# US 12,120,844 B2 · Electronics cooling in an environmental control unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,120,844 B2 - Document ID: US12120844B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/898,980 - Filed: 2022-08-30 - Published: 2024-02-29 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2022-08-30 - Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH - Applicants: Robert Bosch GmbH - Inventors: Aya Kozono - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12120844B2 ## CPC - H05K 7/20254: {Cold plates transferring heat from heat source to coolant} - F24F 5/00: Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by F24F1/00 or F24F3/00 {, e.g. using solar heat or combined with household units such as an oven or water heater} - F24F 5/0003: {Exclusively-fluid systems} - F24F 11/88: Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits - F24F 13/20: Casings or covers - F25B 13/00: Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle (defrosting cycles F25B47/02) - F25B 31/006: {Cooling of compressor or motor} - H05K 7/20154: {Heat dissipaters coupled to components} - F25B 2313/003: Indoor unit with water as a heat sink or heat source - F25B 2313/0254: in series arrangements - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS ## Abstract An environmental control unit (ECU) such as a heat pump includes a housing having a divider panel. The divider panel is surrounded by a sidewall and segregates an interior space of the housing into an air-handling portion and a condensing portion. The ECU includes a blower disposed in the air-handling portion, a heat exchanger disposed in the air-handling portion, a compressor disposed in the condensing portion and a fluid circuit including a refrigerant line that connects the heat exchanger to the compressor. In addition, the ECU includes an electronics box that is mounted on the divider panel and houses a control board, the electronics box being provided with two independent modes of cooling. The first mode includes convective cooling via air flow generated by the blower, and the second mode includes conductive cooling via a cooling plate that is cooled by the refrigerant line. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An environmental control unit comprises: a housing that includes a first end, a second end, a sidewall that extends between the first end and the second end, and a divider panel that is surrounded by the sidewall and segregates an interior space of the housing into an air-handling portion and a condensing portion; a blower disposed in the air-handling portion; a heat exchanger disposed in the air-handling portion; a compressor disposed in the condensing portion; a fluid circuit including a refrigerant line that connects the heat exchanger to the compressor; and an electronics box that is mounted on the divider panel and houses a control board, the electronics box being provided with two independent modes of cooling; wherein the electronics box includes a first side that faces the blower and a second side that faces the compressor, and the first side is cooled by airflow from the blower and the second side is cooled by a coolant line that is connected to the refrigerant line. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The environmental control unit of claim 1, wherein a first mode of the two independent modes of cooling includes convective cooling via air flow generated by the blower, and a second mode of the two independent modes of cooling includes conductive cooling via a cooling plate that is cooled by the refrigerant line. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The environmental control unit of claim 2, wherein the cooling plate is in direct contact with the divider panel at a location that is aligned with the control board. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The environmental control unit of claim 2, wherein the cooling plate is physically connected to the control board. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The environmental control unit of claim 1, wherein one mode of the two independent modes of cooling includes conductive cooling via a cooling plate, the cooling plate comprising a first cooling plate surface, a second cooling plate surface that is opposite the first cooling plate surface and faces the blower, the second cooling plate surface directly contacting the divider panel, and an internal passageway that defines the coolant line that is disposed between the first cooling plate surface and the second cooling plate surface, the coolant line being in fluid communication with the refrigerant line. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The environmental control unit of claim 1, wherein one mode of the two independent modes of cooling includes conductive cooling via a cooling plate, the cooling plate comprising: a first cooling plate surface, a second cooling plate surface that is opposite the first cooling plate surface and faces the blower, and an internal passageway that defines the coolant line that is disposed between the first cooling plate surface and the second cooling plate surface, the coolant line being in fluid communication with the refrigerant line, and the electronics box comprises: a side that faces the divider panel, the side having a box through opening that is aligned with the control board, and a thermally conductive plate that overlies the through opening, the thermally conductive plate disposed between, and in direct contact with, both the control board and the side of the electronics box, and wherein the first cooling plate surface directly contacts the thermally conductive plate via the through opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The environmental control unit of claim 1, wherein the air handling portion overlies the condensing portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The environmental control unit of claim 1, wherein the control board comprises a printed circuit board and a controller that is mounted on the printed circuit board. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The environmental control unit of claim 1, wherein one mode of the two independent modes of cooling includes conductive cooling via a cooling plate, the cooling plate comprising: a first cooling plate surface that faces the blower; a second cooling plate surface that is opposite the first cooling plate surface; and an internal passageway that defines the coolant line that is disposed between the first cooling plate surface and the second cooling plate surface, the coolant line being in fluid communication with the refrigerant line and extending in a serpentine path. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The environmental control unit of claim 1, wherein one mode of the two independent modes of cooling includes conductive cooling via a cooling plate, the cooling plate comprising: a first cooling plate surface that faces the blower; a second cooling plate surface that is opposite the first cooling plate surface; and an internal passageway that defines the coolant line that is disposed between the first cooling plate surface and the second cooling plate surface, the coolant line being in fluid communication with the refrigerant line, the internal passageway comprising a plurality of internal passages that are supplied by a manifold that is connected to the refrigerant line.