The present disclosure relates to an electronic device.
Conventionally, electronic devices called IPM (Intelligent Power Module) are known. Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a conventional IPM. The IPM disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of semiconductor elements, a control element, a sealing member and a plurality of terminals. Each of the semiconductor elements is a power semiconductor chip such as an IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) or a MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor). The control element is an LSI chip such as a control IC and controls the driving of the semiconductor elements. The sealing member covers the semiconductor elements, the control element and the terminals. The sealing member is made of an insulating resin material such as epoxy resin. Each of the terminals is partially exposed from the sealing resin and supported by the sealing resin. Each terminal is electrically connected to one of the semiconductor elements or the control element inside the sealing resin.
When the IPM is energized, each semiconductor device generates heat. Since such heat may cause unstable operation of the semiconductor elements, improved heat dissipation of the semiconductor elements is demanded. This is a challenge not solely for IPMs but common to a variety of electronic components.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-2014-90006
The present disclosure has been conceived under the above-noted circumstances, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide an electronic device with improved heat dissipation of an electronic component.
An electronic device provided according to the present disclosure includes: a first electronic component including a first main body and a plurality of first terminals exposed from the first main body; a second electronic component including a second main body and a plurality of second terminals exposed from the second main body; a mounting substrate having a mounting surface on which the first electronic component and the second electronic component are disposed; and a heat dissipator having an attaching surface to which the first electronic component and the second electronic component are attached. The mounting surface and the attaching surface face each other in the thickness direction. The first main body and the second main body are disposed between the mounting substrate and the heat dissipator in a thickness direction and arranged side by side in a first direction orthogonal to the thickness direction. The first main body has a first front surface facing the attaching surface and a first back surface facing the mounting surface. The second main body has a second front surface facing the attaching surface and a second back surface facing the mounting surface. The dimension of the second main body in the thickness direction is smaller than the dimension of the first main body in the thickness direction. The first front surface and the second front surface overlap with each other as viewed in the first direction. A gap is provided between the second back surface and the mounting surface.
The electronic device according to the present disclosure improves the heat dissipation of the electronic device (first electronic component and second electronic component).
Preferred embodiments of the electronic device according to the present disclosure are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
For convenience, the three directions that are orthogonal to each other are defined as x direction, y direction and z direction. The z direction is the thickness direction of the electronic device A1. The x direction is the horizontal direction in the plan view (see
Each of the first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2 is an IPM, for example. IPM is an abbreviation for intelligent power module, which incorporates a semiconductor element for power and a control element for controlling the semiconductor element in a single package. The first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2 are used, for example, for power control in inverter devices or motor control equipment. The first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2 are mounted to the mounting substrate 3. The first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2 are not limited to IPMs, but may be discrete components or power modules that do not incorporate control elements.
As shown in
Each of the first semiconductor elements Q1 is a power semiconductor chip such as an IGBT, a MOSFET or a diode, for example. In the example shown in
The first control element M1 is an LSI chip such as a control IC, for example. The first control element M1 controls the driving of the first semiconductor elements Q1. Specifically, the first control element M1 inputs a driving signal (e.g., gate voltage) to each of the first semiconductor elements Q1 to control the driving (switching operation) of the first semiconductor elements Q1. The first control element M1 includes a drive circuit. In the example shown in
The plurality of first terminals T11 and T12 are the external terminals of the first electronic component 1. As shown in
As shown in
The first main body 10 includes the first semiconductor elements Q1, the first control element M1, a first sealing member 11 and a first support substrate 12.
