Compliant pin fin heat sink and methods
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsJohn P. Karidis, Mark D. Schultz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heat sink includes a plurality of layers being disposed substantially parallel with a surface of a heat source. The layers include a plurality of pin portions spaced apart from each other in a planar arrangement wherein the pin portions of the layers are stacked and bonded to form pin fins extending in a transverse direction relative to the heat source to sink heat. A compliant layer is disposed between the pin fins and a mechanical load. The compliant layer provides compliance such that the pin fins accommodate dimensional differences when interfacing with the heat source.
Claims25
A heat sink, comprising:
- a plurality of layers being disposed substantially parallel with a surface of a heat source, such layers including:
- a plurality of pin portions spaced apart from each other in a planar arrangement wherein the pin portions of the layers are stacked and bonded to form pin fins extending in a transverse direction relative to the heat source to sink heat;
- and
- at least one compliant layer disposed between the pin fins and a mechanical load, the at least one compliant layer providing compliance such that the pin fins accommodate dimensional differences when interfacing with the heat source.
A heat sink, comprising:
- a plurality of pin portions spaced apart from each other in a planar arrangement, the pin portions being thermally conductive;
- and
- links connecting at least one pair of adjacent pin portions of the plurality of pin portions to form a planar sheet such that a ratio of a width of the pin portions to a width of the links is configured to make the planar sheet flexible.
A method for forming a compliant heat sink, comprising:
- providing a plurality of layers substantially parallel with a surface of a heat source, where each layer includes a plurality of pin portions spaced apart from each other in a planar arrangement and removable links connecting adjacent pin portions such that a ratio of a width of the pin portions to a width of the links is configured to make the planar sheet flexible either with the links or after removing at least one link;
- aligning pin portions of adjacent sheets;
- and
- bonding the pin portions of the adjacent sheets to form a stack of bonded sheets where the pin portions form columns of pin fins extending transversely from a heat source to heat sink the load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.