Abstract:
A heat relief socket is provided where a contact carrier substrate is provided carrying a plurality of contacts, and is supported by a frame. The frame has an open area therethrough which can receive air flow to cool the bottom of a chip carried by the socket and the contacts themselves.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject invention relates to a socket for mounting to a printed circuit board, whereby heat can be released from the socket. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is common in electronic systems to provide a socket mounted directly to a printed circuit board, which can receive some type of an integrated circuit, normally in the form of a chip. In the operation of such circuit devices, particularly large integrated circuit chips, significant heat is generated by the chips, and when in use, can overheat, malfunction, or in some cases cause the chip to fail. 
     Some attempts have been made to cool the chips. It is known to provide cooling to the chip by way of heat sinks. These are typically in the form of thermally conductive material placed adjacent to the chip, and can include fins to promote faster cooling due to the increased surface area for conduction of heat away from the chip. It is also known to place a fan above a heat sink to cool the chip, by a combination of conduction and convection. It is even know to provide water cooled heat sinks in the case of larger chips. 
     The objects of the invention are to improve upon these existing systems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The objects have been accomplished by providing a socket, comprising a contact carrier substrate, and a plurality of contacts mounted to the contact carrier substrate. An open area is formed adjacent at least one edge of the contact carrier substrate; and a mechanism is provided for air flow through the open area and across the contact carrier substrate. 
     The mechanism for providing air flow may be a fan. The socket may further comprise a duct provided adjacent to the open area for connecting the air flow to the open area. A frame may also position the contact carrier substrate above a printed circuit board, with the open area extending through the frame. The duct may alternatively be connected to the frame, or be integrated with the frame. 
     An alternate embodiment printed circuit board assembly comprises a printed circuit board and a socket mounted to the printed circuit board having a contact carrier substrate, a plurality of contacts mounted to the contact carrier substrate, and an open area formed adjacent at least one edge of the contact carrier substrate. A mechanism for providing air flow through the open area and across the contact carrier substrate is included. The assembly also includes an integrated circuit connected to the socket. 
     The mechanism for providing air flow may be a fan. The socket may further comprise a duct adjacent to the open area for connecting the air flow to the open area. The duct and the fan may be mounted to the printed circuit board. Alternatively, the duct and the fan may be mounted above the integrated circuit. A frame may also position the contact carrier substrate above a printed circuit board, with the open area extending through the frame. The duct may alternatively be connected to the frame, or be integrated with the frame. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  show diagrammatical views of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows an upper perspective view of the frame and carrier substrate of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a view similar to that of  FIG. 3  showing the inclusion of an air cooling duct; 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 4  showing an integrated circuit chip in place; 
         FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional view through lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment socket assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference first to  FIG. 1 , the invention is shown diagrammatically as a socket assembly to be comprised generally of an interposer type socket  4  having a contact carrier substrate  6  carrying a plurality of contacts  8 . Contacts  8  are comprised of printed circuit board contacts  10  and upper chip contacts  12 . The interposer type socket  4  could be of the type shown by any of the embodiments in U.S. Pat. No. 6,945,788, incorporated herein by reference. 
     As shown, socket  4  is attached to printed circuit board  20  and interconnects a chip  30  to printed circuit board  20 . A generally open area  40  is shown either above or below the contact carrying substrate (or both) which can be used for cooling the contacts and/or the chip by way of induced air flow. 
     In this regard, a duct  50  is provided directed towards open area  40  and includes a fan  52  which provides air flow in the direction of arrow  54  into the open area  40  for cooling chip  30  and/or contacts  8 . 
     With respect now to  FIG. 2 , the socket  4  can also be provided with a frame  60  whereby openings  62  are provided through at least one of the walls  64 , whereby input openings  62  define the generally open area to which duct  50  can be connected. On another of the walls, and in this case wall  66 , exit openings  68  are formed for exhausting the warm air which has been forced through by fan  52 . 
     With respect now to  FIG. 3 , the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  is shown with more particularity. As shown in  FIG. 3 , frame  60  is shown with contact carrying substrate  4  positioned therein providing upper contact portions  12  positioned above substrate  6 . Openings  62  through wall  64  provide for a generally open area  40  across substrate  6  for cooling purposes. Exit openings  68  provide an exit for the heated air through wall  66 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 4 , duct  50  is shown positioned against wall  64  and can be positioned in any manner desirable. Duct  50  could be similar to that shown with a flange  54  abutted against wall  64  and attached in place by way of fasteners, ultrasonic welding, adhesives, and the like. Fan  52  is shown mounted to printed circuit board  20  with an exit port  56  extending into duct opening  58 .  FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4  showing the chip  30  in place within the frame  60 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 6 , duct  50  is shown in cross-sectional view (taken through lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ) and shows duct  50  attached to sidewall  64 . As attached, air through duct  50  can flow through input openings  62  and across substrate  6 . As shown, the air can contact the bottom of the chip  30  as well as across the plurality of contacts  8 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 7 , an alternate embodiment is shown where frame  160  carries substrate  106  and contacts  108 . Frame  160  could include sidewall  164  where opening  162  is formed integrally with wall  164  having integrated openings  162   a  and  162   b . Openings  162   a  and  162   b  may direct air flow above and below substrate  106 , respectively. A cover portion  200  could be received over frame  160  and include a sidewall  202  positioned on top of the frame wall  164 . 
     The fan  252  could sit within a pocket  254  of the cover  200 , and reside on a floor  256 . In this embodiment, sidewall  202  would include an opening  258 , and duct  250  would be formed by the combination of openings  162  and  258 . In this embodiment, the fan would operate exhausting air into opening  254  through the duct  250  and through openings  162   a  and  162   b . The warm air would be exhausted through exit openings  168 . 
     It should be appreciated that various changes may be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the ratios of the cross sectional area for the input openings and exit openings can be varied for the air flow rates, and the like. Furthermore, the exact locations for input and exit openings may be changed in number and/or location. For example, the input openings could be adjacent to the corners of the sidewall and the exit opening(s) in the center of the opposite wall, or vice versa. Furthermore, the input or exit ports could be on all four walls to cause greater turbulent air flow though the socket.