Patent Publication Number: US-2022221918-A1

Title: Thermal and acoustical management in information handling systems based on mechanical connections

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This disclosure generally relates to information handling systems, and more particularly relates to thermal and acoustic management using pressure and clamping force. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an information handling system. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements may vary between different applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software resources that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems. 
     SUMMARY 
     A quality of a mechanical connection within an information handling system may be inferred. In a laptop computer, for example, a heat sink and a system board assembly are mechanically screwed together. The heat sink draws waste heat from the system board assembly, and a cooling fan blows cooling air across the heat sink to prevent the system board assembly from overheating. An electronic pressure sensor is disposed between the heat sink and the system board assembly. The electronic pressure sensor generates an output signal in response to a clamping force created between the heat sink and the system board assembly. The quality of the mechanical connection between the heat sink and the system board assembly may be inferred, based on the output signal generated by the electronic pressure sensor. If the output signal is within a normal specification, then the clamping force created between the heat sink and the system board assembly is normal, and the laptop computer may operate its processors and cooling fan(s) at full electrical power. When, however, the output signal generated by the electronic pressure sensor is abnormal, then the heat sink and the system board assembly may be inadequately clamped together. The system board assembly and the cooling fan may thus be controlled, based on the output signal generated by the electronic pressure sensor. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to other elements. Embodiments incorporating teachings of the present disclosure are shown and described with respect to the drawings presented herein, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a generalized information handling system; 
         FIGS. 2-4  further illustrate the information handling system, according to exemplary embodiments; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates mechanical surface pressure management, according to exemplary embodiments; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates analysis of an output signal, according to exemplary embodiments; 
         FIG. 7  further illustrates mechanical surface pressure management, according to exemplary embodiments 
         FIGS. 8-10  illustrate circuit or board integration, according to exemplary embodiments; and 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart illustrating a method or algorithm for inferring the quality or condition of a mechanical connection between a heat sink and a system board assembly, according to exemplary embodiments. 
     
    
    
     The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The following description in combination with the Figures is provided to assist in understanding the teachings disclosed herein. The following discussion will focus on specific implementations and embodiments of the teachings. This focus is provided to assist in describing the teachings, and should not be interpreted as a limitation on the scope or applicability of the teachings. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of an information handling system  100  including processors  102  and  104 , chipset  110 , memory  120 , graphics adapter  130  connected to video display  134 , non-volatile RAM (NV-RAM)  140  that includes a basic input and output system/extensible firmware interface (BIOS/EFI) module  142 , disk controller  150 , hard disk drive (HDD)  154 , optical disk drive (ODD)  156 , disk emulator  160  connected to solid state drive (SSD)  164 , an input/output (I/O) interface  170  connected to an add-on resource  174 , and a network interface device  180 . Processor  102  is connected to chipset  110  via processor interface  106 , and processor  104  is connected to chipset  110  via processor interface  108 . 
     Chipset  110  represents an integrated circuit or group of integrated circuits that manages data flow between processors  102  and  104  and the other elements of information handling system  100 . In a particular embodiment, chipset  110  represents a pair of integrated circuits, such as a north bridge component and a south bridge component. In another embodiment, some or all of the functions and features of chipset  110  are integrated with one or more of processors  102  and  104 . Memory  120  is connected to chipset  110  via a memory interface  122 . An example of memory interface  122  includes a Double Data Rate (DDR) memory channel, and memory  120  represents one or more DDR Dual In-Line Memory Modules (DIMMs). In a particular embodiment, memory interface  122  represents two or more DDR channels. In another embodiment, one or more of processors  102  and  104  include memory interface  122  that provides a dedicated memory for the processors. A DDR channel and the connected DDR DIMMs can be in accordance with a particular DDR standard, such as a DDR3 standard, a DDR4 standard, a DDR5 standard, or the like. Memory  120  may further represent various combinations of memory types, such as Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) DIMMs, Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) DIMMs, non-volatile DIMMs (NV-DIMMs), storage class memory devices, Read-Only Memory (ROM) devices, or the like. 
     Graphics adapter  130  is connected to chipset  110  via a graphics interface  132 , and provides a video display output  136  to a video display  134 . An example of a graphics interface  132  includes a peripheral component interconnect-express interface (PCIe) and graphics adapter  130  can include a four lane (x4) PCIe adapter, an eight lane (x8) PCIe adapter, a 16-lane (x16) PCIe adapter, or another configuration, as needed or desired. In a particular embodiment, graphics adapter  130  is provided on a system printed circuit board (PCB). Video display output  136  can include a digital video interface (DVI), a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), DisplayPort interface, or the like. Video display  134  can include a monitor, a smart television, an embedded display such as a laptop computer display, or the like. 
     NV-RAM  140 , disk controller  150 , and I/O interface  170  are connected to chipset  110  via I/O channel  112 . An example of I/O channel  112  includes one or more point-to-point PCIe links between chipset  110  and each of NV-RAM  140 , disk controller  150 , and I/O interface  170 . Chipset  110  can also include one or more other I/O interfaces, including an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) interface, a Small Computer Serial Interface (SCSI) interface, an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I 2 C) interface, a System Packet Interface (SPI), a Universal Serial Bus (USB), another interface, or a combination thereof. NV-RAM  140  includes BIOS/EFI module  142  that stores machine-executable code (BIOS/EFI code) that operates to detect the resources of information handling system  100 , to provide drivers for the resources, to initialize the resources, and to provide common access mechanisms for the resources. The functions and features of BIOS/EFI module  142  will be further described below. 
     Disk controller  150  includes a disk interface  152  that connects the disc controller  150  to HDD  154 , to ODD  156 , and to disk emulator  160 . Disk interface  152  may include an integrated drive electronics (IDE) interface, an advanced technology attachment (ATA) such as a parallel ATA (PATA) interface or a serial ATA (SATA) interface, a SCSI interface, a USB interface, a proprietary interface, or a combination thereof. Disk emulator  160  permits a solid-state drive (SSD)  164  to be connected to information handling system  100  via an external interface  162 . An example of external interface  162  includes a USB interface, an IEEE 1394 (Firewire) interface, a proprietary interface, or a combination thereof. Alternatively, SSD  164  can be disposed within information handling system  100 . 
     I/O interface  170  includes a peripheral interface  172  that connects I/O interface  170  to add-on resource  174 , to TPM  176 , and to network interface device  180 . Peripheral interface  172  can be the same type of interface as I/O channel  112 , or can be a different type of interface. As such, I/O interface  170  extends the capacity of I/O channel  112  when peripheral interface  172  and the I/O channel are of the same type, and the I/O interface translates information from a format suitable to the I/O channel to a format suitable to the peripheral channel  172  when they are of a different type. Add-on resource  174  can include a sound card, data storage system, an additional graphics interface, another add-on resource, or a combination thereof. Add-on resource  174  can be on a main circuit board, a separate circuit board or an add-in card disposed within information handling system  100 , a device that is external to the information handling system, or a combination thereof. 
     Network interface device  180  represents a network communication device disposed within information handling system  100 , on a main circuit board of the information handling system, integrated onto another element such as chipset  110 , in another suitable location, or a combination thereof. Network interface device  180  includes a network channel  182  that provides an interface to devices that are external to information handling system  100 . In a particular embodiment, network channel is of a different type than peripheral channel  172  and network interface device  180  translates information from a format suitable to the peripheral channel to a format suitable to external devices. In a particular embodiment, network interface device  180  includes a host bus adapter (HBA), a host channel adapter, a network interface card (NIC), or other hardware circuit that can connect the information handling system to a network. An example of network channel  182  includes an InfiniBand channel, a fiber channel, a gigabit Ethernet channel, a proprietary channel architecture, or a combination thereof. Network channel  182  can be connected to an external network resource (not illustrated). The network resource can include another information handling system, a data storage system, another network, a grid management system, another suitable resource, or a combination thereof. 
     The information handling system  100  may include a baseboard management controller (BMC). The BMC is connected to multiple elements of information handling system  100  via one or more management interface to provide out of band monitoring, maintenance, and control of the elements of the information handling system. As such, BMC represents a processing device different from processors  102  and  104 , which provides various management functions for information handling system  100 . In an embodiment, BMC may be responsible for granting access to a remote management system that may establish control of the elements to implement power management, cooling management, storage management, and the like. The BMC may also grant access to an external device. In this case, the BMC may include transceiver circuitry to establish wireless communications with the external device such as a mobile device. The transceiver circuitry may operate on a Wi-Fi channel, a near-field communication (NFC) channel, a Bluetooth or Bluetooth-Low-Energy (BLE) channel, a cellular based interface such as a global system for mobile (GSM) interface, a code-division multiple access (CDMA) interface, a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) interface, a long-term evolution (LTE) interface, another cellular based interface, or a combination thereof. A mobile device may include Ultrabook, a tablet computer, a netbook, a notebook computer, a laptop computer, mobile telephone, a cellular telephone, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant, a multimedia playback device, a digital music player, a digital video player, a navigational device, a digital camera, and the like. 
