Patent ID: 7046535

Claim:
A power module, comprising: a first switch module comprising a first base plate and a first number of switches, the first base plate comprising a first surface and a second surface opposed to the first surface, the switches of the first number of switches each comprising a first active terminal, a second active terminal, and a control terminal, one of the active terminals of each of the first number of switches surface mounted to the first surface of the first base plate; a second switch module comprising a second base plate and a second number of switches, the second base plate comprising a first surface and a second surface opposed to the first surface, the switches of the second number of switches each comprising a first active terminal, a second active terminal, and a control terminal, one of the active terminals of each of the second number of switches surface mounted to the first surface of the second base plate; and a housing comprising an electrically insulative material forming an interior of the housing separated from an exterior of the housing, the first and second base plates received by the housing such that the first surfaces of the first and second base plates are disposed in the interior of the housing and the second surfaces of the first and second base plates are exposed to the exterior of the housing to transfer heat thereto, the housing further comprising at least a first rib of electrically insulative material extending at least partially between the first and the second base plates to electrically isolate the first and the second base plates from one another.