Thermal cooling system

Particular embodiments described herein provide for a thermal cooling system that is part of a device that includes a hole-in-motherboard configuration. The device can include a substrate, one or more dies on a top portion of the substrate, one or more printed circuit boards below the substrate, where the printed circuit boards are coupled to the substrate with solder balls, and one or more land side capacitors below the substrate. A thermal conducting plate, phase change material, and one or more sponge walls to help insulate the solder balls from the thermal conductive layer can be located in the hole of the hole-in-motherboard configuration and help transfer heat and thermal energy away from the device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates in general to the field of computing and/or device cooling, and more particularly, to a thermal cooling system.

BACKGROUND

Emerging trends in systems place increasing performance demands on the system. The increasing performance demands can cause additional power requirements for the system. Insufficient cooling for increased power can cause a reduction in device performance, a reduction in the lifetime of a device, and delays in data throughput.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth examples of apparatuses, methods, and systems relating to enabling a reversible direction thermal cooling system. Features such as structure(s), function(s), and/or characteristic(s), for example, are described with reference to one embodiment as a matter of convenience; various embodiments may be implemented with any suitable one or more of the described features.

Implementations of the embodiments disclosed herein may be formed or carried out on a substrate, such as a semiconductor substrate. In one implementation, the semiconductor substrate may be a crystalline substrate formed using a bulk silicon or a silicon-on-insulator substructure. In other implementations, the semiconductor substrate may be formed using alternate materials, which may or may not be combined with silicon, that include but are not limited to germanium, indium antimonide, lead telluride, indium arsenide, indium phosphide, gallium arsenide, indium gallium arsenide, gallium antimonide, or other combinations of group III-V or group IV materials. In other examples, the substrate may be a flexible substrate including 2D materials such as graphene and MoS2, organic materials such as pentacene, transparent oxides such as IGZO poly/amorphous (low temperature of dep) III-V semiconductors and Ge/Si, and other non-silicon flexible substrates. Although a few examples of materials from which the substrate may be formed are described here, any material that may serve as a foundation upon which a semiconductor device may be built falls within the spirit and scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense. For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B, and C).

The description uses the phrases “in an embodiment” or “in embodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of the present disclosure, are synonymous. As used herein, a “package” and an “IC package” are synonymous. As used herein, the terms “chip” and “die” may be used interchangeably.

FIG. 1is a simplified block diagram of an electronic device configured to enable a thermal cooling system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an example, electronic device102can include one or more electronic components106. Each of the one or more electronic components106can include one or more electronic elements108and a thermal component110. In some examples, the electronic element108can include thermal component110. In other example, electronic component106may not include any electronic elements108but may include thermal component110. Electronic device102may be in communication with cloud services112and/or network element114using network116.

Each of electronic components106may be a motherboard, system on a chip (SoC), etc. Each electronic element108can be a heat generating device and may be a processor, logic unit, field programmable gate array (FPGA), chip set, graphics processor, graphics card, battery, memory, or some other type of heat generating device. Thermal component110can be configured as a thermal cooling system and more particularly, a passive thermal cooling system to help reduce the temperature or thermal energy of electronic device102, one or more of electronic components106, and/or one or more electronic elements108.

In a specific example, each electronic component106includes a hole. As used herein, the term “hole” includes a cavity, recess, pit, depression, or other hollowed out area. The hole is used for discrete components such as external land side capacitors (LSCS) for integrated high-speed voltage-regulators on the bottom of the electronic component106. Such components need a hole for low-pitch ball grid array (BGA) packages to avoid physical interference. Thermal component110can be located in the hole to help cool at least a portion of the system and to aid any existing thermal solutions by taking advantage of proximity to the heat source. Electronic device102can be any electronic device (e.g., computer, smartphone, laptop, desktop, Internet-of-Things device, vehicle, handheld electronic device, personal digital assistant, wearable, etc.) that includes one or more electronic components106and/or electronic elements108that include a hole.

It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Substantial flexibility is provided by electronic device102in that any suitable arrangements and configuration may be provided without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.

As used herein, the term “when” may be used to indicate the temporal nature of an event. For example, the phrase “event ‘A’ occurs when event ‘B’ occurs” is to be interpreted to mean that event A may occur before, during, or after the occurrence of event B, but is nonetheless associated with the occurrence of event B. For example, event A occurs when event B occurs if event A occurs in response to the occurrence of event B or in response to a signal indicating that event B has occurred, is occurring, or will occur. Reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” in the present disclosure means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

For purposes of illustrating certain example techniques of a thermal cooling system, the following foundational information may be viewed as a basis from which the present disclosure may be properly explained. End users have more media and communications choices than ever before. A number of prominent technological trends are currently afoot (e.g., more computing elements, more online video services, more Internet traffic, more complex processing, etc.), and these trends are changing the expected performance of devices as devices and systems are expected to increase performance and function. However, the increase in performance and/or function causes an increase in the thermal challenges of the devices and systems. For example, in some devices, it can be difficult to cool a particular heat source.

Hole in motherboard (HiMB) designs (sometimes referred to as a recess in motherboard (RiMB) design) has enabled increased packaging density of functional components (voltage regulation, EMI shielding) for next generation mobile products. In small form factor packages, the dynamic warpage of the silicon, package and board materials during SMT reflow process create potential interference between the mother board and bottom package components (or landside package components) that cannot be supported by traditional collapse heights, which may result in solder joint opens. One solution to minimize interference of these bottom components with the motherboard includes either removing the printed circuit board (PCB) material to create a hole in the motherboard or, in more advanced cases, removing finite layers of the PCB material to allow for components to sit into the hole or recess without impacting the surface mount process. The HiMB architecture was created to address this concern while still preserving a majority of layers in the motherboard under the CPU shadow to be available for routing. For tighter hardware integration, some mobile SOCs absorb discrete components in the motherboard (e.g., LSCs for integrated high-speed voltage-regulators on the bottom/land side of the motherboard). Such components need a hole in the PCB for thinner low-pitch BGA packages to avoid physical interference.

Passive-cooled form-factor designs like detachables, dual-display devices, clamshells etc. that use mobile SOCs are thinning down in size and involve very complex system-designs. In addition, compute performance (especially PL2/turbo) targets continue to increase, calling for ways to improve transient thermal performance. Current solutions are not typically sufficient to meet high performance targets. Pricier and more elaborate thermal solutions based on a heat pipe or vapor chamber address this, but besides being costly, these solutions are also relatively thick and drive the system stack up. Larger air gaps and/or costlier spreader material are other alternatives but come with a cost and thickness penalty. Some thermal solutions for flip-chip packages make use of low top side (junction-case) thermal resistance of the exposed die. The solutions include extending metal EMI shielding as a thermal solution by physically connecting the metal EMI shielding to the package with a gap pad or by attaching a spreader plate with a thermal interface material (TIM) (e.g. thermal grease) on top of the package. Hole-in-motherboard (HiMB) designs additionally require metal foil to avoid signal leakage through the bottom of the package and the metal foil can also somewhat act as heat spreader, although it is not very efficient and cannot transfer very much thermal energy. The current solutions often do not provide enough thermal cooling, especially when turbo performance is added. What is needed is a thermal cooling system to improve transient thermal performance of electronic devices.

A device to help mitigate the thermal challenges of a system, as outlined inFIG. 1, can resolve these issues (and others). In an example, an electronic device (e.g., electronic device102) that includes a hole or a component or element that includes a hole can be configured to include a thermal component within the hole. More specifically, non-conductive sponge walls can be added between solder balls and the hole. Phase change material can be added to at least partially fill the hole, and a thermal conducting plate can be added to help transfer heat or thermal energy away from the component or element.

In a specific example, the thermal component can include a phase change material with a relatively high heat of fusion (paraffin based material, salt hydrate, solid-solid phase change material (PCMS), liquid metal based material, etc.) or some other thermally conductive material. The thermal component can also include a high thermal conductivity material plate and pillar structure (e.g., copper, graphite, carbon nanotubes, gold, etc.) configured to help with latent heat absorption. The thermal component can extend to the bottom side of a substrate124under the die shadow to improve the heat discharge rates.

In a specific example, copper plates embedded in the phase change material can be mutually connected through copper micro-pillars and the phase change material can fill the mid-space and gaps in a LSC region. In some examples, the phase change material can be replaced with pure copper or other thermally conductive mater but will require an electrically non-conductive thermal interface material. Any phase change material or thermal interface material pump-out into the solder balls region can be contained within a walled structure created by dispensing non-conductive sponge material. This allows the thermal cooling system to use the thermal component to enhance the overall thermal budget of electronic device102along with improving turbo, boost, enhanced, etc. performance of electronic device102. The thermal component can facilitate a relatively easy heat escape path from the bottom of the component or element and the proximity of the thermal component to the component or element can help enable an improved transient performance over current solutions. The thermal component impact can be enhanced further by connecting a board side spreader that is coupled to cooler regions, by further increasing the heat transfer area by including dimples or other fin structures, or by coupling an active cooling system to the thermal component.

