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US 10,256,578 B2Granted
Active cable heat sink
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsTyler Jandt, Phillip V. Mann, Mark D. Plucinski, Sandra J. Shirk/Heath
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cable, system, and method for cooling a semiconductor chip on an active cable. The active cable includes a heat sink that is thermally coupled to the semiconductor chip and movable from a retracted position to an extended position. The heat sink is in the retracted position when the active cable is not installed in a card connector in a computer case. After the active cable is installed in the card connector, the heat sink is urged to the extended position in which the heat sink is exposed to air flow circulation within the computer case.
Claims20
An electrical cable for engagement with a card connector, comprising:
- a cable comprising multiple signal conductors;
- a cable connector housing coupled to the cable, the cable connector housing including a distal end, configured for engagement with a card connector housing of a card connector, and an opposing proximal end;
- a paddle card arranged within the cable connector housing, the paddle card including:
- a first plurality of contacts arranged along an edge of the paddle card facing the distal end of the cable connector housing, wherein the first plurality of contacts are configured to engage card connector contacts of the card connector;
- a second plurality of contacts arranged along another edge of the paddle card toward the proximal end of the cable connector housing, wherein the second plurality of contacts are connected to respective ones of the multiple signal conductors;
- and
- a semiconductor chip arranged on the paddle card and in electrical communication with the first plurality of contacts and the second plurality of contacts, wherein the semiconductor chip is operable to modify electrical signals between the first and second plurality of contacts;
- a heat sink thermally coupled to the semiconductor chip, wherein the heat sink is movable from a retracted position to an extended position when the cable connector is seated in the card connector, wherein the heat sink is positioned within the cable connector housing in the retracted position, and wherein at least a portion of the heat sink extends through the cable connector housing and the card connector in the extended position.
5 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a computer card, comprising:
- a data processing card;
- and
- a card connector comprising a card connector housing that includes a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the card connector housing includes a window arranged at a location between the first and second ends, wherein the card connector housing includes a plurality of card contacts arranged toward the first end and an opening at a second opposing end, and wherein the plurality of card contacts are operatively connected to the data processing card;
- and
- an electrical cable, comprising:
- a cable comprising multiple signal conductors;
- a cable connector housing coupled to the cable, the cable connector housing including a distal end configured for engagement with the card connector housing and an opposing proximal end;
- a paddle card arranged within the cable connector housing, the paddle card including:
- a first plurality of contacts arranged along an edge of the paddle card facing the distal end of the cable connector housing, wherein the first plurality of contacts are configured to engage the plurality of card contacts of the card connector;
- a second plurality of contacts arranged along another edge of the paddle card toward the proximal end of the cable connector housing, wherein the second plurality of contacts are connected to respective ones of the multiple signal conductors;
- and
- a semiconductor chip arranged on the paddle card and in electrical communication with the first plurality of contacts and the second plurality of contacts, wherein the semiconductor chip is operable to modify electrical signals between the first and second plurality of contacts;
- a heat sink thermally coupled to the semiconductor chip, wherein the heat sink is movable from a retracted position to an extended position when the cable connector is seated in the card connector, wherein the heat sink is positioned within the cable connector housing in the retracted position, and wherein at least a portion of the heat sink extends through the cable connector housing and the window in the card connector housing in the extended position.
11 more elements
A method of connecting an active cable, comprising:
- positioning an active cable connector housing adjacent a card connector housing, the active cable connector housing including a heat sink and an integrated circuit disposed therein, wherein the heat sink is positioned in a retracted position;
- inserting the active cable connector housing into the card connector housing, wherein contacts of the active cable connector housing engage contacts of the card connector housing after the active cable connector housing is inserted into the card connector housing, and wherein the heat sink is thermally coupled to the integrated circuit in the active cable connector housing and extends through a window in the card connector housing from the retracted position to an extended position when the contacts of the cable connector housing and card connector housing are engaged.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.