High performance power device

A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly adapted for mounting at least one heat-generating electrical device and providing integrated heat dissipating capability to dissipate heat generated by the electrical device, the printed circuit board assembly comprising:

• a printed circuit board (PCB) having a top surface and a bottom surface;
• a signal carrying layer disposed between the top surface and the bottom surface, the signal carrying layer comprising a material that is both thermally conductive and electrically conductive and having at least a portion lying in a first plane;
• and
• a first solid, continuous insert of pyrolytic graphite (PG) disposed within at least a portion of the first plane of the-signal carrying layer, wherein the first insert is substantially planar in a second plane parallel to the first plane and has an exterior surface that comprises solid, continuous PG, where substantially all of the exterior surface is the insert being in thermal contact with the signal carrying layer, the first insert of PG being constructed and arranged to have its greatest thermal conductivity in the second plane.

A method of dissipating heat generated in a printed circuit board (PCB), the method comprising the unordered steps of:

• providing a solid, continuous, substantially planar insert of pyrolytic graphite (PG) constructed and arranged to have its greatest thermal conductivity in a first plane, the insert having an exterior surface of solid, continuous PG;
• disposing the insert within a first layer oriented in a second plane that is parallel to the first plane, the first layer comprising a layer of material that is electrically and thermally conductive such that the first layer is constructed and arranged to carry electrical signals, where the first insert is disposed such that substantially all of the exterior surface of the insert is in continuous thermal contact with the first layer;
• and
• providing the first layer as a signal carrying layer in a printed circuit board (PCB).