Passive, low-profile heat transferring system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising:
- a thermally conductive chassis having at least one panel with a first opposing surface and a second opposing surface, and wherein the first opposing surface is external to the thermally conductive chassis and is exposed to an ambient environment, and wherein the second opposing surface is internal to the thermally conductive chassis;
a circuit board located within the chassis, the circuit board having at least one integrated circuit chip;
a thermal interface material disposed between the at least one integrated circuit chip and the thermally conductive chassis, wherein a first side of the thermal interface material is in thermally conductive contact with the at least one integrated circuit chip, and wherein the thermal interface material is a polymer solder hybrid;
a thermally conductive heat transferring unit disposed between the thermal interface material and the thermally conductive chassis, and wherein a first side of the thermally conductive heat transferring unit is in thermally conductive contact with an opposing second side of the thermal interface material;
a gap filler material located between the heat transferring unit and a top panel of the chassis, wherein the gap filler material is in adhesive contact with a second opposing surface of the top panel, wherein the gap filler material is different from the thermal interface material and wherein the filler material is in thermally conductive contact with the second side of the thermal interface material, andwherein the thermally conductive heat transferring unit is arranged to transfer heat from the at least one integrated circuit chip to the at least one panel of the chassis while minimizing radiant heat build-up proximate the at least one integrated circuit chip.
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Abstract
A media content receiving device, such as a set top box, includes a thermally conductive chassis having at least one panel with opposing surfaces. One of the opposing surfaces is exposed to an ambient environment. A circuit board located within the chassis includes at least one integrated circuit chip. A thermally conductive heat transferring unit is bonded to and in thermal conductive contact with the chip. The heat transferring unit is arranged to transfer heat from the chip to the at least one panel of the chassis while minimizing radiant heat transfer proximate the chip. The heat transferring unit may be biased toward the panel.
50 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a thermally conductive chassis having at least one panel with a first opposing surface and a second opposing surface, and wherein the first opposing surface is external to the thermally conductive chassis and is exposed to an ambient environment, and wherein the second opposing surface is internal to the thermally conductive chassis; a circuit board located within the chassis, the circuit board having at least one integrated circuit chip; a thermal interface material disposed between the at least one integrated circuit chip and the thermally conductive chassis, wherein a first side of the thermal interface material is in thermally conductive contact with the at least one integrated circuit chip, and wherein the thermal interface material is a polymer solder hybrid; a thermally conductive heat transferring unit disposed between the thermal interface material and the thermally conductive chassis, and wherein a first side of the thermally conductive heat transferring unit is in thermally conductive contact with an opposing second side of the thermal interface material; a gap filler material located between the heat transferring unit and a top panel of the chassis, wherein the gap filler material is in adhesive contact with a second opposing surface of the top panel, wherein the gap filler material is different from the thermal interface material and wherein the filler material is in thermally conductive contact with the second side of the thermal interface material, and wherein the thermally conductive heat transferring unit is arranged to transfer heat from the at least one integrated circuit chip to the at least one panel of the chassis while minimizing radiant heat build-up proximate the at least one integrated circuit chip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 12, 13)
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5. A chassis for a set top box comprising:
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a top panel defined by a top panel thickness, an interior surface, and an exterior surface exposed to an ambient environment; a periphery region of the chassis adjacent to a periphery of the top panel and having a periphery region thickness that is greater than the top panel thickness; and a heat spreader disposed between the interior surface of the chassis and at least one integrated circuit chip, wherein the heat spreader is defined by a first surface facing the interior surface of the chassis, wherein the heat spreader is defined by a second surface opposing the first surface and facing the at least one integrated circuit chip, wherein at least a portion of the second surface of the heat spreader is polished to minimize radiant heat transfer from the heat spreader towards the at least one integrated circuit chip, wherein the heat spreader is in thermal contact with the chassis and the at least one integrated circuit chip, wherein the heat spreader thermally conducts heat generated by the at least one integrated circuit chip into at least one of the top panel or periphery region for dissipation to the ambient environment. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 14, 15, 16)
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8. A method for transferring heat out of a media content receiving device, the method comprising:
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conductively transferring heat from an integrated circuit chip into a thermal interface material that is in thermally conductive contact with the integrated circuit chip, wherein the thermal interface material is a first material that is a phase change material; conductively transferring the heat from the thermal interface material into a heat spreader that is in thermally conductive contact with the thermal interface material and that is located proximate the integrated circuit chip; conductively transferring the heat from the heat spreader to a gap filler material, wherein the gap filler material is a material different from the thermal interface material, and wherein the gap filler material is defined by a first surface and an opposing second surface in thermally conductive contact with the heat spreader, conductively transferring the heat from the gap filler material to a chassis panel of the media content receiving device, wherein the chassis panel is in thermally conductive contact with the gap filler material, and wherein the first surface of the gap filler material is adhesively affixed to an internal surface of the chassis panel; and transferring the heat from the chassis panel to an ambient environment. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification