Patent Publication Number: US-2009219687-A1

Title: Memory heat-dissipating mechanism

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is related to a memory heat-dissipating mechanism, and in particular to a memory heat-dissipating mechanism for dissipating the heat of a memory module and avoiding from occupying the distance between left and right sides of adjacent memory modules. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     With the continuous progress of modern computer technology, the computers are gradually developed to have powerful operation function and high operation speed. Further, with computer design field gearing towards high speed and high frequency, it is necessary to dissipate the heat of CPU on a main board by means of a heat-dissipating device. On the other hand, since the memory capacity of a memory module is expanding and operates at a high speed with the CPU, the heat generated by the memory module continue to increase, which may affect the CPU performance. Furthermore, if the heat cannot be dissipated efficiently, the memory module life span would shorten and eventually fail. 
     Therefore, in order to solve the problem of memory module heat generation, an air-cooling heat sink or water-cooling heat-dissipating device is used to dissipate the heat of the memory module. For example, Taiwan Patent Publication No. M323066 (Application No. 096209265) discloses a modularized water-cooling heat-dissipating device, in which a fixed support is arranged on a heat-generating element (e.g. memory module) on a main board. The fixed support is connected to a water pump having inlet pipe and outlet pipe, and a water cooler having inlet pipe and outlet pipe, respectively. Connecting pipes are provided to link the pipes of the water pump and the water cooler with the heat-dissipating module. Via this arrangement, the heat generated by the memory module can be transferred indirectly to the water and dissipated. 
     Although the above-mentioned patent can dissipate the heat in practice, its volume is bulky, which occupies a lot of space within the computer and thus makes difficult the arrangement of other electronic elements within the computer. 
     Therefore, in order to avoid the drawback that the water-cooling heat-dissipating device occupies a lot of internal space, an air-cooling heat sink is used. For example, Taiwan Patent Publication No. M321118 (Application No. 095220519) discloses a heat sink for a memory module, in which a plurality of heat-dissipating pieces are positioned on left and right sides of the memory module via a frame respectively. The base of the heat-dissipating piece abuts against the memory module. The base is provided with a plurality of upright fins extending transversely away from the memory module. Via this arrangement, the heat dissipation of the memory module can be achieved by means of air circulation. 
     However, the main board is usually designed in such a manner that four memory modules can be inserted thereon. The distance between adjacent memory modules is made according to the standard specification of the manufacturer. In the above-mentioned patent, the heat-dissipating pieces on both sides of the memory model are provided with a plurality of transversely-extending fins. In practice, all of the fins have a certain extending distance, which will occupy the space for the adjacent memory modules on the main board. Therefore, the heat sink disclosed in the above-mentioned patent merely allows one or two memory modules to be inserted on the main board, but it cannot allow more than three memory modules to be inserted thereon. Even, if a main board of different specification is used, only one memory module can be inserted. Thus, although the heat sink disclosed in the above-mentioned patent can dissipate the heat, it also has the drawback of occupying space. 
     Consequently, because of the above technical limitations, the inventor strives via real world experience and academic research to develop the present invention, which can effectively improve the limitations described above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a memory heat-dissipating mechanism for dissipating the heat of the memory module and avoid from occupying the distance on the outer sides of adjacent memory modules. 
     For achieving the object described above, the present invention provides a memory heat-dissipating mechanism, which includes: at least two memory devices arranged in parallel with a distance therebetween, each memory device comprising two inter-cooperating heat-dissipating pieces and a memory module sandwiched between the two heat-dissipating pieces, the heat-dissipating pieces of each memory device being provided thereon with locking holes; a heat dissipater mounted on the memory devices, the heat dissipater comprising a base, a plurality of heat-dissipating pillars extending upwards from the base, and a plurality of fixing slots, each fixing slot corresponding to the locking hole of each memory device, a top surface of the heat-dissipating piece of each memory device abutting against a bottom surface of the base of the heat dissipater; and a plurality of screw components penetrating the fixing slots of the heat dissipater respectively to be secured into the locking holes of corresponding memory device. 
     The present invention has advantageous effects as follows. The heat dissipater having heat-dissipating pillars is mounted on at least two memory devices that are arranged in parallel, thereby utilizing the space above the memory device and achieving the heat dissipation of the memory module by air cooling. In comparison with the conventional art, the present invention avoids from occupying the distance between left and right sides of adjacent memory modules. In this way, the present invention can be applied to the main boards of various specifications, and thus four memory modules can be inserted thereon if desired. 
     Next, the heat dissipater is provided with fixing slots, so that the position of the heat dissipater can be adjusted to facilitate the alignment with the locking holes of the memory device. In this way, the present invention can be applied to the main board of various specifications. 
     In order to further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present invention, the present invention will be explained with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only and are not used to restrict the scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an assembled perspective view showing the present invention being mounted on a main board; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention being mounted on the main board; and 
         FIG. 4  is an assembled perspective view showing the present invention being assembled with a heat-dissipating fan. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1 . The present invention provides a memory heat-dissipating mechanism, which includes at least two memory devices  10 , a heat dissipater  20 , and a plurality of screw components  30 . 
