Abstract:
In some embodiments, socket enabled cooling of in-substrate voltage regulator is presented. In this regard, a socket is introduced having a socket body with a substantially central cavity, a plurality of contacts through the socket body arranged in a substantially square pattern around the cavity, and an integrated heat spreader substantially covering the cavity. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of integrated circuit package cooling methods, and, more particularly to socket enabled cooling of in-substrate voltage regulator. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The demand for small form-factor, high-speed computing devices has led to placing components such as voltage regulators on the substrate of an integrated circuit package. A voltage regulator can produce a significant amount of heat that could impact the performance and reliability of the integrated circuit package. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which: 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is a graphical illustration of a cross-sectional view of socket enabled cooling of in-substrate voltage regulator, in accordance with one example embodiment of the invention; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a graphical illustration of a cross-sectional view of socket enabled cooling of in-substrate voltage regulator, in accordance with one example embodiment of the invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a graphical illustration of a cross-sectional view of socket enabled cooling of in-substrate voltage regulator, in accordance with one example embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an example electronic appliance suitable for implementing socket enabled cooling of in-substrate voltage regulator, in accordance with one example embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the invention. 
         [0009]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a graphical illustration of a cross-sectional view of socket enabled cooling of in-substrate voltage regulator, in accordance with one example embodiment of the invention. In accordance with the illustrated example embodiment, electronic device  100  includes one or more of socket body  102 , socket contacts  104 , integrated heat spreader  106 , die  108 , substrate  110 , in-substrate voltage regulator  112 , die heat spreader  114 , heat sink  116 , and printed circuit board  118 . 
         [0011]    Socket body  102  represents a material such as plastic that provides mechanical support and attachment for an integrated circuit package and includes socket contacts  104  to electrically couple the integrated circuit package with traces and other components (not shown) on printed circuit board  118 . In one embodiment, socket body  102  is a land grid array (LGA) socket with socket contacts  104  arranged in a square pattern around a central cavity. 
         [0012]    Integrated heat spreader  106  may cover a cavity in socket body  102  such that it can contact in-substrate voltage regulator  112  when the associated integrated circuit package is inserted in socket body  102 . Integrated heat spreader  106  may be made of copper, aluminum or any other metal or metal alloy that would be suitable for spreading heat. Integrated heat spreader  106  may be L-shaped with one end attached to socket body  102  and the other end floating over the cavity, or U-shaped with two ends attached to socket body  102  on opposite sides of the cavity, or basket-shaped with four sides attached to socket body  102  and a flat surface that covers the cavity, or any other shape that allows integrated heat spreader  106  to attach to socket body  102  and provide a heat spreading surface to in-substrate voltage regulator  112 . 
         [0013]    In-substrate voltage regulator  112  may contact internal heat spreader  106  directly or indirectly through a thermal interface material designed to promote adhesion and heat transfer. 
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a graphical illustration of a cross-sectional view of socket enabled cooling of in-substrate voltage regulator, in accordance with one example embodiment of the invention. As shown, electronic device  200  includes one or more of socket body  202 , socket contacts  204 , integrated heat spreader  206 , die  208 , substrate  210 , in-substrate voltage regulator  212 , die heat spreader  214 , heat sink  216 , and printed circuit board  218 . 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, integrated heat spreader  206  is made up of two or more separate pieces which may be of various shapes and materials which spread heat from in-substrate voltage regulator  212 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a graphical illustration of a cross-sectional view of socket enabled cooling of in-substrate voltage regulator, in accordance with one example embodiment of the invention. As shown, electronic device  300  includes one or more of socket body  302 , socket contacts  304 , integrated heat spreader  306 , die  308 , substrate  310 , in-substrate voltage regulator  312 , die heat spreader  314 , heat sink  316 , printed circuit board  318 , and airflow  320 . 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, printed circuit board  318  may have a hole through which airflow  320  can reach integrated heat spreader  306  and provide convection. Additionally fans, heat sinks, heat pipes and the like can be included to further dissipate heat from integrated heat spreader  306 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an example electronic appliance suitable for implementing socket enabled cooling of in-substrate voltage regulator, in accordance with one example embodiment of the invention. Electronic appliance  400  is intended to represent any of a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional electronic appliances, laptops, desktops, cell phones, wireless communication subscriber units, wireless communication telephony infrastructure elements, personal digital assistants, set-top boxes, or any electric appliance that would benefit from the teachings of the present invention. In accordance with the illustrated example embodiment, electronic appliance  400  may include one or more of processor(s)  402 , memory controller  404 , system memory  406 , input/output controller  408 , network controller  410 , and input/output device(s)  412  coupled as shown in  FIG. 5 . Processor(s)  402 , or other integrated circuit components of electronic appliance  400 , may be housed in a socket including an integrated heat spreader described previously as an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0019]    Processor(s)  402  may represent any of a wide variety of control logic including, but not limited to one or more of a microprocessor, a programmable logic device (PLD), programmable logic array (PLA), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a microcontroller, and the like, although the present invention is not limited in this respect. In one embodiment, processors(s)  402  are Intel® compatible processors. Processor(s)  402  may have an instruction set containing a plurality of machine level instructions that may be invoked, for example by an application or operating system. 
         [0020]    Memory controller  404  may represent any type of chipset or control logic that interfaces system memory  406  with the other components of electronic appliance  400 . In one embodiment, the connection between processor(s)  402  and memory controller  404  may be referred to as a front-side bus. In another embodiment, memory controller  404  may be referred to as a north bridge. 
         [0021]    System memory  406  may represent any type of memory device(s) used to store data and instructions that may have been or will be used by processor(s)  402 . Typically, though the invention is not limited in this respect, system memory  406  will consist of dynamic random access memory (DRAM). In one embodiment, system memory  406  may consist of Rambus DRAM (RDRAM). In another embodiment, system memory  406  may consist of double data rate synchronous DRAM (DDRSDRAM). 
         [0022]    Input/output (I/O) controller  408  may represent any type of chipset or control logic that interfaces I/O device(s)  412  with the other components of electronic appliance  400 . In one embodiment, I/O controller  408  may be referred to as a south bridge. In another embodiment, I/O controller  408  may comply with the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Express™ Base Specification, Revision 1.0a, PCI Special Interest Group, released Apr. 15, 2003. 
         [0023]    Network controller  410  may represent any type of device that allows electronic appliance  400  to communicate with other electronic appliances or devices. In one embodiment, network controller  410  may comply with a The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) 802.11b standard (approved Sep. 16, 1999, supplement to ANSI/IEEE Std 802.11, 1999 Edition). In another embodiment, network controller  410  may be an Ethernet network interface card. 
         [0024]    Input/output (I/O) device(s)  412  may represent any type of device, peripheral or component that provides input to or processes output from electronic appliance  400 . 
         [0025]    In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form. 
         [0026]    Many of the methods are described in their most basic form but operations can be added to or deleted from any of the methods and information can be added or subtracted from any of the described messages without departing from the basic scope of the present invention. Any number of variations of the inventive concept is anticipated within the scope and spirit of the present invention. In this regard, the particular illustrated example embodiments are not provided to limit the invention but merely to illustrate it. Thus, the scope of the present invention is not to be determined by the specific examples provided above but only by the plain language of the following claims.