Abstract:
A processor actuation system for engaging electrical contacts of a processor with mating elements of a socket. The processor actuation system comprises a socket, a processor, a heat sink and a cam actuator. The socket includes a base, an actuator-receiving member and a sliding cover. The processor includes electrical contacts extending from a surface of the processor. The processor is mounted on a processor-interface surface of the sliding cover. The heat sink mounts on at least one of the processor and the socket. The cam actuator connects to the actuator-receiving member. The cam actuator moves the sliding cover in a longitudinal direction with respect to the base, such that movement of the sliding cover along the longitudinal direction moves the processor and the heat sink along the longitudinal direction to lock the processor.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Certain embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a processor actuation system, and more particularly to a cam actuation system that facilitates engagement of a processor into a socket where a heat sink is mounted on the processor. 
   Various electronic systems, such as computers, comprise a wide array of components mounted on printed circuit boards, such as daughterboards and motherboards that are interconnected to transfer signals and power throughout the system. Often, motherboards are electrically connected to processors through sockets. Typically, heat sinks are provided to dissipate the heat generated by the transfer of electrical and power signals between the motherboard and the processor. 
   Servers and work stations typically include multiple sockets and a corresponding number of processors. As technological demands have increased, the servers and work stations have become bigger, hotter and faster in that an increased number of electrical connections, processors, motherboards, etc., have been utilized. Many servers and work stations include support frames, on which the motherboards are positioned. Overall, with increased performance demands, space within the servers and work stations become restricted and limited due to the presence of additional components. 
   Typically, each motherboard is reflow soldered to a corresponding socket. In order to establish electrical contact between contacts of the processor and mating elements within the socket (which act as an electrical conduit to electrical contacts on the motherboard), the processor is actuated in a locked position in a direction that is parallel to the plane of the socket. The actuation typically occurs through a cam actuated sliding cover on the socket. 
   Initially, the processor is mounted onto the sliding cover of the socket in the Z-direction. That is, the processor is essentially dropped onto the sliding cover in a direction that is perpendicular to the surface of the sliding cover. In order to mate the electrical contacts with the mating elements of the socket, however, the processor typically is actuated in a direction that is parallel to the surface of the sliding cover. 
     FIG. 7  illustrates an actuation step of a processor into a conventional socket. The socket  100  includes a sliding cover  102  and an actuator-receiving section  104  having a rotatable receptacle  106 . The processor  108  is mounted on the socket  100  in the Z-direction. The socket  100  is mechanically and electrically connected to a motherboard  110  through solder balls  112 . The rotatable receptacle  106  rotates relative to the actuator-receiving section  104 . The rotatable receptacle  106  receives and retains a distal end  114  of an actuator  116 , which is typically a separate tool. The distal end  114  engages a cam member within the socket  100 , which operatively engages a transfer mechanism within the socket  100 . The transfer mechanism is connected to the sliding cover  102  and causes the sliding cover  102  to move when the actuator  116  is fully engaged with the cam member. When the actuator  116  is rotated in the direction of arc A, the processor  108  moves in the direction of line X so that electrical contacts of the processor are mated with mating elements within the socket (thereby establishing an electrical connection between the processor  108  and the motherboard  110 ). Once the processor  108  is fully actuated such that electrical contacts of the processor  108  are fully mated with mating elements of the socket  100 , the heat sink is mounted on the processor  108 . 
     FIG. 8  illustrates a heat sink  118  mounted in accordance with a conventional technique. The heat sink  118  is mounted onto the processor  108  in the Z-direction only after the processor  108  has been actuated into the socket  100 . Considering that space is limited within the servers and works stations, however, mounting the heat sink onto the processor  108  may be difficult. That is, there may not be enough clearance between the processor  108  and other components within the server to maneuver the heat sink  118  into position. Even if there is enough clearance, the task of maneuvering the heat sink  118  into position may prove arduous and time-consuming. 
   Thus, a need exists for a more efficient and simpler system and method for assembling and locking a processor into a socket. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a processor actuation system for engaging electrical contacts of a processor with mating elements of a socket. The processor actuation system comprises a socket, a processor, a heat sink and a cam actuator. The socket includes a base, an actuator-receiving member and a sliding cover. The processor includes electrical contacts extending from a surface of the processor. The processor is mounted on a processor-interface surface of the sliding cover. The heat sink mounts on at least one of the processor and the socket. The cam actuator connects to the actuator-receiving member. The cam actuator moves the sliding cover in a longitudinal direction with respect to the base, such that movement of the sliding cover along the longitudinal direction moves the processor and the heat sink along the longitudinal direction to lock the processor. 
