Leak detection system for thermal interface fluid
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorsRick Chun Kit CHEUNG, Luke Thomas GREGORY
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A leak detection system for a thermal interface material (TIM) includes a sensor located proximate to a processor. As thermal fluctuations or other events cause the TIM to flow out of the gap between the processor and a thermal management device, a leak detection sensor may detect the presence of the TIM. This allows an operator of the computing device to identify TIM leaks, thereby preventing or reducing damage to the processor or other electronic components of a computing device.
Claims20
A leak detection system for a processor, comprising:
- a base;
- a processor connected to the base;
- a thermal management device;
- a thermal interface material (TIM) located between the processor and the thermal management device and thermally connecting the processor to the thermal management device;
- and
- a leak detection sensor located proximate to the processor to detect a leak of the TIM from between the processor and the thermal management device.
A printed circuit board (PCB), comprising:
- a socket for a processor;
- and
- a leak detection sensor located proximate the socket, the leak detection sensor being configured to detect a leak of a thermal interface material (TIM) thermally connecting the processor to a thermal management device.
A method for leak detection, comprising:
- installing a processor on a base, the base including a leak detection sensor proximate to the processor;
- inserting a thermal interface material (TIM) into a gap between a thermal management device and the processor, the TIM thermally connecting the processor to the thermal management device;
- and
- detecting a leak of the TIM from between the processor and the thermal management device using the leak detection sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.