Electronic controller unit

A heatsink for an electronic control unit, ECU, the heatsink comprising:

• a cooling unit including a first cooling plate defining an upper surface of the cooling unit and a second cooling plate defining a lower surface of the cooling unit, and a side wall which, when coupled together with the first and second cooling plates, forms a sealed cavity;
• a fluid channel arranged within the sealed cavity between an inlet opening and an outlet opening and defining a path for the circulation of a cooling fluid through the cooling unit in proximity to the two cooling plates to provide a cooling effect at regions of the surfaces thereof, the cooling unit configured to receive the cooling fluid of a cooling system;
• an input connector configured to couple the channel to an input line to receive the cooling fluid from the cooling system;
• and
• an output connector configured to couple the channel to an output line to return the cooling fluid to the cooling system, wherein:
• the cooling unit further includes an aperture that extends therethrough between the upper surface of the first cooling plate and the lower surface of the second cooling plate, and defining a path for receiving a connector,
• the connector is configured to electrically and communicatively connect PCBs located above and below the heatsink, and
• the first and second cooling plates include a plurality of thermally conducting pedestals configured to thermally couple electronic components located on the PCBs and facing the respective first and second cooling plates of the cooling unit to the heatsink respective cooling plate.

An electronic controller unit, ECU, comprising:

• a heatsink including a cooling unit having a first upper and second lower cooling plate and a fluid channel arranged between the cooling plates and configured to receive a cooling fluid, wherein the cooling fluid is circulated through the channel in proximity to the cooling plates;
• a first printed circuit board, PCB;
• a second printed circuit board, PCB;
• a plurality of components located on the first and second PCBs and facing respective first upper and second lower cooling plates of the cooling unit;
• and
• a connector system including connectors or headers located at first and second lateral ends of the ECU, wherein:
• the connectors or headers are configured to provide connections to and from the PCBs,
• the connector system is arranged according to at least one of:
• the connector system includes a first and second lower rows of connectors located at each of the first and second lateral ends of the ECU, the lower rows of connectors arranged to provide connections to the first PCB at each end of the PCB, or
• the connector system includes first and second upper rows of connectors located at each of the first and second lateral ends of the ECU, configured to provide connections to an upper PCB located adjacent thereto,
• the heatsink is arranged between the first and second PCBs,
• the heatsink is configured for thermally coupling to the plurality of components, and is configured to provide a thermal coupling of the plurality of components facing toward a respective cooling plate to effect cooling of the plurality of components,
• the first PCB is connected to the second PCB by a board-to-board connector that is configured to electrically and/or communicatively connect the PCBs located above and below the heatsink,
• the upper and lower cooling plates each include a plurality of thermally conducting pedestals extending outwardly therefrom towards the PCBs and the plurality of components,
• each pedestal is configured to provide a thermal coupling of at least one of the plurality of components to a respective cooling plate, for cooling, and
• the heatsink provides a core and central component of the ECU and the ECU is arranged to provide a split-level or stacked PCB arrangement, while the heatsink provides cooling to the PCBs located on both sides thereof, allowing for an efficient use of the heatsink in a compact footprint.