Patent Publication Number: US-2020305304-A1

Title: Heat Spreader Assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICTIONS 
     The present application is a divisional application of and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 15/729,866, filed on Oct. 11, 2017, in the name of inventor Lana Trygubova, and entitled “Heat Spreader Assembly,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The technology described herein generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for transferring heat from a component in an electronic device. More particularly, the various embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to heat spreader assemblies configured to transfer heat from microprocessors, memory devices, and other components in electronic devices to an external environment. More specifically, the various embodiments disclosed generally relate to a heat spreader configured to adjust to variances in enclosure designs and device heights to provide sufficient physical and/or thermal contact between a heat transfer component and a heat generating component when an enclosure for the device is in an assembled configuration. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Devices, including electronic devices such as set-top box assemblies, computers, smart phones, vehicle control systems, and others, commonly include one or more components that generate a heat. Such heat often needs to be transferred away from such component (hereafter, a “component” or a “heat generating component”) to facilitate desire operating conditions for the component. Such heat transfer may often occur by use of thermal conduction between the component and a heat plate or similar assembly, where the heat plate is configured to further transfer the heat received from the component into an internal or external environment or to other components. Commonly, the heat plate uses thermal transfer mechanisms such as conduction, convection, radiation, evaporative cooling, active cooling, and other approaches known in the art for transferring heat. 
     More specifically, one approach for heat transfer in devices is to use a heat plate assembly to conduct heat away from one or more components in the device and across a wider area to enhance convective heat dissipation. Such a heat plate assembly often extends across a substantial portion of one or more of a device&#39;s surface enclosures, such as across a top enclosure, a side enclosure, or a bottom enclosure. The one or more heat plate assemblies are often configured to contact one or more heat generating components in the device, while often not contacting other non-heat generating components. That is, the heat plate assembly is often configured to transfer heat away from the one or more heat generating components and not transfer such heat to other components. Often the heat plate assembly needs to establish a firm contact with a heat generating component to transfer heat efficiently and effectively. Yet, such heat plate assemblies are often configured into and/or onto an enclosure of the device, which when in an open configuration does not contact the heat generating component and, when the device is in a closed or assembled configuration, does not directly contact the heat generating component without the use of intervening members. 
     Further, wide variances often exist between physical devices and design tolerances. That is, component heights, gaps between enclosure surfaces often materialize during manufacturing that present challenges in establishing the desired contact between a heat plate assembly and a given heat generating components. To bridge such gaps while considering the above mentioned and other deviations between design and actual devices, a spring or similar assembly is often used. Examples of uses of such spring members can be found, for example in U.S. Patent Publication 20170196121, entitled “Self-Adjustable Heat Spreader System for Set-Top Box Assemblies”, which published on Jul. 6, 2017, in the name of inventors Trygubova et al., the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by references. 
     Accordingly, various approaches are known wherein one or more flexible members, or spring-like materials, may be used to bridge gaps and provide a bridge between a component and a heat plate or similar assembly. Such flexible members commonly are referred at heat spreaders and are configured to extend outwards from a heat plate assembly to fill an often-variable gap between a surface of the enclosure and a heat generating component and, when the device is in an assembled configuration, without extending undue force or pressure onto the contacted surface of the heat generating component. Yet, presently available heat spreaders suffer from numerous deficiencies. 
     First, heat spreaders commonly include springs or similar assemblies that are fixed to a heat plate. Such fixed springs do not permit movement of the spring relative to the heat plate other than by bending or warping of the spring member. When so deflected during closing of the device enclosure, a warped or uneven contact area between the spring of the heat spreader and the contacted surface of the heat generating member often occurs. Such uneven contact often decreases the effectiveness and efficiency of heat transfer. 
     Second, to prevent such uneven and/or warped springs from occurring, current designs commonly use a center block area that has an enlarged center block area. The enlarged center block is configured so as to prevent warping or bending of the spring at and near the desired contact area of the spring with the component. Yet, the use of enlarged center block areas often results in design configurations that are wasteful of material, undesired and/or non-controlled bending or warping of the spring elsewhere, and prevent convective cooling of the component at and/or about the contact area between the heat generating component and the heat spreader itself. 
     Accordingly, a need exists for heat spreaders having springs or similar assemblies that address the above and other concerns. These and other needs are addressed by the present disclosure. 
     SUMMARY 
     The various embodiments of the present disclosure relate in general to heat spreaders configured for use with heat plate assemblies to conduct heat away from heat generating components in electronic devices. The various embodiments also relate to heat plate assemblies that include one or more of the heat spreaders of the present disclosure. The various embodiments also relate to electronic devices that include and use one or more of the heat spreaders of the present disclosure to conduct heat away from a heat generating component in the electronic device, when such device is in use and at any time arising before or after use. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure a heat spreader, for use in a device, includes a spring, coupled to a heat plate. For at least one embodiment, the spring may include a first spring member configured to attach to the spring to the heat plate at a first location and a second spring member, connected to the first spring member. The second spring member may be configured to attach the spring to the heat plate along a second location when the device is in an unassembled state and at a third location when the device is in an assembled state. For at least one embodiment, the heat plate may include a first fastener configured to attach the spring to the heat plate at the first location and a second fastener configured to attach the second spring member to the heat plate at and between each of the second location and a third location. For at least one embodiment, a heat spreader may include a second fastener configured as a tab extending above a top surface of the heat plate and between the second location and a third location. 
     For at least one embodiment, a heat spreader may include a second spring member having a tab slot configured to accept a tab at each of a second location and a third location. 
     For at least one embodiment, a heat spreader may include a tab slot positioned at a second location when the device is in an unassembled state. 
     For at least one embodiment, a heat spreader may include a tab slot positioned at a third location when the device is in the assembled state. 
     For at least one embodiment, a heat spreader may include a first fastener configured as a rivet. 
     For at least one embodiment, a heat spreader may include a top spring member connected to each of a first spring member and a second spring member and configured to contact a top surface of a component in the device when the device is in an assembled state. 
     For at least one embodiment, a heat spreader may include a spring having a first connecting member connecting a first spring member to a top spring member and a second connecting member connecting the top spring member to a second spring member. 
     For at least one embodiment, a heat spreader may include a first connecting member having a first spring curvature and a second spring curvature. For at least one embodiment, the second connecting member includes a third spring curvature and a fourth spring curvature. 
     For at least one embodiment, a heat spreader when in an assembled state includes a spring that is vertically deflected about each of a first spring curvature and a third spring curvature. 
     For at least one embodiment, a heat spreader when in an assembled state includes a spring that is horizontally extended about each of a second spring curvature and a fourth spring curvature. 
     For at least one embodiment, a heat spreader includes a top spring member having at least two ribs. 
     For at least one embodiment, a heat spreader includes a thermal pad attached. For at least one embodiment, the thermal pad is attached to a top spring member and configured to facilitate heat transfer from a component of a device when the device is in the assembled state. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a heat spreader, for use in a device, includes: a heat plate; and a spring connected to the heat plate. For at least one embodiment, the heat plate includes: a first fastener configured to attach a spring to the heat plate at a first location; and a second fastener, configured to attach the spring to the heat plate at and between each of a second location and a third location. 
     For at least one embodiment, the second fastener may be a tab extending above a top surface of the heat plate and between the second location and the third location. For at least one embodiment, the spring may include a first spring member configured to attach the spring to the heat plate at the first location and a second spring member. 
     For at least one embodiment, the second spring member may include a tab slot configured to accept the tab at each of the second location and the third location and attach the spring to the heat plate at the second location when the device is in an unassembled state and at the third location when the device is in an assembled state. 
     For at least one embodiment, a top spring member may include: at least two ribs configured to contact a top surface of a component in the device when the device is in the assembled state; a first connecting member, connecting the first spring member to the top spring member, having at least a first spring curvature and a second spring curvature; and, a second connecting member, connecting the top spring member to the second spring member, having at least a third spring curvature and a fourth spring curvature. For at least one embodiment and when the device is in the assembled state, the spring may be vertically deflected by a deflection of at least one the first spring curvature and the third spring curvature. For at least one embodiment and when the device is in the assembled state, the spring may be horizontally extended by an extension of at least one of the second spring curvature and the fourth spring curvature. 
