Abstract:
Sensors are located on first and second regions of a heat sink, with a portion of the heat sink interposed between the first and second region sensors. The heat sink is connected to a component by an attachment that conducts heat from the component to the heat sink, and a third sensor is located on the component or the attachment with a portion of the attachment disposed between the third sensor and the first and second heat sink region sensors. Temperature readings from the sensors are compared to identify a failing one of the heat sink, the attachment portion, and the component with respect to heat conduction, which includes identifying the interposed heat sink portion as failing in response to a divergence between temperature inputs from the first and second heat sink region sensors. Rate-of-rise temperature readings may also be observed and compared, including to historical values.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to electrical and mechanical component heat dissipation. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Some electrical and mechanical system components generate heat while operating, for example amplifier elements, individual semiconductor chips and multi-chip modules and circuit boards. In order to prevent overheating or other damage to the components, and to maintain or improve component and system performance, it is desirable to actively remove the generated heat, and this is commonly accomplished through heat sink methods and articles. A heat sink is an element located within a physical proximity or attached to a heat-generating component and configured to draw or conduct operational heat away from the heat-generating component or vicinity thereof. The operational heat may then be dissipated or otherwise removed, and in some examples a heat engine structure may receive and convert generated thermal energy into mechanical output. 
     Problems arise due to heat sink component or system inefficiencies and failures. When a heat sink failure is not recognized or abated promptly, un-dissipated operational heat may cause a component to overheat, which may result in damage to the component or performance degradation of a system utilizing the component. It is known to monitor component heat levels in order to recognize a heat sink failure; however, prior art methods and systems typically accomplish this by merely monitoring the heat-generating component for temperatures rising near or above an upper temperature threshold limit. This may be unsatisfactory in timely avoiding damage to the heat-generating component or system performance degradation, each of which may occur before the threshold is reached or prior to temperature reduction through responsive abatement steps. 
     Thus, there is a need for improved heat sink methods and processes to address the above problems, as well as others. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In general, the present invention provides methods, system, and program products for heat dissipation. In one aspect, a system is provided wherein an attachment means connects a heat sink to a system component, whereby heat is conducted to the heat sink from the component. A temperature sensor is located on the heat sink and another on the component or the attachment means, wherein a portion of the attachment means is disposed between the sensors. A processor apparatus in circuit communication with the sensors is configured to use the logic to compare temperature readings from the sensors and identify a failure to conduct heat by at least one of the heat sink, the attachment means portion and the component. 
     In another aspect, the logic processor is further configured to identify a corrective action to be taken to abate the potential heat sink failure. A self-power means may also be provided to supply operative power to the processor. A wireless output circuit may be disposed upon the heat sink in communication with the processor apparatus and configured to transmit processor apparatus outputs to a wireless receiver. The heat sink, component, attachment means, sensors, processor apparatus, self-power means and wireless output circuit may also define a unitary heat sink assembly. In one example, the self-power means is a solid state thermoelectric power generator configured to generate power from a temperature gradient. 
     In another example, multiple heat sink sensors are provided, each in different heat sink regions, and the logic processor compares the heat sink sensor temperature inputs to divergences and thereby heat sink region failures. In some embodiments, the heat sink comprises a plurality of metal cooling fins configured to radiate heat to a convection medium, with different fins comprising different heat sink regions, and the logic processor may identify a cooling fin air-flow blockage in response to a cooling fin temperature sensor input divergence. Further, the heat sink may have a metal base plate, wherein the attachment means portion is a thermally conductive adhesive disposed upon the base plate planar between a plate sensor and a component top surface sensor. In another example, the logic processor compares rate-of-rise temperature readings from a sensor to a historical failure profile stored in the memory and determines a heat sink failure from a profile correlation. 
     In another aspect, a method is provided, comprising comparing first and second sensor temperature inputs. The first sensor is located on a heat sink thermally connected to a system component by an attachment means, wherein operating heat from the component is conducted into the heat sink via connective operation of the attachment means, and the second thermal sensor is located on the component or the attachment means, wherein a portion of the attachment means is disposed between the first sensor and second sensors. In response to the step of the comparing, a failure to conduct heat by at least one of the heat sink, the attachment portion and the component is determined and, in response to said determination, a failing one of the heat sink, the attachment means portion and the component is identified. 
     Methods are also provided for producing computer executable program code, storing the produced program code on a computer readable medium, and providing the program code to be deployed to and executed on a computer system, for example by a service provider who offers to implement, deploy, and/or perform at least some of said method steps described above for others. Still further, an article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having the computer readable program embodied in said medium may be provided, the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on the computer system, cause the computer system to perform at least some of said method steps. 
     In some methods, a corrective action is suggested in response to the failure determination. And in other methods, the step of comparing further comprises comparing a first or second sensor temperature input value or a comparison value to a historic temperature value. In some methods, a historic temperature value is varied in response to the step of comparing, determining or identifying. And in other methods, a stress test is applied, stress test temperature inputs are compared to a historic stress test comparison value, and an assembly of the heat sink, the attachment means portion and the component is qualified in response to the stress test comparison. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective illustration of a heat sink assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a detail view of a portion of the heat sink assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of a heat sink assembly in circuit communication with an operating system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a process according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     The drawings are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are merely schematic representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention. The drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     For convenience purposes, the Detailed Description of the Invention has the following sections 
     I. General Description 
     II. Computerized Implementation 
     I. General Description 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a heat sink assembly  100  according to the present invention. An air-cooled metallic heat sink  102 , typically aluminum or copper, has a plurality of cooling fins  104  projecting vertically upward and generally parallel to each other from a base plate  106 . The base plate  106  is attached to a heat-generating computer system component  108  through a thermally conductive Thermal Interface Material (TIM) attachment means  110 . In the present embodiment the attachment means  110  is a thermal epoxy, though other adhesive means may be practiced; for example, in another embodiment the attachment means  110  is a direct mechanical means  110  such as a spring/clip assembly (not shown). The component  108  in the present example is a microprocessor chip  108 , though the component  108  may be any heat generating component, illustratively but not exhaustively including amplifier element, multi-chip module, chip or chip module cap, and circuit board examples. 
     Chip  108  operational heat is conducted upwards through the TIM  110  into the base plate  106  and the cooling fins  104 . Cooling is achieved by free or forced air convection with an air stream F flowing through gap regions  140  between adjacent cooling fins  104 , for example by a forced air means such as a fan (not shown). The cooling fins  104  radiate conducted operational heat outward and into the air flow stream F, the air flow F carrying the operational heat away from the cooling fins  104  and the heat sink assembly  100 . 
     A plurality of temperature sensors  121 - 127  are provided at various locations of each of the heat sink assembly  100  components  102 ,  110  and  108 , each selected as appropriate to a specified location and expected temperature range functionality. Thus, a sensor  121  is located on a top surface or region  131  of the chip  108  and detects a temperature T 1  of the heat source chip  108  at its interface to the TIM  110 . Temperature sensor  122  is located at the heat sink base  106 , preferably on or near a base bottom surface area  132  in order to detect a heat sink base temperature T 2  adjacent to the chip  108 . Sensor  123  detects a temperature T 3  at a front base region  133  near the top of the heat sink base  106  and at the bottom of cooling fin  104   e . And sensors  124 - 127  are illustrated at cooling fin  104  top areas: sensor  124  located at a front top region  134  of cooling fin  104   e  detects a temperature T 4 ; sensor  125  located at a rear top region  135  of cooling fin  104   e  detects a temperature T 5 ; sensor  126  located at a front top region  136  of cooling fin  104   a  detects a temperature T 6 ; and sensor  127  located at a rear top region  137  of cooling fin  104   a  detects a temperature T 7 . In the present embodiment, the temperature sensors  121 - 127  are thermistors, though other temperature sensors  121 - 127  may be practiced with the present invention. 
     Mechanical attachment means may be used to bring a sensor  121 - 127  into contact with a desired component  102 / 110 / 108  surface. For example, a top end of a spring or elastomer element (not shown) may be attached to the heat sink base  106  bottom surface and the sensor  121  attached to its bottom end, the spring/elastomer configured to compel the sensor  121  against a chip  108  upper surface. Sensors  121 - 127  may also be directly attached to a respective  102 / 110 / 108  surface by a thermally conductive adhesive means such as a thermal epoxy, which enables structural temperature readings T 1 -T 7  to be obtained directly for a respective structural region  131 - 137  by conduction through the adhesive means. 
     Any of the sensors  121 - 127  may also be structurally formed or incorporated within any one of the respective heat sink assembly  100  components  102 / 110 / 108 , which may provide efficiency advantages by reducing attachment means material and structural configuration requirements, and also thereby proportionately reducing material failure possibilities. For example,  FIG. 2  provides a detail view of the front upper area  136  of the cooling fin  104   a  illustrating an example wherein the sensor  126  is attached to the cooling fin  104   a  by a non-thermally conductive or thermally insulating attachment means  202 , which enables the sensor  126  to more accurately measure an ambient air temperature of the incoming air flow F in a region  204  near and about the cooling fin  104   a  by preventing operating heat in the fin  104  from being conducted into the sensor  126 . 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of a computer system  300  incorporating the heat sink assembly  100 , wherein chip  108  is in circuit communication with an operating system  170  and a processing apparatus  350  is in circuit communication  351  with the heat sink assembly sensors  121 - 127 . The processing apparatus  350  comprises a computer-readable means  354  containing logic used by a processor  352  to receive and process the observed temperatures T 1 -T 7  and make determinations as to heat sink assembly  108 / 110 / 102  performance(s). Individual discrete temperature observations T 1 -T 7  by each respective temperature sensor  121 - 127  are thus used by the logic processor  352  to monitor individual thermal performances of each of the respective locations  131 - 137 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a process according to the present invention. At  402  at least one temperature input T 1 -T 7  is received by the logic processor  352  through the communication means  351 . At  404  the logic processor  352  uses logic provided by the computer-readable means  354  to process the at least one temperature input T 1 -T 7 . Processing of the at least one temperature input T 1 -T 7  may include an input of one or more additional temperature inputs T 1 -T 7  from one or more respective sensors  121 - 127 , including by an active query for additional temperatures inputs T 1 -T 7  at  406 , and also input of additional data at  408 . The additional data is retrieved from the computer-readable means  354  and may include historic temperature inputs T 1 -T 7  as well as parameters associated with one or more of the temperatures T 1 -T 7  including threshold temperatures. The parameters may be fixed, or they may be dynamically set and variable: in one example the parameters may be set or varied by the logic processor  352  in a previous process step  404 . A user or computer system  370 , service provider  360  or external manager  380  may also provide, set or vary the parameters provided with the data at  408 . 
     The logic processor thus determines if a failure event is occurring or developing, or predicts a future failure, at  404 . In some embodiments, the logic processor  352  also further determines a cause of the event at  410 , and also optionally directly takes steps to abate the failure at  412 . Processing at  404  further results in data output to the data means  354  at  408 , to create or revise historical data used for subsequent temperature input processing at  404 . By locating a plurality of sensors to take temperature readings from more than one of the heat sink  102 , TIM  110  and chip  108  components and processing temperatures inputs T 1 -T 7  with the logic processor  352  the present invention provides for robust and detailed heat sink assembly  100  performance and failure determinations. 
     Accordingly, in one example, the logic processor  352  may use temperature T 1  detected by sensor  121  as representative of the chip  108  operating temperature (or the discrete region or portion  131  thereof), or of a junction temperature at the interface  109  between the chip  108  and the TIM  110  (particularly when sensor  121  is located on a top chip surface  131 ). Temperature T 1  may then provide temperature inputs used to determine over-heating and heat sink failure events by a comparison at  404  to a historic T 1  or a threshold T 1 -Max from the data provided at  408 , and thus independent of any other sensor T 2 -T 7  inputs. 
     The temperatures T 1 -T 7  may also be compared to one or more of each other, thereby defining paths for determining the thermal behavior of one or more intervening components or regions thereof. For example, the thermal conduction performance of the TIM  110  may be determined at  404  by comparing T 1  to the heat sink base bottom surface/area temperature T 2 . In one aspect, if T 1  exceeds T 2  by more than a historic or threshold value, then an impeded thermal conduction of operating heat into the heat sink base  106   a  through the TIM is indicated, indicating a likelihood of mechanical failure of the TIM  110  or interface  109 / 111  therewith. T 3  and T 2  may be compared to determine a vertical thermal conduction performance of the heat sink base  106  from the base bottom surface/area  132  to the heat sink base top region  133 ; again, an unexpected divergence may indicate a mechanical failure of a portion of the heat sink  102 . A vertical thermal conduction performance of the cooling fin  104   e  may be determined by comparing T 3  and T 4 . And a multi-component  102 / 110 / 108  heat sink assembly  100  performance (or regions thereof, for example including regions  131  and  137 ) may be determined and/or monitored by comparing T 1  to T 7 . 
     Additionally, by providing multiple sensors in one component or across a region of one component further detailed individual component thermal performances may be determined by the logic processor  352 , and thereby further detailed heat sink failure information. For example, the present embodiment provides for four sensors  124 - 127  located at four different respective upper cooling fin regions  134 - 137 . An observed temperature T 7  diverging from an expected T 7  value may indicate a heat sink system failure at the cooling fin  104   a  top rear area  137 . A divergence observed between T 7  and one or more of the other cooling fin top region temperatures T 4 -T 6  may indicate a blockage of air flow F across the cooling fin  104   a  top rear area  137 , such as by dust or dirt within a gap region  140 . And an incoming air temperature T 6  reported by sensor  126  may be used by the logic processor  352  to determine if higher-than-expected temperatures T 4 , T 5  or T 7  reported by sensors  124 ,  125  or  127 , respectively, are due to high incoming ambient air temperatures or due instead to a heat sink assembly  100  problem. Additional data inputs at  408  from other sensors (not shown), the service provider  360 , monitoring system  380 , computer system  370  or a computer user may also be used, including an air flow F rate or system activity level observation. Where multiple sensors  121  or  123  are located in an interface area  109  or  111 , respectively, it may be desirable to limit a total number, sensor density or sensor surface area to avoid interference with heat conduction to the heat sink  102  and thereby reduction of assembly  100  cooling efficiency, and also to avoid compromising the mechanical integrity of an interface  109 / 111 . 
     In another aspect, the use of multiple sensors enables increased sophistication in observing assembly  100  temperature characteristics. Temperature rate-of-rise observations by an individual sensor  121 - 127  may be compared to other sensor  121 - 127  observations and used to predict heat sink failures prior to the occurrence of a critical temperature event, and in particular by comparison to known and historical failure profiles defined by sensor  121 - 127  rate-of-rise profile comparisons. Thus, the processor  352  may be configured to apply one or more algorithms to the temperature T 1 -T 7  inputs, wherein algorithm outputs may indicate an impending or actual assembly  100  heat sink failure and trigger notification or abatement steps in response to an observed T 1 -T 7  rate-of-rise. 
     Processing outputs are also provided to an external monitoring component  380  or a service provider  360  at  414 . By continuously monitoring logic processor  352  outputs for indications of heat sink assembly  100  failure, the present invention enables corrective action prior to systems failure, in contrast to prior art systems that provide only limited temperature measurements and no data processing and determine a cooling fault only when a component reaches a temperature threshold limit. Thus, the present invention enables prediction of a fault before damage or shut down occurs, along with providing a determination at  410  of a component or region-specific cause of the failure. The present invention also thus enables another entity (such as a computer user, a service provider  360 , external monitor component  380  or the operating computer system  370 ) to actively perform an abatement step at  412 . In one example, a service provider  360  in communication with the logic processor  352  monitors the heat sink assembly  100  and alerts a user or the computer system  370  to a problem (for example, a blocked air channel  140  between adjacent cooling fins  104  or a loose heat sink  102 , etc., as determined by the logic processor  352 ), wherein the user, service provider  360  or computer system  370  takes steps at  412  to abate the problem (for example by increasing one or more fan speeds or decreasing chip  108  heat generation by slowing a chip  108  clock speed). 
     System power may be provided to the processor apparatus  350  by a self-power means  362 , thus enabling the processor apparatus  350  to function independently of an associated computer system  370  power status. Self-power means  362  examples include a long life battery  362  and a solid state thermoelectric heat engine power generator which generates power in response to a heat sink assembly  100  temperature gradient, though other self-power means  362  may be practiced. And in one aspect, one or more or all of the sensors  121 - 127 , self-power means  362 , processor apparatus  350  and communications link  351  may be entirely contained within the heat sink assembly  100 , providing a novel self-contained heat sink performance monitoring structure and system. 
     Communication circuitry  351  may be wired or wireless circuitry. In one aspect, Radio Frequency (RF) communication circuitry  351  may be enabled by a planar heat sink bottom surface  178  which functions as a capacitive coupled-interface to a chip carrier  108 . An RF communication circuitry  351  signal may also be configured to conform to one or more industry standards, such as Bluetooth©, thereby further enabling direct communication with the computer system  370  or an external service provider  360  or other central monitoring system  380 , or indirectly through communication to a wireless node (not shown) that may then relay communications to the computer system  370 , service provider  360  or central monitoring system  380 , as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art. 
     The present invention may also be adapted to provide stress testing to heat sink assemblies. In one example, a stress test may be applied to the computer system  370  and/or to the chip  108 , wherein one or more of the sensors  121 - 127  are used to provide cooling performance temperature outputs T 1 -T 7  used by the processing apparatus  350  to qualify the heat sink assembly  100 . Thus, one advantage of the present invention is improved efficiencies by eliminating the need for separate post-test failure analysis procedures. 
     Application of the present invention is not limited to the forced air-metal cooling fin heat sink assembly  100  discussed thus far. For example, a diamond spreader structure (not shown) may be used as a heat sink with the chip  108 . Diamond spreaders are efficient heat conductors which rapidly conduct heat, wherein in operation temperatures throughout the entire spreader remain essentially equalized. Moreover, in some applications a diamond spreader is configured to conduct heat laterally as well as vertically away from a heat-generating chip  108  or area thereof. Thus, spreader or spreader/chip  108  assembly structural failures (such as, for example, a crack in the spreader) may be detected by observing divergent temperature readings between any two sensors located on the diamond spreader. Other heat sink examples include water-cooling heat sink components, phase-change technology heat sinks that incorporate heat pipe or vapor chambers, and solid state heat dissipation systems. Thus, in another example, the flow F illustrated in  FIG. 1  may be a water or other liquid product flow, and the cooling fins  104  structured to radiate heat into the fluid flow F. In another alternative heat-pipe heat sink assembly (not shown), a plurality of temperature sensors may be arranged and configured to take temperature measurements of heat sink vapor, condensate, and/or wick material or capillary structures, in order to enable the logic processor  352  to determine a heat pipe efficiency and/or detect problems with a heat-pipe container elements, fluid, or wicks. Other configurations will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. 
     II. Computerized Implementation 
       FIG. 3  provides an illustration of an exemplary computerized implementation of a processing apparatus  350  deployed within a computer infrastructure  370  as described above. This is intended to demonstrate, among other things, that the present invention could be implemented within a network environment (e.g., the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a virtual private network (VPN), etc.), or on a stand-alone computer system. In the case of the former, communication throughout the network can occur via any combination of various types of communications links  351 . For example, the communication links  351  can comprise addressable connections that may utilize any combination of wired and/or wireless transmission methods. 
     Where communications occur via the Internet, connectivity could be provided by conventional TCP/IP sockets-based protocol, and an Internet service provider could be used to establish connectivity to the Internet. Still yet, computer infrastructure illustrated in  FIG. 1  is intended to demonstrate that some or all of the components of implementation could be deployed, managed, serviced, etc. by a service provider  360  who offers to implement, deploy, and/or perform the functions of the present invention for others. 
     As shown, the processing apparatus  350  includes the logic processor  352 , the computer-readable memory means  354 , a bus  355 , and input/output (I/O) interfaces  356 . Further, the processing apparatus  350  is shown in communication with external I/o devices/resources  364  and storage system  365 . In general, the logic processor  352  executes computer program code, such as the code to implement the steps illustrated in  FIG. 4 , which is stored in the memory  354  and/or storage system  365 . It is also to be appreciated that two or more, including all, of these components may be implemented as a single component. 
     While executing computer program code, the logic processor  352  can read and/or write data to/from the memory  354 , the storage system  365 , and/or the I/O interfaces  424 . The bus  355  provides a communication link between each of the components in the processing apparatus  350 . The external devices  364  can comprise any devices (e.g., keyboard, pointing device, display, etc.) that enable a user to interact with the processing apparatus  350 , operating system  370  and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.) that enable the processing apparatus  350  to communicate with one or more other computing devices. 
     The processing apparatus  350  is only illustrative of various types of computer infrastructures for implementing the invention. For example, in one embodiment, the processing apparatus  350  comprises two or more computing devices (e.g., a server cluster) that communicate over a network to perform the various process steps of the invention. Moreover, processing apparatus  350  is only representative of various possible computer systems that can include numerous combinations of hardware. 
     To this extent, in other embodiments, the processing apparatus  350  can comprise any specific purpose computing article of manufacture comprising hardware and/or computer program code for performing specific functions, any computing article of manufacture that comprises a combination of specific purpose and general purpose hardware/software, or the like. In each case, the program code and hardware can be created using standard programming and engineering techniques, respectively. 
     Moreover, the processing apparatus  350  may comprise a single processing unit, or be distributed across one or more processing units in one or more locations, e.g., on a client and server. Similarly, the memory  354  and/or the storage system  365  can comprise any combination of various types of data storage and/or transmission media that reside at one or more physical locations. 