The first sealing member 11 is a package that covers the first semiconductor elements Q1 and the first control element M1 to protect these from light, heat, moisture, dust and physical shock, for example. The first sealing member 11 is made of an insulating resin material, for example. An example of such a resin material is epoxy resin. As shown in
As shown in
Inside the first sealing member 11, the first support substrate 12 supports at least the first semiconductor elements Q1. At least a part of the first support substrate 12 is covered with the first sealing member 11. The first support substrate 12 is provided to quickly dissipate the heat generated in the first semiconductor elements Q1 to the outside of the first electronic component 1. The first support substrate 12 is made of a material with excellent thermal conductivity (e.g., a ceramic material), but is not limited to this. The higher the thermal conductivity of the material for the first support substrate 12 is, the better. However, if the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material for the first support substrate differs greatly from that of the material for the first sealing member 11, problems such as detachment of the first support substrate 12 and the first sealing member 11 may occur. Thus, for the first support substrate 12, it is preferable to use a material with a thermal conductivity higher than that of the material for the first sealing member 11 and a coefficient of thermal expansion close to that of the material for the first sealing member 11. The first main body 10 may not include the first support substrate 12.
As shown in
The first main body 10 has a first front surface and a first back surface. The first front surface is the uppermost surface of the first main body 10 and faces the heat dissipator 4 (attaching surface 41 described later). In the present embodiment, the first front surface is constituted by the front surface 111 (first sealing member 11) and the first exposed surface 121 (first support substrate 12). In a configuration different from the present embodiment, when the first support substrate 12 is not exposed from the first sealing member 11 or the first main body 10 does not include the first support substrate 12, the first front surface is constituted by the front surface 111 (first sealing member 11). When the first exposed surface 121 is located above the front surface 111, the first front surface is constituted by the first exposed surface 121. The first back surface is the lowermost surface of the first main body 10 and faces the mounting substrate 3 (mounting surface 31 described later). In the present embodiment, the first back surface is constituted by the back surface 112 (first sealing member 11).
Each of the first terminals 15 is partially covered with the first sealing member 11 and partially exposed from the first sealing member 11. Inside the first sealing member 11, the first terminals 15 are electrically connected to the first semiconductor elements Q1 or the first control element M1. The first terminals 15 correspond to the first terminals T11 or T12 in the circuit configuration (see
The material for the first terminals 15 is not limited, and copper (Cu), aluminum, iron (Fe), oxygen-free copper, or their alloys (e.g., Cu—Sn alloy, Cu—Zr alloy or Cu—Fe alloy) may be used. Each of the first terminals 15 may be plated with nickel (Ni).
As shown in
The first terminals 15 include a plurality of first power terminals 151 and a plurality of first control terminals 152. The first power terminals 151 are electrically connected to the first semiconductor elements Q1 inside the first sealing member 11. The first power terminals 151 correspond to the first terminals T11 in the circuit configuration (see
As shown in
Each of the second semiconductor elements Q2 is a power semiconductor chip such as an IGBT, a MOSFET or a diode. The number of the second semiconductor elements Q2 is smaller than that of the first semiconductor elements Q1. In the example shown in
The second control element M2 is an LSI chip such as a control IC, for example. The second control element M2 controls the driving of the second semiconductor elements Q2. Specifically, the second control element M2 inputs a driving signal (e.g., gate voltage) to each of the second semiconductor elements Q2 to control the driving (switching operation) of the second semiconductor elements Q2. The second control element M2 includes a drive circuit. In the example shown in
The plurality of second terminals T21 and T22 are the external terminals of the second electronic component 2. As shown in
As shown in
The second main body 20 includes the second semiconductor elements Q2, the second control element M2, a second sealing member 21 and a second support substrate 22.
The second sealing member 21 is a package that covers the second semiconductor elements Q2 and the second control element M2 to protect these from light, heat, moisture, dust and physical shock, for example. The second sealing member 21 is made of an insulating resin material, for example. An example of such a resin material is epoxy resin. As shown in
As shown in
Inside the second sealing member 21, the second support substrate 22 supports at least the second semiconductor elements Q2. At least a part of the second support substrate 22 is covered with the second sealing member 21. The second support substrate 22 is provided to quickly dissipate the heat generated in the second semiconductor elements Q2 to the outside of the second electronic component 2. The second support substrate 22 is made of a material with excellent thermal conductivity (e.g., a ceramic material), but is not limited to this. The higher the thermal conductivity of the material for the second support substrate 22 is, the better. However, if the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material for the second support substrate differs greatly from that of the material for the second sealing member 21, problems such as detachment of the second support substrate 22 and the second sealing member 21 may occur. Thus, for the second support substrate 22, it is preferable to use a material with a thermal conductivity higher than that of the material for the second sealing member 21 and a coefficient of thermal expansion close to that of the material for the second sealing member 21. The second main body 20 may not include the second support substrate 22.
