> and the first heat sink plate <NUM>, the third screw <NUM> and the fourth screw <NUM> for coupling the second printed circuit board <NUM> and the second heat sink plate <NUM>, and the fifth screw <NUM> and the sixth screw <NUM> for coupling the first heat sink plate <NUM> and the second heat sink plate <NUM> may be replaced with tongs or clamps that can act the same as screws.

Claim 1:
A power conversion module comprising a power converter (<NUM>) including a printed circuit board (<NUM>, <NUM>), the power converter (<NUM>) comprising:
a first printed circuit (<NUM>, <NUM>) board having a first controller (<NUM>, <NUM>) for power conversion disposed on a first surface of the first printed circuit board (<NUM>, <NUM>), the first surface of the first printed circuit board (<NUM>, <NUM>) constituting an inner surface of the power converter (<NUM>);
a second printed circuit (<NUM>, <NUM>) board having a second controller (<NUM>, <NUM>) for power conversion disposed on a first surface of the second printed circuit board (<NUM>, <NUM>), the first surface of the second printed circuit board (<NUM>, <NUM>) facing the first surface of the first printed circuit board (<NUM>, <NUM>) and constituting an inner surface of the power converter (<NUM>);
first connectors (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) disposed on the first surface of the first printed circuit board (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
second connectors (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) disposed on the first surface of the second
printed circuit board (<NUM>, <NUM>), the second connectors (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) configured to be coupled with the first connectors (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>),
wherein the second controller (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprises a control circuit for controlling the first controller (<NUM>, <NUM>),
the power conversion module further comprising:
a first heat sink plate (<NUM>) fixedly coupled to a second surface of the first printed circuit board (<NUM>) opposite the first surface thereof; and
a second heat sink plate (<NUM>) fixedly coupled to a second surface of the second printed circuit board (<NUM>) opposite the first surface thereof.