In an example implementation, electronic device102, is meant to encompass a computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop or electronic notebook, a cellular telephone, smart phone, network elements, network appliances, servers, routers, switches, gateways, bridges, load balancers, processors, modules, or any other device, component, element, or object that includes a heat source and a hole, or at least a first heat source on a first side and at least a second heat source on a second side and a hole between the first heat source and the second heat source. In an example, the heat source is above the hole. In another example, the first side is opposite the second side with the hole between the first side and the second side. In yet other examples, the heat source may be on one side or on multiple sides (top, first side, and/or second side) of the hole. Electronic device102may include any suitable hardware, software, components, modules, or objects, as well as suitable interfaces for receiving, transmitting, and/or otherwise communicating data or information in a network environment. This may be inclusive of appropriate algorithms and communication protocols that allow for the effective exchange of data or information. Electronic device102may include virtual elements.

In regards to the internal structure, electronic device102can include memory elements for storing information. Electronic device102may keep information in any suitable memory element (e.g., random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc.), software, hardware, firmware, or in any other suitable component, device, element, or object where appropriate and based on particular needs. Any of the memory items discussed herein should be construed as being encompassed within the broad term ‘memory element.’ Moreover, the information being used, tracked, sent, or received could be provided in any database, register, queue, table, cache, control list, or other storage structure, all of which can be referenced at any suitable timeframe. Any such storage options may also be included within the broad term ‘memory element’ as used herein.

Additionally, electronic device102may include a processor that can execute software or an algorithm to perform activities. A processor can execute any type of instructions associated with the data. In one example, the processors could transform an element or an article (e.g., data) from one state or thing to another state or thing. In another example, the activities may be implemented with fixed logic or programmable logic (e.g., software/computer instructions executed by a processor) and the elements identified herein could be some type of a programmable processor, programmable digital logic (e.g., a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)) or an ASIC that includes digital logic, software, code, electronic instructions, or any suitable combination thereof. Any of the potential processing elements, modules, and machines described herein should be construed as being encompassed within the broad term ‘processor.’

Turning toFIG. 2A,FIG. 2Ais a simplified block diagram of electronic component106configured to include a thermal cooling system. Electronic component106can include a heat spreader and/or electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield118, a TIM layer120, one or more dies122, a substrate124, one or more stiffeners126, one or more LSC128, one or more solder balls130, one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs)132, phase change material134, non-conductive sponge walls136, a thermal conducting plate138, and thermal transfer extension140. Substrate124can include a top side152and a bottom side154. Bottom side154is sometimes referred to as a land side. Heat spreader and/or electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield118, TIM layer120, one or more dies122, substrate124, and one or more stiffeners126can be located on top side152of substrate124. One or more LSC128, one or more solder balls130, one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs)132, phase change material134, non-conductive sponge walls136, thermal conducting plate138, and thermal transfer extension140can be located on bottom side154of substrate124. As illustrated inFIG. 2B, thermal component110includes phase change material134, non-conductive sponge walls136, and thermal conducting plate138. Electronic element108can include heat spreader and/or EMI shield118, TIM layer120, one or more dies122, substrate124, one or more stiffeners126, one or more LSC128, one or more solder balls130, and one or more PCBs132.

Returning toFIG. 2A, heat spreader and/or electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield118can be a primary heat dissipate system coupled to one or more dies122using TIM layer120. Each one or more die122can be a block of semiconducting material on which a functional circuit is fabricated. Each LSC128can be a capacitor that is attached to substrate124on bottom side154under the die shadow. LSCs are typically bypass capacitors that sit as close as practically possible to dies122in order to increase their effectiveness. LSCs128can be used to reduce noise and impedance and to maintain a constant voltage under various operating frequencies. The form factor of LSCs128is often dictated by various factors such as the substrate size and the collapsed height of solder balls130. One or more LSC128is typically larger than solder balls130which is a main reason for the HiMB design.

Solder balls130, or a solder bump (or simply a “ball” or “bumps”) is a ball of solder that provides contact between one or more dies122(through substrate124) and PCB132, as well as between stacked packages in multichip modules. Solder balls130can be placed manually or by automated equipment and can be held in place with a tacky flux

PCBs132electrically connect electronic components or electrical components using conductive tracks, pads and/or other features etched from one or more sheet layers of a conductive material (e.g., copper) laminated onto and/or between sheet layers of a non-conductive substrate. Components are generally soldered onto PCB132using solder balls130.

