Intel Corporation

Kevin J Haley

Michael Francis O'Connor

Rakesh Bhatia

Hong Xie

Larry Louis Moresco

Biswajit Sur

Ravindranath Vithal Mahajan

Daniel Thomas Adams

Robert Starkston

Michael P Brownell

Charles A Gealer

Dan R McCutchan

Mostafa A Aghazadeh

Joseph C Krauskopf

Frank Kolman

Michael A Kast

Niel C Delaplane

A semiconductor chip is shown containing an integral heat spreading layer that more effectively transmits heat from the die to ambient as a result of spreading the heat out on the die over a larger cross sectional area. Local hot spots are minimized which allows the semiconductor chip to operate at a higher frequency for a given upper threshold temperature. Also shown is a method of manufacturing such a semiconductor chip, and the associated method of cooling a semiconductor chip.

Diamond heat spreading and cooling technique for integrated circuits

Socketable balls are mounted to a BGA package by first placing the balls into pockets or holes of a tray that are sized such that when the balls are inserted, an upper portion of the ball protrudes above a planar surface of the tray. A layer of a polymer material is then applied over the balls and a top area of each of the balls is exposed, and plated with solder. During the plating step the polymer provides a solder-tight seal against each of the balls such that, except for the top area, the rest of the surface area of the balls remains solder-free. The solder-plated top area of each of the balls is then bonded to the corresponding plurality of lands of the package by reflowing the solder to establish electrical contact therebetween.

Socketable BGA package

A heat exchanger adapated for heat dissipation. A first heat transfer element has an end which forms an engaging surface. A second heat transfer element has a receptacle portion which is integrally formed and has an engaging surface that is urged against the engaging surface of the first heat transfer element when the first heat transfer element and the second heat transfer element are mated.

Thermal connector for joining mobile electronic devices to docking stations

A computer system, such as a notebook computer, that includes a lid having integrated circuit components that require heat dissipation while protecting the screen display of the lid.

Cooling system for integrated circuit chips in a portable computer

A method and apparatus for controlling the thickness of a thermal interface between a processor die and a thermal plate in a microprocessor assembly are provided. The apparatus includes a generally rectangular shaped thermal top cover having a recessed portion of predetermined depth and aperture therein. The thermal top cover fits over the processor die. A thermal interface layer fills the recessed portion of the thermal top cover covering the processor die. The depth of the recessed portion is greater than the thickness of the processor die so that the thickness of the thermal interface layer is controlled. A thermal plate is placed over the thermal top cover in contact with the thermal grease so as to form a thermal path from the processor die to the thermal plate.

Thermal interface thickness control for a microprocessor

Cooling system for integrated circuit chips in a portable computer lid

An apparatus and method for removing heat from a heat generating component located within a thin-profile consumer electronic or computer system enclosure is disclosed. In one embodiment the cooling system of the present invention includes an air duct comprising a thermally conductive housing having internal fins dispersed along the internal walls of the duct. An air flow generator produces an air flow that is directed from an inlet port located at or near the center of the air duct to first and second exit ports located at opposite ends of the duct. A low resistance thermal path, such as a heat pipe, transfers heat from the heat generating component to the air duct housing.

Cooling system for thin profile electronic and computer devices

A printed circuit board assembly that has a heatpipe. The assembly includes an integrated circuit package that is mounted to a printed circuit board. The heatpipe is attached to a plastic mold that is mounted to the printed circuit board. When assembled to the circuit board, the heatpipe is thermally coupled to the integrated circuit package. The plastic mold is lightweight and relatively inexpensive to produce. The mold also provides enough structural rigidity to prevent warping of the heatpipe.

Injection molded thermal interface system

A heat pipe exchanger system for cooling a hinged computing device. The hinged computing device includes a first hinged member having a first edge and second hinged member having a second edge. The first and second hinged members are rotatably attached along the first and second edge. A heat exchange sheath is mounted substantially parallel to the first and second edges and defines a first opening and a second opening. A first heat pipe is thermally coupled to the integrated circuit and has a portion disposed within the first opening. A second heat pipe is coupled to the display housing and has a portion disposed within the second housing. Alternately, the first heat pipe is coupled to the first hinged member and has a first portion substantially parallel to the first edge and the second edge. In this case, the second heat pipe is coupled to the second hinged member and has a first portion substantially perpendicular to the first heat pipe as well as a second portion conformally engaging the first heat pipe.

Heat pipe exchanger system for cooling a hinged computing device

A heat pipe exchanger system for cooling a hinged computing device. The hinged computing device includes a first hinged member having a first edge and second hinged member having a second edge. The first and second hinged members are rotatably attached along the first and second edges. A heat exchange sheath is mounted substantially parallel to the first and second edges and defines a first opening and a second opening. A first heat pipe is thermally coupled to the integrated circuit and has a portion disposed within the first opening. A second heat pipe is coupled to the display housing and has a portion disposed within the second opening. Alternately, the first heat pipe is coupled to the first hinged member and has a first portion substantially parallel to the first edge and the second edge. In this case, the second heat pipe is coupled to the second hinged member and has a first portion substantially perpendicular to the first heat pipe as well as a second portion conformally engaging the first heat pipe.

A heat transfer apparatus providing thermal coupling between a first and a second hinged member. The first hinged member is a first computer housing member, and the second hinged member is a second computer housing member. The first and the second computer housing members are rotatably attached allowing pivotal motion along an axis substantially parallel to the first edge. A first embodiment has a spiraled heat transfer element with a inner edge thermally coupled to a heat conductive mounting element mounted along the first edge of the first computer housing member. The spiraled heat transfer element forms at least one turn around the heat conductive mounting element and has outer edge affixed to the second computer housing member. A second embodiment provides heat transfer between the first and second computer housing members through the gudgeon and the pintle of the hinge.

Apparatus for dissipating heat in a hinged computing device

A surface mount package for an electronic device has an array of solder shapes or structures projecting from the bottom surface of the package. The solder structures are cast in place on the package substrate using a wave solder process. The solder also fills via holes in the substrate at each solder structure site. An integrated circuit is bonded to the top surface of the substrate using a conventional tape automated bonding (TAB) process or other suitable bonding process. The preferred shape of the solder structure is a cone, but other shapes, including hemispheres, columns and pyramids can be produced using a mold with suitably shaped cavities. The mold is preferably as large as an entire substrate panel so that a large number of device sites can be processed simultaneously.

Method of making solder shape array package

A ball grid array (BGA) package which contains an integrated circuit die that is directly mounted to either a heat sink or a printed circuit board. In one embodiment, the package has an integrated circuit with surface pads that are coupled to a flexible circuit board. Solder balls are attached to the flexible circuit board and solder the BGA package to a printed circuit board. The flexible circuit has an opening that exposes the integrated circuit and allows the IC to be soldered to the printed circuit board by solder balls attached directly to the surface pads of the IC die. The direct attachment between the die and printed circuit board increases the number of IC output pins. The flexible circuit board and die are covered by a protective injection molded plastic housing. In a second embodiment, the integrated circuit die is flipped upside down and a surface of the die is exposed through the plastic housing. A heat sink can be attached to the exposed die surface to improve the thermal performance of the package.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Kevin J Haley