Intel Corporation

Neal E Ulen

Thomas J Wong

Ketan R Shah

David J Llapitan

Jeffory L Smalley

Peter A Davison

Sanka Ganesan

Ram S Viswanath

Joshua Heppner

Rajasekaran Swaminathan

David Shia

Donald Tiendung Tran

Sandeep Ahuja

Gaurav Chawla

Vijaykumar Krithivasan

Ed J Unrein

Chris H Hanes

Ishfaqur Raza

In one embodiment, a load frame and an integrated circuit device are aligned, with a base frame carried on a substrate, along a first alignment axis defined by a first alignment post extending from the base frame to the load frame, in a direction transverse to the substrate, and a first biasing device carried on the base frame is actuated to engage and bias the load frame toward the base frame aligned with the load frame, and to bias the integrated circuit toward the substrate. A latch latches the load and base frames together, aligned with and biased towards each other with the integrated circuit device and the substrate aligned with, and biased toward each other. Other aspects and features are also described.

Contact protection for integrated circuit device loading

Embodiments related to integrated circuit (IC) connectors are described. In some embodiments, an IC assembly may include an IC package substrate, an intermediate member, and a male connector. The IC package substrate may have first signal contacts on a top or bottom surface, and the bottom surface may have second signal contacts for coupling with a socket on a circuit board. The intermediate member may have a first end coupled to the first signal contacts and a second end extending beyond the side surface. The male connector may be disposed at the second end of the intermediate member, and may have signal contacts coupled to the signal contacts of the intermediate member. The male connector may be mateable with a female connector when the female connector is brought into engagement in a direction parallel to the axis of the intermediate member. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.

Integrated circuit connectors

An apparatus for removably retaining an IC package in engagement with a socket such that the contacts of both the IC package and the socket are properly engaged is disclosed. Specifically, a universal retention mechanism (URM) which may be fabricated in a diecast material, may comprise a retention frame to engage a socket. A load plate hinged to the retention frame may be caused to press the socket and IC package together through force selectively applied through the use of a load lever. In addition, the frame may contain features to attach a thermal solution (e.g. a heat sink or other cooling device) directly to the frame thus eliminating the need to attach it directly to a motherboard or through a backplate.

Unified retention mechanism for CPU/socket loading and thermal solution attach

In some embodiments, a method includes providing a circuit board having a plurality of holes formed therethrough and mounting a spring to an underside of the circuit board such that the mounted spring has a plurality of holes each of which is aligned with a respective one of the holes in the circuit board. Bosses of the spring are each sandwiched between a respective standoff on a chassis and a respective standoff on a heat sink. Holes in the circuit board at the locus of the standoffs are sized so that the circuit board is not sandwiched between the standoffs. The spring presses the circuit board upwardly to bring an integrated circuit in contact with the heat sink.

Heat sink mounting and interface mechanism and method of assembling same

The present invention provides an improved heat sink retention assembly, such that the heat sink is physically supported by a base rather than by an integrated circuit. Traditional heat sinks have an alignment feature that physically aligns and supports the heat sink by contact of the feature with an integrated circuit, and that transfers force applied to the heat sink to the integrated circuit. This transferred force may be seen as shear stress at the pins of integrated circuits such as pin-grid arrays, and may damage the integrity of the integrated circuit or its connection to an external circuit. The present invention provides alignment and support features remote from contact with the integrated circuit, and therefore provides support for the heat sink in a manner that does not place substantial stress on the integrated circuit.

Integrated circuit heat sink support and retention mechanism

A microprocessor heat sink retention module is described. That module comprises a first frame that has a first side and a second side. The first side is separated from the second side by a distance that is sufficient to enable a microprocessor to fit within the frame. The first and second sides each have at least one aperture for receiving a microprocessor heat sink. The module also has a heat transfer platform, which is integrated with the first frame. The heat transfer platform comprises a substantially flat metal slab for dissipating heat that is generated by a voltage regulator. Also described are an assembly for a computer and a computer system that include this microprocessor heat sink retention module.

Microprocessor heat sink retention module

A heat sink retention module provides physical support for a heat sink while providing an electrical ground path for the heat sink. The retention module includes a ground strip that maintains an electrical contact with the heat sink while contacting a circuit board ground connection. In one embodiment, the ground strip includes upwardly extending spring members that contact the heat sink. In another embodiment, the ground strip includes a Faraday Cage formed from downwardly extending tabs. The retention module can be used in conjunction with an electrically conductive heat sink to provide a ground plane over an integrated circuit to shield the circuit from electromagnetic interference.

Processor EMI shielding

An integrated circuit system has an increased reliability when subjected to stress and vibration. The system includes heat sink retention clips that provide support to the retention system when an upward force is applied to a heat sink. An EMI shield can be provided that provides peripheral shielding for the circuit package thermally coupled to the heat sink.

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Lacey, WA, United States of America

Neal E Ulen