     The term BMC may be used in the context of server systems, while in a consumer-level device a BMC may be referred to as an embedded controller (EC). A BMC included at a data storage system can be referred to as a storage enclosure processor. A BMC included at a chassis of a blade server can be referred to as a chassis management controller, and embedded controllers included at the blades of the blade server can be referred to as blade management controllers. Out-of-band communication interfaces between BMC and elements of the information handling system may be provided by management interface that may include an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) bus, a system management bus (SMBUS), a power management bus (PMBUS), a low pin count (LPC) interface, a serial bus such as a universal serial bus (USB) or a serial peripheral interface (SPI), a network interface such as an Ethernet interface, a high-speed serial data link such as PCIe interface, a network controller-sideband interface (NC-SI), or the like. As used herein, out-of-band access refers to operations performed apart from a BIOS/operating system execution environment on information handling system  100 , that is apart from the execution of code by processors  102  and  104  and procedures that are implemented on the information handling system in response to the executed code. 
     In an embodiment, the BMC implements an integrated remote access controller (iDRAC) that operates to monitor and maintain system firmware, such as code stored in BIOS/EFI module  142 , option ROMs for graphics interface  130 , disk controller  150 , add-on resource  174 , network interface  180 , or other elements of information handling system  100 , as needed or desired. In particular, BMC includes a network interface that can be connected to a remote management system to receive firmware updates, as needed or desired. Here BMC receives the firmware updates, stores the updates to a data storage device associated with the BMC, transfers the firmware updates to NV-RAM of the device or system that is the subject of the firmware update, thereby replacing the currently operating firmware associated with the device or system, and reboots information handling system, whereupon the device or system utilizes the updated firmware image. 
     BMC utilizes various protocols and application programming interfaces (APIs) to direct and control the processes for monitoring and maintaining the system firmware. An example of a protocol or API for monitoring and maintaining the system firmware includes a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with BMC, an interface defined by the Distributed Management Taskforce (DMTF) (such as Web Services Management (WS-MAN) interface, a Management Component Transport Protocol (MCTP) or, Redfish interface), various vendor defined interfaces (such as Dell EMC Remote Access Controller Administrator (RACADM) utility, Dell EMC Open Manage Server Administrator (OMSS) utility, Dell EMC Open Manage Storage Services (OMSS) utility, Dell EMC Open Manage Deployment Toolkit (DTK) suite), representational state transfer (REST) web API, a BIOS setup utility such as invoked by a “F2” boot option, or another protocol or API, as needed or desired. 
     In a particular embodiment, BMC is included on a main circuit board (such as a baseboard, a motherboard, or any combination thereof) of information handling system  100 , or is integrated into another element of the information handling system such as chipset  110 , or another suitable element, as needed or desired. As such, BMC can be part of an integrated circuit or a chip set within information handling system  100 . BMC may operate on a separate power plane from other resources in information handling system  100 . Thus BMC can communicate with the remote management system via network interface or the BMC can communicate with the external mobile device using its own transceiver circuitry while the resources or elements of information handling system  100  are powered off or at least in low power mode. Here, information can be sent from the remote management system or external mobile device to BMC and the information can be stored in a RAM or NV-RAM associated with the BMC. Information stored in the RAM may be lost after power-down of the power plane for BMC, while information stored in the NV-RAM may be saved through a power-down/power-up cycle of the power plane for the BMC. 
     In a typical usage case, information handling system  100  represents an enterprise class processing system, such as may be found in a datacenter or other compute-intense processing environment. Here, there may be hundreds or thousands of other enterprise class processing systems in the datacenter. In such an environment, the information handling system may represent one of a wide variety of different types of equipment that perform the main processing tasks of the datacenter, such as modular blade servers, switching and routing equipment (network routers, top-of-rack switches, and the like), data storage equipment (storage servers, network attached storage, storage area networks, and the like), or other computing equipment that the datacenter uses to perform the processing tasks. 
