Patent ID: 6661660
Filing Date: 2003-12-09
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
An arrangement for pressing a heat-generating item against a substrate while ensuring that a compressible and easily damaged heat pipe capable of being thermally coupled to the heat-generating item is not damaged, comprising:an essentially incompressible heat-spreading plate having a first surface engageable with the heat-generating item and a second surface opposed to the first surface; a groove formed in the first surface of the heat-spreading plate for receiving a first end portion of the heat pipe, the groove having a depth which is substantially the same as or slightly greater than the thickness of the heat pipe, so that a force applied to the second surface of the heat-spreading plate to press the heat-generating item against the substrate has limited compressive effect on the heat pipe; and a spring plate having a first side to receive a force and a second side, parallel to the first side, to apply the force to the second surface of the heat-spreading plate to press the heat-generating item against the substrate, the force directed substantially at the center of the heat-generating item, wherein a protrusion extends outward from the second side for applying and directing the force.