Vitesco Technologies Usa, LLC

Uwe Stephan

Donald J Zito

A control unit having a connection structure for connecting components of the control unit to a base plate which is cost effective, and facilitates heat transfer from a printed circuit board (PCB) to the base plate. The control unit includes circuitry mounted to a PCB, and the PCB is mounted to a base plate. The circuitry is over molded with epoxy material during manufacturing. The epoxy material flows between the PCB and the base plate, such that a layer of the epoxy is disposed between the PCB and the base plate. This layer of epoxy functions as a heat transfer layer, and a connection structure to connect the PCB to the base plate. The epoxy material transfers heat from the surface of the PCB in contact with the layer of epoxy to the surface of the base plate in contact with the layer of epoxy.

Thermal connection between printed circuit board and base plate with epoxy molded material

A control unit having a connection structure for connecting components of the control unit to a base plate which eliminates the need for separate fasteners. The control unit includes circuitry mounted to a PCB, and the PCB is pre-assembled to a base plate, to form a pre-assembly. During assembly, the PCB and the base plate are aligned when placed in a tooling device which clamps and holds the pre-assembly in place during the over molding process. The circuitry is over molded with an epoxy material, such that the epoxy material flows from a top side of the PCB to underneath the base plate, and the PCB is fixed to the base plate without the use of fasteners such as screws, or adhesive materials.

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Schaumburg, IL, United States of America

Uwe Stephan