       FIGS. 2-4  illustrate the information handling system as a laptop computer  200  having an outer enclosure  202  that houses or incorporates a keyboard  204  and the video display  134 . A user may thus enter or input keystrokes and touches to launch software applications and to navigate the Internet. The enclosure  202  has a removable bottom base  206 . When the user removes the bottom base  206  (such as by removing screws, not shown for simplicity), the user may access, inspect, and even remove and replace internal components. The enclosure  202 , for example, houses an internal battery  208 , a heat sink  210 , and a system board assembly  212 . The system board assembly  212  (or motherboard) integrates the processor(s)  102 / 104 , the memory device  120 , the graphics interface  130  (such as a graphical processing unit), and many other components. The enclosure  202  also houses the hard disk drive  154 , the solid-state drive  164 , the network interface  180  to a communications network  214 , a cooling fan  216 , and many other internal components. 
       FIGS. 3-4  illustrate internal views of the laptop computer  200 . After a user or technician removes the bottom base  206  (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ), the user or technician may access the internal componentry. While the laptop computer  200  has many internal components,  FIG. 3  only illustrates some of the internal components that are relevant to this disclosure. For example the battery  208  provides electrical power, such as voltage and current, to the internal components. The heat sink  210  installs above the system board assembly  212 . The laptop computer  200  has two cooling fans (illustrated as reference numerals  216   a  and  216   b ). As  FIG. 4  particularly illustrates, the heat sink  210  installs above the system board assembly  212 . The heat sink  210  secures to the system board assembly  212  using one or more mechanical fasteners  220 . While any number or amount of the mechanical fasteners  220  may be used,  FIG. 4  illustrates five screws  220   a - 220   e.  Each screw  220  inserts through respective screw holes in the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212 . That is, when the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212  are correctly aligned, their respective screw holes are substantially concentric. Each screw  220   a - e  may thus be inserted through the corresponding screw holes in the heat sink  210  and in the system board assembly  212 . Each screw  220  is drive via rotational torque into an aligning/mating mounting hole in the enclosure  202 . The heat sink  210  is thus secured above and onto the system board assembly  212 . 
     The heat sink  210  dissipates thermal heat. As the system board assembly  212  consumes the electrical power provided by the battery  208 , the system board assembly  212  generates waste heat. As the processor(s)  102 / 104  and/or the memory devices  120  (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ) consume electrical power, such as voltage and current), much heat is generated. The heat sink  210  may thus be aligned above, and/or in close proximity to, the system board assembly  212 . Indeed, the heat sink  210  is preferably in direct physical contact with the processor(s)  102 / 104 , and/or the memory devices  120 , and/or the system board assembly  212 . Because the heat sink  210  is constructed or machined of any thermally conductive material (such as copper, aluminum, or other metal), the heat energy generated by the system board assembly  212  rises into and conducts along the heat sink  210 . The heat sink  210  stores and radiates the heat energy, and the cooling fans  216  blow or move the heat along a fluid flow path to an exhaust vent in the enclosure  202 . The heat generated by the system board assembly  212  is thus carried away and expelled to ambient. 
     Mis-mounting, however, may greatly reduce thermal conduction and convection. If the mechanical fasteners  220  are mis-driven, such as over-torqued or under-torqued, the heat sink  210  and/or the system board assembly  212  may be mechanically loose, which reduces thermal conduction and convection. For example, if the mechanical fasteners  220  are driven too hard and over-torqued, the heat sink  210  and/or the system board assembly  212  may locally crack or break and be mechanically loose. Any mounting issues, or even a broken mounting mechanism, can cause a reduction or even loss of thermal conduction/convection between the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212 . The processor(s)  102 / 104 , the memory devices  120 , and/or the system board assembly  212  may thus overheat and even cause a thermal shutdown. Moreover, the heat sink  210  and/or the system board assembly  212  may vibrate or even rattle, especially when the cooling fan(s)  216  operate. Indeed, because thermal conduction/convection is reduced, the fans  216  may continuously and noisily operate at full electrical power to blow air over/across either component. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates mechanical surface pressure management, according to exemplary embodiments.  FIG. 5  illustrates portions of the enclosure  202 , the heat sink  210 , and the system board assembly  212  aligned for insertion of the mechanical fastener  220 . The mechanical fastener  220  (illustrated as a threaded screw  222 ) inserts through a corresponding through hole  224  in the heat sink  210 . Here, though, the mechanical fastener assembly includes or incorporates an electronic pressure sensor  226 .  FIG. 5  illustrates the electronic pressure sensor  226  designed as a ring or washer having a center bore/hole  228  through which the tip/shank of the mechanical fastener  220  inserts. The electronic pressure sensor  226  may thus be a separate component that inserts between a bottom surface of the heat sink  210  and an upper/top surface of the system board assembly  212 . The center bore/hole  228  has a diameter sized to accept, pass, and clear the diameter of the mechanical fastener  220 . The mechanical fastener  220  is further inserted into and through a corresponding through hole  230  in the system board assembly  212  and finally into a mounting hole  232  in the enclosure  202 . 
     The heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212  are clamped together. As the mechanical fastener  220  is driven via rotational torque into the mounting hole  232  in the enclosure  202 , the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212  are compressed together and secured to the enclosure  202 . The mechanical fastener  220  thus causes or induces a mechanical clamping force  234  (created by and within the mechanical fastener  220 ) between the heat sink  210 , the system board assembly  212 , and/or the enclosure  202 . The heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212  are drawn and clamped together. 
     The electronic pressure sensor  226  generates an output signal  236 . As the mechanical fastener  220  is driven via rotational torque, the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212  are compressed and clamped together. Because the electronic pressure sensor  226  is sandwiched between the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212 , the electronic pressure sensor  226  generates the output signal  236  in response to the mechanical clamping force  234  distributed over a surface area of the electronic pressure sensor  226 . The electronic pressure sensor  226  interfaces with the information handling system  100  (such as a via a physical electrical connection  238 ). The information handling system  100  may thus receive and analyze the output signal  236 . The output signal  236  may represent a quality of the mechanical connection between the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates analysis of the output signal  236 , according to exemplary embodiments. The electronic pressure sensor  226  is electrically connected to an electronic controller  240 . The electronic controller  240  thus receives the output signal  236  generated by the electronic pressure sensor  226 . While not illustrated, the electronic controller  240  may call or perform an analog-to-digital conversion of the output signal  236 , if necessary or needed. 
     The electronic controller  240  infers the adequacy of the mechanical connection. The electronic controller  240  may have a hardware processor and memory device (not shown for simplicity) that store and execute a diagnostic algorithm  242 . The diagnostic algorithm  242  includes programming code or instructions that cause or instruct the electronic controller  240  and/or the hardware processor  102 / 104  to perform operations, such as comparing the output signal  236  to one or more reference values  244 . The reference values  244 , for example, may be associated with pre-set or predetermined high/low limits on the clamping force  234  (created by the mechanical fastener  220  between the heat sink  210 , the system board assembly  212 , and the enclosure  202 , as illustrated with reference to  FIG. 5 ). The electronic controller  240  may thus interface with the processors  102 / 104 , the memory/BIOS  120 / 140 , and/or an operating system  246  to control the operation of the cooling fan  216 , and/or the processors  102 / 104 , based on output signal  236  generated by the electronic pressure sensor  226 . 
       FIG. 7  further illustrates mechanical pressure management, according to exemplary embodiments. The electronic controller  240  may access an electronic management database  250 . The electronic management database  250  is illustrated as being locally stored by the electronic controller  240 , but the electronic management database  250  may be stored by the memory  120  and/or the BIOS  140  (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). Some or all portions of the electronic management database  250  may be remotely stored and accessed via the communications network  214  located (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). 
     While the electronic management database  250  may have any logical structure,  FIG. 6  illustrates a relational table having database entries that map, relate, or associate different values of the output signal  236  (generated by the electronic pressure sensor  226 ) to their corresponding clamping forces  234  and to their pre-set or predetermined operating conditions/states for the cooling fan  216  and/or the processors  102 / 104 . When the electronic controller  240  receives or determines the output signal  236 , the electronic controller  240  may query the electronic management database  250  for a value (such as voltage, current, or resistance represented by the output signal  236 ) and identify and retrieve the corresponding clamping force  234 . The electronic controller  240  may also identify and retrieve the corresponding fan speed  252  or fan electrical power  254 , such as voltage and/or current. The electronic controller  240  may thus determine the clamping force  234 , based on the output signal  236  generated by the electronic pressure sensor  226 . The electronic controller  240  may thus determine or infer the quality of the mechanical connection securing the heat sink  210  to the system board assembly  212 , based on the output signal  236  and/or the clamping force  234 . The electronic controller  240  may further interface with the processors  102 / 104  to control the speed, power voltage, and/or current associated with the cooling fan  216 , again according to the mechanical connection between the heat sink  210  to the system board assembly  212 . 
