Abstract:
A memory module assembly includes a printed circuit board ( 10 ) having a heat-generating electronic component ( 50 ) thereon, a pair of heat-dissipating plates ( 20 ) attached on the printed circuit board, and a pair of clamps ( 30 ) clamping the heat-dissipating plates and the printed circuit board therebetween. Each heat-dissipating plate includes a pair of supporters ( 28 ) and a handle ( 24 ) rotatably engaging with the supporters. The heat-dissipating plates are installed on the opposite sides of the printed circuit board by exerting a force to the handles to make them move toward each other wherein the force overcomes the spring force of the clamps.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to memory module assemblies, and more particularly to a memory module assembly including a pair of handles for simplifying an installation of a heat sink to be attached on opposite surfaces of a printed circuit board with an electronic component thereon.  
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
       [0002]     Memory module assemblies that are currently in the use generally do not require cooling devices to dissipate heat. The electronic components and memory module assemblies currently available, which are operated on or below 66 MHz do not generate heat that requires a cooling device for dissipating the heat. However, as the industry progresses, memory module assemblies, such SDRAM DIMM memory module assemblies will be required to operate at 100 MHz or more. For these modern memory module assemblies, heat sinks will be required to remove heat generated thereby. However, since the memory module assemblies each have a limited board area and are mounted on a motherboard of a computer, mounting the heat sink to the memory module assembly becomes an issue.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0003]     A memory module assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment comprises a printed circuit board having heat-generating electronic components thereon, a pair of heat-dissipating plates attached on opposite sides of the printed circuit board and two clamps clamping the heat-dissipating plates and the printed circuit board therebetween. Each heat-dissipating plate comprises a pair of supporters, and a handle engaging with the supporters. The heat-dissipating plates are installed on the opposite sides of the printed circuit board under the help of the handles to overcome the spring force of the clamps.  
         [0004]     Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     Many aspects of the present apparatus and method can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present apparatus and method. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is an assembled view of a memory module assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded and isometric view of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of an indicated portion III of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a preassembly view of  FIG. 1  with a printed circuit board and a pair of heat-dissipating plates;  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is an assembled view of  FIG. 4 ; and  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is an assembled view of a memory module assembly in accordance with another embodiment.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]      FIGS. 1-2  show a memory module assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The memory module assembly comprises a printed circuit board  10  having a plurality of heat-generating electronic components  50  thereon, a pair of heat-dissipating plates  20  attached on opposite sides of the printed circuit board  10 , two clamps  30  for securing the heat-dissipating plates  20  onto the opposite sides of the printed circuit board  10 . The printed circuit board  10  has a rectangular shape having first and second faces and two long sides and two short sides between the long sides. A through hole  12  is defined in a middle of the printed circuit board  10  near a bottom one of the long sides thereof.  
         [0013]     Referring to  FIGS. 2-3 , each heat-dissipating plate  20  comprises a rectangular-shaped body  22  and a handle  24  arranged on the body  22 . The body  22  of one of the heat-dissipating plates  20  forms a hook  23  for inwardly extending from a bottom thereof into the through hole  12  of the printed circuit board  10 , for avoiding a movement of the body  22  along the long sides of the printed circuit board  10 . Four bowl-shaped protruding portions  26  are symmetrically positioned on a front surface of the body  22 . Each protruding portion  26  defines a mouth  260  in a middle thereof by stamping. An outer collar  262  around the mouth  260  is therefore formed to form a pressing portion pressed on the clamp  30 . The protruding portion  26  further comprises a shrunk bottom having a smaller diameter than that of the mouth  260  for engaging with the clamp  30 . A pair of supporters, such as a pair of semicircular vaults  28  are formed on the body  22  beside the protruding portions  26  for the handles  24  to be inserted into. The vaults  28  are stamped from the body  22  or formed by other means. Each vault  28  has a triangular block  280  at a free end thereof to avoid movement of the handle  24  in a free state. A hole  282  is defined in the body  22  in a position corresponding to that of the triangular block  280 . A groove  284  is defined in the body  22  corresponding to the opposite free end of the vault  28 , shaped for allowing the handle  24  to be accepted therein. A pair of slots  286  are defined in the body  22  between the vaults  28  and the protruding portions  26  along a direction of a short side of the body  22 . A pair of strip-shaped ribs  29  are formed in an upper end of the front surface of the body  22  and a pair of depressed portions  290  are defined in a rear surface of the body  22  corresponding to the ribs  29 .  
