Apparatus and method for embedded fluid cooling in printed circuit boards
AssigneeLTX Corporation
InventorsAndreas Kulik, Andrew Roemer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A circuit board cooler employs a closed fluid delivery system to transfer heat from electronic components to a cooling fluid. One or more channels embedded within the circuit board carry cooling fluid to the components where the fluid absorbs heat from the component, then away from the component to deposit the excess thermal energy in a thermal sink, such as a heat exchanger. The cooling system may employ conductive thermal transfer elements, such as “thermal vias”, to enhance heat transfer from electronic components to the cooling fluid.
Claims29
A cooler for components supported on a multi-layer circuit board, comprising:
- a channel formed in an interior layer of said multi-layer circuit board, wherein said channel extends under a locus for at least one of said components, and further comprising at least one thermal via extending through at least one layer of said multi-layer circuit board from said locus to said channel for conducting heat from said components to said channel;
- an inlet forming a conduit for cooling fluid from the exterior of the circuit board to the channel;
- and
- an outlet forming a conduit for cooling fluid from the channel to the exterior of the circuit board.
A method of cooling components supported on a multi-layer circuit board, comprising the step of:
- forming a channel in an interior layer of said multi-layer circuit board, at least a portion of which channel is formed in close proximity to a locus for at least one component targeted for cooling;
- embedding at least one thermal via extending through at least one layer of said multi-layer circuit board, said thermal via extending from said locus to said channel;
- forming a conduit for cooling fluid from the exterior of the circuit board to the channel;
- forming a conduit for cooling fluid from the channel to the exterior of the circuit board;
- and
- flowing a cooling fluid through the inlet to the channel and out the outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.