     The operation of the processors  102 / 104  may also be adjusted. When the electronic controller  240  receives the output signal  236  generated by the electronic pressure sensor  226 , the electronic controller  240  infers the clamping force  234  and identifies/retrieves the corresponding operational state of the processors  102 / 104 . The electronic management database  250  may have entries that map different values of the output signal  236  to different processor performance levels  256 . The output signal  236  may thus determine a permissible or maximum amount of electrical power consumed by the processors  102 / 104 , a permissible or maximum clock speed, a permissible or maximum RAM/ROM memory usage, and/or a permissible or maximum cache memory size or speed. Additional or other performance levels  256  may define or specify processor cores, dies, threads, and other hardware/software resources, according to or based on the output signal  236 . The electronic controller  240  may thus further control or command the performance of the processors  102 / 104 , according to the mechanical connection between the heat sink  210  to the system board assembly  212 . 
     Exemplary embodiments may thus correlate mechanical pressure and the clamping force  234  to performance. The output signal  236  generated by the electronic pressure sensor  226  reflects or indicates the clamping force  234  and the mechanical fastening quality between the heat sink  210 , the system board assembly  212 , and the enclosure  202 . The electronic management database  250  that thus have entries reflecting a normal, in-specification range of values for the output signal  236  and/or the clamping force  234 . When the output signal  236  (and/or the mechanical clamping force  234 ) has a value that lies within or inside the range of normal values, the electronic controller  240  and/or the hardware processors  102 / 104  may infer that the mechanical connection (between the heat sink  210 , the system board assembly  212 , and/or the enclosure  202 ) is adequate and within specification. However, when the output signal  236  has a value that lies outside the range of normal values, the electronic controller  240  and/or the hardware processors  102 / 104  may infer that the mechanical connection (between the heat sink  210 , the system board assembly  212 , and the enclosure  202 ) is inadequate and out-of-specification. Exemplary embodiments may thus monitor the mechanical pressure and/or the clamping force  234  to control hardware and memory resources to manage acoustic and thermal excursions. 
       FIGS. 8-10  illustrate circuit or board integration, according to exemplary embodiments. This disclosure above explains and illustrates the electronic pressure sensor  226  as a separate component that is added to a stacked assembly of the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212 .  FIG. 8 , though, illustrates the electronic pressure sensor  226  incorporated as an electrical circuit  260  into the system board assembly  212 . As the mechanical fastener  220  is torqued to compress the mechanical joint between the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212 , the electronic pressure sensor  226  generates its output signal  236  in response to the pressure, that is the clamping force  234  spread over the surface area defined by opposing surfaces representing the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212 . Because the electronic pressure sensor  226  interfaces with the electronic controller  240  (such as a via the physical electrical connection  238 , exemplary embodiments may receive and analyze the output signal  236  to infer the quality of the mechanical connection between the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212 . 
     The electronic pressure sensor  226  may thus be a component of the system board assembly  212 . The system board assembly  212  is a printed circuit board containing many computer/processor/memory/networking components. For example, the processors  102 / 104 , the memory  120 / 140 , and the electronic controller  240  may components that are soldered to the system board assembly  212 . The electronic pressure sensor  226  may also be a component that is soldered to the system board assembly  212 . The electronic pressure sensor  226 , however, may also be small, miniature transistors, resisters, capacitors, inductors, and other circuitry components that are integrated into the printed circuit board. The electronic pressure sensor  226  is designed and located on the printed circuit board such that a drilling operation does not destroy its circuitry. So, as the clamping force  234  draws together the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212 , the output signal  236  generated by the electronic pressure sensor  226  indicates the mechanical fastening quality. Exemplary embodiments may thus monitor the output signal  236  and/or the clamping force  234  to control hardware and memory resources to manage acoustic and thermal excursions. 
       FIG. 9  further illustrates the electronic pressure sensor  226 . Here the electronic pressure sensor  226  is fabricated as a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) and electrically integrated with the system board assembly  212 . The electronic pressure sensor  226  may thus be printed/masked as electronic copper components of the system board assembly  212 . The electronic pressure sensor  226  may thus be integrated into a spring/screw assembly that stacks and secures the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212  to the enclosure  202 . 
