International Business Machines Corporation

University of Texas System

Dereje Agonafer

Robert E Simons

Richard C Chu

Gregory Martin Chrysler

Timothy M Anderson

Michael J Ellsworth, Jr

David T Vader

Huy N Phan

Richard Chao-Fan Chu

Arnold Ojars Vimba

Devices, methods, and systems for facilitating heat transfer and cooling electronic components are presented. A system for cooling an electronic component includes a cold core, a plurality of solid state cooling devices, and a plurality of heat sinks. The cold core may define one or more cavities for receiving electronic components. The system may include an air mover and a duct. In operation, the system may cool an electronic component to sub-ambient temperatures. In other embodiments, the system may include multiple cold cores connected by liquid conduits for facilitating a flow of a cooling fluid.

Multidimensional heat transfer system for cooling electronic components

Devices, methods, and systems for facilitating heat transfer around an electronic component during thermal-cycle testing are presented. A system may include a core, a plurality of solid state heating/cooling devices, and a plurality of heat sinks. The core defines one or more cavities for receiving an electronic component. The system may include an air mover and a duct. In operation, the system may cool an electronic component to sub-ambient temperatures and heat it to above the boiling point of water. A method of thermal-cycle testing may include a core defining a cavity for receiving an electronic component, selectively inducing said heating/cooling devices to operate in a heating mode or a cooling mode, and measuring and recording conditions during the test.

Thermal reliability testing systems with thermal cycling and multidimensional heat transfer

Cavity plate and jet nozzle assemblies are presented for use in cooling an electronic module. The assemblies include a cavity plate having one or more blind holes formed therein and one or more jet nozzles each configured to reside within a respective blind hole of the cavity plate. A lower surface of the blind hole and/or jet nozzle is curved to facilitate the flow of fluid from the blind hole after impinging upon the lower surface of the blind hole. Various jet nozzle configurations are also provided which employ pedestals or radially extending fins. Further, the radially extending fins may interdigitate with inwardly extending fins on the inner sidewall of a respective blind hole in the cavity plate. Methods of fabricating the cavity plate and jet nozzle assemblies are also presented.

Cavity plate and jet nozzle assemblies for use in cooling an electronic module, and methods of fabrication thereof

Apparatus for cooling an electronic device, and a resultant fluid-cooled electronic apparatus are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a heat sink member with a surface for making thermal contact with the electronic device. The heat sink member has a first plurality of channels for carrying coolant fluid. The first plurality of channels are positioned in a first group and a second group such that coolant flow alternates across the member. The heat sink member further includes a second plurality of channels disposed above the first plurality of channels such that the first and second pluralities of channels comprise tiered channels. The second plurality of channels further includes a third group of channels and a fourth group of channels, wherein the third group of channels and fourth group of channels are positioned generally alternately across the member so that coolant flow also alternates direction therebetween.

Isothermal heat sink with tiered cooling channels

A heat sink is provided for use with stacks of integrated circuit chips. The heat sink comprises a thermally conductive body having a recess in which the chip stack is disposed. The heat sink also includes fins which extend away from the recess. In one embodiment, fins are provided inside the recess for improved cooling of higher power chips such as a microprocessor which is surrounded by less thermally demanding memory chips.

Extended surface cooling for chip stack applications

A parallel plate heat sink, used in conjunction with an air moving device which provides an annular flow of air against the heat sink, is further provided with enhanced flow deflector means which selectively block potential exhaust paths so as to redirect the flow of air to the region under a central hub of the fan. This transforms otherwise stagnant air volume in the center of the heat sink into a primary cooling region thus lowering conduction losses and electronic component junction temperatures. Redirection of air flow includes passages within end fins which enhance capacity by improving the exiting flow.

Air flow distribution in integrated circuit spot coolers

A solid model of each part within an electronic package is created and assigned at least one non-geometrical property. For example, this may comprise automatically extracting information from a printed circuit board design tool and creating solid models of a printed circuit board and the parts thereon. Thereafter, each solid model is subdivided into multiple finite control volumes. A plurality of boundary conditions are automatically established for each of the multiple finite control volumes of each part using that part's non-geometrical property. Thermal analysis may then be performed on the electronic package using the boundary conditions for each finite control volume of each solid model of each part contained therewithin.

Methods and system for thermal analysis of electronic packages

A heat exchanger, especially for use in conjunction with a wide range of computer systems ranging from work stations to massively parallel processors is employable with both air and water cooling systems. In particular, a heat exchanger is provided which is convertible from a heat sink modality to an air cooling modality and finally to a liquid cooling modality in response to either increased performance demands or an increase in the number of processors or circuit components employed. The conversion may be carried out in the field and provides a flexible and less costly upgradeability path for data processing customers.

Convertible heat exchanger for air or water cooling of electronic

A convertible cooling module, especially for use in conjunction with a wide range of computer systems ranging from workstations to massively parallel processors is employable with both air and water cooling systems. In particular, a cooling module is convertible from a heat sink modality to an air cooling modality, and finally to a liquid cooling modality in response to either increased performance demands or an increase in the number of processors or circuit components employed. The conversion may be carried out in the field and provides a flexible and less costly upgradeability path for computer customers.

Convertible cooling module for air or water cooling of electronic

Heat producing components such as semiconductor chips are arranged with a major heat transfer surface at an angle of about 10 degrees to the vertical. A film of a dielectric liquid flows downward across this surface from a catch pan located above the component. The film evaporates and thereby removes heat from the component and the vapor is condensed and returned to the catch pan. The angle of the heat transfer surface helps to prevent separation of the film as it flows downward across the surface. In one embodiment the slanting surface is formed by slanted grooves in an otherwise vertical surface of a semiconductor chip. In other embodiments, a slanting surface or a vertical surface with slanting grooves is formed in place on the chip or is formed separately and attached to the chip or is formed as part of a local enclosure for the chip.

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Poughkeepsie, NY, United States of America

Dereje Agonafer