Separating temperature domains in cooled systems

Separating temperature domains in cooled systems, including: cooling at least one first component of a circuit board using a first cooling system; and conductively coupling the at least one first component to at least one second component using a superconductive portion of a power plane of the circuit board.

BACKGROUND

Certain components such as Central Processing Units may be cooled using cryogenic cooling systems in order to increase performance capabilities. Other components such as Voltage Regulator Modules should be located on a circuit board near the cryogenically cooled components in order to reduce voltage drops due to the distance between components. Proximity to the cryogenic cooling system and its cooled components may cause thermal loss in the Voltage Regulator Modules, potentially causing performance degradation or damage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In some embodiments, a method of separating temperature domains in cooled systems includes: cooling at least one first component of a circuit board using a first cooling system; and conductively coupling the at least one first component to at least one second component using a superconductive portion of a power plane of the circuit board.

In some embodiments, the method further includes cooling the at least one second component using a second cooling system providing a lesser degree of cooling relative to the first cooling system. In some embodiments, conductively coupling the at least one first component to the at least one second component includes bridging the superconductive portion of the power plane of the circuit board to a non-superconductive portion of the power plane that is conductively coupled to the at least one second component. In some embodiments, the method further includes insulating the at least one second component from the first cooling system. In some embodiments, the at least one first component includes a central processing unit (CPU). In some embodiments, the at least one second component includes a voltage regulator module (VRM). In some embodiments, the first cooling system includes a cryogenic cooling system. In some embodiments, the first cooling system provides cooling meeting or falling below a superconductivity threshold associated with the superconductive portion of the power plane. In some embodiments, the first cooling system provides cooling above a superconductivity threshold associated with the superconductive portion of the power plane.

In some embodiments, a circuit board for separating temperature domains in cooled systems includes: at least one first component cooled by a first cooling system; and at least one second component conductively coupled to the first component by a superconductive portion of a power plane of the circuit board.

In some embodiments, the at least one second component is cooled using a second cooling system providing a lesser degree of cooling relative to the first cooling system. In some embodiments, the at least one first component is conductively coupled to the at least one second component by bridging the superconductive portion of the power plane of the circuit board to a non-superconductive portion of the power plane that is conductively coupled to the at least one second component. In some embodiments, the at least one second component is insulated from the first cooling system. In some embodiments, the at least one first component includes a central processing unit (CPU). In some embodiments, the at least one second component includes a voltage regulator module (VRM). In some embodiments, the first cooling system includes a cryogenic cooling system. In some embodiments, the first cooling system provides cooling meeting or falling below a superconductivity threshold associated with the superconductive portion of the power plane. In some embodiments, the first cooling system provides cooling above a superconductivity threshold associated with the superconductive portion of the power plane.

In some embodiments, an apparatus for separating temperature domains in cooled systems includes: a first cooling system; and a circuit board including: at least one first component cooled by the first cooling system; and at least one second component conductively coupled to the first component by a superconductive portion of a power plane of the circuit board.

In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a second cooling system cooling the at least one second component and providing a lesser degree of cooling relative to the first cooling system. In some embodiments, the at least one first component is conductively coupled to the at least one second component by bridging the superconductive portion of the power plane of the circuit board to a non-superconductive portion of the power plane that is conductively coupled to the at least one second component. In some embodiments, the at least one second component is insulated from the first cooling system. In some embodiments, the at least one first component includes a central processing unit (CPU). In some embodiments, the at least one second component includes a voltage regulator module (VRM). In some embodiments, the first cooling system includes a cryogenic cooling system. In some embodiments, the first cooling system provides cooling meeting or falling below a superconductivity threshold associated with the superconductive portion of the power plane. In some embodiments, the first cooling system provides cooling above a superconductivity threshold associated with the superconductive portion of the power plane.

FIG.1is a block diagram of a non-limiting example apparatus100. The example apparatus100can be implemented as a variety of computing devices, including mobile devices, personal computers, peripheral hardware components, gaming devices, set-top boxes, and the like. The apparatus100includes a circuit board102. In some embodiments, the circuit board102includes a motherboard housing a central processing unit (CPU) of a computing device (e.g., the apparatus100).

The circuit board102includes one or more first components104. The first components104are soldered, inserted into a socket or port, or otherwise installed on or affixed to the circuit board102. Examples of first components104include Central Processing Units (CPUs), Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), or other components. Although the first components104are shown as components of the circuit board102, it is understood that in some embodiments the first components104include peripheral components otherwise coupled to the circuit board102and cooled by a first cooling system106, as described below.

A first cooling system106is configured to cool the one or more first components104. In this example, the first cooling system106is a cooling system that provides substantially below-freezing cooling to the plurality of first components104. For example, the first cooling system106is a cryogenic cooling (“cryo-cooling”) system. A cryogenic cooling system cools associated components by boiling off a liquid or gas. For example, the cryogenic cooling system cools the first components104by submerging or contact with liquid nitrogen or another substance. Other substances suitable for cryogenic cooling systems include noble gasses or hydrogen. However, in an embodiment, liquid nitrogen is used for both cost effectiveness and safety.