       FIG. 10  further illustrates the electronic pressure sensor  226 . The electronic pressure sensor  226  is again an electrical component of the system board assembly  212 . Here, though, the electronic pressure sensor  226  need not be a component of the mechanical screwed connection between the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212  to the enclosure  202 . The electronic pressure sensor  226 , instead, may be fabricated and located at any desired location between the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212 . The electronic pressure sensor  226 , in other words, need not be aligned with or concentric to the mechanical fastener  220 . The electronic pressure sensor  226  may be a separate component, pad, or side car feature that extends from a copper plate/mask of the system board assembly  212 . The system board assembly  212 , for example, may include a thermal pad or extension  270  that upwardly extends or rises from an upper surface of the system board assembly  212 . As the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212  are compressed together using the mechanical fastener  220 , the thermal pad or extension  270  comes into physical and thermal contact with the bottom surface of the heat sink  210 . 
     Exemplary embodiments may utilize any sensory technology. The electronic pressure sensor  226  and/or the system board assembly  212  may utilize or incorporate thin-film, tactile pressure technologies that measure force and pressure distribution between two contacting surfaces (such as between the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212 ). The electronic pressure sensor  226  and/or the system board assembly  212  may utilize or incorporate piezoelectric components that vary charge, voltage, current, and/or resistance in response to compression/pressure. The electronic pressure sensor  226  and/or the system board assembly  212  may utilize or incorporate diaphragms, transducers, and other components. 
     Performance is optimized based upon direct pressure measurement. If the output signal  236  (generated by the electronic pressure sensor  226 ) is out of range, the diagnostic algorithm  242  and/or the electronic management database  250  may manage acoustics and thermals by controlling the cooling fan  216  and/or the processors  102 / 104 . If the mechanical connection is normal, for example, the cooling fan  216  and/or the processors  102 / 104  may be commanded or authorized to operate at full power and performance. A performance mode of operation may thus reflect, and take advantage of, normal output values generated by the electronic pressure sensor  226 . However, if the mechanical connection is loose or failed, the output signal  236  may have abnormally high or low values. The cooling fan  216  and/or the processors  102 / 104  may be commanded or authorized to operate at reduced power and performance. A quieter mode of operation reduces speed/power/performance, compensates for a degraded/broken mechanical connection, and reduces thermal overheating and acoustical dissatisfaction. 
     The electronic management database  250  may have many pre-configured entries. This disclosure only explains and illustrates a few simple examples of fastener pressure-based control of heat and noise. In actual practice, though, the electronic management database  250  may have hundreds or even thousands of entries detailed specific instances of control. A minimum value of the output signal  236  may map or correlate to the minimum acceptable clamping force  234 . If the output signal  236  falls below a minimum threshold value, the diagnostic algorithm  242  may cause or instruct the electronic controller  240  and/or the hardware processor  102 / 104  to infer that the mechanical connection (between the heat sink  210 , the system board assembly  212 , and the enclosure  202 ) is inadequate and out-of-specification. Indeed, a very low, or even zero/null, value of the output signal  236  may indicate that the fastener  220  is under-driven or perhaps even the mechanical connection has failed. However, if the output signal  236  rises above a maximum threshold value, the diagnostic algorithm  242  may cause or instruct the electronic controller  240  and/or the hardware processor  102 / 104  to infer that the mechanical connection (between the heat sink  210 , the system board assembly  212 , and the enclosure  202 ) is over-torqued and out-of-specification. Indeed, a high value of the output signal  236  may indicate that the fastener  220  is being over-driven and the mechanical connection may imminently fail. 
     Exemplary embodiments provide greater control and improve customer satisfaction. The electronic pressure sensor  226  directly measures or senses in-platform the mechanical pressure between two (2) surfaces (such as between the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212 ). Exemplary embodiments may then compare the output signal  236  (representing the mechanical pressure) to the entries specified by the electronic management database  250 . If the value of the output signal  236  is within a range of normal values, then fan speed may correlate to fan noise. However, if the value of the output signal  236  is outside the range of normal values, an action may be taken or implemented, such as i) lowering electrical power limits to the processors  102 / 104 , ii) lowering electrical power limits to the graphics interface  130  (or GPU), iii) change a power control unit (or pcode) slider/selection one step or increment toward best battery. Other actions may include diagnostic integration and notifications that alert the user, an administrator, and/or a service of the under/over pressures. 