As shown in
The second main body 20 has a second front surface and a second back surface. The second front surface is the uppermost surface of the second main body 20 and faces the heat dissipator 4 (attaching surface 41 described later). In the present embodiment, the second front surface is constituted by the front surface 211 (second sealing member 21) and the second exposed surface 221 (second support substrate 22). In a configuration different from the present embodiment, when the second support substrate 22 is not exposed from the second sealing member 21 or the second main body 20 does not include the second support substrate 22, the second front surface is constituted by the front surface 211 (second sealing member 21). When the second exposed surface 221 is located above the front surface 211, the second front surface is constituted by the second exposed surface 221. The second back surface is the lowermost surface of the second main body 20 and faces the mounting substrate 3 (mounting surface 31 described later). In the present embodiment, the second back surface is constituted by the back surface 212 (second sealing member 21).
Each of the second terminals 25 is partially covered with the second sealing member 21 and partially exposed from the second sealing member 21. Inside the second sealing member 21, the second terminals 25 are electrically connected to the second semiconductor elements Q2 or the second control element M2. The second terminals 25 correspond to the second terminals T21 or T22 in the circuit configuration (see
The material for the second terminals 25 is not limited, and copper (Cu), aluminum, iron (Fe), oxygen-free copper, or their alloys (e.g., Cu—Sn alloy, Cu—Zr alloy or Cu—Fe alloy) may be used. Each of the second terminals 25 may be plated with nickel (Ni).
As shown in
The second terminals 25 include a plurality of second power terminals 251 and a plurality of second control terminals 252. The second power terminals 251 are electrically connected to the second semiconductor elements Q2 inside the second sealing member 21. The second power terminals 251 correspond to the second terminals T21 in the circuit configuration (see
As shown in
The first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2 are mounted to the mounting substrate 3. The mounting substrate 3 is a circuit board used for electronic equipment, for example. The mounting substrate 3 is made of an insulating material and may be a PCB. The mounting substrate 3 is formed with an interconnect pattern (not shown). The first terminals 15 of the first electronic component 1 and the second terminals 25 of the second electronic component 2 are electrically connected to the interconnect pattern formed on the mounting substrate 3.
The mounting substrate 3 has a mounting surface 31 facing one sense of the z direction (upward). The mounting surface 31 is flat. The mounting surface 31 faces the first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2. The first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2 are disposed on the mounting surface 31. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The heat dissipator 4 is made of a material with a relatively high thermal conductivity, which may be a metal such as aluminum. The heat dissipator 4 is attached to the first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2. For example, the heat dissipator 4 is bonded to the first front surface of the first main body 10 (the front surface 111 of the first sealing member 11 and the first exposed surface 121 of the first support substrate 12) and to the second front surface of the second main body 20 (the front surface 211 of the second sealing member 21 and the second exposed surface 221 of the second support substrate 22) with an adhesive (not shown). The heat dissipator 4 may be fixed to the mounting substrate 3 with a fixture (not shown). In such a case, the heat dissipator 4 may not be bonded to the first front surface of the first main body 10 or the second front surface of the second main body 20 but may only be held in direct contact with these surfaces.
