Thermal module connection structure

A thermal module connection structure providing a substrate, a heat generation unit disposed on the substrate, includes: a heat dissipation unit disposed on the heat generation unit, a protrusion section outward extending from each of two sides of the heat dissipation unit; and a locating assembly including a first locating member and a second locating member mounted on two sides of the heat generation unit, which sides are free from the protrusion sections. A carrier member is disposed at each of two ends of the first locating member. The protrusion sections of the heat dissipation unit are positioned on the carrier members. One end of the carrier member is pivotally connected with the first locating member, while the other end is latched with the second locating member. The carrier member has a press member for pressing the protrusion section against the carrier member to fix the heat dissipation unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a thermal module connection structure, and more particularly to a thermal module connection structure, which is convenient to install/uninstall and is manufactured at lower cost.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, along with the rapid advance of computer sciences and technologies, the operation speed of a computer has become faster and faster. Accordingly, the heat generation power of the electronic components inside the computer case has become higher and higher. In case of overheating of the electronic components inside the computer case, the electronic components will temporarily or even permanently fail. Therefore, it is critical to efficiently dissipate the heat generated by the electronic components inside the computer case.

With a central processing unit (CPU) taken as an example, in case that the temperature of the CPU rises to exceed a normal working temperature range, the CPU is very likely to malfunction and temporarily fail. This will lead to crash of the computer case. Moreover, in case that the temperature of the CPU is much higher than the normal working temperature range, the transistors inside the CPU chip may even damage. Under such circumstance, the CPU will permanently fail. In this case, it is necessary to replace the CPU so as to restore the computer case to the normal operation state.

A conventional thermal module mainly includes two parts, that is, a heat sink and a cooling fan. The heat sink has two heat contact faces. The first heat contact face is a heat conduction face between the heat generation electronic component and the bottom of the heat sink. The second heat contact face is a heat convection face between the radiating fins of the heat sink and the cooling fan. In order to achieve maximum heat conduction efficiency, the bottom of the heat sink must tightly attach to the heat generation electronic component without any gap between the bottom of the heat sink and the heat generation electronic component. Otherwise, no matter how high the performance of the thermal module is, the heat dissipation efficiency will be deteriorated.

The thermal module is generally securely fixed on the heat generation electronic component by means of a latch device. The latch device is able to make the bottom of the heat sink in tight contact with the heat generation electronic component so as to achieve maximum heat conduction efficiency. Please refer toFIGS. 1A and 1B.FIG. 1Ais a perspective exploded view of a conventional thermal module connection structure.FIG. 1Bis a perspective assembled view of the conventional thermal module connection structure. The thermal module connection structure includes a substrate90. A heat generation electronic component91is disposed on one face of the substrate90. A heat dissipation unit92is attached to the heat generation electronic component91for dissipating the heat generated by the heat generation electronic component91. The thermal module connection structure further includes a latch member93. Each of two ends of the latch member93is formed with at least one perforation931. Two opposite sides of the substrate90are provided with raised sections901. The raised sections901are assembled with the perforations931of the latch member93so as to latch the heat dissipation unit92with the heat generation electronic component91.

The conventional latch member has a complicated structure. Moreover, all the parts of the conventional thermal module connection structure must be independently manufactured with different molds and then assembled. The costs for the equipment, the material and the labor are quite high. Especially, different manufacturers manufacture different specifications of heat generation electronic components and package the heat generation electronic components by means of different techniques. Different latch members require different latching pressure and cannot be commonly used. In the case that a specific latch member is installed on thermal module with a different specification, the heat generation electronic component is often damaged. That is, with respect to different specifications of heat generation electronic components, different specifications of latch members in adaptation to the heat generation electronic components must be respectively manufactured with different molds. Therefore, the manufacturing cost is increased and the manufacturing process is complicated. Moreover, the difficulty in assembling the latch member is increased. Also, it is hard to install the latch member. When installed, an operator must first place the heat dissipation unit (heat sink) onto the heat generation electronic component and then use the latch member and other retainer members one by one to latch and connect the heat dissipation unit with the heat generation electronic component. When uninstalled, it is necessary to reversely detach the latch member and the retainer members one by one. This causes great inconvenience and trouble in use and installation of the thermal module.

