Abstract:
Embodiments of the invention provide single loading mechanism that both pushes a semiconductor package against a socket and pushes a cooling solution against the semiconductor package. This loading mechanism may take up less motherboard real estate than if two different attachment and loading mechanisms were used.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Background of the Invention 
       [0001]    Semiconductor devices, such as microprocessor dies, are typically mounted in a package and attached to a printed circuit board (PCB), such as a motherboard, through a socket. The socket interfaces with connections on the package to distribute power to and signals from the package (and the semiconductor device) to other devices. Several technologies exist for making connections between the socket and the package, including pin grid array (PGA), ball grid array (BGA), and land grid array (LGA). 
         [0002]    LGA sockets include spring-loaded contacts to interface with conductive pads on a packaged semiconductor device. The socket may be soldered onto a motherboard with BGA contacts (e.g., solder balls) under the socket. The spring-loaded contacts are pushed against the pads of the package when the package is inserted into the socket and a force applied to the package. This pressure assures reliable electric connection between the motherboard and the package. 
         [0003]    Available area on a motherboard, particularly in small form-factor devices such as laptop computers and the like, is limited. Some of this area is used to connect a loading apparatus that pushes the contacts of the package against the socket. More of this area is used to connect cooling solution that keeps the semiconductor device from overheating. This cooling solution may also have a second loading apparatus that pushes the cooling solution against the semiconductor device. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1   a  is a cross sectional side view that illustrates one embodiment of a device with one loading mechanism that applies a force to couple an integrated circuit package to a socket and also to push a cooling apparatus against the integrated circuit package. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1   b  is a top view that further illustrates an embodiment of the device described with respect to  FIG. 1   a.    
           [0006]      FIG. 1   c  is a cross sectional side view that illustrates the embodiment of a device described with respect to  FIG. 1   a  when the loading member is in an open position. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a top view that illustrates an embodiment where the cooling apparatus is connected to additional cooling components. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a top view that illustrates an embodiment of the loading member. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a top view that illustrates another embodiment of the loading member. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a top view that illustrates an embodiment where there is no separate cooling apparatus and loading member, but rather the cooling apparatus acts to apply a force to the integrated circuit package. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional side view that illustrates another embodiment where there is not both a cooling apparatus and a discrete loading member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    In various embodiments, an apparatus that uses a single loading mechanism to apply a force to both a semiconductor device and a cooling apparatus is described. In the following description, various embodiments will be described. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the various embodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other replacement and/or additional methods, materials, or components. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of various embodiments of the invention. Similarly, for purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials, and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. Nevertheless, the invention may be practiced without specific details. Furthermore, it is understood that the various embodiments shown in the figures are illustrative representations and are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
         [0013]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention, but do not denote that they are present in every embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Various additional layers and/or structures may be included and/or described features may be omitted in other embodiments. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1   a  is a cross sectional side view that illustrates one embodiment of a device  100  with one loading mechanism that applies a force to couple an integrated circuit package to a socket and also to push a cooling apparatus against the integrated circuit package. In the illustrated embodiment, the socket  104  is coupled to a motherboard  102 , which may be, for example, within a personal computer such as a laptop or desktop computer. While the socket  104  is described as being coupled to a “motherboard”  102 , in other embodiments, the socket  104  may be coupled to any type of printed circuit board  102  or another suitable support structure. 
         [0015]    In an embodiment, the socket  104  is a land grid array (LGA) socket with spring-loaded contacts to interface with conductive pads on an integrated circuit package  106 . In other embodiments, the socket  104  may be a different type of socket for which a force pushing the integrated circuit package  106  against the socket  104  may be of benefit. The socket  106  is the structure by which the integrated circuit package  106  is electrically or otherwise communicably connected to other components of a device  100 . 
         [0016]    The integrated circuit package  106  may be any type of integrated circuit. In an embodiment, the integrated circuit package  106  may be a microprocessor die. In other embodiments, other types of integrated circuit packages  106  may be used. There may be a force acting in a direction  118  suitable to push the integrated circuit package  106  against the socket  104 , to help provide a good contact between the integrated circuit package  106  and the socket  104 . 
         [0017]    A cooling apparatus  112  may be included in the device  100  to remove heat from the integrated circuit package  106  during operation. Any suitable cooling apparatus  112  may be used, such as a heat pipe, a heat sink, or another type of cooling apparatus  112 . There may be a force acting in a direction  118  suitable to push the cooling apparatus  112  against the integrated circuit package  106  to help the cooling apparatus  112  make good contact with the integrated circuit package  106  for heat conduction between the two. 