Phase change material134can be at least partially electrically non-conductive, thermal conductive, and have relatively high latency heat of fusion that can absorb a relatively large amount of heat or thermal energy. In some examples, phase change material134has a low electrical conductivity. Phase change material134can be paraffin based material, salt hydrates, solid-solid PCMs, liquid metal based material, or some other material that is at least partially electrically non-conductive but is thermally conductive and can help insulate solder balls130and transfer heat or thermal energy. In an example, phase change material134can be an electrically non-conductive, thermal conductive mesh structure. In some examples, phase-change material134may not actually be a phase-change material but is still a thermally conductive material that helps with cooling. Non-conductive sponge wall136can be configured to help contain phase change material134and help prevent electrical conductivity from phase change material134from reaching or coupling with solder balls130. In a specific example, non-conductive sponge wall136can be flexible and may be made of a non-conductive foam.

Thermal conducting plate138can help to transfer heat or thermal energy captured by phase change material134and transfer the heat or thermal energy to thermal transfer extension140. Thermal conducting plate138can be comprised of copper, graphite, carbon nanotubes, gold, or some other material that can help transfer heat or thermal energy. In some examples, thermal conducting plate138may be a vapor chamber. In an example, thermal transfer extension140can be coupled or connected to a board side spreader to transfer thermal energy to cooler regions. In addition, thermal transfer extension140can further increase the heat transfer area by including dimples or other fin structures. This helps in dissipating the heat by natural and/or forced convection (in case of fan or other flow movers) as well as by radiation. Thermal transfer extension140can be comprised of copper, graphite, carbon nanotubes, gold, or some other material that can help transfer heat or thermal energy. In an example, thermal transfer extension140is a passive cooling element. In another example, thermal transfer extension140is an active cooling element.

Turning toFIG. 3A,FIG. 3Ais a simplified block diagram illustrating thermal conducting plate138aas a vapor chamber. While thermal conducting plate138ais shown as a vapor chamber, thermal conducting plate138may be some other device or mechanism that can help to transfer heat or thermal energy captured by phase change material134to thermal transfer extension140. If thermal conducting plate138ais a vapor chamber or other similar structure, thermal conducting plate138acan include an outer wall144that contains a heat pipe146and a liquid148in a hermetically sealed environment. Liquid148can be water. Support posts150can help provide structural support to thermal conducting plate138a.

In an example, at a hot interface of heat pipe146(e.g., the area where outer wall144is proximate to phase change material134) liquid148turns into a vapor by absorbing heat from heat pipe146. The vapor then travels along heat pipe146to a cooler interface (e.g., thermal transfer extension140), condenses back into liquid148, and releases heat to the cooler interface. Liquid148then returns to the hot interface through capillary action, centrifugal force, gravity, etc. and the cycle repeats.

Turning toFIG. 3B,FIG. 3Bis a simplified block diagram illustrating thermal conducting plate138bas a stacked vapor chamber. If thermal conducting plate138bis a stacked vapor chamber or other similar structure, thermal conducting plate138bcan include an upper vapor chamber outer wall144athat contains a heat pipe146aand a liquid148ain a hermetically sealed environment and a lower vapor chamber outer wall144bthat contains a heat pipe146band a liquid148bin a hermetically sealed environment. Liquid148aand148bcan be water. Support posts150aand150bcan help provide structural support to thermal conducting plate138b.

In an example, at a hot interface of heat pipe146a(e.g., the area where upper vapor chamber outer wall144ais proximate to phase change material134) liquid148aturns into a vapor by absorbing heat from heat pipe146a. The vapor then travels along heat pipe146ato a cooler interface (e.g., vapor chamber outer wall144b), condenses back into liquid148and releases heat to the cooler interface. Liquid148athen returns to the hot interface through capillary action, centrifugal force, gravity, etc. and the cycle repeats.

At a hot interface of heat pipe146b(e.g., the area where lower vapor chamber outer wall144bis proximate to upper vapor chamber outer wall144a) liquid148bturns into a vapor by absorbing heat from heat pipe146b. The vapor then travels along heat pipe146bto a cooler interface (e.g., thermal transfer extension140), condenses back into liquid148band releases heat to the cooler interface. Liquid148bthen returns to the hot interface through capillary action, centrifugal force, gravity, etc. and the cycle repeats.