The heat dissipator 4 has an attaching surface 41 facing one sense of the z direction (downward). The attaching surface 41 is flat. The attaching surface 41 faces the first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2. The first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2 are attached to the attaching surface 41. As shown in
As shown in
In the electronic device A1, the dimension of the first main body 10 (first sealing member 11) in the z direction and the dimension of the second main body 20 (second sealing member 21) in the z direction differ from each other. In the electronic device A1, the dimension of the second main body 20 in the z direction is smaller than the dimension of the first main body 10 in the z direction, because the number of the second semiconductor elements Q2 incorporated in the second electronic component 2 is smaller than the number of the first semiconductor elements Q1 incorporated in the first electronic component 1. The cause of the difference between the dimension of the first main body 10 in the z direction and the dimension of the second main body 20 in the z direction is not limited to the difference between the number of the first semiconductor elements Q1 and the number of the second semiconductor elements Q2. For example, different packaging standards may be adopted for the first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2, which may result in the difference between the dimension of the first main body 10 in the z direction and that of the second main body 20. Also, the first semiconductor elements Q1 and the second semiconductor elements Q2, which are used in the first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2, respectively, may differ in size from each other, which may result in the difference between the dimension of the first main body 10 in the z direction and that of the second main body 20.
As shown in
The advantages of the electronic device A1 according to the first embodiment are as follows.
The electronic device A1 includes the heat dissipator 4 attached to the first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2. Thus, even when the first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2 generate heat during the energization of the electronic device A1, such heat is dissipated through the heat dissipator 4. In this way, the electronic device A1 enhances the heat dissipation from the first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2.
In the electronic device A1, a gap is provided between the second back surface of the second main body 20 (back surface 212 of the second sealing member 21) and the mounting surface 31 (mounting substrate 3). Such an arrangement makes it possible to arrange the first front surface of the first main body 10 (front surface 111 and first exposed surface 121) and the second front surface of the second main body 20 (front surface 211 and second exposed surface 221) within a same x-y plane when the dimension of the second main body 20 in the z direction is smaller than the dimension of the first main body 10 in the z direction. In other words, the first front surface of the first main body 10 and the second front surface of the second main body 20 can be made overlap with each other as viewed in the x direction. Unlike the illustrated example, when no gap is provided between the second back surface of the second main body 20 and the mounting surface 31, the difference between the dimension of the first main body 10 in the z direction and the dimension of the second main body 20 in the z direction results in a step being formed between the first front surface and the second front surface. In such a case, the heat dissipator 4 common to the first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2 cannot be provided, and a heat dissipator needs to be provided separately for each electronic component. This complicates the manufacture and maintenance of the electronic device. The electronic device A1 eliminates such a step between the first front surface of the first main body 10 and the second front surface of the second main body 20 to allow the attachment of the heat dissipator 4 common to the first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2, which simplifies manufacture and maintenance.
In the example shown in
In the electronic device A1, selected ones of the second terminals 25 (second electronic component 2) are each formed with a second projection 253. With such a configuration, each of the second projections 253 engages with the mounting surface 31 to prevent the second main body 20 from approaching the mounting substrate 3 across the predetermined separation distance. That is, the separation distance T2 is reliably maintained between the second back surface of the second main body 20 (back surface 212 of second sealing member 21) and the mounting surface 31.
As shown in
As mentioned above, the electronic device A2 has a gap between the back surface 112 and the mounting surface 31, as shown in
In the electronic device A2, the first terminals 15 disposed near the four corners as viewed in plan are each formed with a first projection 153. As shown in
As shown in
As with the electronic device A1, the electronic device A2 includes the heat dissipator 4 attached to the first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2. Thus, the electronic device A2 enhances the heat dissipation from the first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2. The electronic device A1 also eliminates a step between the first front surface of the first main body 10 (mainly the front surface 111 of the first sealing member 11) and the second front surface of the second main body 20 (mainly the front surface 211 of the second sealing member 21) to allow the attachment of the heat dissipator 4 common to the first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2. Thus, the manufacture and maintenance of the device is relatively easy.
In the electronic device A2, selected ones of the first terminals 15 (first electronic component 1) are each formed with a first projection 153. With such an arrangement, each of the first projections 153 engages with the mounting surface 31 to prevent the first main body 10 from further approaching the mounting substrate 3. That is, the separation distance T1 is reliably maintained between the first back surface of the first main body 10 (back surface 112 of first sealing member 11) and the mounting surface 31.
