Add-on heat sink and method

• US 6,275,380 B1
• Filed: 02/29/2000
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Bollesen, Vernon P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHERVINSKY, BORIS LEO
• Application Number:
  US09/515,251
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 361/688-690, 361/694, 361/695, 361/697, 361/703, 361/704, 361/707, 361/709, 361/717, 361/720, 257/718, 257/719, 257/726, 257/727, 174/16.1, 174/16.3, 165/580.2, 165/80.3, 165/185
• US Class Current: 361/704
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/367 Cooling facilitated by shape of device H01L23/38, H01L23/40, H01L23/42, H01L23/44, H01L23/46 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/4093 Snap-on arrangements, e.g. clips
• 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 heat sink structure includes first and second add-on heat sinks mounted to a primary heat sink. The add-on heat sinks are thermally connected to the primary heat sink such that the effective heat transfer surface area for dissipating heat to the ambient environment is increased compared to the surface area of the primary heat sink alone. Increasing the effective heat transfer surface area enhances heat transfer from the primary heat sink. The add-on heat sinks also restrict air from flowing between the primary heat sink and a cabinet of the computer system. In this manner, the add-on heat sinks force air to flow between the fins of the primary heat sink, thus further enhancing heat transfer from the primary heat sink.

Claims

1. A heat sink structure comprising:

a base section;

a first wall connected to said base section;

a first arm connected to said base section, said first arm comprising;

a locking feature;

a spring arm connected to said base section; and

a riser arm connected to said locking feature, said spring arm and said riser arm being connected together; and

a second arm connected to said base section.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said first wall is substantially perpendicular to a first surface of said base section.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said locking feature is hook-shaped.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said locking feature comprises a tab, said tab comprising:

a lip; and

a taper.

5. The structure of claim 1 further comprising a second wall connected to said base section.

6. The structure of claim 5 further comprising four arms, said four arms comprising said first arm and said second arm.

7. A heat sink structure comprising:

a base section;

a first wall connected to said base section;

a first arm connected to said base section, said first arm comprising a first locking feature;

a second arm connected to said base section, said second arm comprising a second locking feature; and

one or more fins on a first surface of said base section.

8. The structure of claim 7 further comprising one or more fins on a second surface of said base section.

9. A structure comprising:

a heat emitting component;

a primary heat sink in thermal contact with said heat emitting component; and

a first add-on heat sink comprising arms and a body portion, said arms locking said first add-on heat sink to said primary heat sink, said body portion being in thermal contact with said primary heat sink, said arms comprising a first arm, said first arm comprising;

a spring arm connected to a first base section of said body portion; and

a riser arm connected to said spring arm.

10. The structure of claim 9 wherein said body portion further comprises:

a first wall connected to said first base section; and

a second wall connected to said first base section.

11. The structure of claim 10 wherein said primary heat sink comprises:

a second base section, a first surface of said second base section being in thermal contact with said heat emitting component; and

a plurality of fins on a second surface of said second base section.

12. The structure of claim 11 wherein an end of said first wall presses on said second surface of said second base section and wherein an end of said second wall presses on said second surface of said second base section.

13. The structure of claim 12 wherein said end of said first wall presses on said second surface of said second base section directly opposite said heat emitting component.

14. The structure of claim 9 wherein said first arm further comprises a locking feature.

15. The structure of claim 14 wherein said locking feature comprises a tab, said tab comprising:

a lip perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said first arm; and

a taper.

16. A structure comprising:

a heat emitting component;

a primary heat sink in thermal contact with said heat emitting component;

a first add-on heat sink comprising arms and a body portion, said arms locking said first add-on heat sink to said primary heat sink, said body portion being in thermal contact with said primary heat sink, said body portion comprising;

a first base section;

a first wall connected to said first base section;

a second wall connected to said first base section; and

one or more fins on a first surface of said first base section.

17. The structure of claim 16 further comprising one or more fins on a second surface of said first base section.

18. A structure comprising:

a heat emitting component;

a primary heat sink in thermal contact with said heat emitting component;

a first add-on heat sink comprising arms and a body portion, said arms locking said first add-on heat sink to said primary heat sink, said body portion being in thermal contact with said primary heat sink directly opposite said heat emitting component; and

a second add-on heat sink comprising arms and a body portion, said arms of said second add-on heat sink locking said second add-on heat sink to said primary heat sink, said body portion of said second add-on heat sink being in thermal contact with said primary heat sink directly opposite said heat emitting component.

19. A method of mounting an add-on heat sink to a primary heat sink comprising:

positioning said add-on heat sink such that locking features of said add-on heat sink are aligned with sides of a base section of said primary heat sink;

pressing said add-on heat sink towards said primary heat sink such that a first arm of said add-on heat sink is spread apart from a second arm of said add-on heat sink; and

locking lips of said locking features to a first surface of said base section of said primary heat sink to thermally connect a body portion of said add-on heat sink to a second surface of said base section of said primary heat sink opposite said first surface, said first surface of said base section of said primary heat sink being in thermal contact with a heat emitting component.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said pressing causes a taper of said first arm to slide against said base section.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said locking comprises moving said first arm and said second arm towards said primary heat sink.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said lips comprise a first lip of a first tab of said first arm and a second lip of a second tab of said second arm, wherein said first arm and said second arm are moved towards said primary heat sink until said first lip of said first tab of said first arm and said first lip of said first tab of said second arm reach said first surface of said base section.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein, upon said first lip of said first tab of said first arm reaching said first surface of said base section, said first tab of said first arm snaps inwards towards said first tab of said second arm.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said first tab of said first arm snaps around said primary heat sink.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein said first lip of said first tab of said first arm engages said first surface of said primary heat sink.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein tension in said arms causes said body portion of said add-on heat sink to press against said second surface of said base section of said primary heat sink.

27. A structure comprising:

a heat emitting component;

a primary heat sink comprising a base section having a first surface in thermal contact with said heat emitting component; and

a first add-on heat sink comprising arms and a body portion, said arms comprising lips engaged with said first surface of said base section of said primary heat sink, said body portion being in thermal contact with a second surface of said base section of said primary heat sink opposite said first surface.