   Certain embodiments of the present invention also provide a method of mating electrical contacts of a processor with corresponding mating elements within a socket. The method comprises the steps of: mounting a processor on a processor-interface surface of a sliding cover of a socket so that electrical elements extending from the processor are received and retained by the sliding cover; positioning a heat sink over the processor and socket before the electrical contacts of processor are fully mated with the mating elements within the socket; and moving the sliding cover along a longitudinal direction parallel to a top surface of the sliding cover relative to a base of the socket so that the electrical elements engage corresponding mating elements within the socket, wherein said moving step comprises moving the heat sink and processor together. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric exploded view of a processor actuation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a fully-assembled processor actuation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a fully-assembled processor actuation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a processor being assembled onto a socket, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a heat sink being assembled onto a processor, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a heat sink, a processor and a socket being joined, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a processor and socket assembled according to a conventional method. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a conventional heat sink mounting step. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a cross sectional view of a processor actuation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings, certain embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  is an isometric exploded view of a processor actuation system  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The processor actuation system  10  includes a socket  12 , a processor  14 , a heat sink  16  and a cam actuator  18 . The socket  12  includes a base  20  supporting a sliding cover  21  and an actuator-receiving section  22  having a rotatable receptacle  24 , which is rotatable relative to the actuator-receiving section  22 . The sliding cover  21  includes a processor-interface surface  23 . The sliding cover  21  may be sunk below a top surface  26  of the actuator-receiving section  22  so that the actuator-receiving section  22  forms a ledge relative to the sliding cover  21 . The sliding cover  21  receives and supports the processor  14  so that a top surface  28  of the processor  14  may be flush with the top surface  26  of the actuator-receiving section  22 . 
   The processor  14  includes the top surface  28 , a bottom or cover-interface surface  30  and a power contact strip  32 . The bottom surface  30  includes electrical contacts (not shown) that mate with corresponding through-holes, cavities, or other mating elements formed on and through the sliding cover  21  of the socket  12 . 
   The heat sink  16  includes a base  34  defining a channel  36 , which covers the processor  14  and the socket  12  upon assembly of the processor actuation system  10 . The base  34  supports a heat-controlling body  38  of the heat sink  16 . The heat-controlling body  38  includes a plurality of fins  39  defining air passages  40  therebetween. The heat sink  16  also includes a top surface  42  and a recessed handle clearance area  44 , which is formed within the top surface  42 . That is, the recessed handle clearance area  44  is recessed, or sunk below, the plane of the top surface  42 . The fins  39  are arranged parallel to one another, such that a group of the fins  39  have upper edges with notched-out portions arranged proximate one another to define the recessed handle clearance area  44  that receives the cam actuator  18 . The cam actuator  18  is movable along an arcuate path within the recessed handle clearance area  44 . 
   The recessed handle clearance area  44  is defined by upper edges of the fins  39 . That is, the recessed handle clearance area  44 , which may be semicircular, spans over truncated portions of a plurality of fins  39  and a portion of air passages  40  defined therebetween. An actuator channel  46 , which receives the cam actuator  18 , is formed in the side of the heat sink  16 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the actuator channel  46  may be formed within a lateral surface  47  of the heat sink  16 , extending from the top surface  42  through a bottom surface  49  of the heat sink  16 . That is, the actuator channel  46  extends through the heat sink  16 . 
   The cam actuator  18  includes a handle  48  and rod  50  formed integrally with one another. The handle  48  and rod  50  may be formed perpendicularly with respect to one other. The rotatable receptacle  24  is configured to receive a distal end  52  of the rod  50 . Both the rod  50  and the rotatable receptacle  24  may be formed in the shape of a hexagon. Alternatively, the rod  50  and the rotatable receptacle  24  may be any shape that allows the rod  50  to frictionally engage the rotatable receptacle  24  so that the actuation of the cam actuator  18  causes rotation of the rod  50 , and therefore, responsive rotation of the rotatable receptacle  24 . 
   Optionally, the handle  48  and rod  50  may be formed at various angles with respect to one another. Also, the cam actuator  18  may be formed in the shape on an “L,” as shown in  FIG. 1 , or a “T,” or various other shapes or sizes. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cam actuator  18  is distinct and separate from the heat sink  16 . However, the cam actuator  18  may be formed with, or a part of, the heat sink  16 . 
     FIGS. 2 and 3  are isometric views of a fully-assembled processor actuation system  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention. In order to assemble the processor actuation system  10 , the processor  14  is positioned on the sliding cover  21 . Electrical contacts extending from the processor  14  are received in cavities formed in the sliding cover  20 . After the processor  14  is positioned on the sliding cover  21 , the heat sink  16  is positioned over the processor  14  and the socket  12 . The actuation channel  46  of the heat sink  16  is positioned over the rotatable receptacle  24  so that the rod  50  may be received and retained in the receptacle  24 . The cam actuator  18  may be manufactured as part of the heat sink  16 , or may be a separate component that is inserted into the actuator channel  46  after the heat sink  16  is positioned over the processor  14  and the socket  12 . 
