Temperature control system for electronic devices
AssigneeSilicon Thermal, Inc.
InventorMark A. Cardella
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus 10 for controlling a temperature of an electronic device 40, comprising a temperature regulated surface 100 and an actuator 105 adapted to alternately pulse the temperature regulated surface 100 and electronic device 40 between thermally coupled and uncoupled positions, whereby a temperature of the electronic device 40 is controlled.
Claims32
A temperature control system for controlling a temperature of an electronic device, the temperature control system comprising a temperature regulated surface, and an actuator adapted to alternate the temperature regulated surface and the electronic device between thermally coupled and uncoupled positions at a rate sufficiently high to maintain the electronic device in a range of temperatures.
A temperature control head for controlling a temperature of an electronic device, the temperature control head comprising:
- (a) a thermal conductor having a contact surface adapted to contact the electronic device and having a heat transfer surface;
- (b) a heat transfer member comprising a temperature regulated surface;
- and
- (c) an actuator adapted to alternate the heat transfer surface and the temperature regulated surface between thermally coupled and uncoupled positions at a rate sufficiently high to maintain the electronic device in a range of predetermined temperatures.
A temperature control head for controlling a temperature of an electronic device, the temperature control head comprising:
- (a) means for holding the electronic device;
- (b) means for controlling a temperature of a temperature regulated surface;
- and
- (c) means for alternating the temperature regulated surface and electronic device between a thermally coupled position in which heat transfer occurs therebetween, and an uncoupled position in which the heat transfer is reduced, and at a rate sufficiently high to maintain the electronic device in a range of temperatures.
The temperature control head claim of 18 wherein the means for alternating the temperature regulated surface and electronic device between the thermally coupled and uncoupled positions comprises a pneumatic assembly.
A method of regulating a temperature of an electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) holding an electronic device against a thermal conductor;
- (b) regulating the temperature of a heat transfer member;
- and
- (c) alternating the heat transfer member and the thermal conductor between a thermally coupled position in which the heat transfer member and the thermal conductor are thermally coupled to allow heat transfer therebetween, and an uncoupled position in which the heat transfer member and the thermal conductor are uncoupled to reduce heat transfer therebetween, and at a rate which is sufficiently high to maintain the electronic device in a range of temperatures.
A method of controlling the temperature of an electronic device, the method comprising the step of pulsing the electronic device and a heat transfer member between a thermal coupled position in which heat is transferred therebetween, and an uncoupled position in which the heat transfer is reduced, the pulsing rate being sufficiently high to maintain the electronic device in a range of temperatures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.