# US 8,787,021 B2 · Memory cooler > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,787,021 B2 - Document ID: US8787021B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/163,369 - Filed: 2011-06-17 - Published: 2012-12-20 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-17 - Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Applicants: Vance B. Murakami; Harold Z. Htutt - Inventors: Vance B. Murakami; Harold Z. Htutt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8787021B2 ## CPC - H05K 7/20154: {Heat dissipaters coupled to components} - 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 40/228: {the projecting parts being wire-shaped or pin-shaped} - H10W 40/43: by flowing gases, e.g. forced air cooling - F28F 7/00: Elements not covered by group F28F1/00, F28F3/00 or F28F5/00 - F28F 2215/00: Fins - H05K 7/20: Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - 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 - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) ## Abstract A cooler for a memory module includes heat plates on the sides of the memory module and heat fins extending from the top of the heat plates. The heat fins are optimized according to simulated or actual airflow about the memory module inside an enclosure. The heat fins may curve diagonally outward from the memory module and their free ends may be arranged substantially parallel to the airflow so air flows over their larger lateral surfaces down to the memory module. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cooler for a memory module, comprising: a heat plate having a top edge and an interior side, the interior side for thermally coupling to an exterior side of the memory module; and a row of heat fins extending upward from the top edge, the heat fins being strips that are curved diagonally away from the heat plate and twisted so their free ends are substantially parallel to a simulated or an actual airflow about the memory module, wherein being curved diagonally away from the heat plate comprises being curved forward along a length of the heat plate and outward from the heat plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cooler of claim 1, wherein the heat fins are arranged in increasing length along the top edge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cooler of claim 2, wherein the heat fins are further arranged in increasing diagonal reach along the top edge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The cooler of claim 3, wherein the heat fins are arranged in increasing height along the top edge. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The cooler of claim 2, further comprising an other row of other heat fins in line with the row of heat fins along the top edge, the other heat fins extending upward from the top edge and curving along the length of the heat plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The cooler of claim 5, wherein the other heat fins are arranged in increasing height along the top edge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The cooler of claim 6, wherein the other heat fins are laterally offset from each other along the top edge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cooler of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive on the interior side for mounting to the exterior side of the memory module. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The cooler of claim 2, further comprising: an other heat plate having an other top edge and an other interior side, the other interior side for thermally coupling to another exterior side of the memory module; and an other row of other heat fins extending upward from the other top edge and curving diagonally away from the other heat plate to be parallel with the heat fins. ### Claim 10 A computer system, comprising: an enclosure; a printed circuit board in the enclosure, the printed circuit board comprising memory slots; memory modules inserted into the memory slots; coolers for the memory modules, each cooler comprising: a first heat plate having a first top edge and a first interior side, the first interior side being thermally coupled to a first exterior side of a corresponding memory module; a first row of first heat fins extending upward from the first top edge, the first heat fins being first strips that are curved diagonally away from the heat plate and twisted so their free ends are substantially parallel to a simulated or an actual airflow about the memory module, wherein being curved diagonally away from the heat plate comprises being curved forward along a length of the heat plate and outward from the heat plate; a second heat plate having a second top edge and a second interior side, the second interior side being thermally coupled to a second exterior side of the corresponding memory module; and a second row of second heat fins extending upward from the second top edge, the second heat fins begin second strips that are curved and twisted to be parallel with the first heat fins. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The computer system of claim 10, wherein the free ends of the first and the second heat fins of each cooler are offset from each other so they do not block each other from the simulated or the actual airflow about the memory modules in the enclosure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The computer system of claim 10, wherein each cooler further comprises: a third row of third heat fins in line with the first row of first heat fins along the first top edge, the third heat fins extending upward from the first top edge and curving along the length of the first heat plate; and a fourth row of fourth heat fins in line with the second row of second heat fins along the second top edge, the fourth heat fins extending upward from the second top edge and curving along the length of the second heat plate. ### Claim 13 A method for cooling memory modules on a printed circuit board in an enclosure, comprising: determining airflow about the memory modules in the enclosure by simulation or testing; and adjusting heat fins extending upward from top edges of heat plates thermally coupled to sides of the memory modules, said adjusting comprises twisting and curving the heat fins so: free ends of the heat fins are parallel to the airflow about the memory module in the enclosure; the heat fins curve diagonally away from the top edges and into the airflow; and larger lateral surfaces of the heat fins bring air down to the memory modules. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein said adjusting comprises arranging the heat fins in increasing height along the top edge. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the heat fins are arranged in increasing diagonal reach away from the heat plates. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein said adjusting further comprises offsetting the free ends so they do not block each other from the airflow about the memory modules in the enclosure.