Abstract:
A system includes a high performance but very compact computer processing module and an associated docking station. The module includes a processor that is contained within an outer housing. The outer housing defines a heat transmission surface that is thermally coupled to the processor and other heat generating components in the module. The docking station includes a receiving portion for receiving a portion of the outer housing of the module. The docking station also includes a thermally conductive substrate defining a heat receiving surface which aligns with the heat transmission surface when the module is installed to the receiving portion. An array of conductive fibers thermally couples the heat transmitting surface to the heat receiving surface. This forms a dry low pressure thermal coupling interface with high reliability with repeated thermal coupling and decoupling. This is advantageous relative to traditional semi liquid or liquid thermal compounds or compliant thermal pads which require high pressure coupling or unreliable repetitive thermal coupling and decoupling. The high performance computing processor is detached from heatsink and fan, and hence is compact enough to enable a person to carry a high performance computer in their pocket.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This non-provisional patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/924,858, entitled “COMPUTER DOCKING STATION AND METHOD,” filed on Jan. 8, 2014, incorporated herein by reference under the benefit of U.S.C. 119(e). 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to high power portable devices such as portable computers which can include portable processing modules for servers. More particularly it relates to a very compact hand-held computer that utilizes processing chips that up until now were only used in high performance laptop, desktop, server, and workstation computers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Recent advances in personal computers has been bifurcated between increasing performance and increasing portability. Performance is being pursued by “desktop” and “laptop” computers that typically entail very high performance multi-core and multi-threading processors. These processors generate large amounts of heat during operation, requiring extensive cooling systems. Such cooling systems include thermal conductors for removing heat from the processors that are coupled to active convective cooling systems such as a fan that transport air past a cooling fin array. 
         [0004]    At the same time, the desire for portability has resulted in increasingly thin and light computing devices. This has reached an extreme with ultra-thin laptops, tablet computing devices, and smart phones. Such systems generally cannot be designed with active cooling systems. Yet at the same time there is a desire for these highly portable devices to have increasing performance. 
         [0005]    Processor designers have tried to address this bifurcation by attempting to achieve the parallel goal of both performance and lower power dissipation. This has resulted in some high performance processors that are acceptable for some laptop computers. Yet despite these advances, compromises are made. Some of these laptops are designed from aluminum and have active cooling and yet still exhibit high thermal excursions during operation that result in noticeably hot exteriors during operation. 
         [0006]    In addition, there is a desire to be able to utilize computers that are thinner and smaller than even the typical laptop computer. This likely precludes the use of active cooling systems which in turns relegates such computers to lower powered processors. 
         [0007]    In the past there has been an attempt to close this bifurcation between performance and portability using docking stations that offer cooling. U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,506, to be referred to as “the &#39;506 patent,” describes one such system. The &#39;506 patent describes a modular computer with docking bays for receiving functional modules having microprocessors that generate waste heat. The bays are shown having cooling structures that engage the functional modules to remove the waste heat. One challenge with such system is the effectiveness in transferring heat from the processor to the dock and in removing the waste heat. 
         [0008]    One aspect of this challenge is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Prior art heat removal systems can involve an interface  2  for conducting heat from a heat generating portion  4  to a heat receiving portion  6 . Optimally the heat generating portion  4  and heat receiving portion  6  is formed from materials having relatively high thermal conductivity such as aluminum. Yet despite this, a key difficultly lies in the interface  2 . At a microscopic level, heat generating portion  4  typically defines a very rough surface  8 , which includes surface waviness also. Likewise, heat receiving portion  10  also defines a very rough surface  10 , which includes surface waviness also. When these surfaces  8  and  10  are pressed together they tend to only make point contacts, resulting in a large thermal resistance between them. Between them is an air gap  12  over most of the surface area. Portions  4  and  6  can be made of copper which has a thermal conductivity of 400 watts per meter-degree Kelvin. However the air gap  12  dominates the thermal resistance because it has a thermal conductivity of about 0.02 Watts per meter-degree Kelvin. Thus the high conductivity of portions  8  and  10  does not enable effective heat transfer at interface  2 . 
         [0009]    One possible solution is to attempt to make the surfaces  8  and  10  microscopically perfect. This is, unfortunately impractical in terms of high cost and in actual use. Moreover during use of these components the surfaces  8  and  10  are likely to become contaminated and scratched thus re-creating the adverse effect of the rough surfaces. Reliance on a perfect surface is likely to have a disastrous result if the surface perfection becomes compromised. 
         [0010]    Other possible solutions include the use of a compliant polymer such as a rubber material that spans the air gap  12 . The difficulty with this is that, in order for the polymer to have enough compliance to conform to both surfaces  10  and  12 , the thickness has to be to an extent as to create a large thermal resistance. The so called “thermally conductive” polymers have order(s) of magnitude lower thermal conductivity, and because they are filled with a filler material, are stiffer. The clamping force required to conform a polymer layer to these surfaces may be impractical if it is made thin enough to make thermal resistive losses tolerable. Rubber materials can also be filled with thermally conductive fillers. The so called “thermal interface pads” which include polymer pads and graphite pads exhibit mechanical properties that are unsuitable for repeated reliable thermal coupling and uncoupling cycles during docking and undocking respectively. 
         [0011]    Yet other possible solutions involve the use of thermal greases to span the air gap  12 . This has the disadvantage that repeated thermal coupling and decoupling cycles will tend to deplete or reduce effectiveness of the thermal grease requiring its reapplication. Many users cannot be expected to have such thermal grease on hand or to properly apply it. 
         [0012]    Thus there is a need to find better thermal solutions in order to enable the use of the high power portable devices such as high performance portable computers. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of two surfaces that are pressed together illustrating a point contact that occurs due to surface roughness. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of an exemplary system according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a high performance portable computer about to be installed to a docking station. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a high performance portable computer installed to a docking station. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a low force thermal coupler that utilizes thermally conductive fibers engaging a compliant surface. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5A  is a schematic representation of a single conductive fiber that is impinging upon a rough surface. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5B  is a schematic representation of a single conductive fiber that is impinging upon a rough surface that includes a compliant layer. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a schematic representation of a low force thermal coupler that utilizes inter-engaging overlap of thermally conductive fibers. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6A  is a schematic representation depicting inter-engaging overlap of conductive fibers with greater detail than  FIG. 6 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a schematic representation of a system utilizing thermally conductive fibers having a flared end geometry. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  depicts a system in which a high performance portable computer is to be installed into a receptacle of a docking station with particular emphasis on mechanical features interact during the installation to provide motion control, alignment, and stability. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is an isometric representation of an alternative geometry of a system with a high performance portable computer installed into a docking station. 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is an isometric representation of another alternative embodiment of a system in which the high performance portable computer can function at a lower power level without being installed in a docking station. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    In this description, any directional prepositions such as up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right and other such terms refer to the device or depictions as such may be oriented are describing such as it appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only. Such terms of direction and location are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device or method herein has to be used or positioned with graphics in any particular orientation. Further computer and network terms such as network, server, computer, portable, device, database, browser, media, digital files, and other terms are for descriptive purposes only, and should not be considered limiting, due to the wide variance in the art as to such terms depending on which practitioner is employing them. The system herein should be considered to include any and all manner of software, firmware, operating systems, executable programs, files and file formats, databases, computer languages and the like, as would occur to one skilled in the art in any manner as they would be described. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of an exemplary system  20  according to the present invention. Details are omitted for clarity of illustration and description. System  20  generally includes a high power portable device exemplified here as a high performance portable computer (“module”)  22  and a docking station  24 . Axes X and Z are referred to as lateral and vertical axes respectively and are generally orthogonal to each other. The docking station can be a standalone or can form a part of another system including server, cash register, Point of sale system, kiosk, digital signage, vehicle, display system, robot, and industrial system. 