Turning toFIG. 4,FIG. 4illustrates one embodiment of one of the early stages of building or creating an electronic component or element that includes thermal component110. In an embodiment, an electronic component includes a hole. As illustrated inFIG. 4, electronic element108includes a hole168. Hole168can be a cavity, recess, pit, depression, or other hollowed out area and is generally defined by bottom side154of substrate124and sides of PCBs132. As illustrated inFIG. 4, electronic element108can include heat spreader and/or EMI shield118, TIM layer120, one or more dies122, substrate124, one or more stiffeners126, one or more LSC128, one or more solder balls130, and one or more PCBs132.

Turning toFIG. 5,FIG. 5illustrates one embodiment of one of the early stages of building or creating an electronic component or element that includes thermal component110. In an embodiment, non-conductive sponge walls136are added between solder balls130and hole168by using a dispensing mechanism (e.g., a thick nozzle syringe, or some other dispensing mechanism). Non-conductive sponge walls136can be configured to help contain phase change material134that will be added to hole168and to help prevent electrical conductivity from phase change material134from reaching or coupling with solder balls130.

Turning toFIG. 6,FIG. 6illustrates one embodiment of one of the stages of building or creating an electronic component or element that includes thermal component110. In an embodiment, phase change material134can be added to at least partially fill hole168. Phase change material134can be at least partially electrically non-conductive to help keep electrical currents from LSCs128from reaching or coupling with solder balls130and PCBs132and/or to help keep a voltage differential from building in the area that included hole168. Phase change material134can be thermally conductive to help transfer heat or thermal energy to thermal transfer extension140after thermal conducting plate138is added.

Turning toFIG. 7,FIG. 7illustrates one embodiment of one of the stages of building or creating an electronic component or element that includes thermal component110. In an embodiment, a thermal conducting plate recess170can be created in phase change material134. Thermal conducting plate recess170can be created by etching or some other means of removing a portion of phase change material134to create thermal conducting plate recess170.

Turning toFIG. 8,FIG. 8illustrates one embodiment of one of the stages of building or creating an electronic component or element that includes thermal component110. In an embodiment, thermal conducting plate138can be added to the area created by thermal conducting plate recess170. In some examples, thermal conducting plate138is pre-built or a complete component (e.g., a vapor chamber) and the pre-built or complete component is added or positioned in thermal conducting plate recess170. In other examples, thermal conducting plate138can be created by machining thermal conducting plate138on an external spreader plate such as thermal transfer extension140. Thermal conducting plate138helps to transfer heat or thermal energy captured by phase change material134.

Turning toFIG. 9,FIG. 9illustrates one embodiment of one of the stages of building or creating an electronic component or element that includes thermal component110. In an embodiment, thermal transfer extension140can be added or coupled to thermal conducting plate138to help transfer heat or thermal energy away from thermal conducting plate138. In an example, thermal transfer extension140can dissipating the heat by natural and/or forced convection (in case of fan or other flow movers) as well as by radiation.

Turning toFIG. 10,FIG. 10is an example flowchart illustrating possible operations of a flow1000that may be associated with enabling a thermal cooling system, in accordance with an embodiment. At1002, an electronic component that includes a hole is identified. At1004, non-conductive sponge walls are added to the electronic component between solder balls and the hole. At1006, phase change material is added to at least partially fill the hole. At1008, a thermal conducting plate recess is created in the phase change material. At1010, a thermal conducting plate is added to the area created by the thermal conducting plate recess. At1012, a thermal transfer extension is added or coupled to the thermal conducting plate. In an example, a pre-fabricated motherboard with a HiMB component is acquired and a pre-fabricated thermal component (e.g., thermal component110) is added to the pre-fabricated motherboard. In yet another example, a pre-fabricated motherboard with a HiMB component is acquired and the phase change material (e.g., phase change material134) and the thermal conducting plate (e.g., thermal conducting plate138) are added or inserted into the pre-fabricated motherboard.

Turning toFIG. 11,FIG. 11illustrates a computing system1100that is arranged in a point-to-point (PtP) configuration according to an embodiment. In particular,FIG. 11shows a system where processors, memory, and input/output devices are interconnected by a number of point-to-point interfaces. Generally, one or more of the network elements of system100may be configured in the same or similar manner as computing system1100.

As illustrated inFIG. 11, system1100may include several processors, of which only two, processors1102aand1102b, are shown for clarity. While two processors1102aand1102bare shown, it is to be understood that an embodiment of system1100may also include only one such processor. Processors1102aand1102bmay each include a set of cores (i.e., processors cores1104aand1104band processors cores1104cand1104d) to execute multiple threads of a program. The cores may be configured to execute instruction code in a manner similar to that discussed above with reference toFIGS. 1-8. Each processor1102aand1102bmay include at least one shared cache1106aand1106brespectively. Shared caches1106aand1106bmay each store data (e.g., instructions) that are utilized by one or more components of processors1102aand1102b, such as processor cores1104aand1104bof processor1102aand processor cores1104cand1104dof processor1102b.