   Upon assembly, the handle  48  of the cam actuator  18  is positioned within the recessed handle clearance area  44  of the heat sink  16 . The handle  48  is flush, or substantially flush, with the top surface  42  of the heat sink  16 . Thus, the outer envelope of the cam actuator  18  does not extend past the outer envelope of the heat sink  16 . That is, upon assembly, the height of the handle  48  does not exceed the height of the top surface  42  of the heat sink  16 . 
   Once the end rod  50  of the cam actuator  18  is received and retained in the rotatable receptacle  24 , the distal end  52  of the road  50  engages a cam within the socket  12 .  FIG. 9  shows the cam  57  positioned within the receptacle  24  of the actuator-receiving section  22 . A wear plate  59  may also be positioned around the cam  57 . The actuator  18  is received and retained by the cam  57  within the receptacle  24 . Actuation of the cam  57  causes the sliding cover  21  to slide relative to the base  20 . For example, the sliding cover  21  may be positioned on guide tracks, bearings, or the like, which are operatively connected to the cam  57 . As the cam actuator  18  is rotated, the cam  57  is engaged by the distal end  52  of the cam actuator  18 , thereby causing the sliding cover  21  to slide relative to the base  20 . 
     FIG. 4  illustrates the processor  14  being assembled onto the socket  12 . The socket  12  is electrically connected to a motherboard  54  through solder balls  56 , or reflow soldering. The processor  14  is mounted onto the sliding cover  21  in the Z-direction. Electrical contacts  56  extending from a bottom surface of the processor  14  are received and retained by cavities (not shown) formed within the sliding cover  21 . 
     FIG. 5  illustrates the heat sink  16  being assembled onto the processor  14 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the handle  48  of the cam actuator  18  is flush with the top surface  42  of the heat sink  16 . As mentioned above, the cam actuator  18  may be a built-in component of the heat sink  16 , or may be a separate and distinct component. The heat sink  16  is mounted on the processor  14  in the Z-direction. The actuator channel  46  of the heat sink  16  is positioned so that the rod  50  of the cam actuator  18  may be received and retained by the rotatable receptacle  24  of the actuator-receiving section  22 . Once the cam actuator  18  is positioned within the processor actuation system  10 , the distal end  52  of the rod  50  engages a cam within the socket  12 . As discussed above, the cam may be operatively connected to guide tracks, bearings or the like positioned within the socket  12  that allow the sliding cover  21  to slide relative to the base  20 . 
     FIG. 6  illustrates the heat sink  16  and the processor  14  being locked into the socket  12 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. In order to mate the electrical contacts  56  of the processor  14  into corresponding contacts within the socket  12 , the handle  48  of the cam actuator  18  is rotated in the direction of arc A. The rotation of the handle  48  through the recessed handle clearance area  44  causes a corresponding rotation in the rod  50 . The rotation of the rod  50  causes the cam  57  within the socket  12  to operatively engage the guide tracks, bearings or the like within the socket  12 , causing them to move in an X-direction, which is parallel to the cover-interface surface  30  and the processor interface surface  23 . The movement of the guide tracks, bearings or the like in the X-direction causes the sliding cover  21  to move in the X-direction. The sliding cover  21  moves, or slides, relative to the base  20  of the socket and the actuator-receiving section  22 . That is, while the sliding cover  21  moves, the base  20  and the actuator-receiving section  22  remain stationary. 
   As the sliding cover  21  moves in the X-direction, the processor, which is mounted on the sliding cover  21 , also moves in the X-direction. Further, because the heat sink  16  is mounted on the processor  14 , the heat sink  16  also moves in the X-direction as the sliding cover  21  moves in the X-direction. Thus, movement of the sliding cover  21  causes a corresponding movement in the processor  14  and the heat sink  16 . While the heat sink  16  moves, the rod  50  of the cam actuator  18 , while rotating, remains stationary with respect to the X-direction. As the sliding cover  21 , processor  14  and heat sink  16  are moved in the X-direction, the electrical contacts  56  extending from the processor  14  (and positioned within channels of the sliding cover  21 ) are shifted in the X-direction and engage corresponding electrical contacts within the socket  12 . 
   In order to disengage the electrical contacts  56  from the electrical contacts within the socket  12 , the handle  48  of the cam actuator  18  is rotated in a direction that is opposite to arc A. Consequently, the sliding cover  21 , processor  14  and heat sink  16  move in response to the rotation of the handle  48  in a direction opposite to X. 
   Overall, embodiments of the present invention may be used with any electrical socket connector that utilizes a cam actuation system to mate electrical contacts of a processor with those of the socket connector. Various types and configurations of processor, heat sinks, sockets and cam actuators may be used with respect to embodiments of the present invention. Additionally, a push button cam actuator may be used in lieu of the cam actuator  18 . 
   Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for efficiently assembling and actuating a processor into a socket. The efficiency of the system and method is due to the fact that the heat sink is mounted on the processor and is moved along with the processor, thereby eliminating the need to drop the heat sink onto the processor after the processor has been actuated into the socket. 
   While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.