     Further, I/O interfaces  364  can comprise any system for exchanging information with one or more external device. Still further, it is understood that one or more additional components (e.g., system software, math co-processing unit, etc.) not shown in  FIG. 3  can be included in the processing apparatus  350 . However, if the processing apparatus  350  comprises a handheld device or the like, it is understood that one or more of the external devices  364  (e.g., a display) and/or the storage system  365  could be contained within the processing apparatus  350 , not externally as shown. 
     The storage system  365  can be any type of system (e.g., a database) capable of providing storage for information under the present invention. To this extent, the storage system  365  could include one or more storage devices, such as a magnetic disk drive or an optical disk drive. In another embodiment, the storage system  365  includes data distributed across, for example, a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN) or a storage area network (SAN) (not shown). In addition, although not shown, additional components, such as cache memory, communication systems, system software, etc., may be incorporated into the processing apparatus  350 . 
     Also shown in the memory  354  of the processing apparatus  350  are logic temperature processor  404 , temperature query  406 , data provider  408 , failure determiner  410 , failure abater  412  and heat sink monitor  414  components that perform the functions discussed above. Specifically, the temperature processor  404 , temperature query  406 , data provider  408  and failure determiner  410  will work in cooperation to process heat sink assembly  100  temperatures T 1 -T 7  and historical and other data inputs from memory  354  and/or memory system  365  to determine one or more heat sink assembly  100  failures or potential failures. These components will also work together to periodically update the data stored in memory  354  and/or memory system  365  and provided by the data provider  408 . In response to a failure or potential failure determination the logic failure abater  412  may actively abate the determined failure or potential failure, and the monitor  414  may notify a user, service provider  360  or other monitoring system  380  of the failure, the notice possibly including a recommended abatement step. 
     While shown and described herein as a heat sink method and system, it is understood that the invention further provides various alternative embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the invention provides a computer-readable/useable medium that includes computer program code to enable a computer infrastructure to determine actual or potential heat sink failures, abate actual or potential heat sink failures, and/or monitor actual or potential heat sink failures. To this extent, the computer-readable/useable medium includes program code that implements each of the various process steps of the invention, including more specifically as discussed above. 
     It is understood that the terms computer-readable medium or computer useable medium comprises one or more of any type of physical embodiment of the program code. In particular, the computer-readable/useable medium can comprise program code embodied on one or more portable storage articles of manufacture (e.g., a compact disc, a magnetic disk, a tape, etc.), on one or more data storage portions of a computing device, such as the memory  354  and/or the storage system  365  (e.g., a fixed disk, a read-only memory, a random access memory, a cache memory, etc.), and/or as a data signal (e.g., a propagated signal) traveling over a network (e.g., during a wired/wireless electronic distribution of the program code). 
     In another embodiment, the invention provides a business method that performs the process steps of the invention on a subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis. That is, a service provider could offer to determine actual or potential heat sink failures, abate actual or potential heat sink failures, and/or monitor actual or potential heat sink failures, including more specifically as discussed above. In this case, the service provider can create, maintain, and support, etc., a computer infrastructure, such as the processing apparatus  150  that performs the process steps of the invention for one or more customers. In return, the service provider can receive payment from the customer(s) under a subscription and/or fee agreement and/or the service provider can receive payment from the sale of advertising content to one or more third parties. 
     In still another embodiment, the invention provides a computer-implemented method for executing the processes of determining actual or potential heat sink failures, abating actual or potential heat sink failures, and/or monitoring actual or potential heat sink failures, including more specifically as discussed above. In this case, a computer infrastructure, such as the computer infrastructure  300  illustrated and discussed above, can be provided and one or more systems for performing the process steps of the invention can be obtained (e.g., created, purchased, used, modified, etc.) and deployed to the computer infrastructure  300 . To this extent, the deployment of a system can comprise one or more of: (1) installing program code on a computing device, such as the processing apparatus  350 , from a computer-readable medium; (2) adding one or more computing devices to the computer infrastructure; and (3) incorporating and/or modifying one or more existing systems of the computer infrastructure to enable the computer infrastructure to perform the process steps of the invention. 
     As used herein, it is understood that the terms “program code” and “computer program code” are synonymous and mean any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a computing device having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: (a) conversion to another language, code or notation; and/or (b) reproduction in a different material form. To this extent, program code can be embodied as one or more of: an application/software program, component software/a library of functions, an operating system, a basic I/O system/driver for a particular computing and/or I/O device, and the like. 
     The foregoing description of various aspects of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations are possible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to a person skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.