     Each memory device  10  comprises two inter-cooperating heat-dissipating pieces  11 , and a memory module  12  sandwiched between two heat-dissipating pieces  11 . Two heat-dissipating pieces  11  can be made by means of connecting two corresponding portions with each other. Alternatively, one heat-dissipating piece is larger than the other, and both heat-dissipating pieces are connected with each other by means of screw tightening. In the present invention, the way of connecting two heat-dissipating pieces is not limited to any specific form. Two heat-dissipating pieces  11  are used to sandwich and abut against memory chips  121  of memory module  12 , so that the heat generated can be transferred to heat-dissipating pieces  11 . The top surfaces of heat-dissipating pieces  11  of each memory device  10  are provided with a plurality of locking holes  111 , each of which is a screw hole. 
     Heat dissipater  20  is made of a metallic element having a heat-dissipating effect, which comprises a plate-like base  21 , a plurality of heat-dissipating pillars  22 , and a plurality of fixing slots  23 . Each heat-dissipating pillar  22  extends upwardly from the top surface of base  21 . There may be two fixing slots  23  that are spaced apart with a distance therebetween and each passes through the top and bottom surfaces of base  21 . 
     Each screw components  30  can be a bolt. The number of the screws corresponds to the number of locking holes  111  of memory device  10 . Each screw component  30  has a threaded portion  31 . 
     In assembly, please refer to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in which two memory devices  10  are used as an example. Memory module  12  of each memory device  10  is inserted onto an electrical connector  61  of a main board  60  of a computer. The two memory devices are arranged in parallel with a distance therebetween, so that pins  122  of each memory module  12  can be inserted into the corresponding electrical connector  61 , thereby achieving the electrical connection between each memory module  12  and main board  60 . 
     The heat dissipater  20  is mounted on the two memory devices  10 . The top surfaces of heat-dissipating pieces  11  of each memory device  10  abut against the bottom surface of base  21  of heat dissipater  20 , so that the heat generated by memory module  12  can be transferred to heat dissipater  20  via heat-dissipating pieces  11 . At the same time, each fixing slot  23  of heat-dissipating dissipater  20  corresponds to locking hole  111  of each memory device  10 . Screw component  30  penetrates fixing slot  23  of heat dissipater  20  and is secured into locking hole  111  of the corresponding memory device  10 . With threaded portion  31  of each screw component  30  penetrating fixing slot  23  and being secured into locking hole  111 , heat dissipater  20  can be fixed on the two memory devices  10 . 
     Further, please refer to  FIG. 3 . In the present embodiment, according to the design of main board  60 , four memory devices  10  can be inserted on the main board. Thus, heat dissipater  20  of the present invention can be brought into contact with four memory devices  10 . In addition, threaded portion  31  of each screw component  30  penetrates an elastic element  41  and a gasket  42 . Elastic element  41  can be a compression spring. Both ends of each elastic element  41  abut against screw component  30  and gasket  42  respectively, so that gasket  42  abuts against the top surface of base  21  of heat dissipater  20 . Alternatively, two gaskets  42  are provided on both ends of elastic element  41  respectively. Both ends of elastic element  41  abut elastically against the two gaskets  42  respectively with one of the gaskets  42  abutting against the top surface of base  21  of heat dissipater  20 . In this way, when threaded portion  31  of screw component  30  is gradually locked into locking hole  111  of memory device  10 , elastic element  41  can be compressed to force gasket  42  on heat dissipater  20 , thereby secure heat dissipater  20  in position more firmly. 
     Especially, it should be noted that since memory device  10  can be inserted on main board  60  of various specifications, while the distance between adjacent electrical connectors  61  of each main board  60  is different, fixing slot  23  of the present invention is designed to facilitate the alignment with locking hole  111  of memory device  10 , so that crew component  30  can be locked into locking hole  111  accurately to secure heat dissipater  20  in position. That is to say, fixing slot  23  has a function of adjusting the position of heat dissipater  20 . 
     Furthermore, please refer to  FIG. 4 . At least one heat-dissipating fan  50  can be locked on heat-dissipating pillars  22  of heat dissipater  20 . The heat-dissipating fan is fixed by means of locking elements  52  penetrating through holes  51  on four sides of heat-dissipating fan  50  to be locked in the gaps formed between heat-dissipating pillars  22  of heat dissipater  20 . With the design of heat-dissipating pillar  22 , heat-dissipating fan  50  can be locked easily. 
     To sum up the above, in the present invention, heat dissipater  20  having heat-dissipating pillars  22  is mounted on at least two memory devices  10  that are arranged in parallel, thereby utilizing the space above memory device  10  and achieving the heat dissipation of the memory module  12  by air cooling. In comparison with the conventional art, the present invention avoids from occupying the space to the outer left and right sides of adjacent memory modules  12 . In this way, the present invention can be applied to main boards  60  of various specifications, and thus four memory modules  12  can be inserted thereon if desired. 
     Next, heat dissipater  20  is provided with fixing slots  23 , so that the position of heat dissipater  20  can be adjusted to facilitate the alignment with locking holes  111  of memory device  10 . In this way, the present invention can be applied to main boards  60  of various specifications. 
     Further, heat dissipater  20  is provided thereon with a plurality of heat-dissipating pillars  22  which facilitate heat-dissipating fan  50  to be secured to heat dissipater  20 . Thus, in comparison with the conventional heat dissipater having heat-dissipating fins, the present invention eliminates the problem that the heat-dissipating fan cannot be locked to the fins easily. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.