Ducted opposing bonded fin heat sink blower multi-microprocessor cooling system

• US 5,912,802 A
• Filed: 09/11/1997
• Issued: 06/15/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Nelson, Daryl James
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, GREGORY D
• Application Number:
  US08/928,028
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 165/80.2, 165/80.3, 165/185, 174/16.3, 257/706, 257/707, 257/712, 257/713, 257/722, 361/687-697, 361/704, 361/707, 361/709, 361/715, 361/717-718, 361/722
• US Class Current: 361/695
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/02 Elements or assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with recesses, with corrugations F28F3/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00

Abstract

A device and method for cooling an integrated circuit package--in particular, a microprocessor--within an enclosed computer system. The device comprises a blower, a first heat sink attached to the microprocessor, and a first air duct coupling the blower to the first heat sink. The blower has an air intake from the exterior of the computer system. The blower generates an air stream which flows through the first air duct to the first heat sink for cooling the first microprocessor. A second air duct connected to the first heat sink may be used to subsequently direct the air stream to a second heat sink for cooling a second microprocessor. An efficient ducted heat sink for use in this cooling system can be easily constructed by attaching two extruded heat sinks.

Claims

1. A cooling system for cooling an electrical component of a computer system comprising:

(1) a blower controlled by a thermal sensor to control speed of air flow passing through the blower, the blower further configured to be positioned in a location independent from surfaces of electrical components to be cooled;

(2) a first opposing bonded heat sink coupled to the electrical component, the first opposing bonded heat sink comprising;

(A) a first extruded heat sink comprising a first base portion and a first plurality of fins projecting transverse to the first base portion; and

(B) a second extruded heat sink identical to said first extruded heat sink comprising a second base portion and a second plurality of fins projecting transverse to the second base portion, the second extruded heat sink coupled to the first extruded heat sink such that the first and the second pluralities of fins interlock to form one or more ducts running through the first opposing bonded heat sink, the first and second plurality of fins having smooth surfaces, wherein the first opposing bonded heat sink further configured to be an air flow conduit as part of ducting system; and

(3) a first air duct coupling the blower to the one or more ducts of the first opposing bonded heat sink, the first air duct configured in an elbow shape to provide an air flow path therein, wherein the air flow path is directed substantially parallel to a direction in which the one or more ducts run through the first opposing bonded heat sink.

2. The cooling system of claim 1 wherein the electrical component is a processor.

3. The cooling system of claim 1 wherein the electrical component is an integrated circuit.

4. The cooling system of claim 1 further comprising:

an intake air duct connecting an air intake of the blower to the exterior of the computer system, wherein the intake air duct connects to the exterior of the computer system at a base area of the computer system.

5. The cooling system of claim 1 wherein the first extruded heat sink has a first edge fin at one edge of the first base portion and a first edge groove at the other edge of the first base portion, the second extruded heat sink has a second edge fin at one edge of the second base portion and a second edge groove at the other edge of the second base portion, and the first extruded heat sink and the second extruded heat sink are disposed with the first edge fin of the first extruded heat sink interlocked with the second edge groove of the second extruded heat sink and the first edge groove of the first extruded heat sink interlocked with the second edge fin of the second extruded heat sink.

6. The cooling system of claim 1 further comprising:

(4) a second opposing bonded heat sink connected to a second electrical component, the second opposing bonded heat sink comprising

(A) a third extruded heat sink comprising a third base portion and a third plurality of fins projecting transverse to the third base portion;

(B) a fourth extruded heat sink comprising a fourth base portion and a fourth plurality of fins projecting transverse to the fourth base portion, the fourth extruded heat sink coupled to the third extruded heat sink such that the third and the fourth pluralities of fins interlock to form a second plurality of ducts running through the second opposing bonded heat sink, the second opposing bounded heat sink further configured to guide air flow substantially parallel to surfaces of electrical components to be cooled, the second opposing bounded heat sink further configured to have each air gap consisting a ratio of greater than 4 to 1 between the height and width of the air gap; and

(5) a second air duct connecting the first opposing bonded heat sink to the second opposing bonded heat sink, the second air duct further configured to guide air flow in a direction substantially parallel to surfaces of electrical components to be cooled.

7. A cooling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said blower is controlled by said thermal sensor so as to increase air flow when more cooling is required and decrease air flow when less cooling is required.

8. A cooling system for cooling an electrical component of a computer system comprising:

(1) a blower;

(2) a first opposing bonded heat sink coupled to the electrical component, the first opposing bonded heat sink comprising

(A) a first extruded heat sink comprising a first base portion and a first plurality of fins projecting transverse to the first base portion; and

(B) a second extruded heat sink comprising a second base portion and a second plurality of fins projecting transverse to the second base portion, the second extruded heat sink coupled to the first extruded heat sink such that the first and the second pluralities of fins interlock to form one or more ducts running through the first opposing bonded heat sink, the first and second plurality of fins having smooth surfaces, the first and second extruded heat sinks having an aspect ration greater than 4 to 1; and

(3) a first air duct cooling the blower to the one or more ducts of the first opposing bonded heat sink, the first air duct providing an air flow path therein, wherein the air flow path is directed substantially parallel to a direction in which the one or more ducts run through the first opposing bonded heat sink, the blower, the first air duct and the first opposing bonded heat sink coupled in an elbow shape configuration, wherein the elbow shape configuration guides an air flow in a direction substantially parallel to surfaces of electrical components to be cooled.

9. The cooling system of claim 8 wherein the electrical component is a processor.

10. The cooling system of claim 8 wherein the electrical component is an integrated circuit.

11. The cooling system of claim 8 further comprising an intake air duct connecting an air intake of the blower to the exterior of the computer system.

12. The cooling system of claim 8 further comprising an intake air duct connecting an air intake of the blower to the exterior of the computer system, wherein the intake air duct connects to the exterior of the computer system at a base area of the computer system.

13. The cooling system of claim 8 further comprising:

(4) a second opposing bonded heat sink connected to a second processor, the second opposing bonded heat sink comprising

(A) a third extruded heat sink comprising a third base portion and a third plurality of fins projecting transverse to the third base portion;

(B) a fourth extruded heat sink comprising a fourth base portion and a fourth plurality of fins projecting transverse to the fourth base portion, the fourth extruded heat sink coupled to the third extruded heat sink such that the third and the fourth pluralities of fins interlock to form a second plurality of ducts running through the second opposing bonded heat sink; and

(5) a second air duct connecting the first opposing bonded heat sink to the second opposing bonded heat sink.

14. A cooling system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said blower is thermally controlled so as to increase air flow when more cooling is required and decrease air flow when less cooling is required.