Heat sink for plug-in card, plug-in card including heat sink, and associated manufacturing method

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a heat sink for a plug-in card and a plug-in card including the heat sink. The heat sink comprises a first part secured to a surface of the plug-in card and a second part coupled to the first part and being movable relative to the first part in a first direction, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the surface of the plug-in card. In this way, when the second part and the first part have a larger overlap in the first direction, the heat sink has a smaller first height and when the second part and the first part have a smaller overlap in the first direction, the heat sink has a greater second height.

The present application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201810399388.5, filed Apr. 28, 2018, and entitled “Heat Sink for Plug-In Card, Plug-In Card Including Heat Sink, and Associated Manufacturing Method,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD

Various embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the storage field, and more specifically, to a heat sink for a plug-in card, a plug-in card including the heat sink and an associated manufacturing method.

BACKGROUND

At present, plug-in cards that have been widely used in storage devices, such as Input/Output (I/O) cards, are usually equipped with heat sinks for cooling the plug-in cards. In some conditions, a larger heat sink may be needed to provide better heat dissipation performance so as to ensure normal operation of the plug-in card. However, a larger heat sink may have a greater thickness, while the chassis panel usually has openings with limited opening height. Therefore, the heat sink with greater thickness may create obstacles during the hot plug operation of the plug-in card.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect, a heat sink for a plug-in card is provided. The heat sink comprises a first part secured to a surface of the plug-in card and a second part coupled to the first part and being movable relative to the first part in a first direction perpendicular to the surface of the plug-in card, such that the heat sink has different heights with different overlaps between the first part and the second part. In this way, when the second part and the first part have a larger overlap in the first direction, the heat sink has a smaller first height, and when the second part and the first part have a smaller overlap in the first direction, the heat sink has a greater second height.

In some embodiments, the first part may have a first heat radiating fin extending along the first direction, and the second part may have a second heat radiating fin corresponding to the first heat radiating fin and extending along the first direction, wherein the first heat radiating fin and the second heat radiating fin are staggered in the first direction and are in a thermal contact, and there is an offset between the first heat radiating fin and the second heat radiating fin in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; or the first radiating heat fin and the second heat radiating fin are aligned in the first direction, and at least a portion of the second heat radiating fin can be received in the first heat radiating fin and is in thermal contact with the first heat radiating fin.

In some embodiments, the heat sink may also comprise a first transmission mechanism pivotably coupled to a side wall of the plug-in card via a shaft oriented along a second direction, wherein the side wall extends along a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, and wherein the first transmission mechanism includes a first end coupled to the shaft and a second end coupled to the second part of the heat sink.

In some embodiments, the first transmission mechanism is configured as a U-shaped component including two first ends and two second ends, wherein a bottom part of the U-shaped component couples the two second ends in the second direction across the second part of the heat sink, and an arm of the U-shaped component couples one of the two first ends to a corresponding one of the two second ends.

In some embodiments, the heat sink further may comprise a second transmission mechanism extending along the third direction and coupled to the first transmission mechanism, wherein the second transmission mechanism is adapted for causing the first transmission mechanism to apply a force having a component along the first direction on the second part, in response to a movement of the second transmission mechanism along the third direction.

In some embodiments, the heat sink may further comprise a first torsion spring rotatably coupled to the side wall via the shaft defined by the second direction, and the second transmission mechanism comprises a first protrusion protruding in the second direction, wherein an end of the first torsion spring is coupled to the first protrusion and a further end of the first torsion spring is coupled to the first end of the first transmission mechanism.

In some embodiments, the heat sink may further comprise a second torsion spring rotatably coupled to a bottom of the plug-in card via a shaft defined by the first direction and a pressing part operable to receive a press operation along the second direction. The pressing part includes a second protrusion protruding in the second direction, wherein the second transmission mechanism further includes a recess oriented along the first direction, wherein an end of the second torsion spring is coupled to the second protrusion, and a further end of the second torsion spring is coupled to the recess of the second transmission mechanism.

In a second aspect, a plug-in card is provided. The plug-in card comprises the heat sink according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.

In a third aspect, a method for manufacturing the heat sink according to the first aspect of the present disclosure is provided.

It should be appreciated that the Summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the embodiments of the present disclosure, or limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will be understood more easily through the following description.

In all drawings, the same or similar reference number indicates the same or similar element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Principles of the present disclosure are now described with reference to some example embodiments. It can be appreciated that description of those embodiments is merely to assist those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure and does not suggest any restrictions over the scope of the present disclosure. The contents disclosed here can be implemented in various methods apart from the following described ones.

As used herein, the term “includes” and its variants are to be read as open-ended terms that mean “includes, but is not limited to.” The term “based on” is to be read as “based at least in part on.” The term “an embodiment” is to be read as “at least one embodiment.” The term “a further embodiment” is to be read as “at least a further embodiment.”