According to the above, the conventional thermal module connection structure has the following shortcomings:1. It is quite inconvenient to install/uninstall the thermal module.2. The manufacturing cost for the conventional thermal module connection structure is higher.3. The conventional thermal module connection structure cannot be commonly used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a thermal module connection structure, which is convenient to install/uninstall.

and is manufactured at lower cost

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the above thermal module connection structure, which is manufactured at lower cost.

To achieve the above and other objects, the thermal module connection structure of the present invention includes a substrate, a heat dissipation unit and a locating assembly. A heat generation unit is disposed on one face of the substrate. The heat dissipation unit is disposed on the heat generation unit, a protrusion section outward extending from each of at least two sides of the heat dissipation unit. The locating assembly includes a first locating member and a second locating member. The first and second locating members are respectively mounted on two sides of the heat generation unit, which sides are free from the protrusion sections. A carrier member is disposed at each of two ends of the first locating member. The protrusion sections of the heat dissipation unit are positioned on the carrier members. One end of the carrier member is pivotally connected with the first locating member. The other end of the carrier member is latched with the second locating member. The carrier member has a press member for elastically pressing the protrusion section against the carrier member so as to fix the heat dissipation unit on the carrier member.

The end of the carrier member is pivotally connected with the first locating member so that the carrier member can be pivotally rotated relative to the first locating member to latch with the second locating member. Accordingly, the heat dissipation unit can be conveniently and easily installed and uninstalled.

The thermal module connection structure of the present invention is commonly applicable to various heat dissipation units. Therefore, with respect to different types of heat generation electronic components, it is no more necessary to manufacture different specifications of latch members with different molds. Accordingly, the manufacturing cost is greatly lowered.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer toFIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C.FIG. 2Ais a perspective exploded view of a first embodiment of the thermal module connection structure of the present invention.FIG. 2Bis a perspective assembled view of the first embodiment of the thermal module connection structure of the present invention.FIG. 2Cis another perspective assembled view of the first embodiment of the thermal module connection structure of the present invention. According to the first embodiment, the thermal module connection structure of the present invention includes a substrate1. A heat generation unit2is disposed on one face of the substrate1. The thermal module connection structure of the present invention further includes a heat dissipation unit3and a locating assembly4. The heat dissipation unit3is disposed on the heat generation unit2. A protrusion section30outward extends from each of at least two sides of the heat dissipation unit3. The heat dissipation unit3is a heat sink or a radiating fin assembly.

The locating assembly4includes a first locating member41and a second locating member42. The first and second locating members41,42are respectively mounted on two sides of the heat generation unit2, which sides are free from the protrusion sections30. The first and second locating members41,42are made of metal material or nonmetal material.

A carrier member5is mounted at each of two ends of the first locating member41. The carrier member5is made of metal material or nonmetal material. The protrusion sections30of the heat dissipation unit3are positioned on the carrier members5. One end of the carrier member5is elastically pivotally connected with the first locating member41. (For example, an elastic member can be additionally mounted at the end of the carrier member5to provide elastic restoring force for the carrier member5). The other end of the carrier member5is latched with the second locating member42. The carrier member5has a press member6for pressing the protrusion section30against the carrier member5so as to fix the heat dissipation unit3on the carrier member5. The press member6is made of metal material or nonmetal material.

The thermal module connection structure of the present invention further includes a fixing unit8having a central receiving space81for receiving the heat generation unit2. The press member6is formed with a pivoted section61, a press section62connected with the pivoted section61and a latch section63connected with the press section62.

According to the above arrangement, when assembled, the heat dissipation unit3is first placed onto the carrier members5. Then the press members6are pressed down into contact with the heat dissipation unit3, whereby the protrusion sections30of the heat dissipation unit3are pressed and fixed by the press sections62. Under such circumstance, the heat dissipation unit3is fixed on the carrier members5. The end of the carrier member5is pivotally connected with the first locating member41so that the carrier member5can be pivotally rotated relative to the first locating member41to latch with the second locating member42. Accordingly, the heat dissipation unit3can be conveniently and easily installed and uninstalled.