The circuit board102also includes one or more second components108conductively coupled to the one or more first components104using a power plane of the circuit board102. Example second components108include Voltage Regulator Modules (VRMs), (I/O) Input/Output Controllers, and the like. For example, a Voltage Regulator Module is conductively coupled to a cryo-cooled Central Processing Unit to control how much voltage is provided to or drawn by the Central Processing Unit.

First components104such as Central Processing Units benefit from a cryogenically cooled environment by allowing them to run at higher speeds without risk of heat damage thanks to the cooler environment. In contrast, second components108such as Voltage Regulator Modules perform better around room temperature, which is significantly higher than the environment provided by a cryo-cooling system. Such lower temperatures degrade the performance of Voltage Regulator Modules or other second components108and potentially cause damage.

Existing solutions for addressing the possible damage to second components108by a cryogenically cooled environment have several drawbacks. For example, where the second components108are moved further from the first components104, the length of the conductive trace (e.g., copper) between the first components104and second components108is longer. Though this reduces thermal conductivity of the conductive trace and reduces ambient cooling of the second components108by the cryo-cooling system, the increased length of the conductive trace results in a voltage drop between the first components104and second components108. Where the second components108(e.g., Voltage Regulator Modules) are constructed with cryo-resistant materials, the cost of such components is increased. Moreover, these cryo-resistant components increase the cooling burden of the cryo-cooling system without affording any performance benefit to the cryo-resistant components.

Instead, in the example circuit board102, the first components104are conductively coupled to the second components108using a superconductive portion of the power plane of the circuit board102. The superconductive portion of the power plane is a portion of the power plane made of superconductive material(s). For example, the superconductive materials include yttrium barium copper oxide, niobium-titanium, niobium-tin, magnesium diboride, and the like. One or more of the first components104are conductively coupled to the one or more second components108using one or more superconductive traces110.

In some embodiments, the superconductive traces110extend from the first components104to the second components108such that the second components108tap or are attached to the superconductive traces110. In other embodiments, the superconductive traces110are conductively coupled to non-superconductive traces112(e.g., copper or other conductive materials used in power planes) using an interconnecting bridge. In some embodiments, interconnections between first components104use superconductive portions of the power plane while interconnections between second components108use non-superconductive portions of the power plane.

In some embodiments, to further separate the thermal domains between first components104and second components108, a barrier114separates or partially separates environments around the first components104and second components108. In some embodiments, the barrier114includes insulating or buffering material. In some embodiments, the barrier114includes a sealed vacuum. In some embodiments, a second cooling system116is configured to cool the second components118. The second cooling system116is configured to cool at a higher temperature (e.g., provide less cooling) compared to the first cooling system106. For example, the second cooling system116includes fans, water cooling, heat sinks, and the like. Thus, the first cooling system104cools to below a superconductive threshold for the superconductive material used while the second cooling system116, where present, cools to above the superconductive threshold.

The use of the superconductive portion of the power plane, when cooled by the first cooling system106, reduces or eliminates voltage drop for the superconductive portion of the power plane. Moreover, heat transfer between the first components104and second components108is reduced, allowing the second components108to operate at higher, more optimal temperatures. The use of a barrier114further reduces ambient heat transfer, allowing for the first components104and second components108to operate in separate temperature domains.

Although the preceding discussion describes two temperature domains for first components104and second components108, it is understood that, in some embodiments, additional temperature domains are used. For example, additional barriers114partition off additional temperature domains. In some embodiments, the additional temperature domains include corresponding cooling systems or are positioned relative to other temperature domains to achieve a desired temperature for components located within.

For further explanation,FIG.2sets forth a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for separating temperature domains in cooled systems that includes cooling202(e.g., in an apparatus100), at least one first component104of a circuit board102using a first cooling system106. The first components104are soldered, inserted into a socket or port, or otherwise installed on or affixed to the circuit board102. Examples of first components104include Central Processing Units (CPUs), Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), or other components that are provided a performance increase by running at higher temperatures cooled by cryogenic or other sufficiently cooling systems.

The first cooling system106is a cooling system configured to cool the first components102and superconductive portions of the power plane connected to the first components102equal to or below a superconductive temperature threshold. The superconductive temperature threshold is dependent on the superconductive material used in the superconductive portion of the power plane, as will be described in more detail blow. In an example, the first cooling system106is a cryogenic cooling (“cryo-cooling”) system. A cryogenic cooling system cools associated components by boiling off a liquid or gas. For example, the cryogenic cooling system cools the first components104by submerging or contact with liquid nitrogen or another substance. Other substances suitable for cryogenic cooling systems include noble gasses or hydrogen. However, in an embodiment, liquid nitrogen is used for both cost effectiveness and safety.