         [0018]    In an embodiment, there is a single loading mechanism that provides force  118  to both press the integrated circuit package  106  against the socket  104  and press the cooling apparatus  112  against the integrated circuit package  106 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1   a , this single loading mechanism may be considered to be or include a loading member  108  that is hingedly-connected to the motherboard  102  by hinge  110 . When in a closed position, the loading member  108  pushes down on the integrated circuit package  106  to press the integrated circuit package  106  against the socket  104 . The cooling apparatus  112  is attached to the loading member  108  in the illustrated embodiment, so that when the loading member  108  is in a closed position the cooling apparatus  112  is pushed against the integrated circuit package  106 . In some embodiments, the cooling apparatus  112  is connected to the loading member  108 , and not independently connected to the motherboard  102 . 
         [0019]    In an embodiment, the cooling apparatus  112  may be pushed against the integrated circuit package  106  when the loading member  108  is in a closed position, and the cooling apparatus  112  may transfer force from the loading member  108  to the integrated circuit package  106  to push the integrated circuit package  106  against the socket  104 . Such embodiments may lack direct contact between the loading member  108  and the integrated circuit package  106 . Other types of loading mechanisms besides the loading member  108  illustrated may be used to apply such a force to the cooling apparatus  112  in such embodiments. 
         [0020]    In the illustrated embodiment, there is a tab  114  connected to an axle  116 . The tab  114  rotates about the axle  114  to force the loading member  108  down and cause the force  118  on the cooling apparatus  112  and integrated circuit package  106 . The tab  114  also keeps the loading member  108  in place. In other embodiments, other structures may be used to cause the force  118  on the cooling apparatus  112  and integrated circuit package  106 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 1   b  is atop view that further illustrates an embodiment of the device  100  described above with respect to  FIG. 1   a . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1   b , the loading member  108  is a piece of metal or other stiff material suitable to apply an appropriate force. The loading member  108  includes an outer frame and a central opening (obscured in  FIG. 1   b  by the cooling apparatus  112 ) through which the cooling apparatus  112  may contact the integrated circuit package  106  so that heat may be conducted away from the integrated circuit package  106 . In other embodiments, the loading member  108  may have other shapes. 
         [0022]    In the illustrated embodiment, the loading member  108  is attached at one side to hinge  110 . At the other side, a tab  114  presses down on the loading member  108 , causing the loading member  108  to apply a force to the integrated circuit package  106  and cooling apparatus  112 . The tab  114  is connected to an axle  116 , which is connected to a lever  120 . The lever  120  is used to rotate the tab  114  into a closed position to press down on the loading member  108  from an open position. The lever  120  may also be locked into the closed position, so that the force  118  is continually applied after the tab  114  is moved to the closed position. 
         [0023]    As the tab  114  in the closed position pressed down on the loading member  108  and the integrated circuit package  106  is between the loading member  108  and the socket  104 , the loading member  108  presses the integrated circuit package  106  against the socket  104 . As the cooling apparatus  112  is connected to the loading member  108 , the cooling apparatus  112  is pressed against the integrated circuit package  106  by the loading member  108 . Thus, a single mechanism (the loading member  108 ) simultaneously applies a force  118  to both the integrated circuit package  106  and the cooling apparatus. In various other embodiments, a loading mechanism may press the cooling apparatus  112  against the integrated circuit package  106  and thereby press the integrated circuit package  106  to the socket  104 . In such embodiments that lack direct contact between a loading member  108 , a single mechanism still may simultaneously apply a force  118  to both the integrated circuit package  106  and the cooling apparatus. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1   c  is a cross sectional side view that illustrates the embodiment of a device  100  described above with respect to  FIG. 1   a  when the loading member  108  is in an open position. As can be seen in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1   c , the cooling apparatus  112  is connected to the loading member  108 . Any suitable method may be used to connect the cooling apparatus  112  to the loading member  108 . 
         [0025]    Both the loading member  108  and the lever  120  may be capable of moving in an arc. As seen in  FIG. 1   c , the loading member  108  has an arc A of movement through which it can travel between an open position (such as that seen in  FIG. 1   c ) and a closed position (such as that seen in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b ). Similarly, the lever  120  has an arc B of movement through which it can travel between an open position (such as that seen in  FIG. 1   c ) and a closed position (such as that seen in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b ). When the loading member  108  is close to the closed position, the lever  120  may engage the loading member  108  as the lever  120  is moved to its closed position. As the lever  120  is completely moved to its closed position, it may cause the tab  114  to apply a force to the loading member  108  to move the loading member  108  to its closed position where it applies a force to the integrated circuit package  106  and cooling apparatus  112 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a top view that illustrates an embodiment where the cooling apparatus  112  is connected to additional cooling components. For example, the cooling apparatus  112  may comprise one or more heat pipes  202  that transfer the heat from the integrated circuit package  106  to a heat exchanger  204 , such as a heat sink, which helps transfer the heat from the integrated circuit package  106  to the surrounding environment. In an embodiment where the loading member  108  is hingedly-attached to the motherboard  102 , one or more of the additional cooling components may move at the same time the cooling apparatus  112  and loading member  108  move. In other embodiments, there may be a flexible connection between the cooling apparatus and other cooling components, or the cooling apparatus  112  may be unconnected to the additional cooling components until the loading member  108  is in a closed position. In other embodiments, other arrangements may exist. The additional cooling components may be positioned at any suitable location. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a top view that illustrates an embodiment of the loading member  108 . In this embodiment, the loading member  108  has an outer frame  304 , with a central opening  302  through which the cooling apparatus  112  may contact the integrated circuit package  106 . While the loading member  108  is so illustrated, it may take other forms in other embodiments. For example, the loading member  108  may lack a continuous frame all around its perimeter. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is a top view that illustrates another embodiment of the loading member  108 . In this embodiment, the loading member  108  includes an interface plate  402 . In the closed position, the interface plate  402  may be in contact with or close proximity to (such as separated by a thin layer of thermal interface material) the integrated circuit package  106  to effectively transfer the heat from the integrated circuit package  106  to the cooling apparatus  112 . 
