Thermalloy, Inc.

Jay Rasmussen

Matthew C Smithers

Heat sinks and electrical components pre-coated with a layer of a material such as thermal grease are disclosed. Contamination and migration of the thermal grease is substantially reduced by covering the coated areas with a release liner that is removed prior to the assembly of the heat sink into a circuit board or other assembly. By providing a pre-coated heat sink, productivity can be enhanced by increasing accuracy with which the thermal grease is applied, thus eliminating waste and clean up. Methods for pre-coating either a heat sink or the release liner with thermal grease are also disclosed. In preferred embodiments areas of the heat sink can be either fully coated, or portions electively coated, and the coating is most preferably accomplished by pushing grease through an applicator head that has numerous small nozzles. A system and method for dispensing grease either onto a heat sink, onto an electrical component capable of mounting to the heat sink, or onto a release liner that is later applied to the heat sink or electrical component is also disclosed. The release liner is preferably provided with a pull-off tab to facilitate the removal of the release liner. The present invention also discloses improved methods of installing a heat sink using heat sinks that are pre-coated with thermal grease.

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Richardson, TX, United States of America

Jay Rasmussen