The method ofFIG.2also includes conductively coupling204the at least one first component to at least one second component108of a power plane of the circuit board102. Example second components108include Voltage Regulator Modules (VRMs), (I/O) Input/Output Controllers, and the like. For example, a Voltage Regulator Module (second component18) is conductively coupled to a cryo-cooled Central Processing Unit (first component104) to control how much voltage is provided to or drawn by the Central Processing Unit.

The superconductive portion of the power plane is a portion of the power plane of the circuit board102made of superconductive material(s). For example, the superconductive materials include yttrium barium copper oxide, niobium-titanium, niobium-tin, magnesium diboride, and the like. Accordingly, the power plane of the circuit board102includes one or more superconductive traces110. The superconductive traces110form at least part of a conductive link between the at least one first component104and the at least one second component108.

In some embodiments, the superconductive traces110extend from the first components104to the second components108such that the second components108tap or are attached to the superconductive traces110. In other embodiments, the superconductive traces110are conductively coupled to non-superconductive traces112(e.g., copper or other conductive materials used in power planes) using an interconnecting bridge. In some embodiments, interconnections between first components104use superconductive portions of the power plane while interconnections between second components108use non-superconductive portions of the power plane. The first cooling system106then cools both the first components104as well as superconductive traces110interconnecting the first components104and portions of superconductive traces110coupling the first components104and second components108, thereby reducing or eliminating associated voltage drops.

The use of the superconductive portion of the power plane reduces or eliminates heat conductivity via the power plane between the first components104and second components106. Moreover, voltage drop due to the length of traces between first components104and second components108is reduced by using at least partially superconductive traces110cooled by the first cooling system106.

For further explanation,FIG.3sets forth a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for separating temperature domains in cooled systems that includes cooling202(e.g., in an apparatus100), at least one first component104of a circuit board102using a first cooling system106; and conductively coupling204the at least one first component to at least one second component108of a power plane of the circuit board102.

The method ofFIG.3differs fromFIG.2in that the method ofFIG.3includes cooling302the at least one second component108using a second cooling system116configured to provide a lesser degree of cooling relative to the first cooling system106. While the first cooling system106is configured to provide cooling at a temperature at or below a superconductive threshold for a superconductive material used in the power plane of the circuit board102, the second cooling system116provides cooling at a temperature above the superconductive threshold. For example, in some embodiments, the second cooling system116includes fans, water cooling, heat sinks, and the like. Thus, second components108are able to be cooled to operating temperatures greater than the operating temperatures of the first components104.

For further explanation,FIG.4sets forth a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for separating temperature domains in cooled systems that includes cooling202(e.g., in an apparatus100), at least one first component104of a circuit board102using a first cooling system106; and conductively coupling204the at least one first component to at least one second component108of a power plane of the circuit board102.

The method ofFIG.4differs fromFIG.2in that conductively coupling204the at least one first component to at least one second component108of a power plane of the circuit board102includes bridging402the superconductive portion of the power plane of the circuit board102to a non-superconductive portion of the power plane that is conductively coupled to the at least one second component. For example, assume a superconductive trace110is conductively coupled to a first component102and a non-superconductive trace112is conductively coupled to a second component108. A bridging interconnect conductively couples the superconductive trace110to the non-superconductive trace112, thereby forming a conductive connection from the first component102to the second component108.

For further explanation,FIG.5sets forth a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for separating temperature domains in cooled systems that includes cooling202(e.g., in an apparatus100), at least one first component104of a circuit board102using a first cooling system106; and conductively coupling204the at least one first component to at least one second component108of a power plane of the circuit board102.

The method ofFIG.5differs fromFIG.2in that the method ofFIG.5includes insulating502the at least one second component108from the first cooling system106. For example, in some embodiments, to further separate the thermal domains between first components104and second components108, a barrier114separates or partially separates environments around the first components104and second components108. In some embodiments, the barrier114includes insulating or buffering material. In some embodiments, the barrier114includes a sealed vacuum. Thus, the barrier114insulates the second components108from heat loss caused by the first cooling system106.

In view of the explanations set forth above, readers will recognize that the benefits of separating temperature domains in cooled systems include:Improved performance of a computing system by protecting selected components from heat loss and thermal conductivity caused by cryogenic cooling of other components.Lowered cryo-cooling system requirements and operating cost by reducing the total amount of cryogenic cooling capacity required.Improved performance of a computing system by allowing components to operate at effective and efficient temperatures most appropriate to each.Improved performance of computing system by preventing unintentional cooling of components through the use of a barrier between thermal zones.Improved performance of a computing system by avoiding the cost of cooling components not optimally operating at cryo temperatures.Improved performance of a computing system by reducing voltage drops between components due to the distance and materials used in conductive traces connecting the components.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that modifications and changes can be made in various embodiments of the present disclosure. The descriptions in this specification are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed in a limiting sense. The scope of the present disclosure is limited only by the language of the following claims.