As described above, most of the plug-in cards currently known or already in use, such as an Input/Output (I/O) card, are provided with heat sinks. However, on one hand, a larger heat sink might be needed to ensure normal operation of the plug-in card in some conditions (e.g., in an ambient temperature of up to 77° C.). However, a larger heat sink probably means a greater thickness. On the other hand, an opening that is opened on a chassis panel usually has a limited height due to the requirement for high density of I/Os in the storage system, which might cause obstacles when inserting a plug-in card of a heat sink with a greater height into the chassis.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a height adjustable heat sink for a plug-in card. When the plug-in card is being inserted into or pulled out from the chassis opening, the height of the heat sink described according to various embodiments of the present disclosure can be conveniently adjusted, which causes no obstacles for the hot plug operations of the plug-in card, and meanwhile enhances heat dissipation capability of the plug-in card.

The plug-in card described in the context, for example, can be an Open Compute Project (OCP) card, small I/O card and the like. For ease of discussion, height/thickness direction of the plug-in card is referred to as a first direction Z, width direction of the plug-in card is referred to as a second direction X, and length direction of the plug-in card is referred to as a third direction Y in the context. The first direction Z, the second direction X and the third direction Y are substantially perpendicular to one another.

FIG. 1andFIG. 2respectively illustrate perspective views of a heat sink in two different states according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 1shows a heat sink with a greater height, whileFIG. 2demonstrates a heat sink with a smaller height.

As shown inFIG. 1, the heat sink100includes a first part110and a second part120. The first part110is secured to a surface XY of the plug-in card200(or a plane where the plug-in card200is located), and the second part120is coupled to the first part110and movable relative to the first part110in the first direction Z. The first direction Z is perpendicular to the surface XY of the plug-in card200.

By means of the relative movement in the first direction Z (i.e., in the height direction), the heat sink100can have a smaller, first height H1when the second part120and the first part110have a larger overlap in the first direction Z (See,FIG. 2). Besides, when the second part120and the first part110have a smaller overlap in the first direction Z (See,FIG. 1), the heat sink100has a greater, second height H2.

In this way, a height-adjustable or telescopic/extendable heat sink100is implemented. As such, when the plug-in card200is being inserted into or being pulled out of the chassis opening, the heat sink100can be first adjusted to have a smaller height H1, such that the plug-in card200can be smoothly inserted or pulled out without hindrance. Then, the heat sink can be adjusted to a greater height H2to improve its heat dissipation performance.

In some embodiments as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the first part110may have a first heat radiating fin111extending along the first direction Z, and the second part120may have a second heat radiating fin121corresponding to the first heat radiating fin111and extending along the first direction Z. Furthermore, the relative arrangement of the first heat radiating fin111to the second heat radiating fin121may also vary depending on various requirements or applications.

For example, in some embodiments as shown inFIG. 3, the first heat radiating fin111and the second heat radiating fin121can be staggered in the first direction Z, but maintaining thermal contact with each other, and there is an offset between the first heat radiating fin111and the second heat radiating fin121along the second direction X perpendicular to the first direction Z.

For another example, in some further embodiments as shown inFIG. 4, the first heat radiating fin111and the second heat radiating fin121can be aligned with each other in the first direction Z. At least a portion of the second heat radiating fin121can be received in the first heat radiating fin111and be in thermal contact with the first heat radiating fin111. In other words, in this alternative embodiment, the second heat radiating fin121can either protrude from the first heat radiating fin111or retract within the first heat radiating fin111in order to achieve height adjustment.

The adjustment in heat dissipation performance as described above is based on the following recognition, that is, when the spacing between adjacent heat radiating fins remains constant, a larger area of the radiating fin can provide better heat dissipation performance because the contact area between the radiating fin and the surrounding cooling medium (such as air) is larger. Also, it is to be appreciated that the heat dissipation performance of the radiating fin can be further improved by additionally optimizing other factors, such as material and shape of the heat radiating fin.

FIG. 5illustrates a partial view of the heat sink100according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 5, in some embodiments, the heat sink100may also include a first transmission mechanism130, which can be pivotably coupled to a side wall210of the plug-in card200via a shaft150oriented along the second direction X. As shown inFIG. 5, the side wall210extends along the third direction Y perpendicular to both the first direction Z and the second direction X. As further illustrated inFIG. 5, the first transmission mechanism130may include a first end131coupled to the shaft150and a second end132coupled to the second part120of the heat sink100.

By means of the first transmission mechanism130, the rotation of the first transmission mechanism130can be transformed into a force having a component along the first direction Z and applied onto the second part120. Accordingly, height adjustment of the heat sink100can be implemented by a simple and direct force transmission manner.