         [0028]    Module  22  includes a processor (CPU)  26  mounted to a printed circuit board (PC board)  28 . The PC board  28  is an exemplification of a heat generating apparatus. Module  22  also includes an housing  30 , a portion of which is depicted is formed from a thermally conductive material such as a highly thermally conductive metal or metallic alloy. Suitable materials for housing  30  include aluminum, copper, and magnesium alloys. A heat transfer element  32  thermally couples the processor  26  to the housing  30 . Heat transfer element  32  can include one or more components. In an illustrative embodiment heat transfer element  32  includes a thermally conductive adhesive  34 , a copper heat spreader  36 , and a thermally conductive gel  38 . The thermally conductive gel  38  helps absorb shock and vibration and fills gaps due to mechanical tolerance variations. Housing  30  also defines a heat transmission surface  40  on a portion of the housing  30  that is preferably roughly aligned relative to the processor  26  to maximize heat transfer. In some embodiments an thermal interface element (not shown) is disposed upon the heat transmission surface  40 . Examples of such a heat transfer element can include a compliant layer or an array of thermally conductive fibers which is to be discussed later. 
         [0029]    Docking station  24  includes a thermally conductive substrate  42  that defines a heat receiving surface  44  for receiving heat from heat transmission area  40 . Heat transmission surface  40  and heat receiving surface  44  overlap over a heat transfer area  45 . In a preferred embodiment thermally conductive substrate  42  is formed from a thermally conductive material such as a highly thermally conductive metal or metallic alloy. Suitable materials for outer thermally conductive substrate  42  include aluminum, copper, and magnesium alloys to name a few examples. Thermally conductive substrate  42  is thermally coupled to a thermal conduction path  46 . Thermal conduction path  46  can be a heat pipe or a solid thermal conductor such as a metal or metal alloy. In one embodiment thermally conductive substrate  42  and thermal conduction path  46  are integrally formed of one material. Thermal conduction path is thermally coupled to a heat exchanger  48  such as a set of aluminum fins. A fan  50  is configured to blow air through heat exchanger  48  so as to provide convective heat removal. 
         [0030]    Between heat transmission area  40  and heat receiving area  44  is a low force thermal coupler  52  that includes a plurality of heat conducting fibers whose lateral extent defines the heat transfer area  45 . Thermally conductive fibers are generally very effective in transmitting heat along the vertical axis Z. The fibers are oriented to generally define an average angle with surfaces  40  and  44  that is at least about 30 degrees. The heat conducting fibers may be straight or bent. Typically they are bent in a non-linear fashion. The fibers may project from either or both of surfaces  40  and  44 . When the fibers project from one surface  40  or  44 , the opposing surface can include a compliant feature that enables effective thermal coupling between the projecting fibers and the opposing surface. The material of such a compliant layer can include silicone or urethane rubbers. While such layers have very low thermal conductivity typically below 1 watt per meter kelvin, their thickness can be less than 100 microns and in one embodiment less than 25 microns. A compliant layer thus helps reduce contact thermal resistance significantly while only adding a moderate thermal resistance due to its low thickness. In a first embodiment the fibers are carbon fibers. In a second embodiment the fibers are polymer fibers. In a third embodiment each fiber is a polymer fiber having a thin thermally conductive coating that improves heat transfer in a lateral direction that is transverse to the long axis of the fiber. 
         [0031]    In a preferred embodiment the low force thermal coupler  52  provides heat transfer between without the use of any “wet” components such as thermal grease that would tend to deplete with repeated thermal couplings and disconnections. Thus a thermal connection between housing  30  and thermally conductive substrate  42  is preferably a “dry” connection without the use of thermally conductive greases or other thermally conductive fluids. This “dry” aspect promotes greater interface longevity without user maintenance. 
         [0032]    In an exemplary embodiment the heat transfer area  45  is at least about 10 square centimeters in area. In one particular embodiment the area is about 40 square centimeters. The area  45  can be chosen based on the amount of heat that needs to be transferred and the permissible temperature drop desired between surfaces  40  and  44 . 
