Active temperature gradient reducer
AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.
InventorsShlomo Novotny, John Dunn, Marlin Vogel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for actively reducing the temperature gradient of a substrate. The substrate is placed in thermal contact with a heat dissipation structure so as to dissipate heat from the substrate. Current is passed through a thermoelectric device, so as to provide cooling to at least one hot spot on the substrate.
Claims36
An active temperature gradient reducer comprising:
- a heat dissipation structure having a contact surface, the contact surface encompassing an area for thermally contacting a substrate to be cooled;
- and
- at least one thermoelectric device incorporated into the heat dissipation structure, the thermoelectric device having at least one cooling surface for thermally contacting, and providing localized cooling to, one or more subsections of the area, wherein the cooling surface is thermally insulated from the heat dissipation structure.
An active temperature gradient reducer comprising:
- a cold plate through which fluid flows, the cold plate having a contact surface, the contact surface encompassing an area for thermally contacting a substrate to be cooled;
- and
- at least one thermoelectric device located inside the cold plate, the thermoelectric device having at least one cooling surface for thermally contacting, and providing localized cooling to, one or more subsections of the area.
A method for actively reducing the temperature gradient of a substrate, the method comprising:
- placing the substrate in thermal contact with a heat dissipation structure so as to dissipate heat from the substrate;
- and
- passing a current through a thermoelectric device so as to provide localized cooling to at least one hot spot on the substrate, the thermoelectric device having a cooling surface for thermally contacting the substrate, the cooling surface thermally insulated from the heat dissipation structure.
A method for actively reducing the temperature gradient of a substrate, the method comprising:
- placing the substrate in thermal contact with a heat dissipation structure so as to dissipate heat from the substrate;
- passing a current through a thermoelectric device so as to provide localized cooling to at least one hot spot on the substrate;
- and
- moving liquid through the heat dissipation device such that liquid moves across a surface of the thermoelectric device.
An active gradient reducer comprising:
- a first means for dissipating heat thermally coupled to a substrate;
- a second means for dissipating heat thermally coupled to at least one hot spot on the substrate so as to provide localized cooling to the at least one hot spot, the second means for dissipating heat being thermoelectric and having a cooling surface for thermally contacting the substrate, the cooling surface thermally insulated from the heat dissipation structure.
An active temperature gradient reducer comprising:
- a heat dissipation structure having a contact surface, the contact surface encompassing an area for thermally contacting a substrate to be cooled;
- and
- at least one thermoelectric device incorporated into the heat dissipation structure, the thermoelectric device having at least one cooling surface for thermally contacting, and providing localized cooling to, one or more subsections of the area, wherein the cooling surface is substantially even with the adjacent contact surface of the heat dissipation structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.