Integrated thermal architecture for thermal management of high power electronics
First Claim
1. A thermal energy management architecture for a functioning system of electronic components and subsystems comprising:
- a first level of heat transfer devices comprising means for thermal energy spreading that are thermally driven and operatively engaged with at least one semiconductor chip;
a second level of heat transfer devices comprising means for thermal energy spreading that are thermally driven and operatively engaged with at least one semiconductor chip package;
a third level of heat transfer devices comprising means for thermal energy transport that are thermally driven and operatively engaged with at least one of said first level or second level means thermal energy spreading; and
a fourth level of heat transfer devices comprising means for thermal energy transport that are thermally driven and operatively engaged with at least one of said first level means, second means, or third level means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a thermal energy management architecture for a functioning system of electronic components and subsystems comprising a hierarchical scheme in which thermal management components are: (i) operatively engaged with individual portions of the system of electronic components and subsystems, in multiple defined levels and (ii) substantially only thermally driven, i.e., heat transfer devices that have no moving parts and require no external power for their operations. In one embodiment thermal management devices and technologies are divided into five separate levels within a functioning electronics system. In another embodiment, a sixth level is provided for bypassing one or more of the five levels.
236 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A thermal energy management architecture for a functioning system of electronic components and subsystems comprising:
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a first level of heat transfer devices comprising means for thermal energy spreading that are thermally driven and operatively engaged with at least one semiconductor chip;
a second level of heat transfer devices comprising means for thermal energy spreading that are thermally driven and operatively engaged with at least one semiconductor chip package;
a third level of heat transfer devices comprising means for thermal energy transport that are thermally driven and operatively engaged with at least one of said first level or second level means thermal energy spreading; and
a fourth level of heat transfer devices comprising means for thermal energy transport that are thermally driven and operatively engaged with at least one of said first level means, second means, or third level means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A thermal energy management architecture for a functioning system of electronic components and subsystems comprising:
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a first level of heat transfer devices comprising means for thermal energy spreading that include self-contained means for driving a thermal energy spreading mechanism and are operatively engaged with at least one semiconductor chip;
a second level of heat transfer devices comprising means for thermal energy spreading that include self-contained means for driving a thermal energy spreading mechanism and are operatively engaged with at least one semiconductor chip package;
a third level of heat transfer devices comprising means for busing thermal energy that include self-contained means for driving a thermal energy busing mechanism, and are operatively engaged with at least one of said first level and said second level means for thermal energy spreading; and
a fourth level of heat transfer devices comprising means for busing thermal energy that include self-contained means for driving a thermal energy busing mechanism, and are operatively engaged with at least one of said first level means, said second level means, and said third level means. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A thermal energy management architecture for a functioning system of electronic components and subsystems comprising:
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a first level of heat transfer devices comprising means for thermal energy spreading that are substantially thermally driven and operatively engaged with at least one semiconductor chip;
a second level of heat transfer devices comprising means for thermal energy spreading that are substantially thermally driven and operatively engaged with at least one semiconductor chip package;
a third level of heat transfer devices comprising means for busing thermal energy that are substantially thermally and operatively engaged with at least one of said first level and said second level means for thermal energy spreading; and
a fourth level of heat transfer devices comprising means for busing thermal energy that are substantially thermally driven and operatively engaged with at least one of said first level means, said second level means, and said third level means. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A thermal energy management architecture for a functioning system of electronic components and subsystems comprising:
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a first level of heat transfer devices comprising means for thermal energy spreading that are substantially thermally driven or include self-contained means for driving a thermal energy spreading mechanism, and are operatively engaged with at least one semiconductor chip;
a second level of heat transfer devices comprising means for thermal energy spreading that are substantially thermally driven or include self-contained means for driving a thermal energy spreading mechanism, and are operatively engaged with at least one semiconductor chip package;
a third level of heat transfer devices comprising means for busing thermal energy that are substantially thermally driven or include self-contained means for driving a thermal energy busing mechanism, and are operatively engaged with at least one of said first level and said second level means for thermal energy spreading; and
a fourth level of heat transfer devices comprising means for busing thermal energy that are either substantially thermally driven or include self-contained means for driving a thermal energy busing mechanism, and are operatively engaged with at least one of said first level means, said second level means, and said third level means. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification