Abstract:
An apparatus that is a receptacle adapted for receiving a connector. The apparatus may further include a hinged heat sink included in the receptacle. The hinged heat sink adapted in an open position for insertion and removal of a cable. The hinged heat sink further adapted in a closed position to make thermal contact with a thermally active location of the connector wherein a thermal path is provided for a dissipation point on the outside of the electronic receptacle.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    Embodiments described herein generally relate to electronic connectors, and more specifically, to heat management for electronic connectors. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Electronic connectors may allow for electronic signals to be passed from one carrier or generator to another. The electronic connectors may be used to assist connecting and routing electronic transmission into individual devices or vast networks. Electronic connectors may also be used with electronic cables so that communication can occur between two or more devices. This may also allow for the creation of a network that may carry or transmit a multitude of signals to a variety of senders and receivers of such signals. For example, the use of a network cable and connector allows the signal being transmitted over the network cable to be routed through larger network systems that the connector may enable the network cable to interface with. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In one embodiment, an apparatus that is a receptacle adapted for receiving a connector. The apparatus may further include a hinged heat sink included in the receptacle. The hinged heat sink adapted in an open position for insertion and removal of a cable. The hinged heat sink further adapted in a closed position to make thermal contact with a thermally active location of the connector wherein a thermal path is provided for a dissipation point on the outside of the electronic receptacle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic representation of an electronic component according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2A  shows a schematic representation of an electronic component positioned to be installed into a receptacle, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2B  shows a schematic representation of an electronic component installed in the receptacle of  FIG. 2A , according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0007]    In the Figures and the Detailed Description, like numbers refer to like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    Often electronic devices are designed to communicate with other electronic devices. The communication may be accomplished by transmitting signals through electronic cables. In order for the electronic devices to use the electronic cables the devices may require electronic connectors and receptacles. These connectors and receptacles may create a physical connection with the cables allowing for device signals to be sent and received through the cables. For example, the connector may be plugged into the receptacle to make electronic or optical connections. The term connector as used herein refers to the end of the cable that may be inserted into a receiving body. The term receptacle refers to the body receiving the end of cable. Those of skill in the art to practice the invention may use the terms interchangeably or may use the term connector to refer to the combination of connector and receptacle. 
         [0009]    The connectors, receptacles, or cables may also include components that organize or transform the signal from the electronic device to a signal that may be used by the connected electronic cable. In one embodiment, this may be transforming a signal, or communication, between signal forms or types. For example, the signal may have a form that uses a combination of three wires and be transformed to a signal form that uses four wires. In another embodiment, the signal may be transformed between forms that are electronic to one that is optical in nature such as fiber optic transmissions. 
         [0010]    Embodiments of electronic connectors, receptacles, and cables that may have transformative elements may be known as active connectors, receptacles, and cables. For example, a fiber optic cable may have circuitry or electronics within connectors built into or attached at one or both ends of the cable that may transform the signals of light passing through the cable into electric signals. The transformed signals may then be transferred between the connector and receptacle. The presence of the circuitry or electronics may result in the fiber optic cable being known as an active cable or a cable with an active element. Active cables, connectors, and receptacles may generate heat. The heat may be created by the elements within the cable, connector, or receptacle that are transformative as the transformation process done by them may generate heat. For example, an active optic cable may have electronics at the end, or connector, of the cable that may transform the optical signal in the cable to an electronic one. The electronics that do the transforming of the signal may generate heat in the transformation process. This heat may require management in the receptacle the connector plugs into. 
         [0011]    Often the heat generated must be removed from a cable, connector, receptacle, or their immediate area in order for them to maintain an operational temperature within desired limits. Failure to remove heat effectively results in increased temperatures, which in turn, may lead to thermal runaway conditions causing decreased performance and potentially catastrophic failure of elements within the cable, connector, or receptacle. A runaway thermal condition may also result in the damaging of housing and insulation of the cable, connector, or receptacle. In extreme cases runaway thermal conditions may create a fire risk. Thermal management is the process of maintaining a desirable temperature in electronic devices and their surroundings. 
         [0012]    Features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the invention. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the invention. It is also to be understood that the descriptions of the embodiments are provided by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of this invention as claimed. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is one embodiment of an electronic receptacle  100  with thermal management. The thermal management may be accomplished by a hinged heat sink  105 . The hinged heat sink  105  may use one or more heat conductive fins  115  on the top of a levered plate  114  of electronic receptacle  100 . The hinged heat sink  105  may be lifted away from receptacle body  113  so that an electronic cable or cable connector attached to a cable may be inserted or removed from the electronic receptacle  100 . The hinged heat sink  105  may latch onto the cable using latch  120 . The receptacle  100  may have receptacle electronic interface element  110  that may interface with a connector or cable when installed in the receptacle  100 . In various embodiments, the receptacle electronic interface element  110  may have or be made of one or more conductive plates or wires for sending or receiving electronic signals. In other embodiments, the receptacle electronic interface element  110  may contain elements for sending and receiving signals sent optically. In another embodiment, the receptacle electronic interface element  110  may instead be a optical interface element. In other embodiments, the receptacle electronic interface element  110  may combine several types and shapes of the previously mentioned elements for sending or receiving signals. In various embodiments, the receptacle  100  may have a multitude of receptacle electronic interface elements  110 . The variation and combinations possible of receptacle electronic interface elements  110  would be apparent to one skilled in the art. 
         [0014]    The fins  115  may be thermally connected to elements that pass through the levered plate  114  of the hinged heat sink  105  and connected to elements of the hinged heat sink  105  that may make a thermal path from a cable or connector insert into the receptacle  100  to the fins  115 . The fins  115  and heat transfer elements in the body of the hinged heat sink  105  may allow for thermal management by using the thermal path that allows for heat to travel away from the end of the cable, connector, or the internal elements of receptacle  100 . The path may end at the fins  115  where the heat may dissipate into the ambient air, for example. 
         [0015]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are cross sectional views of an exemplary electronic cable  250  and an electronic receptacle  100 . In  FIG. 2A , the electronic connector  255  at the end of electronic cable  250  is oriented for installation in an electronic receptacle  100  with an arrow  202  indicating the direction of insertion.  FIG. 2B  shows the same embodiment with the electronic connector  255  installed in receptacle  110 . 
         [0016]    In  FIG. 2A  a hinged heat sink  105  has hinge  209  and is tilted open by the ridge  206  of slider  205  that the levered plate  114  rests against. The compressed actuation spring  219  creating a closing force on the levered plate  114 , but the hinged heat sink may not close until the slider  205  is in a proper position. In various other embodiments, the hinge  209  may have an internal spring loaded mechanism that resists the opening of the hinged heat sink  105  eliminating the need for actuation spring  219  in some of these embodiments. The use of the hinge  209  and actuation spring  219  may keep the levered plate  114  resting against ridge  206 . In other embodiments the hinge may be part of the levered plate  114 , hinged heat sink  105 , or receptacle body  113  instead of a separate mechanical element. For example, the hinge may be a flexible plastic or rubber section molded into the receptacle body  113  or levered plate  114 . In such an embodiment, the levered plate  114 , receptacle body  113 , and hinge  209  may all be a single molded piece. 
         [0017]    Slider  205  may be used to keep the hinged heat sink  105  in an open position when a cable connector  255  is not inserted into the receptacle  100 . In the open position the ridge  206  on slider  205  is away from groove  212 . The spring  207  may be positioned between slider  205  and spring base  208 . The positioning of the slider  205  and the spring base  208  may result in the ridge  206  being away from notch  212  when the spring is in a relaxed state. The spring  207  may be collapsed as the slider moves back under pressure from an inserted connector  255  as discussed below. In various embodiments, the spring base  208  may be part of the hinge  209  or part of the receptacle body  113 . 
         [0018]    The hinged heat sink  105  may have fins  115  as previously discussed for dispersion of heat from the connector  255 , cable  250 , or receptacle  100 . Heat may be transferred to the fins  115  through the levered plate  114  of the hinged heat sink  105  by heat path element  216 . The heat path element  216  may be a made of one or more pieces that pass through levered plate  114  and connect the fins  115  with a heat receiving plate  217 . The heat receiving plate  217  may provide a base for and receive heat from conformable heat transfer material  218 . The conformable heat transfer material  218  may contact and conform to electronic connector interface element  265  when it is installed into the receptacle  100 . In various embodiments, the conformable heat transfer material may conform or be in contact with the cable  250 , connector  255 , connector electronic interface element  265 , or receptacle electronic interface element  110 . In various embodiments, one or more heat receiving plates  217  may be used. In various embodiments, the fins  115 , heat path element  216 , or heat receiving plate  217  may be combined into a single piece as part of the hinged heat sink  105 . 
         [0019]    The hinged heat sink  105  may have latch  120  which may insert into latch receptacle  270  on cable connector  255 . The latch  120  and latch receptacle  270  may assist in locking the connector  255  into an installed position in the receptacle  100 . For example, the latch  120  when inserted into latch receptacle  270  may assist in countering the outward force created by the compressed spring  207  when a connector  255  is installed. In various embodiments, a variety of types of latches  120  and latch receptacles  270  may be used. In other embodiments, the location of the latch  120  and latch receptacle  270  may be varied between the hinged heat sink  105 , the receptacle body  113 , the connector  255 , the connector grip  260 , the connector electronic interface element  265 , or cable  250 . These variations would be apparent to one skilled in the art. 
         [0020]    The receptacle  100  has a receptacle electronic interface element  110  that may interface with the connector electronic interface element  265  when the connector  255  is installed in the receptacle  100 . The receptacle electronic interface element  110  may have a variety of forms, shapes, and elements as previously mentioned. The connector electronic interface element  265  may be made of or include one or more conductive plates or wires for sending or receiving electronic signals. In other embodiments, the connector electronic interface element  265  may contain elements for sending and receiving signals sent optically. In other embodiments, the connector electronic interface element  265  may combine several types and shapes of the previously mentioned elements for sending or receiving signals. In various embodiments, the connector  255  may have a multitude of connector electronic interface elements  110 . The variation and combinations possible of connector electronic interface elements  265  would be apparent to one skilled in the art. The connector electronic interface element  265  may be shaped or formed such that elements that are part of it for sending or receiving signals may be paired with elements of the receptacle electronic interface element  110 . In various embodiments, the receptacle electronic interface element  110  and connector electronic interface element  265  may connect, clamp, envelop, embrace, or interface with each other when the connector  255  is inserted into the receptacle  100 . 
         [0021]    In  FIG. 2B  the electronic connector  255  is installed in receptacle  110  and the receptacle electronic interface element  110  is embraced by the connector electronic interface element  265 . This view may illustrate the interaction between elements of the connector  255  and receptacle  100  once the connector  255  is installed. The illustrated interactions between elements of the design may also include interactions involving the hinged heat sink  105  that include the levered plate  114 , the heat path through the levered plate  114 , and the receptacle electronic interface element  110 , and the slider  205 . 
         [0022]    In the illustrated embodiment, the latch  120  is in the closed position in the latch receptacle  270 . In this position the latch  120  may lock the connector  255  into the receptacle  100 . The hinged heat sink  105  may be raised by lifting the lift tab  225 . This may release the connector  255  from the receptacle  100  so that it may be uninstalled. 
         [0023]    In the illustrated embodiment, the installed connector  255  may push the slider  205  backward compressing the spring  207 . With the slider  205  moved back the ridge  206  may enter groove  212  on the levered plate  114 . When the ridge  206  is in the groove  212  the levered plate  114  may be lowered into an approximately parallel position with the inserted connector  255  allowing for closure of the hinged heat sink  105  of receptacle  100  onto the connector  255 . In this position actuation spring  219  may either be in a relaxed state or may be slightly compressed still. In various embodiments, the actuation spring  219  may provide compression force to conformable thermal interface element  265  against connector  255 . 
         [0024]    The heat path from the connector  255  to the fins  115  can clearly be seen with the hinged heat sink  105  in the closed position. With the hinged heat sink  105  in the closed position the conformable heat transfer material  218  may be pressed against and conform to the connector electronic interface element  265 . The conformable thermal interface material  218  may be adapted to embrace parts or elements of the connector  255 , connector electronic interface element  265 , or receptacle electronic interface element  110  that it may be in contact with when the hinged heat sink  105  is in a closed position. In various embodiments the conformable thermal interface material  218  may be omitted and the heat receiving plate  217  may be in contact with the cable  250 , connector  255 , connector electronic interface element  265 , or receptacle electronic interface element  110 . 
         [0025]    The ability of the conformable thermal interface material  218  to conform around devices or elements may provide a larger contact area for heat conduction than designs without the conformable thermal interface material  218 . The contact provided may be larger than use of only a heat receiving plate  217  used in other embodiments. The heat receiving plate  217  without the conformable thermal interface material  218  may provide limited contact with elements it should make contact with. The lack of conformability of the heat receiving plate  217  may result in limited contact due to variations in size of elements due to manufacturing tolerances and deformation caused by multiple installations and removals of components. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, the conformable thermal interface material  218  may use, or be formed from, a thermally conductive polymeric composite material. One example material that may be used to form the conformable thermal interface sleeve  310  is a Gap Pad VO®, by the Berquist Company of Chanhassen, Minn. It has a thermal conductivity of 0.8 W/m-K and a Young&#39;s modulus, the measure of elasticity, of 100 kPa. These properties give it both acceptable heat transfer capabilities and an ability to conform to the unevenness and changing topography of connector  255  or receptacle  100  parts it contacts. It is contemplated that other suitable materials may be used for the conformable thermal interface material  218 , including gels or viscous liquids, and may still remain within the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
         [0027]    As previously mentioned the conformable thermal interface material  218  may be in contact with a heat receiving plate  217 . The heat receiving plate  217  may be in contact with the heat path element  216 . The heat path element  216  may pass through the levered plate  114  and create a thermal path between the heat receiving plate  217  and the fins  115 . The thermal path may provide a path for heat in parts in contact with the conformable thermal interface material  218  to be dispersed by the fins. This may allow the hinged heat sink  105  to assist in providing thermal management for the cable  250 , connector  255 , or receptacle  100 . 
         [0028]    While the disclosed subject matter has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the subject matter, which are apparent to persons skilled in the art to which the disclosed subject matter pertains are deemed to lie within the scope and spirit of the disclosed subject matter.