Patent ID: 8720063
Filing Date: 2014-05-13
Classification: H01L,H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of fabricating a thermal expansion-enhanced heat sink comprising: providing a heat sink base comprising a base surface configured to couple to a surface of a heat-generating electronic component to facilitate removal of heat from the heat-generating electronic component, the heat sink base having a first coefficient of thermal expansion; providing a frame configured to couple to the heat-generating electronic component and constrain the base surface of the heat sink base in opposing relation to the surface of the heat-generating electronic component, the frame having a second coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein the first coefficient of thermal expansion of the heat sink is greater than the second coefficient of thermal expansion of the frame, and wherein at least one of the heat sink base or the frame is configured so that heating of the heat sink base expands the heat sink base relative to the frame and results in a force component at the base surface of the heat sink base towards the surface of the heat-generating electronic component that facilitates heat transfer from the surface of the heat-generating electronic component to the heat sink base; and wherein providing the heat sink base comprises providing the heat sink base with an angled side surface sloping inward from the base surface of the heat sink base, and wherein providing the frame comprises providing the frame with an angled inner surface in opposing relation to the angled side surface of the heat sink base, and wherein heating of the heat sink base expands the heat sink base, forcing the angled side surface of the heat sink base against the angled inner surface of the frame, and thereby producing the force component at the has surface of the heat sink base towards the surface of the heat-generating electronic component that facilitates heat transfer from the surface of the heat-generating electronic component to the heat sink base.