         [0033]    In use excess heat is generated by the processor  26  during operation of module  22 . Through heat transfer element  32  the heat is transmitted to housing  30 . The heat is then transferred from heat transmitting surface  40  to heat receiving surface  44  by the fibers that form at least a portion of thermal coupler  52 . The heat is then transmitted through conductive substrate  42  and thermal conduction path  46  to heat exchanger  48  and convectively removed using fan  50 . 
         [0034]    In an exemplary embodiment the processor  26  generates at least 8 watts of excess heat. In other embodiments the processor  26  generates at least 10, at least 15, at least 20, at least 25, about 25, or more than 25 watts of excess heat. A processor  26  generating waste heat of 50 watts may be used. Given a desire to keep advancing processor performance in computers, higher amounts of excess heat may be generated. 
         [0035]    A waste heat transferred per square centimeter can defined by dividing the heat power transferred divided the area of the heat transfer area  45  measured in centimeters. For example, consider a processor that generates 40 watts in waste heat and an area of 40 square centimeters. This would result in a watt per square centimeter of 1 Watt per square centimeter being transferred across area  45  and through thermal coupler  52 . 
         [0036]    Using the system  20 , a temperature drop from the heat transmission surface to the heat receiving surface is minimized to less than ten degrees Celsius for every watt per square centimeter transmitted across the heat transfer area  45 . In other embodiments the temperature drop is less than six, less than five, less than four, or less than three degrees Celsius for every watt per square centimeter transmitted across the heat transfer area  45 . In some embodiments the temperature drop can be between two to three degrees Celsius for every watt per square centimeter transmitted across the heat transfer area  45 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of system  20  with module  22  and docking station  24  separated. Axes are illustrated including lateral axes X and Y and vertical axis Z. The direction of +X is a direction of installation of module  22  into dock  24 . The direction of +Z is a direction of heat transfer from module  22  to dock  24 . 
         [0038]    Various features that were schematically illustrated with respect to  FIG. 2  are now illustrated in more of an exemplary embodiment form. As indicated a heat transfer element  32  is within module  22  below which is a processor  26  (not shown). The heat transfer element  32  may include a copper or aluminum sheet or heat sink. Heat transfer element  32  transfers heat to a portion of an housing  30  which defines heat transmission surface  40 . 
         [0039]    Docking station  24  is depicted including heat receiving surface  44 , thermal conductive path  46 , heat exchanger  48 , and fan  50 . Docking station  24  includes a receptacle  54  for receiving, aligning, securing, and coupling to module  22 . Receptacle  54  defines an opening for receiving module  22  along the +X direction. Installation of module  22  into receptacle  54  can include a sliding engagement installation. Module  22  can include datum  56  along edges or top of housing  30  that are engaged by complementary alignment features (not shown) that are part of receptacle  54  that serve the purpose of properly aligning module  22  to receptacle  54  in X, Y, and Z. This alignment can be important to properly align heat transmission surface  40  to heat receiving surface  44  in all three axes. Receptacle  54  may also include or define latching or frictional features for securing module  22  in proper alignment. Finally receptacle  54  can include an electrical connector (not shown) for electrically coupling module  22  to docking station  24 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  depicts an exemplary receptacle  54  as a cavity or opening for receiving a portion of module  22 . In an alternative embodiment the docking station  24  can include a receiving portion  54  that is not a cavity or opening. For example, such a receiving portion  54  can be formed into an upper surface of docking station  24  whereby module  22  can be placed onto the receiving portion  54 . Other variations are possible for receiving portion  54 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of system  20  with module  22  installed in receptacle  54 . Heat transmission surface  40  and heat receiving surface  44  are overlaid to define heat transfer area  45 . Heat transfer area  45  is an area of overlap between heat transmission surface  40  and heat receiving surface  44  over which the surfaces are joined by a low force thermal coupler  52 . 
         [0042]    Waste heat is generated in processor  26  and the vertical direction of the heat motion along +Z is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The waste heat is thereby vertically conducted from the processor, through the heat transfer element  32 , through a portion of the housing  30 , through the low force thermal coupler  52 , and to the thermally conductive substrate  42 . The waste heat is then laterally conducted along the X and Y axes along the thermal conduction path  46  to heat exchanger  48 . The waste heat is then transferred from heat exchanger  48  to surrounding air via forced convection through fan  50 . 
         [0043]    While particular emphasis has been placed on features of docking station  24  that facilitate heat removal, it is understood that docking station can provide various other functions such as providing power to module  22  and providing connectivity between module  22  and other systems and devices. Such connectivity can include connectivity to a monitor or printer, wireless connectivity, and connectivity to computer networks.  FIGS. 3 and 4  depict various ports  57  which can include power ports, camera card ports, headset ports, USB (universal serial bus) ports, Firewire ports, and/or Ethernet ports, just to name a few examples. Docking station  24  may also include one or more antennas for wireless communication utilizing one or more protocols such as Bluetooth, 802.11, and cellular communication to name a few examples. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 5 ,  5 A,  5 B,  6 ,  6 A, and  7  are schematic representations that depict embodiments of low force coupler  52 . In any of these designs there are fibers that project either from the heat transmitting surface  40 , the heat receiving surface  44 , or from both surfaces  40  and  44  depending on the specific embodiment. Generally speaking these fibers have a long axis that generally extends vertically along Z. As indicated earlier, these fibers may define acute angles relative to Z or be nearly coincident with Z and will typically have some degree of curvature. 
         [0045]    Each of the fibers is formed of a material that is more thermally conductive along its long axis than in a direction that is transverse to the long axis. An example of a suitable material would be carbon fibers. Alternatively the fiber can be a polymer fiber that preferentially transmits heat along its long axis. In one embodiment the fibers are coated with a conductive coating to enhance lateral transmission of heat from an area of fiber to another area in a lateral direction, fiber to fiber or from a fiber to an adjacent surface. In an exemplary embodiment the fibers are coated with a thin metallic coating that may be deposited on the fibers by vapor deposition, sputter deposition, or any other suitable method. 
         [0046]    As an example the fibers can be formed from high density polyethylene (HDPE). Some of such fibers have a thermal conductivity of about 20 W/mK (20 Watts per meter degree Kelvin) along the long axis and about 0.2 W/mK along the transverse axis orthogonal to the long axis. These fibers can be coated with a thin metallic coating so that heat is more effectively dispersed in transverse direction for further transmission in longitudinal direction through a larger effective cross section area. 
         [0047]    The fibers are permanently attached either to the heat transmission surface  40 , the heat receiving surface  44 , or to both surfaces  40  and  44  depending upon a particular embodiment. There are various methods for forming such fibers including mechanical attachment, etching into a substrate using a micro etching process, grown on the substrate using a chemical or physical process, and/or formed onto the surface using 3D printing. 
         [0048]    The fibers generally have a length that is in a range of 0.3 to 2 millimeters. In another embodiment the length can be in range of 0.3 to 1.0 millimeters. In yet another embodiment the length can be in a range of 0.4 and 0.8 millimeter. In yet another embodiment the fiber length can be about 0.5 millimeter. 
         [0049]    The fibers can have a cross sectional diameter or dimension transverse to the long axis of the fiber of within a range of about 5 to 25 μm (micrometers or microns). In one embodiment the cross sectional diameter can be in the range of 5 to 10 μm or 10 μm. 
         [0050]    The fiber density can be quite high—about equal to 100,000 to 300,000 fibers per square centimeters or even higher. Thus they have a very close lateral spacing that can be less than 25 μm on average. 
