Heat dissipation system

An electronic component includes a component enclosure. At least one subcomponent is positioned within the component enclosure. The at least one subcomponent is configured to be thermally coupled to the component enclosure.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to heat dissipation systems and, more particularly, to heat dissipation systems configured to house a plurality of subcomponents.

BACKGROUND

Heat dissipation devices (such as heat sinks) have been used to cool heat producing devices (such as electronics). Unfortunately, the use of such heat dissipation devices requires the movement of air across the surface of the heat dissipation device to allow for cooling of the heat producing device to which it is attached. Accordingly, when devices are densely packaged and/or in shielded enclosures, the ability to pass air across the surface of the heat producing device may be greatly restricted. Accordingly, traditional cooling methods may become less effective.

SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE

In one implementation, an electronic component includes a component enclosure. At least one subcomponent is positioned within the component enclosure. The at least one subcomponent is configured to be thermally coupled to the component enclosure.

One or more of the following features may be included. A thermal pad may be positioned between the at least one subcomponent and the component enclosure, wherein the thermal pad is configured to thermally couple the at least one subcomponent and the component enclosure. The component enclosure may include an upper surface and a lower surface. The at least one subcomponent may be thermally coupled to one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the component enclosure. The at least one subcomponent may be thermally coupled to both the upper surface and the lower surface of the component enclosure.

The at least one subcomponent may include a plurality of subcomponents. At least one of the plurality of subcomponents may be an RF shielded subcomponent. The plurality of subcomponents may be configured to be thermally coupled to each other. A thermal pad may be positioned between each of the plurality of subcomponents, wherein the thermal pad is configured to thermally couple each of the plurality of subcomponents. The component enclosure may be configured to dissipate heat. The electronic component may be an automated testing electronic component. A fan assembly may be configured to circulate cooling air throughout the component enclosure.

In another implementation, an electronic component includes a component enclosure. A plurality of subcomponents is positioned within the component enclosure. The plurality of subcomponents are configured to be thermally coupled to each other. The plurality of subcomponents are configured to be thermally coupled to the component enclosure.

One or more of the following features may be included. A thermal pad may be positioned between the plurality of subcomponents and the component enclosure, wherein the thermal pad is configured to thermally couple the plurality of subcomponents and the component enclosure. A thermal pad may be positioned between each of the plurality of subcomponents, wherein the thermal pad is configured to thermally couple each of the plurality of subcomponents. The component enclosure may include an upper surface and a lower surface. The plurality of subcomponents may be thermally coupled to one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the component enclosure. The plurality of subcomponents may be thermally coupled to both the upper surface and the lower surface of the component enclosure.

In another implementation, an electronic component includes a component enclosure. At least one subcomponent is positioned within the component enclosure. The at least one subcomponent includes an RF shielded subcomponent. A thermal pad is positioned between the at least one subcomponent and the component enclosure. The thermal pad is configured to thermally couple the at least one subcomponent and the component enclosure.

One or more of the following features may be included. The component enclosure may be configured to dissipate heat. The electronic component may be an automated testing electronic component. A fan assembly may be configured to circulate cooling air throughout the component enclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS. 1-3, there is shown electronic component10that may include a component enclosure12. Component enclosure12may be configured to house at least one subcomponent14. For example, assume for illustrative purposes that a plurality of subcomponents (e.g., subcomponents16,18,20) are positioned within component enclosure12. Examples of subcomponents16,18,20may include but are not limited to: synthesizer subcomponents, modulation subcomponents, receiver subcomponents, processor subcomponents, digitizer subcomponents, power supply subcomponents, control subcomponents, digital signal processor subcomponents, filter subcomponents and storage subcomponents. While in this particular example, electronic component10is shown to include three subcomponents (e.g., subcomponents16,18,20), this is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be a limitation of this disclosure, as other configurations are possible and are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure. An example of electronic component10may include but is not limited to an automated testing electronic component, such as one or more of the products produced by LTX-Credence of Norwood, MA.