Processors1102aand1102bmay also each include integrated memory controller logic (MC)1108aand1108brespectively to communicate with memory elements1110aand1110b. Memory elements1110aand/or1110bmay store various data used by processors1102aand1102b. In alternative embodiments, memory controller logic1108aand1108bmay be discrete logic separate from processors1102aand1102b.

Processors1102aand1102bmay be any type of processor and may exchange data via a point-to-point (PtP) interface1112using point-to-point interface circuits1114aand1114brespectively. Processors1102aand1102bmay each exchange data with a chipset1116via individual point-to-point interfaces1118aand1118busing point-to-point interface circuits1120a-1120d. Chipset1116may also exchange data with a high-performance graphics circuit1122via a high-performance graphics interface1124, using an interface circuit1126, which could be a PtP interface circuit. In alternative embodiments, any or all of the PtP links illustrated inFIG. 11could be implemented as a multi-drop bus rather than a PtP link.

Chipset1116may be in communication with a bus1128via an interface circuit1130. Bus1128may have one or more devices that communicate over it, such as a bus bridge1132and I/O devices1134. Via a bus1136, bus bridge1132may be in communication with other devices such as a keyboard/mouse1138(or other input devices such as a touch screen, trackball, etc.), communication devices1140(such as modems, network interface devices, or other types of communication devices that may communicate through a network), audio I/O devices1142, and/or a data storage device1144. Data storage device1144may store code1146, which may be executed by processors1102aand/or1102b. In alternative embodiments, any portions of the bus architectures could be implemented with one or more PtP links.

The computer system depicted inFIG. 11is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a computing system that may be utilized to implement various embodiments discussed herein. It will be appreciated that various components of the system depicted inFIG. 11may be combined in a system-on-a-chip (SoC) architecture or in any other suitable configuration. For example, embodiments disclosed herein can be incorporated into systems including mobile devices such as smart cellular telephones, tablet computers, personal digital assistants, portable gaming devices, etc. It will be appreciated that these mobile devices may be provided with SoC architectures in at least some embodiments.

Turning toFIG. 12,FIG. 12is a simplified block diagram associated with an example ecosystem SOC1200of the present disclosure. At least one example implementation of the present disclosure can include the device pairing in a local network features discussed herein and an ARM component. For example, the example ofFIG. 12can be associated with any ARM core (e.g., A-9, A-15, etc.). Further, the architecture can be part of any type of tablet, smartphone (inclusive of Android™ phones, iPhones™), iPad™, Google Nexus™, Microsoft Surface™, personal computer, server, video processing components, laptop computer (inclusive of any type of notebook), Ultrabook™ system, any type of touch-enabled input device, etc.

In this example ofFIG. 12, ecosystem SOC1200may include multiple cores1202aand1202b, an L2 cache control1204, a graphics processing unit (GPU)1206, a video codec1208, a liquid crystal display (LCD) I/F1210and an interconnect1212. L2 cache control1204can include a bus interface unit1214, a L2 cache1216. Liquid crystal display (LCD) I/F1210may be associated with mobile industry processor interface (MIPI)/ high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) links that couple to an LCD.

Ecosystem SOC1200may also include a subscriber identity module (SIM) I/F1218, a boot read-only memory (ROM)1220, a synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM) controller1222, a flash controller1224, a serial peripheral interface (SPI) master1228, a suitable power control1230, a dynamic RAM (DRAM)1232, and flash1234. In addition, one or more embodiments include one or more communication capabilities, interfaces, and features such as instances of Bluetooth™1236, a 3G modem0138, a global positioning system (GPS)1240, and an 802.11 Wi-Fi1242.

In operation, the example ofFIG. 12can offer processing capabilities, along with relatively low power consumption to enable computing of various types (e.g., mobile computing, high-end digital home, servers, wireless infrastructure, etc.). In addition, such an architecture can enable any number of software applications (e.g., Android™, Adobe® Flash® Player, Java Platform Standard Edition (Java SE), JavaFX, Linux, Microsoft Windows Embedded, Symbian and Ubuntu, etc.). In at least one example embodiment, the core processor may implement an out-of-order superscalar pipeline with a coupled low-latency level-2 cache.

