US 7,460,371 B2 · Wiffle tree components, cooling systems, and methods of attaching a printed circuit board to a heat sink

Abstract

In one embodiment, there is disclosed apparatus having a printed circuit board (PCB); a heat sink device for disposition adjacent the bottom surface of the PCB; at least one wiffle tree component disposed adjacent the top surface of the PCB, having a base portion with a plurality of legs extending therefrom; and at least one mechanism to generate a clamping force between the at least one wiffle tree and the top surface of the PCB, and between the bottom surface of the PCB and the heat sink. There is disclosed a method of attaching a printed circuit board (PCB) to a heat sink. In an embodiment, the method includes providing at least one wiffle tree component; disposing one of the at least one wiffle tree component adjacent to the PCB; and securing the one of the at least one wiffle tree component with a fastener. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Claims26

Dependent claims

Apparatus, comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB) having a top surface and a bottom surface;
a heat sink device having a top surface for disposition adjacent the bottom surface of the PCB;
at least one wiffle tree component disposed adjacent the top surface of the PCB, having a base portion with our legs extending therefrom, the four legs arranged in a grid configuration, wherein the PCB has our touch down areas for receiving pressure from the our legs;
and
at least one mechanism to generate a clamping force between the at least one wiffle tree and the top surface of the PCB, and between the bottom surface of the PCB and the heat sink.

2 more elements

A method of attaching a printed circuit board (PCB) to a heat sink, the method comprising:

providing at least one wiffle tree component having a base portion with our legs extending therefrom, the four legs arranged in a grid configuration, and the base forming a passageway therethrough;
disposing one of the at least one wiffle tree component adjacent to the PCB, wherein the PCB has at least one hole therethrough, and wherein corresponding ones of the passageway through the one of the at least one wiffle tree component and the hole through the PCB allow attachment of the at least one wiffle tree component and the PCB to the heat sink with a fastener;
and
securing the one of the at least one wiffle tree component with the fastener, wherein the our legs of the at least one wiffle tree component apply pressure at our locations on one side of the PCB, and wherein the pressure applied at the our locations on the one side of the PCB creates a desired pressure distribution at an interface of the other side of the PCB and the heat sink.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

11/440,955Filed 25 May 2006

Published

US 2007/0274052 A129 Nov 2007

Granted

2 Dec 2008

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

H05K 7/205
Characterised by the heat transfer by conduction from the heat generating element to a dissipating body: heat-dissipating body thermally connected…
H05K 3/0061
Laminating printed circuit boards onto other substrates, e.g. metallic substrates: onto a metallic substrate, e.g. a heat sink
H05K 7/2049
Inner thermal coupling elements in heat dissipating housings, e.g. protrusions or depressions integrally formed in the housing: pressing means…
H05K 1/0206
Using means for thermal conduction connection in the thickness direction of the substrate: by printed thermal vias

Wiffle tree components, cooling systems, and methods of attaching a printed circuit board to a heat sink

Life of this patent

Wiffle tree components, cooling systems, and methods of attaching a printed circuit board to a heat sink

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26