US 12,262,506 B2
Rack with trays for plug-in automotive control units
Jakub Antoni Korta, Cracow (PL); Tobias Merten, Düsseldorf (DE); and Peter Reinhold, Gummersbach (DE)
Assigned to Aptiv Technologies AG, Schaffhausen (CH)
Filed by Aptiv Technologies AG, Schaffhausen (CH)
Filed on Sep. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/930,609.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/242,138, filed on Sep. 9, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0077114 A1, Mar. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. H05K 7/20 (2006.01); H05K 7/14 (2006.01); H05K 7/16 (2006.01)
CPC H05K 7/20254 (2013.01) [H05K 7/1489 (2013.01); H05K 7/16 (2013.01); H05K 7/20772 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rack assembly unit for mounting a control unit to a vehicle rack system, the rack assembly unit comprising:
a rack chassis; and
a tray for receiving the control unit,
wherein the tray is movably coupled to the rack chassis at a coupling mechanism, the coupling mechanism configured to provide for movement of the tray relative to the rack chassis between a first open position and a second closed position,
wherein at the first open position, the tray is spaced apart from rack chassis to facilitate user access to the tray and to the control unit receivable therein, and at the second closed position, the tray is located fully inserted relative to the rack chassis and such that the control unit located in the tray is provided at a control unit operating position thermally coupled to a cold plate of a cooling system to provide for cooling of components of the control unit;
wherein the control unit comprises a housing that comprises a thermal interface receiver (TIM) receiver portion for receiving a TIM layer that, in the control unit operating position, is located between the control unit and the cold plate such that a heat transfer surface of the control unit and a heat transfer surface of the cold plate are thermally coupled via the TIM layer;
wherein the TIM receiver portion is defined by a recessed groove formed in an upper surface of the control unit, the recessed groove defining a periphery of the TIM receiver portion and having a shape corresponding to that of the cold plate; and
wherein a seal is located in the recessed groove surrounding the TIM receiver portion.