Turning toFIG. 13,FIG. 13illustrates a processor core1300according to an embodiment. Processor core1300may be the core for any type of processor, such as a micro-processor, an embedded processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a network processor, or other device to execute code. Although only one processor core1300is illustrated inFIG. 13, a processor may alternatively include more than one of the processor core1300illustrated inFIG. 13. For example, processor core1300represents one example embodiment of processors cores1104a-1104dshown and described with reference to processors1102aand1102bofFIG. 11. Processor core1300may be a single-threaded core or, for at least one embodiment, processor core1300may be multithreaded in that it may include more than one hardware thread context (or “logical processor”) per core.

FIG. 13also illustrates a memory1302coupled to processor core1300in accordance with an embodiment. Memory1302may be any of a wide variety of memories (including various layers of memory hierarchy) as are known or otherwise available to those of skill in the art. Memory1302may include code1304, which may be one or more instructions, to be executed by processor core1300. Processor core1300can follow a program sequence of instructions indicated by code1304. Each instruction enters a front-end logic1306and is processed by one or more decoders1308. The decoder may generate, as its output, a micro operation such as a fixed width micro operation in a predefined format, or may generate other instructions, microinstructions, or control signals that reflect the original code instruction. Front-end logic1306also includes register renaming logic1310and scheduling logic1312, which generally allocate resources and queue the operation corresponding to the instruction for execution.

Processor core1300can also include execution logic1314having a set of execution units1316-1through1316-N. Some embodiments may include a number of execution units dedicated to specific functions or sets of functions. Other embodiments may include only one execution unit or one execution unit that can perform a particular function. Execution logic1314performs the operations specified by code instructions.

After completion of execution of the operations specified by the code instructions, back-end logic1318can retire the instructions of code1304. In one embodiment, processor core1300allows out of order execution but requires in order retirement of instructions. Retirement logic1320may take a variety of known forms (e.g., re-order buffers or the like). In this manner, processor core1300is transformed during execution of code1304, at least in terms of the output generated by the decoder, hardware registers and tables utilized by register renaming logic1310, and any registers (not shown) modified by execution logic1314.

Although not illustrated inFIG. 13, a processor may include other elements on a chip with processor core1300, at least some of which were shown and described herein with reference toFIG. 11. For example, as shown inFIG. 11, a processor may include memory control logic along with processor core1300. The processor may include I/O control logic and/or may include I/O control logic integrated with memory control logic.

In the above examples, the semiconductor substrate for substrate124(and any additional layers) may be formed using alternate materials, which may or may not be combined with silicon. This includes, but is not limited to, germanium, indium antimonide, lead telluride, indium arsenide, indium phosphide, gallium arsenide, indium gallium arsenide, gallium antimonide, or other combinations of group III-V or group IV materials. In other examples, the substrate of any layer may be a flexible substrate including 2D materials such as graphene and MoS2, organic materials such as pentacene, transparent oxides such as IGZO poly/amorphous (low temperature of dep) III-V semiconductors and Ge/Si, and other non-silicon flexible substrates.

Although the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to particular arrangements and configurations, these example configurations and arrangements may be changed significantly without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, certain components may be combined, separated, eliminated, or added based on particular needs and implementations. Numerous other changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications may be ascertained to one skilled in the art and it is intended that the present disclosure encompass all such changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications as falling within the scope of the appended claims. In order to assist the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and, additionally, any readers of any patent issued on this application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, Applicant wishes to note that the Applicant: (a) does not intend any of the appended claims to invoke paragraph six (6) of 35 U.S.C. section 112 as it exists on the date of the filing hereof unless the words “means for” or “step for” are specifically used in the particular claims; and (b) does not intend, by any statement in the specification, to limit this disclosure in any way that is not otherwise reflected in the appended claims.

OTHER NOTES AND EXAMPLES

In Example A1, an electronic device can include a substrate, one or more dies on a top portion of the substrate, one or more printed circuit boards below the substrate, where the printed circuit boards are coupled to the substrate with solder balls, one or more land side capacitors below the substrate, and a thermal conducting plate under the one or more land side capacitors.

In Example A2, the subject matter of Example A1 can optionally include a phase change material below the substrate, where the phase change material at least partially surrounds the land side capacitors and is in contact with the thermal conducting plate.

In Example A3, the subject matter of any one of Examples A1-A2 can optionally include sponge walls, where the sponge walls help to insulate the solder balls from the phase change material.