     Exemplary embodiments may thus integrate the electronic pressure sensor  226  directly into any package or system. The electronic pressure sensor  226 , for example, may be integrated into any system-on-chip, such as the system board assembly  212 . The electronic pressure sensor  226 , however, may be integrated into the hardware processors  102 / 104 , any graphics processing unit, the memory  120 /BIOS  140 , network interface  180 , any peripheral card (such as a PCIe), the drives  154 ,  156 , and  164 , the heat sink  210 , the cooling fan  216 , or any other component. A single electronic pressure sensor  226  may be adequate, but multiple electronic pressure sensors  226  (measuring or inferring the clamping force  234 ) may be designed and packaged at different locations for global, interior estimations of clamping forces. The electronic pressure sensor  226  may be located at corner of the die package or multi-die package. The capability to receive/read and analyze the output signal  236  may be integrated or embedded into any controlling component (such as the controller  240 ), and control actions may be executed based upon key settings such as change fan speed, alert user, users recommended intervention.) The electronic pressure sensor  226  may be integrated and located off package within any narrow or wide band of the package location. Exemplary embodiments allow for separation of a MEMs device to the hardware processors  102 / 104 , any graphics processing unit, the memory  120 /BIOS  140 , and a power supply and/or voltage regulator. The heat sink  210  may have a feature of footprint designed to apply compressive mechanical pressure to the electronic pressure sensor  226 , in response to the clamping force  234 . Indeed, multiple electronic pressure sensors  226  dispersed or distributed between the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212  (such one of the electronic pressure sensors  226  monitoring each mechanical connection) may provide a more complete indication of thermal and acoustic performance. 
       FIG. 11  is a flowchart illustrating a method or algorithm of inferring the quality or condition of a mechanical connection between the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212 , according to exemplary embodiments. If a presence of the electronic pressure sensor  226  is determined (Block  300 ) (perhaps by the electronic controller  240  receiving the output signal  236 ), the output signal  236  is read (Block  304 ). Exemplary embodiments may read, load, and/or store acceptable, normal values and/or abnormal values associated with the output signal  236 , the clamping force  234 , the cooling fan  216 , and/or the processors  102 / 104  (Block  306 ) and compare the output signal  236  (Block  308 ). If the output signal  236  and/or the clamping force  234  is within normal specification, then the mechanical connection between the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212  is also inferred to be within normal specification. 
     The processors  102 / 104  and/or the cooling fan  216  may operate under a normal condition, such as high power is authorized. However, if the output signal  236  and/or the clamping force  234  is not within the normal specification (Block  308 ), then exemplary embodiments may read, determine, and/or lookup current operating conditions or states associated with the cooling fan  216  (such as RPM speed or power consumption) and the processors  102 / 104  and/or the system board assembly  212  (current temperature or thermal conditions) (Block  310 ). If the processors  102 / 104  and/or the system board assembly  212  are within specification (Block  312 ), then normality is inferred and a new or current value of the output signal  236  is read (Block  304 ). However, if either or both of the processors  102 / 104  and/or the system board assembly  212  are out of specification (Block  312 ), then criticality is determined (Block  314 ). 
     If neither the processors  102 / 104 , the system board assembly  212 , nor the cooling fan  216  is/are critical in speed, temperature, or power, then the speed/power assigned to the cooling fan  216  may be adjusted (Block  316 ) and logged (Block  318 ), and new or current value of the output signal  236  is read (Block  304 ). However, if either or both of the processors  102 / 104 , the system board assembly  212 , and/or the cooling fan  216  is critical (speed, temperature, or power), then the speed/power assigned to the cooling fan  216  and/or the processors  102 / 104  is adjusted (Block  320 ) and logged (Block  322 ). Diagnostic notifications may be generated for display and communicated/sent to remote destinations. The diagnostic algorithm  242  may even force a shutdown due to thermal excursion (Block  324 ). 
     Exemplary embodiments thus present an elegant solution. The quality of the mechanical connection between the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212  may be inferred from the output signal  236  generated by the electronic pressure sensor  226 . Once the output signal  236  is read or received, the clamping force  234  is identified (perhaps by querying the management database  250 , as above explained). The RPM speed of the cooling fan  216  may thus be controlled, based on the clamping force  234 . The electrical power consumption and performance of the processors  102 / 104  may also be controlled, based on the clamping force  234 . If the mechanical joint or connection between the heat sink  210  and the system board assembly  212  is inadequate, the performance of the laptop computer  200  may be reduced to avoid thermal concerns and noisy operation. An electrical power shutdown may even be forced, in response to the clamping force  234  inferred from the output signal  236  generated by the electronic pressure sensor  226 . 
     Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure as defined in the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents. 
     Devices, modules, resources, or programs that are in communication with one another need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices, modules, resources, or programs that are in communication with one another can communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries. 
     The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover any and all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments that fall within the scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.