Patent ID: 9704773
Date: 2017-07-11
CPC Classifications: F28F,H01L

Claim:
1. A system for selectively dissipating thermal energy from a heat-generating structure, the system comprising: a first heat sink configured to be placed in thermal communication with the heat-generating structure; a second heat sink having an external surface exposed to an ambient environment; a third heat sink disposed in proximity to the second heat sink; and a heat transfer element housed within a chamber in contact with the first, second, and third heat sinks, the heat transfer element configured to move within the chamber between (i) a first position between the first heat sink and the second heat sink to establish a first path for a transfer of the thermal energy between the first heat sink and the second heat sink and (ii) a second position between the first heat sink and the third heat sink to establish a second path for a transfer of the thermal energy between the first heat sink and the third heat sink; wherein each heat sink is configured to sink thermal energy, wherein, upon positioning of the heat transfer element at the first position between the first heat sink and the second heat sink, the heat transfer element is configured to allow at least a portion of the thermal energy from the heat-generating structure to travel from the first heat sink through the heat transfer element to the second heat sink and the second heat sink is configured to transfer at least some of the thermal energy received by the second heat sink to the ambient environment, and wherein, upon positioning of the heat transfer element at the second position between the first heat sink and the third heat sink, the heat transfer element is configured to allow at least part of the thermal energy from the heat-generating structure to travel from the first heat sink through the heat transfer element to the third heat sink.