In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the shape of each first projection 153 and each second projection 253 is not limited to the above example, and may be any shape that does not pass through the through-holes 33 but is caught on the mounting surface 31. Also, selected ones of the first terminals 15 each may be relatively thick at a portion above the mounting surface 31 in the z direction and relatively thin at a portion below the mounting surface 31 in the z direction, rather than being formed with a first projection 153. In such a case, the diameter of the relatively thick portion is made larger than the diameter of the through-holes 33. With such an arrangement, the thick portions of these first terminals 15 are caught on the mounting surface 31, so that the separation distance T1 is reliably secured. Similarly, selected ones of the second terminals 25 each may also be relatively thick at a portion above the mounting surface 31 in the z direction and relatively thin at a portion below the mounting surface 31 in the z direction, rather than being formed with a second projection 253. In such a case, the diameter of the relatively thick portion is made larger than the diameter of the through-holes 33. With such an arrangement, the thick portions of these second terminals 25 are caught on the mounting surface 31, so that the separation distance T2 is reliably secured.
As shown in
In the mounting substrate 3 of the electronic device A3, the interconnect pattern (now shown) includes a plurality of land patterns 34. The land patterns 34 are electrically connected by the interconnect pattern (not shown).
As mentioned above, each of the first terminals 15 and each of the second terminals 25 is configured as the surface mount type. The first terminals 15 and the second terminals 25 are, for example, in the form of a strip as viewed in plan.
As shown in
As shown in
In the electronic device A3, the dimension of each second terminal 25 in the z direction is made larger than the dimension of each first terminal 15 in the z direction. Specifically, the dimension of the intermediate portion of each second terminal 25 in the z direction is made larger than the dimension of the intermediate portion of each first terminal 15 in the z direction. Such an arrangement makes the separation distance T2 between the back surface 212 and the mounting surface 31 in the z direction larger than the separation distance T1 between the back surface 112 and the mounting surface 31 in the z direction, allowing the front surface 111 (first sealing member 11) and the front surface 211 (second sealing member 21) to be positioned within a same x-y plane.
As with the electronic devices A1 and A2, the electronic device A3 includes the heat dissipator 4 attached to the first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2. Thus, the electronic device A3 enhances the heat dissipation from the first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2. The electronic device A3 also eliminates a step between the first front surface of the first main body 10 (mainly the front surface 111 of the first sealing member 11) and the second front surface of the second main body 20 (mainly the front surface 211 of the second sealing member 21) to allow the attachment of the heat dissipator 4 common to the first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2. Thus, the manufacture and maintenance of the device is relatively easy.
As shown in
As with the electronic device A2, the electronic device A4 has a gap between the back surface 112 and the mounting surface 31. That is, in the electronic device A4, the separation distance T1 between the back surface 112 and the mounting surface 31 is made larger than the separation distance T1 in the third embodiment. The separation distance T2 between the back surface 212 and the mounting surface 31 is made larger than the separation distance T2 in the third embodiment by the amount of the increased separation distance T1. In the present embodiment again, the separation distance T2 between the back surface 212 and the mounting surface 31 is larger than the separation distance T1 between the back surface 112 and the mounting surface 31.
As with the electronic devices A1-A3, the electronic device A4 includes the heat dissipator 4 attached to the first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2. Thus, the electronic device A4 enhances the heat dissipation from the first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2. The electronic device A4 also eliminates a step between the first front surface of the first main body 10 (mainly the front surface 111 of the first sealing member 11) and the second front surface of the second main body 20 (mainly the front surface 211 of the second sealing member 21) to allow the attachment of the heat dissipator 4 common to the first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2. Thus, the manufacture and maintenance of the device is relatively easy.
The first and the second embodiments have shown the example in which the first terminals 15 (first electronic component 1) and the second terminals 25 (second electronic component 2) both have the insertion-mount structure, and the third and the fourth embodiments have shown the example in which the first terminals 15 (first electronic component 1) and the second terminals 25 (second electronic component 2) both have the surface-mount structure. However, the present disclosure is not limited to these. For example, either the first terminals 15 or the second terminals 25 may have the insertion-mount structure while the other may have the surface-mount structure.
The first through the fourth embodiments have shown the example in which the number of the first semiconductor elements Q1 incorporated in the first electronic component 1 is larger than the number of the second semiconductor elements Q2 incorporated in the second electronic component 2. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the number of the first semiconductor elements Q1 may be smaller than the number of the second semiconductor elements Q2. Depending on the performance or type of the elements used as the first semiconductor elements Q1 or the second semiconductor elements Q2, the first semiconductor elements Q1 may be larger than the second semiconductor element Q2. In such a case, the dimension of the first sealing member 11 in the z direction may be larger than the dimension of the second sealing member 21 in the z direction even when the number of the first semiconductor elements Q1 is smaller than the number of the second semiconductor elements Q2. Even in such a case, a step between the first front surface of the first main body 10 (mainly front surface 111) and the second front surface of the second main body 20 (mainly the front surface 211) is eliminated by setting the separation distance T2 between the second sealing member 21 (back surface 212) and the mounting substrate 3 (mounting surface 31) in the z direction to be larger than the separation distance T1 between the first sealing member 11 (back surface 112) and the mounting substrate 3 (mounting surface 31) in the z direction, thus making it possible to attach the heat dissipator 4 common to the first electronic component 1 and the second electronic component 2.
The first through the fourth embodiments have shown the example in which the electronic device A1-A4 has two electronic components (first electronic component 1 and second electronic component 2). However, the present disclosure is not limited to these, and the electronic device may include three or more electronic components.
The electronic device according to the present disclosure is not limited to the foregoing embodiments. The specific configuration of each part of the electronic device according to the present disclosure may be varied in many ways. For example, the electronic device according to the present disclosure include the embodiments described in the following clauses:
Clause 1.
An electronic device comprising:
The electronic device according to clause 1, wherein the first back surface and the mounting surface are in contact with each other.
Clause 3.
The electronic device according to clause 1, wherein a gap is provided between the first back surface and the mounting surface, and
The electronic device according to any of clauses 1-3, wherein the mounting substrate is formed with a plurality of land patterns on the mounting surface, and
The electronic device according to any of clauses 1-3, wherein the mounting substrate is formed with a plurality of through-holes penetrating the mounting substrate in the thickness direction, and
The electronic device according to clause 5, wherein one or more of the second terminals include a projection located between the second back surface and the mounting surface and projecting in a direction orthogonal to the thickness direction.
Clause 7.
The electronic device according to any of clauses 1-6, wherein the first front surface and the second front surface are bonded to the attaching surface of the heat dissipator with an adhesive.
Clause 8.
The electronic device according to any of clauses 1-7, wherein the first main body includes a plurality of first semiconductor elements and a first sealing member covering the first semiconductor elements, and
The electronic device according to clause 8, wherein the first main body further includes a first control element that controls driving of each of the first semiconductor elements, the first control element being covered with the first sealing member, and
The electronic device according to clause 9, wherein the first electronic component is a power module.
Clause 11.
The electronic device according to any of clauses 8-10, wherein the first main body further includes a first support substrate supporting at least the first semiconductor elements, and
The electronic device according to clause 11, wherein the first sealing member has a first sealing surface facing the attaching surface,
The electronic device according to any of clauses 8-12, wherein the second main body includes one or more second semiconductor elements that are less than the first semiconductor elements and a second sealing member covering the second semiconductor elements, and
The electronic device according to clause 13, wherein the second main body further includes a second control element that controls driving of each of said one or more second semiconductor elements,
The electronic device according to clause 14, wherein the second electronic component is a power module.
Clause 16.
The electronic device according to any of clauses 13-15, wherein the second main body further includes a second support substrate supporting said one or more second semiconductor elements, and
The electronic device according to clause 16, wherein the second sealing member has a second sealing surface facing the attaching surface,
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2020-040873 | Mar 2020 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2021/005493 | 2/15/2021 | WO |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2021/182022 | 9/16/2021 | WO | A |
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