Power Converter Having Multiple Layer Heat Sinks
A power converter including a printed circuit board (PCB) having a plurality of heat conductive layers configured to sink heat generated by the power converter electronics. Each of these heat conductive layers are comprised of thermally conductive material configured as planar sheets, each of these heat conductive layers being coupled to at least one wire to sink heat therefrom, such as via a wire of an input cable and/or output cable. Advantageously, a more compact power converter is realized having improved power output while operating within safety guidelines.
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This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/344,507 filed Jan. 31, 2006.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is generally related to power converters, and more particularly to power converters adapted to power portable electronic devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPower converters are typically used to power and/or recharge the batteries of portable electronic devices including notebook computers, PDA's, MP3 players, digital cameras, and wireless phones just to name a few. Some of the portable electronic devices are configured to require a significant amount of power, with some notebook computers now consuming up to 140 watts.
At the same time, portable electronic device users are demanding that these power converters be smaller and smaller. The miniaturization of these power supplies is constrained by the amount of heat generated during the power conversion, such as in a DC/DC converter, AC/DC converter, DC/AC converter, and an AC/AC converter. Improved efficiency of the power conversion is one way to reduce the heat generated by the power converter. More efficient heat transfer devices are also being designed to better sink generated heat and release it to the ambient. Heat fans and cooling fins are just some types of cooling designs to keep the power converter operating within safe limits, such as established by numerous safety agencies including UL Laboratories.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONThe present invention achieves technical advantages as a power converter including a printed circuit board (PCB) having a plurality of heat conductive layers configured to sink heat generated by the power converter electronics. Each of these layers are comprised of thermally conductive material configured as planar sheets, each of these thermal layers being coupled to at least one wire to sink heat therefrom, such as via a wire of an input cable and/or output cable. Advantageously, a more compact power converter is realized having improved power output while operating within safety guidelines.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Advantageously, the pluralities of heat sink layers are provided in the common printed circuit board 11 as shown in
Referring back to
Advantageously, due to the multiple heat sink layers, the power converter 10 can be disposed in a housing, (not shown) that has a very thin profile and small overall area. A significant amount of power can be converted using power converter 10, with the generated heat being universally dispersed to the multiple heat sink layers 14 and 16 without generating a hot spot to the encompassing housing such that power converter 10 operates within safety guidelines, such as those established by UL Laboratories.
By way of example, power converter 10 may comprise a 90 watt power converter operating at 90% efficiency, whereby the dimensions of the printed circuit board may be 2.48 by 2.48 inches, disposed in a housing having a thickness of no greater than 0.55 inches and operating less than 85 degrees Celsius. The thermal distribution of the inner layer heat sinks and the heat sinking of the input and output cable allows the power supply to become more like the ideal thermal model in which all heat is uniformly distributed allowing the power supply to dissipate more heat to the environment, thus staying cooler.
This design further achieves technical advantages in that the thermal heat sinking properties can be consistently replicated during 5 manufacturing, which provides improved quality control and fewer defective units during manufacturing.
Though the invention has been described with respect to a specific preferred embodiment, many variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the present application. It is therefore the intention that the appended claims be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the prior art to include all such variations and modifications.
Claims
1.-6. (canceled)
7. A power converter comprising:
- a printed circuit board (PCB) forming a first layer of the power converter;
- a second heat sink layer spaced apart from a third heat sink second layer, wherein the second heat sink layer and the third heat sink layer each comprise a thermally conductive material;
- a thermally conductive member thermally coupled to each of the second and third heat sink layers and configured to draw heat from the PCB to the second and third heat sink layers;
- wherein the second heat sink layer and the third heat sink layer are separated from each other by an electrically non-conductive material, and are each thermally coupled to the PCB by a plurality of vias extending through the electrically non-conductive material.
8. The power converter of claim 7, wherein the thermally conductive member comprises a wire.
9. The power converter of claim 8, wherein the electrical circuit has an input configured to receive power, further comprising an input cable coupled to the input and including the wire.
10. The power converter of claim 9, wherein the electrical circuit has an output configured to provide output power, further comprising an output cable coupled to the output and further including a wire thermally coupled to each of the heat sink layers.
11. The power converter of claim 7, wherein the thermally conductive material of the second heat sink layer and the third heat sink layer is metal.
12. The power converter of claim 11, wherein the metal is copper.
13. The power converter of claim 7, wherein the PCB comprises electrical traces and electrical components.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 25, 2009
Publication Date: Sep 24, 2009
Applicant: IGO, INC. (Scottsdale, AZ)
Inventors: Jason Walter Swanson (Phoenix, AZ), Bryan Wayne McCoy (Phoenix, AZ), Arthur Kenneth Dewyer (Scottsdale, AZ)
Application Number: 12/411,225