         [0014]     The handle  24  has an operating portion  240  extending parallel to a long side of the body  22 , a pair of resisting portions  242  extending from opposite ends of the operating portion  240  and accommodated in the slots  286  and a pair of running portions  244  extending from free ends of the resisting portions  242 , respectively. The handle  24  is made by folding a flexible metal wire. When the handle  24  is in a free state, the running portions  244  are attached on the front surface of the body  22  and the resisting portions  242  are blocked by the triangular blocks  280 .  
         [0015]     The clamps  30  are used for clamping the heat-dissipating plates  20  on the opposite sides of the printed circuit board  10 . Each clamp  30  has an n-shaped configuration and comprises a connecting portion  32  and a pair of elastic pressing portions  34  extending from two free ends of the connecting portion  32 . Each pressing portion  34  defines a pair of circular holes  340  therein. The protruding portions  26  extend into the circular holes  340  and the bottoms of the protruding portions  26  of the body  22  are blocked in the circular holes  340 . The collars  262  of the protruding portions  26  deform under pressure to spread outwardly so as to be attached to the pressing portions  34 . Thus, the clamps  30  are fastened onto the bodies  22  of the heat-dissipating plates  20 .  
         [0016]     In assembly, referring to  FIG. 4 , when a force acts on the handles  24 , the running portions  244  of the handles  24  are rotated in the vaults  28  and the operating portions  240  lift from the bottom of the heat-dissipating plates  20  to the top of the heat-dissipating plates  20  until the resisting portions  242  of the handles  24  are rest on the ribs  29 . The force acting on the operating portions  240  of the handles  24  inwardly presses the operating portions  240  to render bottoms of the heat-dissipating plates  20  outwardly opening to form a big space for the printed circuit board  10  to insert therebetween, when the force acting on the handles  24  overcomes the spring force of the clamps  30  acting on the heat-dissipating plates  20 . When the printed circuit board  10  is sandwiched between the two heat-dissipating plates  20  at a predetermined position, the force acting on the handles  24  is removed and the clamps  30  firmly clamp the heat-dissipating plates  20  on opposite surfaces of the printed circuit board  10  and the hook  23  of the heat-dissipating plate  20  extends into the through hole  12  of the printed circuit board  10  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The heat-dissipating plates  20  intimately and thermally contact with the heat-generating electronic components  50 , which according to the present invention are memory chips. Finally, referring to  FIG. 5 , the handles  24  are moved downwardly to return to their original position with the operating portions  240  stopped under the bottoms of the heat-dissipating plates  20  and the resisting portions  242  accommodated in the slots  286 .  
         [0017]     In the present invention, the handles  24  are disposed on the outer surfaces of the heat-dissipating plates  20 . It only takes force acting on the handles  24  to make the heat-dissipating plates  20  open outwardly by overcoming the spring force of the clamps  30 . There is no need for additional tools and installation of the heat-dissipating plates  20  onto the printed circuit board  10  is made easy and simple.  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , in another embodiment of the present invention, the handles  60  only comprise a pair of resisting portions  62  arranged on opposite sides of the clamps  30  and a pair of running portions  64  inserted in the vaults  28 . The force acting on the resisting portions  62  of the handles  60  drives the heat-dissipating plates  20  to open outwards to form a big space for the printed circuit board  10  to be inserted therebetween,  
         [0019]     It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.