As is known in the art, modulation subcomponents (e.g., an RF modulation assembly) may be RF shielded to prevent the RF signal generated by these modulation subcomponents from interfering with the operation of the other subcomponents. Alternatively/additionally, RF sensitive subcomponents that may be adversely impacted by RF signals and may be RF shielded to prevent extraneous RF signals generated by e.g., modulation subcomponents from interfering with the operation of these RF sensitive subcomponents. The manner in which these various subcomponents may be RF shielded may include encasing the subcomponent in a subenclosure through which RF signals cannot penetrate. While such subenclosures may prevent the transmissions and/or interference of RF signals, such subenclosures may further complicate the convective cooling of these subcomponents, as cooling air cannot directly contact the heat producing elements within these subcomponents.

Electronic component10may include fan assembly22that may be configured to circulate cooling air24throughout component enclosure12. Accordingly, various components (e.g., components26,28,30) within electronic component10may be positioned such that cooling air24passes over them and components26,28,30are convectively cooled, wherein cooling air24is exhausted from electronic component10via one or more exhaust passages (e.g., exhaust passage32).

The plurality of subcomponents (e.g., subcomponents16,18,20) that are positioned within component enclosure12may be positioned in a manner that does not allow for efficient convective cooling. Specifically, due to the size of component enclosure12, the plurality of subcomponents (e.g., subcomponents16,18,20) may need to be positioned too close to each other to allow cooling air24to circulate around the plurality of subcomponents (e.g., subcomponents16,18,20).

Accordingly, the plurality of subcomponents (e.g., subcomponents16,18,20) may be configured to be thermally coupled to each other. For example, a thermal pad (e.g., thermal pads34,36) may be positioned between each of the plurality of subcomponents (e.g., subcomponents16,18,20), wherein thermal pads34,36are configured to thermally couple each of the plurality of subcomponents. Specifically, thermal pad34may be configured to thermally couple subcomponent16and subcomponent18, while thermal pad36may be configured to thermally couple subcomponent18and subcomponent20.

As is known in the art, thermal pads34,36may be preformed of a thermally conductive material (e.g., a paraffin or silicone based material), wherein thermal pads34,36are utilized to thermally couple devices (e.g., subcomponents16,18,20) so that thermal energy may be transferred between these devices. For example, thermal pads may be positioned between a heat generating device and a heat sink to aid in the conduction of thermal energy away from the heat generating device (e.g., a CPU) and into the heat sink (which is usually made of a thermally conductive material, such as aluminum or copper). Thermal pads34,36may be used to fill air gaps caused by imperfectly flat/smooth surfaces on e.g., subcomponents16,18,20, thus allowing for efficient transfer of thermal energy between subcomponents16,18,20.

Additionally, one or more of subcomponents16,18,20may be configured to be thermally coupled to component enclosure12. For example, component enclosure12may include upper surface38and lower surface40. One or more thermal pads may be positioned between subcomponents16,18,20and component enclosure12, wherein these thermal pads are configured to thermally couple subcomponents16,18,20and component enclosure12. For example, thermal pad42may be configured to thermally couple subcomponents16to upper surface38of component enclosure12; and thermal pad44may be configured to thermally couple subcomponent20to lower surface40of component enclosure12. Thermal pads42,44may be used to fill air gaps caused by imperfectly flat/smooth surfaces on e.g., subcomponents16,18,20and upper/lower surfaces40,42of component enclosure12, thus allowing for efficient transfer of thermal energy between subcomponents16,18,20and component enclosure12.

Component enclosure12may be configured to dissipate heat (e.g., the thermal energy generated by subcomponents16,18,20). For example, one or more surfaces of component enclosure12may include fins46to increase surface area and allow for enhanced heat dissipation of the thermal energy generated by subcomponents16,18,20.