In Example A4, the subject matter of any one of Examples A1-A3 can optionally include where the phase change material has a low electrical conductivity.

In Example A5, the subject matter of any one of Examples A1-A4 can optionally include a thermal transfer extension coupled to the thermal conducting plate to transfer heat away from the thermal conducting plate.

In Example A6, the subject matter of any one of Examples A1-A5 can optionally include where the electronic device includes a hole-in-motherboard configuration.

In Example A7, the subject matter of any one of Examples A1-A6 can optionally include where the thermal conducting plate, phase change material, and one or more sponge walls are located in a hole of the hole-in-motherboard configuration.

Example AA1 is hole in motherboard device including a substrate, one or more dies on a top portion of the substrate, one or more printed circuit boards below the substrate, where the printed circuit boards are coupled to the substrate with solder balls, one or more land side capacitors below the substrate, and a thermal conducting plate under the one or more land side capacitors.

In Example AA2, the subject matter of Example AA1 can optionally include a phase change material below the substrate, where the phase change material at least partially surrounds the land side capacitors and is in contact with the thermal conducting plate.

In Example AA3, the subject matter of any one of Examples AA1-AA2 can optionally include sponge walls, where the sponge walls help to insulate the solder balls from the phase change material.

In Example AA4, the subject matter of any one of Examples AA1-AA3 can optionally include where the phase change material has a low electrical conductivity.

In Example AA5, the subject matter of any one of Examples AA1-AA4 can optionally include where a thermal transfer extension coupled to the thermal conducting plate to transfer heat away from the thermal conducting plate.

Example M1 is a method including identifying an electronic component that includes a hole below a substrate, adding phase change material to at least partially fill the hole, and adding a thermal conducting plate, where the thermal conducting plate is in contact with the phase change material.

In Example M2, the subject matter of Example M1 can optionally include where the electronic component includes one or more dies on a top portion of the substrate, one or more printed circuit boards below the substrate, where the printed circuit boards are coupled to the substrate with solder balls, and one or more land side capacitors below the substrate, where the thermal conducting plate under the one or more land side capacitors.

In Example M3, the subject matter of any one of the Examples M1-M2 can optionally include adding sponge walls, where the sponge walls help to insulate the solder balls from the phase change material.

In Example M4, the subject matter of any one of the Examples M1-M3 can optionally include where the phase change material has a low electrical conductivity.

In Example M5, the subject matter of any one of the Examples M1-M4 can optionally include adding a thermal transfer extension coupled to the thermal conducting plate to transfer heat away from the thermal conducting plate.

In Example M6, the subject matter of any one of the Examples M1-M5 can optionally include where the electronic component has a hole in motherboard configuration.

Example S1 is a device that includes a thermal cooling system. The device can include a substrate, one or more dies on a top portion of the substrate, a heat spreader over the one or more dies to transfer thermal energy away from the one or more dies, one or more printed circuit boards below the substrate, where the printed circuit boards are coupled to the substrate with solder balls, one or more land side capacitors below the substrate, and a thermal conducting plate under the one or more land side capacitors, where the thermal conducting plate transfers thermal energy away from the one or more dies.

In Example S2, the subject matter of Example S1 can optionally include a phase change material below the substrate, where the phase change material at least partially surrounds the land side capacitors and is in contact with the thermal conducting plate, where the phase change material transfers thermal energy away from the one or more dies to the thermal conducting plate.

In Example S3, the subject matter of any one of the Examples S1-S2 can optionally include sponge walls, where the sponge walls help to insulate the solder balls from the phase change material.

In Example S4, the subject matter of any one of the Examples S1-S3 can optionally include where the phase change material has a low electrical conductivity.

In Example S5, the subject matter of any one of the Examples S1-S4 can optionally include a thermal transfer extension coupled to the thermal conducting plate to transfer thermal energy away from the thermal conducting plate.

In Example S6, the subject matter of any one of the Examples S1-S5 can optionally include where the device includes a hole-in-motherboard configuration.

In Example S7, the subject matter of any one of the Examples S1-S6 can optionally include where the thermal conducting plate, phase change material, and one or more sponge walls are located in a hole of the hole-in-motherboard configuration.

Example X1 is a machine-readable storage medium including machine-readable instructions to implement a method or realize an apparatus as in any one of the Examples M1-M6. Example Y1 is an apparatus comprising means for performing any of the Example methods M1-M6. In Example Y2, the subject matter of Example Y1 can optionally include the means for performing the method. In Example Y3, the subject matter of Example Y2 can optionally include the memory comprising machine-readable instructions.