In some embodiments, the first transmission mechanism130can be configured as a U-shaped component shown inFIG. 2. The U-shaped component includes two first ends1311and1312and two second ends1321and1322. A bottom part133of the U-shaped component couples the two second ends1321and1322in the second direction X across the second part120of the heat sink100. In other words, the bottom part133of the U-shaped component can be regarded as the extension of the two second ends1321and1322in the second direction X. In addition, an arm134of the U-shaped component also couples one of the two first ends1311and1312to a corresponding one of the two second ends1321and1322.

Such U-shaped implementation not only provides a bottom part133extending in the entire width direction, but also provides two symmetrically arranged arms134for the first transmission mechanism130. Therefore, a uniform distribution of the force in the width direction can be provided, which facilitates the manipulation to the second part120of the heat sink100.

Alternatively, or in addition, a plurality of such transmission mechanisms130can be uniformly arranged along the third direction Y For example, as shown inFIG. 2, a plurality of U-shaped components are arranged along the length direction to further implement uniform distribution of the force in the length direction. It is to be noted that the present disclosure does not seek to limit the amount or the distribution of the first transmission mechanism130. Although the embodiment ofFIG. 2illustrates two U-shaped components, it is to be understood that more than two U-shaped components can be arranged depending on the requirements. Of course, a single U-shaped component also can achieve manipulation to the second part120. It is also to be understood that the plurality of transmission mechanisms130can also be non-uniformly arranged in the length direction.

Continuing to refer toFIG. 5, the heat sink100may also include a second transmission mechanism140, which extends along the third direction Y and is coupled to the first transmission mechanism130. The second transmission mechanism140is adapted for enabling the first transmission mechanism130to apply a force having a component along the first direction Z onto the second part120in response to the movement of the second transmission mechanism140along the third direction Y.

By means of the second transmission mechanism140, the translation of the second transmission mechanism140is transformed into the rotation of the first transmission mechanism130, and the rotation of the first transmission mechanism130is further transformed into the movement of the second part120in the vertical direction. The second transmission mechanism140, which can be operated in the translational movement, is more beneficial for the users to manipulate the heat sink100.

Still referring toFIG. 5, in some embodiments, the heat sink100may also include a first torsion spring160, which can be rotatably coupled to the side wall210via the shaft150defined by the second direction X. Correspondingly, the second transmission mechanism140may include a first protrusion141protruding in the second direction X. According toFIG. 5, one end of the first spring torsion160is coupled to the first protrusion141and the other end of the first torsion spring160is coupled to the first end131of the first transmission mechanism130.

By means of the fit of the first torsion spring160with the first protrusion141of the second transmission mechanism140and with the first end131of the first transmission mechanism130, the force transmission between the first transmission mechanism130and the second transmission mechanism140can be implemented under a simple and compact construction.

FIG. 6illustrates a further partial view of the heat sink according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 6, in some embodiments, the heat sink100may also include a second torsion spring170, which can be rotatably coupled to the bottom of the plug-in card200via a shaft180defined by the first direction Z. Besides, the heat sink100may also include a pressing part190, which can be operated to receive a press operation along the second direction X. In the example as shown inFIG. 6, the pressing part190includes a second protrusion191protruding in the second direction X, and the second transmission mechanism140further includes a recess142oriented along the first direction Z. As shown inFIG. 6, one end of the second torsion spring170is coupled to the second protrusion191and the other end of the second torsion spring170is coupled to the recess142of the second transmission mechanism140.

By means of the fit of the second torsion spring170with the second protrusion191and the recess142, force transmission or force interaction between the user and the second transmission mechanism140can also be implemented under a simple and compact construction. Besides, particularly by means of the pressing part190configured in such manner, the manipulation to the second part120of the heat sink100by the user can be further simplified. This is because the users can easily implement manipulation to the second part120of the heat sink100by simply performing a simple pinch operation in the horizontal direction. For example, when inserting/pulling the plug-in card200into/out from the chassis opening, the pressing part190can be conveniently pinched so as to first adjust the heat sink100to a smaller height H1. After the plug-in card is completely inside or outside the chassis, the pressing part190then can be released to adjust the heat sink back to the greater height H2.

Generally, although details of several implementations have been included in the above discussion, they should not be interpreted as any restrictions over the scope of the present disclosure. Instead, the details are descriptions of the features for the specific embodiments only. Certain features described in some separate embodiments also can be executed in combinations in a single embodiment. On the contrary, various features described in a single embodiment also can be implemented separately in multiple embodiments or in any suitable sub-combinations.

Although the present disclosure is described with specific structural features, it can be appreciated that the scope of the technical solution defined in the attached claims is not necessarily restricted to the above specific features. That is, the contents described above are optional embodiments of the present disclosure only. For those skilled in the art, embodiments of the present disclosure can have various modifications and changes. Any amendments, equivalent substitutions, improvements and the like are included in the protection scope of the present disclosure as long as they are within the spirit and principles of the present disclosure.