Passive thermal spreader and method

• US 6,679,316 B1
• Filed: 10/02/2000
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Air Force Government of The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force
• Inventors: Leland, John E., Lin, Lanchao
• Primary Examiner(s): ATKINSON, CHRISTOPHER MARK
• Application Number:
  US09/677,720
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 165/104.14, 165/104.21, 165/104.26, 165/104.33, 165/80.3, 165/80.4, 165/170
• US Class Current: 165/104.26
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0233 the conduits having a particular shape, e.g. non-circular cross-section, annular F28D15/0241, F28D15/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/04 with tubes having a capillary structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/427 Cooling by change of state, e.g. use of heat pipes by liquefied gas H01L23/445
• 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 passive thermal spreader and method of fabrication are disclosed. The passive thermal spreader includes a heat transfer plate formed from laminated plates including an internal sealed thermosyphon defined within the interface of the plates. The preferred embodiment of the passive thermal spreader selected to illustrate the invention includes a pair of distinct thermosyphons defined within the interface of three laminated, stacked plates. Each thermosyphon includes a plurality of channels arranged boustrophedonically. Each of the channels includes an elongate straight portion and an end turn portion for connection to the adjacent channel elongate straight portion. Each elongate straight portion includes a channel divider. The channel divider directly contributes to the high performance of the thermal spreader of the present invention by assisting the transport of the working fluid.

Claims

1. A passive thermal spreader, comprising;

a heat transfer plate including a first plate and a second plate;

a thermosyphon within said heat transfer plate defined within the interface of said first and second plates, said thermosyphon having a plurality of channels arranged boustrophedonically, each of said channels having an elongate portion and an end turn portion;

a thin wire within and only making contact with the bottom surface of said channel elongate portions; and

,

a working fluid within said thermosyphon.

2. The passive thermal spreader of claim 1 wherein said working fluid is from the group of water, acetone, FC-72 and FC-75.

3. The passive thermal spreader of claim 1 wherein said thin wires have a diameter of about ⅓

the inside diameter of the channel elongate portion.

4. The passive thermal spreader of claim 1 wherein said upper and lower plates are fabricated from copper.

5. A passive thermal spreader, comprising;

a heat transfer plate formed by the lamination of an upper plate, a middle plate and a lower plate;

a first thermosyphon within said heat transfer plate defined within the interface of said upper and middle plates, said first thermosyphon having a plurality of channels arranged boustrophedonically, each of said channels having an elongate portion provided with a thin wire received therein and only making contact with the bottom surface of said channel and an end turn portion;

a second thermosyphon within said heat transfer plate defined within the interface of said middle and lower plates, said second thermosyphon having a plurality of channels arranged boustrophedonically, each of said channels having an elongate portion provided with a thin wire received therein and only making contact with the bottom surface of said channel and an end turn portion; and

,

each of said first and second thermosyphons having a working fluid received within.

6. The passive thermal spreader of claim 5 wherein said working fluid is from the group of water, acetone, FC-72 and FC-75.

7. The passive thermal spreader of claim 5 wherein said thin wires have a diameter of about ⅓

the inside diameter of the channel elongate portion.

8. The passive thermal spreader of claim 5 wherein said upper, middle and lower plates are fabricated from copper.

9. A passive thermal spreader, comprising;

a heat transfer plate including a first plate and a second plate;

a thermosyphon within said heat transfer plate defined within the interface of said first and second plates, said thermosyphon having a plurality of channels arranged boustrophedonically, each of said channels having an elongate portion and an end turn portion;

each of said channel elongate portions having a centerline;

each of said channel end turn portions having a span distance, said span distance being greater than the distance between said centerlines of said channel elongate portions;

a thin wire within and only making contact with the bottom surface of said channel elongate portions, said wire having a diameter about ⅓

of said channel elongate portions; and

,

a working fluid comprising about 30 to about 50 percent of the internal volume of said thermosyphon.

10. The passive thermal spreader of claim 9 wherein said working fluid is from the group of water, acetone, FC-72 and FC-75.

11. The passive thermal spreader of claim 9 wherein said upper and lower plates are fabricated from copper.