# US 2014/0192483 A1 · Thermal dissipative retractable flex assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192483 A1 - Document ID: US20140192483A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/734,501 - Filed: 2013-01-04 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: John R. Dangler; Matthew S. Doyle - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192483A1 ## CPC - H05K 1/028: {Bending or folding regions of flexible printed circuits (H05K1/0283 takes precedence)} - H05K 1/0209: {External configuration of printed circuit board adapted for heat dissipation, e.g. lay-out of conductors, coatings} - H05K 2201/051: Rolled - H05K 2201/09781: Dummy conductors, i.e. not used for normal transport of current; Dummy electrodes of components - H05K 2201/2036: Permanent spacer or stand-off in a printed circuit or printed circuit assembly - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus comprising a flexible circuit having a proximal end, a distal end, and a plurality of longitudinal conductors. Further, the apparatus includes a substantially cylindrical retractor capable of retracting the flexible circuit around an exterior surface. Further still, the apparatus includes a plurality of thermal energy transfer turrets attached to the flexible circuit near the plurality of longitudinal conductors. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a flexible circuit having a proximal end, a distal end, and a plurality of longitudinal conductors; a substantially cylindrical retractor capable of retracting the flexible circuit around an exterior surface; and a plurality of thermal energy transfer turrets attached to the flexible circuit near the plurality of longitudinal conductors. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of thermal energy transfer turrets are adjacent to the plurality of longitudinal conductors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retractor comprises a grounded, thermally conductive polymer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substantially cylindrical retractor comprises a plurality of radial ventilation holes between the exterior surface and an interior of the substantially cylindrical retractor arranged in a perforation pattern. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the perforation pattern is adjacent to an area of relatively high thermal activity in the flexible circuit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein flexible circuit comprises an insulating layer; and wherein the insulating layer comprises a dielectric substrate with at least one of the following characteristics: low dielectric constant, low dissipation factor, an ability to withstand high operating temperatures, a high insulation resistance, and high surface resistivity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the insulating layer is chosen from the group consisting of: a polyimide film; a polyester film; an aramid; a reinforced composite; and a fluorocarbon. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fan coupled to the retractor in operable engagement with the plurality of thermal energy transfer turrets. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a riser element coupled longitudinally to the flexible circuit, wherein the riser element separates a plurality of layers of the flexible circuit when the flexible circuit is retracted around the retractor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the riser element is comprised of a material chosen from the group consisting of: a foam, a polyimide, a polyester, an aramid, a reinforced composite, or a fluorocarbon. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a heat sink integrated into an interior surface of the substantially cylindrical retractor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the heat sink comprises a plurality of radial fins extending inwardly from the interior surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of thermal energy transfer turrets are positioned to improve thermal energy dissipation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of thermal energy transfer turrets are spaced longitudinally along a peripheral edge of the flexible circuit such that none of the plurality of thermal energy transfer turrets is in contact with another turret when the flexible circuit is retracted around the retractor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electric insulator coating the plurality of thermal energy transfer turrets. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of thermal energy transfer turrets comprises material that a longitudinal conductor included in the plurality of longitudinal conductors is comprised of. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of thermal energy transfer turrets comprises extensions of a longitudinal conductor included in the plurality of longitudinal conductors. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of thermal energy transfer turrets comprises material chosen from the group consisting of: aluminum; copper; diamond; copper-tungsten; dymalloy; E-Material; and a thermal conductive material. ### Claim 19 An apparatus, comprising: a flexible circuit having a proximal end, a distal end, and a plurality of longitudinal conductors; a substantially cylindrical retractor capable of retracting the flexible circuit around an exterior surface, wherein the retractor comprises a grounded, thermally conductive polymer, wherein the retractor comprises a plurality of radial ventilation holes between the exterior surface and an interior of the retractor arranged in a perforation pattern; a plurality of thermal energy transfer turrets attached to the flexible circuit near the plurality of longitudinal conductors, wherein the plurality of thermal energy transfer turrets are positioned to improve thermal energy dissipation, wherein the plurality of thermal energy transfer turrets are spaced longitudinally along a peripheral edge of the flexible circuit such that none of the plurality of thermal energy transfer turrets is in contact with another turret when the flexible circuit is retracted around the retractor, wherein the plurality of thermal energy transfer turrets comprises material that a longitudinal conductor included in the plurality of longitudinal conductors is comprised of, wherein the plurality of thermal energy transfer turrets comprises extensions of a longitudinal conductor included in the plurality of longitudinal conductors, wherein the plurality of thermal energy transfer turrets comprises: material chosen from the group consisting of: aluminum; copper; diamond; copper-tungsten; dymalloy; E-Material; and a thermal conductive material; a fan coupled to the retractor in operable engagement with the plurality of thermal energy transfer turrets; a riser element coupled longitudinally to the flexible circuit, wherein the riser element separates a plurality of layers of the flexible circuit when the flexible circuit is retracted around the retractor, wherein the riser element is comprised of a material chosen from the group consisting of: a foam, a polyimide, a polyester, an aramid, a reinforced composite, or a fluorocarbon; a heat sink integrated into an interior surface of the retractor, wherein the heat sink comprises a plurality of radial fins extending inwardly from the interior surface; an electric insulator coating the plurality of thermal energy transfer turrets; wherein the perforation pattern is adjacent to an area of relatively high thermal activity in the flexible circuit; wherein flexible circuit comprises an insulating layer, wherein the insulating layer comprises a dielectric substrate with at least one of the following characteristics: low dielectric constant, low dissipation factor, an ability to withstand high operating temperatures, a high insulation resistance, and high surface resistivity; and wherein the insulating layer is chosen from the group consisting of: a polyimide film; a polyester film; an aramid; a reinforced composite; and a fluorocarbon.