Abstract:
A cooling assembly is disclosed comprising one or more heat pipes heat pipes connected to a base member, a plurality of thermal plates connected to the one or more heat pipes at predefined intervals, wherein the one or more heat pipes intersects the plurality of thermal plates, and an opening fashioned in each one of the plurality of thermal plates

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     As technology has progressed allowing smaller and faster electronic components, the designs of electronic equipment have included more densely populated systems of such faster and smaller components. Increased speed has lead to increased heat generated by the electronics. Moreover, because the equipment is typically packed densely into smaller containers, the close proximity of each component exacerbates the heat being generated by the electronics. Because electronics are subject to heat damage, it becomes desirable to dissipate that heat to protect the underlying electronics.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0002]     Representative embodiments of the present invention are directed to a heat sink comprising one or more heat pipes connected to a base member, a plurality of thermal plates connected to the one or more heat pipes at predefined intervals, wherein the one or more heat pipes intersects the plurality of thermal plates, and an opening fashioned in each one of the plurality of thermal plates.  
         [0003]     Additional representative embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method of cooling an electronic assembly comprising conducting heat from the electronic assembly into a plurality of heat pipes extending from a conductive plate connected to the electronic assembly, conducting heat from the plurality of heat pipes to a set of thermal fins connected at predetermined intervals along the plurality of heat pipes, and exchanging heat from the plurality of heat pipes and the set of thermal fins to air flowing in a direction across the set of thermal fins, and a direction through an aperture in each one of the set of thermal fins.  
         [0004]     Further representative embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system for dissipating heat generated in an electronic assembly comprising means for moving heat from the electronic assembly to a plurality of conductive columns extending perpendicularly from a base plate in contact with the electronic assembly, means for moving heat from the plurality of conductive columns to one or more thermal plates connected at predetermined distances along the plurality of conductive columns, wherein each one of the one or more thermal plates has an orifice there through, and means for transferring heat from the plurality of conductive columns and the one or more thermal plates to air flowing in a direction perpendicular to the base plate, and a direction parallel to the one or more thermal plates. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing illustrating one embodiment of a multi-direction cooling assembly;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective drawing illustrating another embodiment of a multi-direction cooling assembly;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective drawing illustrating a further embodiment of a multi-direction cooling assembly; and  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective drawing illustrating a further embodiment of a multi-direction cooling assembly. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing illustrating one embodiment of multi-direction cooling assembly  10 . Multi-direction cooling assembly  10  is shown mounted on to circuit board  11 . The function of multi-direction cooling assembly  10  is to cool or dissipate the heat generated from circuit board  11 . Multi-direction cooling assembly  10  comprises a conductive plate, such as base plate  100 . In some embodiments, base plate  100  may be made from copper, because of copper&#39;s high rate of thermal conductivity. Other embodiments may use materials with similar high thermal conductivity. Heat pipe  101  is a ‘U’-shaped pipe anchored in base plate  100  extending upwards. Heat pipes are well-known in the art as a very efficient heat conductor. A typical heat pipe consists of a vessel in which its inner walls are usually lined with a wicking structure. The vessel may be constructed from copper, aluminum, or other such high thermal conductive material. The vessel is typically first vacuumed and then charged with a working fluid. The resulting structure is then generally hermetically sealed. When a heat pipe is heated at one end, the working fluid typically evaporates from liquid to vapor. The vapor generally travels through the hollow core to the other end of the heat pipe at near sonic speed, where heat energy is usually being removed by a heat sink or other means. The vapor typically condenses back to liquid at the other end which usually releases heat at the same time. The liquid then typically travels back to the original end via capillary action in the wicking structure. In operation, the working fluid in a heat pipe can usually transport a very large amount of heat and makes heat pipes much better heat conductors than a solid copper rod.  
         [0011]     Thermal fins, such as thermal fins  103 - 106  may be used in such cooling assemblies. Thermal fins are well known in the art as generally thin, flat pieces of conductive metal, such as aluminum, that are typically used in heat sinks to increase the surface area of the heat dissipating elements. Thermal fins  103 - 106  are arranged around heat pipe  101  and also extend upwards from base plate  100 . Each of thermal fins  103 - 106  may include a plate with a hole in it. Holes  107 - 110  are configured such that hole  107  in thermal fin  103  is larger than hole  108  in thermal fin  104 , which is larger than hole  109  in thermal fin  105 , and so forth. Thus, holes  107 - 110  are implemented in a descending diameter configuration.  
         [0012]     In operation, multi-direction cooling assembly  10  allows heat to be dissipated or exchanged from circuit board  11  by thermal conduction and air flow in any of directions  111 - 114 . As air flows along directions  111 ,  112 , and  114  thermal fins  103 - 106 , which have generally been heated by the heat generated from circuit board  11  and conducted through base plate  100 , heat pipe  101 , and air conduction, begin exchanging heat to the air flowing in directions  111 ,  112 , and  114 . In exchanging this heat with this cross airflow, thermal fins  103 - 106  are cooled, thus cooling the entire assembly. The embodiment of multi-direction cooling assembly  10  depicted in  FIG. 1  is generally used in passive cooling implementations, in which the air flow typically comes from cross directions  111 ,  112 , and  114 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective drawing illustrating another embodiment of multi-direction cooling assembly  10 . By adding fan  20  to multi-direction cooling assembly  10 , multi-direction cooling assembly  10  becomes an active cooling device. Fan  20  directs air through multi-direction cooling assembly  10  in direction  113 . By forcing air in direction  113 , the cooling or heat dissipating capability of multi-direction cooling assembly  10  is increased. It should be noted that the configuration of multi-direction cooling assembly  10  did not change in moving from a passive cooling device to an active cooling device. The addition of the fan allows multi-direction cooling assembly  10  to become an active cooling device without changes to the structure of multi-direction cooling assembly  10 .  
         [0014]     In additional embodiments, any variations on the assembly of multi-direction cooling assembly  10  may be made. For example, holes  107 - 110  may be the same diameter. Moreover, instead of incorporating only two heat pipes, additional heat pipes may be added in relation to the size of the entire assembly. An additional variation that could be made is in the shape of thermal fins  103 - 106 . While they are depicted as rectangles in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , any shape that includes a relatively large surface area may be used, such as circular, flat, wavy, notched, and the like.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective drawing illustrating a further embodiment of a multi-direction cooling assembly. Heat sink  30  is similar in nature to the cooling assembly depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; however, heat sink  30  includes several alternative features. Heat sink  30  includes heat pipes  301 - 302 , thermal fins  303 - 306 , and conducting plate  300 . Thermal fins  303 - 306  also include hexagonal apertures or orifices  307 - 310  having the same diameter allowing air to flow down through each level of thermal fins  303 - 306 , which may also increase the area that air may flow. Thermal fins  303 - 306  are also implemented as wavy fins, instead of the flat shape illustrated in FIGS.  1  AND  2 , which, while maintaining the overall footprint of the fin, increases the surface area to improve heat dissipation.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective drawing illustrating a further embodiment of a multi-direction cooling assembly. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  has been changed with the addition of fan assembly  40 . By adding fan assembly  40 , the passive cooling system shown in  FIG. 3 , has been converted into an active cooling device with necessity of changing the geometry of heat sink  30 .