         [0029]    The loading member  108  may be a portion of the cooling apparatus  112 , rather than a separate component, in some embodiments. Thus, the interface plate  402  may be a portion of the cooling apparatus  112  that transfers heat from the integrated circuit package  106  to the cooling apparatus  112 , and the outer frame  304  a different portion of the cooling apparatus  112 . Either one or both of the outer frame  304  and interface plate  402  may apply a force to the integrated circuit package  106 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a top view that illustrates an embodiment where there is no separate cooling apparatus  112  and loading member  108 , but rather the cooling apparatus  112  acts to apply a force  118  to the integrated circuit package  106 . In such an embodiment, the cooling apparatus  112  may include stiffening features  502  that may not be present in a similar cooling apparatus  112  that does not also act to apply a force to the integrated circuit package  106 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the cooling apparatus  112  includes heat pipes  202 . A loading mechanism (not shown) applies a force to the heat pipes  202 , which in turn apply a force to the integrated circuit package  106  beneath (an outline of the position  504  of the integrated circuit package  106  is illustrated). 
         [0031]    The cooling apparatus  112  includes stiffening features  502  that allow the cooling apparatus  112  to apply force to all appropriate areas of the integrated circuit package  106 . As shown, the stiffening features  502  are at the perimeter. In other embodiments, stiffening features may be present at other locations in place of, or in addition to perimeter stiffening features  502 . For example, stiffening features  502  may be present at locations where force is applied to the cooling apparatus  112  to allow the cooling apparatus  112  to distribute a relatively even force to the integrated circuit package  106 , rather than bending and applying a significantly uneven force to the integrated circuit package  106 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional side view that illustrates another embodiment where there is not both a cooling apparatus  112  and a frame-type loading member  108  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1   a - 1   c . Rather, the cooling apparatus  112  is a loading member and a loading mechanism  602  applies a force to the cooling apparatus  112 , and thereby to the integrated circuit package  106  via the cooling apparatus  112 . For example, the cooling apparatus  112  may be a heat sink with a fan, and the loading mechanism  602  may be one or more screws that connect the cooling apparatus  112  to the motherboard  102 . When tightened, the screws  602  may press the cooling apparatus  112  down causing a force  118  to push the cooling apparatus  112  against the integrated circuit package  106  and the integrated circuit package  106  against the socket  104 . While screws  602  are mentioned as the loading mechanism, any other suitable type of loading mechanism may be used, such as a spring-loaded clip or other mechanism. A screw  602  or other loading mechanism  602  may also be considered a “loading member”  108 , as it may apply a force to both the cooling apparatus  112  and integrated circuit package  106 . 
         [0033]    As seen in  FIG. 6 , some embodiments may lack separate devices that connect the cooling apparatus  112  and the loading member  108  to the motherboard  102 . Rather, a single device or set of devices (the loading mechanism  602 ) connects and loads both the cooling apparatus  112  and the loading member  108  (which in the embodiment of  FIG. 6  are the same thing). Such an arrangement saves space on the motherboard  102  versus devices  100  in which separate connections are used—one connection for the cooling apparatus  112  and another connection for a loading member  108  that solely loads the integrated circuit package  106  against the socket  104 . 
         [0034]    The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. This description and the claims following include terms, such as left, right, top, bottom, over, under, upper, lower, first, second, etc. that are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting. For example, terms designating relative vertical position refer to a situation where a device side (or active surface) of a substrate or integrated circuit is the “top” surface of that substrate; the substrate may actually be in any orientation so that a “top” side of a substrate may be lower than the “bottom” side in a standard terrestrial frame of reference and still fall within the meaning of the term “top.” The term “on” as used herein (including in the claims) does not indicate that a first layer “on” a second layer is directly on and in immediate contact with the second layer unless such is specifically stated; there may be a third layer or other structure between the first layer and the second layer on the first layer. The embodiments of a device or article described herein can be manufactured, used, or shipped in a number of positions and orientations. Persons skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. Persons skilled in the art will recognize various equivalent combinations and substitutions for various components shown in the Figures. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.