# US 2026/0089871 A1 · Non-uniform heatsink fin geometry for increased thermal performance

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- Number: US 2026/0089871 A1
- Document ID: US20260089871A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/892,266
- Filed: 2024-09-20
- Published: 2026-03-26
- Earliest claimed: 2024-09-20
- Assignees: NVIDIA Corporation
- Applicants: Nvidia Corporation
- Inventors: Malcolm GUTENBURG; Yunseok KIM; Boris LANDWEHR; Jaekyu JUNG; Jungho NA; Siarhei MURAUYOU
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260089871A1

## CPC

- H05K 7/20154: {Heat dissipaters coupled to components}
- F28F 3/02: Elements or assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with recesses, with corrugations (F28F3/08 takes precedence)
- G06F 1/20: Cooling means
- H10W 40/226: {characterised by projecting parts, e.g. fins to increase surface area (leadframes for cooling H10W70/461)}
- H10W 40/43: by flowing gases, e.g. forced air cooling
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10

## Abstract

According to various embodiments, a heatsink includes: a plurality of cooling fins, wherein a first cooling fin included in the plurality of cooling fins has a first portion with a first height and has a second portion with a second height that is less than the first height, and wherein the first height and the second height are defined in a direction that is parallel with a direction of cooling air flowing across the plurality of cooling fins.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A heatsink, comprising:
a plurality of cooling fins,
wherein a first cooling fin included in the plurality of cooling fins has a first portion with a first height and has a second portion with a second height that is less than the first height, and
wherein the first height and the second height are defined in a direction that is parallel with a direction of cooling air flowing across the plurality of cooling fins.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The heatsink of claim 1, wherein:
the first portion of the first cooling fin is located proximate to a first discharge region of a fan; and
the second portion of the first cooling fin is located proximate to a second discharge region of the fan.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The heatsink of claim 2, wherein, in the first discharge region of the fan, cooling air with a first velocity is directed toward the plurality of fins, and, in the second discharge region of the fan, cooling air with a second velocity that is less than the first velocity is directed toward the plurality of fins.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The heatsink of claim 2, wherein the first discharge region of the fan corresponds to a perimeter region of the fan, and the second discharge region of the fan corresponds to a hub region of the fan.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The heatsink of claim 1, wherein:
the first cooling fin includes a leading edge and a trailing edge; and
both the first height and the second height are measured between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the first cooling fin.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The heatsink of claim 5, wherein, across the second portion of the first cooling fin, the leading edge is straight, and the trailing edge is curved.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The heatsink of claim 5, wherein, across the second portion of the first cooling fin, the leading edge is curved, and the trailing edge is straight.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The heatsink of claim 5, wherein, across the second portion of the first cooling fin, the leading edge is curved, and the trailing edge is curved.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The heatsink of claim 8, wherein, across the first portion of the first cooling fin, the leading edge is straight, and the trailing edge is straight.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The heatsink of claim 5, wherein, across the second portion of the first cooling fin, the leading edge has one or more stepwise changes in fin height.

### Claim 11 (depends on 5)

The heatsink of claim 5, wherein, across the second portion of the first cooling fin, the trailing edge has one or more stepwise changes in fin height.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The heatsink of claim 1, wherein a second cooling fin in the plurality of cooling fins has a third portion with a third fin height and a fourth portion with a fourth fin height that is less than the third fin height, and, wherein each of the third fin height and the fourth fin height is measured in a direction that is parallel with a direction of cooling air flowing across the plurality of cooling fins.

### Claim 13

A card-based processing subsystem, comprising:
a housing;
a processor mounted on a printed circuit board that is disposed within the housing; and
a heatsink that is coupled to the processor, wherein the heatsink comprises:
a plurality of cooling fins,
wherein a first cooling fin included in the plurality of cooling fins has a first portion with a first height and a second portion with a second height that is less than the first height, and
wherein each of the first height and the second height is measured in a direction that is parallel with a direction of cooling air flowing across the plurality of cooling fins.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The card-based processing subsystem of claim 13, further comprising a fan oriented to direct the cooling air across the plurality of cooling fins.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The card-based processing subsystem of claim 14, wherein the fan is disposed within the housing.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The card-based processing subsystem of claim 14, wherein:
the first portion of the first cooling fin is located proximate to a first discharge region of the fan; and
the second portion of the first cooling fin is located proximate to a second discharge region of the fan.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The card-based processing subsystem of claim 16, wherein, in the first discharge region of the fan, cooling air with a first velocity is directed toward the plurality of fins, and, in the second discharge region of the fan, cooling air with a second velocity that is less than the first velocity is directed toward the plurality of fins.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The card-based processing subsystem of claim 16, wherein the first discharge region of the fan corresponds to a perimeter region of the fan, and the second discharge region of the fan corresponds to a hub region of the fan.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The card-based processing subsystem of claim 13, wherein:
the first cooling fin includes a leading edge and a trailing edge; and
both the first height and the second height are measured between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the first cooling fin.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The card-based processing subsystem of claim 13, wherein a second cooling fin in the plurality of cooling fins has a third portion with a third fin height and a fourth portion with a fourth fin height that is less than the third fin height, and, wherein each of the third fin height and the fourth fin height is measured in a direction that is parallel with a direction of cooling air flowing across the plurality of cooling fins.