# US 2017/0287809 A1 · Compliant pin fin heat sink with base integral pins > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0287809 A1 - Document ID: US20170287809A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/088,400 - Filed: 2016-04-01 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-01 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Mark D. SCHULTZ - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170287809A1 ## CPC - H10W 40/228: {the projecting parts being wire-shaped or pin-shaped} - H05K 1/0203: {Cooling of mounted components (H05K1/0272 takes precedence)} - H10W 40/47: by flowing liquids, e.g. forced water cooling - H10W 70/023: {Connecting or disconnecting interconnections thereto or therefrom, e.g. connecting bond wires or bumps} - H10W 70/027: {Mechanical treatments, e.g. deforming, punching or cutting} - H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract A compliant pin fin heat sink includes a flexible base plate having a thickness of from about 0.2 mm to about 0.5 mm. A plurality of pins extends from the flexible base plate and is formed integral with the flexible base plate by forging. A flexible top plate is connected to and spaced from the flexible base plate. The plurality of pins is disposed between the flexible base plate and the flexible top plate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A compliant pin fin heat sink comprising: a flexible base plate; a plurality of pins extending from the flexible base plate and formed integral with the flexible base plate; and a flexible top plate connected to and spaced from the flexible base plate, the plurality of pins disposed between the flexible base plate and the flexible top plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The compliant pin fin heat sink of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pins is forged in the flexible base plate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The compliant pin fin heat sink of claim 1, wherein the flexible based plate and the plurality of pins comprise copper. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The compliant pin fin heat sink of claim 1, wherein the compliant pin fin sink is flexible under an applied load of from about 50 pounds to about 300 pounds in an area of the compliant pin fin sink containing the plurality of pins. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The compliant pin fin heat sink of claim 1, wherein each pin in the plurality of pins extends from the flexible base plate a distance of from about 1 mm to about 5 mm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The compliant pin fin heat sink of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pins comprise a center to center spacing of from about 0.8 mm to about 2 mm and a diameter of from about 0.4 mm to about 1 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The compliant pin fin heat sink of claim 1, wherein: the flexible base plate comprises a length of about 50 mm and a width of about 50 mm; and the plurality of pins defines a rectangular area having 25 mm long sides. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The compliant pin fin heat sink of claim 1, further comprising a flow blocking structure disposed between and in contact with the flexible base plate and the flexible top plate, the flow block structure defining a flow channel between the flexible base plate and the flexible top plate and the plurality of pins disposed in the flow channel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The compliant pin fin heat sink of claim 8, wherein the flow blocking structure comprises an elastomer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The compliant pin fin heat sink of claim 8, wherein the flexible top plate comprises a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet passing through the flexible top plate, the liquid inlet and liquid outlet in communication with the flow channel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The compliant pin fin heat sink of claim 8, wherein: the plurality of pins comprises a plurality of separate groups of pins; the flow blocking structure comprises a plurality of separate flow channels; and each one of the plurality of separate groups of pins is disposed in one of the plurality of separate flow channels. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The compliant pin fin heat sink of claim 11, wherein the flexible top plate comprises a plurality of liquid inlets and a plurality of liquid outlets passing through the flexible top plate, each one of the plurality of separate flow channels in communication with one of the plurality of liquid inlets and one of the plurality of liquid outlets. ### Claim 13 A compliant pin fin heat sink comprising: a flexible base plate comprising a thickness of from about 0.2 mm to about 0.5 mm; a plurality of pins extending from the flexible base plate and formed integral with the flexible base plate; and a flexible top plate connected to and spaced from the flexible base plate, the plurality of pins disposed between the flexible base plate and the flexible top plate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The compliant pin fin heat sink of claim 13, wherein the plurality of pins is forged in the flexible base plate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The compliant pin fin heat sink of claim 13, wherein: the compliant pin fin heat sink further comprises a flow blocking structure disposed between and in contact with the flexible base plate and the flexible top plate, the flow block structure defining a flow channel between the flexible base plate and the flexible top plate and the plurality of pins disposed in the flow channel; and the flexible top plate comprises a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet passing through the flexible top plate, the liquid inlet and liquid outlet in communication with the flow channel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The compliant pin fin heat sink of claim 15, wherein the flow blocking structure comprises an elastomer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The compliant pin fin heat sink of claim 15, wherein: the plurality of pins comprises a plurality of separate groups of pins; the flow blocking structure comprises a plurality of separate flow channels; each one of the plurality of separate groups of pins is disposed in one of the plurality of separate flow channels; and the flexible top plate comprises a plurality of liquid inlets and a plurality of liquid outlets passing through the flexible top plate, each one of the plurality of separate flow channels in communication with one of the plurality of liquid inlets and one of the plurality of liquid outlets. ### Claim 18 A method for forming a compliant pin fin heat sink, the method comprising: forging a plurality of pins in a flexible base plate comprising copper and having a thickness of from about 0.2 mm to about 0.5 mm; and connecting a flexible top plate to the base plate such that the plurality of pins is disposed between the flexible base plate and the flexible top plate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein forging the plurality of fins further comprises forging the pins to have a length of from about 1 mm to about 5 mm, a diameter of about 0.4 mm to about 1 mm and a center to center spacing of about 0.8 mm to about 2 mm. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: placing a flow blocking structure comprising a flow channel between and in contact with the flexible base plate and the flexible top plate such that the plurality of pins is disposed in the flow channel; and creating a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet through the flexible top plate, the liquid inlet and liquid outlet in communication with the flow channel.