The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 14, 2011
Filed:
Dec. 24, 2009
Mark S. Bohannon, Wake Forest, NC (US);
Derek I. Schmidt, Raleigh, NC (US);
Pat Gallarelli, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
Mark S. Bohannon, Wake Forest, NC (US);
Derek I. Schmidt, Raleigh, NC (US);
Pat Gallarelli, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
An integrated circuit is disposed on a circuit board. A heat sink retention module includes a bracket, members, and coil springs. The members extend through the coil springs and corresponding holes within the bracket to attach to the board. A heat sink is removably installed within the bracket in a toolless manner, such that the heat sink comes into contact with the integrated circuit. The heat sink and the bracket join together to become a single entity that is permitted to float along an axis perpendicular to a surface of the circuit board. The coil springs are tuned to define a predetermined force at which the heat sink is pushed against the integrated circuit. The module can include a latch having tabs bent at different angles relative to one another to balance forces applied by the tabs against the heat sink while the latter is being installed within the bracket.