Moreover, the thermal module connection structure of the present invention is commonly applicable to various heat dissipation units. Therefore, with respect to different types of heat generation electronic components, it is no more necessary to manufacture different specifications of latch members with different molds. Accordingly, the manufacturing cost is greatly lowered.

Please now refer toFIG. 3, which is a perspective exploded view of a second embodiment of the thermal module connection structure of the present invention. The second embodiment is partially identical to the first embodiment in component and connection relationship between the components and thus will not be repeatedly described hereinafter. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that each of two ends of the first locating member41has an upward extending assembling section411. The pivoted section61is pivotally connected with the assembling section411. The other end of the carrier member5opposite to the end of the carrier member5, which end is pivotally connected with the assembling section411, is formed with a holding section51. The latch section63is latched in the holding section51.

Further referring toFIG. 3, each of two ends of the second locating member42is formed with an extension section421. A latch hook422upward protrudes from the extension section421. The latch section63of the press member6is latched in the latch hook422so as to securely fix the heat dissipation unit3on the substrate1.

In addition, the first and second locating members41,42are formed with multiple holes43. Multiple fixing members7are passed through the holes43to fix the first and second locating members41,42on the substrate1. The fixing members7are made of metal material or nonmetal material. In this embodiment, the fixing members7are, but not limited to, rivets for illustration purposes only. In practice, the fixing member7can be any member that is able to fix the first and second locating members41,42on the substrate1, such as a screw or an insertion pin.

Please now refer toFIGS. 4A and 4B.FIG. 4Ais a perspective exploded view of a third embodiment of the thermal module connection structure of the present invention.FIG. 4Bis a perspective assembled view of the third embodiment of the thermal module connection structure of the present invention. The third embodiment is partially identical to the first embodiment in component and connection relationship between the components and thus will not be repeatedly described hereinafter. The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the press member6is an elongated L-shaped member. The press member6is pivotally connected with the first locating member41. Each of two free ends of the press member6is formed with a latch section63. When assembled, the heat dissipation unit3is first placed into the press member6from one side thereof and then the protrusion sections30of the heat dissipation unit3are pressed by and engaged in the press member6. Then the latch sections63of the press member6are latched with the latch hooks422of the second locating member42so as to securely fix the heat dissipation unit3on the substrate1. Accordingly, the heat dissipation unit3can be conveniently and easily installed and uninstalled.

Please now refer toFIGS. 5A and 5B.FIG. 5Ais a perspective exploded view of a fourth embodiment of the thermal module connection structure of the present invention.FIG. 5Bis a perspective assembled view of the fourth embodiment of the thermal module connection structure of the present invention. The fourth embodiment is partially identical to the first embodiment in component and connection relationship between the components and thus will not be repeatedly described hereinafter. The fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the carrier member5further has an operation section52. Two ends of the operation section52are respectively connected with the ends of the two carrier members5. Alternatively, the holding sections51are directly connected to form a shift section. When assembled, the heat dissipation unit3is first placed into the press member6from one side thereof and then the protrusion sections30of the heat dissipation unit3are pressed by and engaged in the press member6. Then the operation section52or the shift section is pressed down to make the holding section51latched with the latch hooks422of the second locating member42. Accordingly, the heat dissipation unit3can be securely fixed on the substrate1with one single hand.

The end of the carrier member5is pivotally connected with the first locating member41so that the carrier member5can be pivotally rotated relative to the first locating member41to latch with the second locating member42. Accordingly, the heat dissipation unit3can be conveniently and easily installed and uninstalled.

In conclusion, in comparison with the conventional thermal module connection structure, the present invention has the following advantages:1. It is easy and convenient to install/uninstall the thermal module.2. The manufacturing cost for the thermal module connection structure of the present invention is lower.3. The thermal module connection structure of the present invention can be commonly used.

The present invention has been described with the above embodiments thereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications in the above embodiments can be carried out without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention that is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.