         [0051]      FIG. 5  is a schematic representation of an exemplary first embodiment of low force thermal coupler  52  that thermally couples a portion of an housing  30  to a thermally conductive substrate  42  over a heat transfer area  45 . Housing  30  includes a very thin compliant layer  58  having an upper surface that defines the heat transmission surface  40 . Thermally conductive fibers  60  are permanently attached to heat receiving surface  44 . Thermally conductive fibers extend downwardly (−Z direction) to impinge upon heat transmission surface  40 . 
         [0052]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate the function of thin compliant layer  58 .  FIG. 5A  depicts impingement of a thermally conductive fiber  60  upon a surface  40  which does not have the compliant layer  58  at a microscopic level. As can be seen, the surface  40  is not smooth. Also, it is clear that the fiber  60  generally makes contacts with surface  40  having a small surface area. There is some tendency for the fiber  60  to bend and conform to the surface, thus providing better than point contacts. 
         [0053]      FIG. 5B  illustrates the use of a very thin compliant layer  58  over housing  30 . The compliant layer  58  allows the tip of fiber  60  to have a much larger contact surface area with the surface  40 . This may increase the contact surface area by an order of magnitude. Compliant layer  58  is less than 100 μm (microns or micrometers) in thickness as measured in the vertical direction. In other embodiments the thickness of compliant layer  58  can be less than 75 μm, less than 50 μm, or less than 25 μm. In one embodiment compliant layer has a thickness of about 10 to 20 μm. The compliant layer may be formed of a rubber or elastomer having a very low elastic modulus. The increase in surface area of contact is a result of rubber deformation and bending of the fiber at a zone of impingement between fibers  60  and rubber surface  40 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 6  is a schematic representation of an exemplary second embodiment of low force thermal coupler  52  that thermally couples a portion of an housing  30  to a thermally conductive substrate  42  over a heat transfer area  45 . Fibers  60 T (T for transmission) project generally along a vertical +Z direction from the heat transmission surface  40  defined by a portion of housing  30 . Fibers  60 R (R for receiving) generally project along a −Z direction from the heat receiving surface  44  defined by the thermally conductive substrate  42 . A vertical zone of overlap  62  is defined by the overlap along the Z axis between fibers  60 T and  60 R which projects onto the laterally defined heat transfer area  45 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 6A  depicts an exemplary overlap of fibers  60 T and  60 R to illustrate dimensional detail. A long axis of each fiber is illustrated to be generally vertical or parallel to axis Z. In actuality, of course, the fibers may be curved and/or can define an acute angle with respect to the Z-axis. An effective diameter of each fiber that is measured transverse to the fiber long axis is shown to be in a range of about 5 to 10 μm. The spacing between interleaved or interposed fibers is shown to be in a range of about 2-5 μm. The overlap between 60 T and 60 T fibers along the vertical Z axis is about 50 to 100 μm according to the illustrated embodiment. 
         [0056]    The illustrated vertical (Z) overlap between fibers is in a range of between about 10 to 50 times the lateral (X and/or Y) spacing between them. This geometry helps to minimize the thermal resistance for heat being passed from the 60 T transmitting fibers to the 60 R receiving fibers. This thermal resistance can be further reduced by coating the fibers with a metal or other thermally conductive film to improve this lateral heat transfer. The overlap length in comparison to the total fiber length is still very small and hence the force required to cause the overlap is very small resulting in easy coupling and uncoupling which are beneficial for docking and undocking. 
         [0057]      FIG. 7  depicts a system  20  that utilizes a third embodiment of a low force thermal coupler  52 .  FIG. 7  depicts module  22  to be slidingly installed into receptacle  54  of docking station  24 . Module includes a heat transfer element  32  defining a heat transmission surface  40 . Fibers  60  project vertically upward (+Z) from heat transmission surface  40 . Each of fibers  60  include distal ends  64  having a flared end geometry. 
         [0058]    Receptacle  24  includes thermally conductive substrate that defines a heat receiving surface  44 . When module  22  is slidingly installed into receptacle  54 , the flared distal ends  64  engage the heat receiving surface  44 . The flared ends serve to maximize heat transfer from the fibers  60  to the heat receiving surface  44 . In one embodiment the heat receiving surface  44  is defined by a thin compliant layer to further enhance the surface area of contact between the flared ends  64  and the heat receiving surface  44 . In yet another embodiment each of the flared ends  64  may be coated with a thin conductive material such as a vapor deposited metal to further improve the heat transfer. 
         [0059]      FIG. 8  depicts an exemplary system  20  in which a module  22  is about to be installed into receptacle  54  of docking station  24 . Module  22  includes at least a portion or datum  56  of housing  30  that engages portions of receptacle  54  to control a vertical positioning module  22  as it slides into receptacle  54 . As module  22  slides into receptacle  54  along a lateral X axis, a spring  66  urges module  22  upwardly. An action of datum  56  engaging portions of receptacle  54  opposes the force of spring  66  until datum  56  reaches well  68 . Then datum  56  is pushed up into well  68  to allow the low force coupler to thermally couple the heat transmission surface  40  to the heat receiving surface  44 . At the same time electrical connectors  70  and  72  couple thereby electrically coupling the modular  22  to docking station  24 . 
         [0060]    The example of  FIG. 8  is greatly simplified and is meant to illustrate the use of surfaces of housing  30  such as datum  56  to control the vertical and angular positioning and motion of module  22  with respect to receptacle  54  when module  22  is laterally inserted into receptacle  54 . The interaction of module  22  and receptacle  54  during installation can provide a short sliding motion between surfaces  40  and  44 . Consider the embodiment of the low force coupler  52  depicted in  FIG. 6 . The short sliding motion allows the fibers  60 T to settle between gaps of the fibers  60 R with a very low force and pressure requirement between the module  22  and the docking station  24 . 
         [0061]    The interaction of housing  30  of module  22  and surfaces of receptacle  54  control the spacing or distance D (e.g., the perpendicular distance) between heat transmission surface  40  and heat receiving surface  44  along the vertical (Z-axis) direction. In some embodiments embodiment D is in a range of 0.2 to 2.0 millimeter. In other embodiments the distance D is in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 millimeter for an embodiment as depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 6A . In other embodiments the distance D is in the range of 0.7 to 1.1 millimeter for an embodiment as depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 6A . In yet another embodiment the distance D is about 0.9 millimeter for an embodiment as depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 6A . In yet other embodiments D is in a range of 0.3 to 0.7 millimeter for an embodiment as depicted in  FIGS. 5 ,  5 A, and  5 B. In yet another embodiment D is about 0.5 millimeters. In yet other embodiments D is in a range of 0.3 to 0.7 millimeter for an embodiment as depicted in  FIGS. 5 ,  5 A, and  5 B. Although other spacing D are possible the controlled spacings are thus optimized according to the use of heat conductive fibers. 
         [0062]      FIG. 9  is an isometric representation of an alternative embodiment of system  20  in which the module  22  is installed in a particular geometric configuration relative to docking station  24 . Otherwise functionally system  20  is similar to that depicted with respect to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Axes X, Y, and Z are indicated. As before +X is the direction of installation of module  22  into docking station  24  and +Z is the direction of heat transfer from module  22  to docking station  24 . 
         [0063]      FIG. 10  is an isometric representation of another alternative embodiment of system  20  in which module  22  has an associated small display  74  and can be operated as a computer without being placed into a docking station  24 . When operated outside of the docking station  24 , module needs to be clocked down or otherwise slowed in to avoid an excessive operating temperature. 
         [0064]    In one embodiment module  22  operates with a first processor power level when it is not docked. When the module  22  is installed into the docking station  24 , the docking is detected. This module  22  then automatically operates at a higher power level when docked. 
         [0065]    While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the heat dissipating system herein have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that upon reading this disclosure and becoming aware of the disclosed novel and useful system, various substitutions, modifications, and variations may occur to and be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations and substitutions, as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered included within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.