     For at least one embodiment a heat spreader may include a thermal pad attached to the a spring member and configured to facilitate heat transfer from a component when the device is in the assembled state. For at least one embodiment a heat spreader may include use of a fastener. For at least one embodiment, the fastener is a rivet. 
     For at least one embodiment a heat spreader may include a rivet opening. For at least one embodiment a heat spreader may include a rivet tool opening. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of assembling a device may include the operation of positioning a heat spreader in a first enclosure of a device while the device is in an unassembled state. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of assembling a device may include the operation of attaching a spring to a heat plate. For at least one embodiment, the spring may include a top spring member. 
     For at least one embodiment, a method of assembling a device may include the operation of, prior to the positioning of a heat spreader in a first enclosure, attached a spring to the heat plate at a first location and at a second location. For at least one embodiment, attachment of the spring to the heat plate at the first location and at the second location results in an alignment of a top spring member with a top surface of a component in the device while the device is each of the unassembled and in an assembled state. 
     For at least one embodiment, a method of assembling a device may include the operation of lowering a first enclosure towards a second enclosure of a device. 
     For at least one embodiment, the method may include use of a spring configured to vertically deflect and horizontally extend as contact is made between a top spring member and a top surface of a component while the device is assembled. 
     For at least one embodiment, the operation of lowering of a first enclosure towards a second enclosure of a device results in a vertical deflection of a spring. For at least one embodiment, the operation of lowering a first enclosure towards the second enclosure results in a horizontal extension of a spring. 
     For at least one embodiment, upon the vertical deflection and horizontal extension of a spring, a top spring member is thermally connected to a top surface of a component. For at least one embodiment, a method of assembling a device may include the operation of securing the first enclosure to the second enclosure. 
     For at least one embodiment, a method of assembling a device may include the use of a spring having a first connecting member and a second connecting member. For at least one embodiment, a method of assembling a device may result in a vertical deflection of a spring. For at least one embodiment, the vertical deflection may occur along at least one of a first connecting member and a second connecting member. 
     For at least one embodiment, a method of assembling a device may result in a horizontal extension of the spring. For at least one embodiment, the horizontal extension may occur along at least one of a first connecting member and a second connecting member. For at least one embodiment, a method of assembling a device may include the operation of attaching a thermal pad to a top spring member. For at least one embodiment, the thermal pad may be configured to transfer heat from a component to the spring when a device is in an assembled state. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features, aspects, advantages, functions, modules, and components of the devices, systems and methods provided by the various embodiments of the present disclosure are further disclosed herein regarding at least one of the following descriptions and accompanying drawing figures. In the appended figures, similar components or elements of the same type may have the same reference number, such as  108 , with an additional alphabetic designator, such as  108   a ,  108   n , etc., wherein the alphabetic designator indicates that the components bearing the same reference number, e.g.,  108 , share common properties and/or characteristics. Further, various views of a component may be distinguished by a first reference label followed by a dash and a second reference label, wherein the second reference label is used for purposes of this description to designate a view of the component. When only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any of the similar components and/or views having the same first reference number irrespective of any additional alphabetic designators or second reference labels, if any. 
         FIG. 1A  is a top view of an assembled heat spreader in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1B  is a cross-section view of the heat spreader of  FIG. 1A  taken along line  1 B- 1 B of  FIG. 1A  and in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1C  is a bottom view of the heat spreader of  FIG. 1A  in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1D  is a top perspective view of the heat spreader of  FIG. 1A  in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1E  is a cross-sectional view of the heat spreader of  FIG. 1A  taken along line  1 E- 1 E of  FIG. 1A  and in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1F  is an enlarged view of the area indicated by circle  1 F in  FIG. 1E  for the heat spreader of  FIG. 1A  and in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1G  is an enlarged view of the area indicated by circle  1 G in  FIG. 1E  for the heat spreader of  FIG. 1A  and in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2A  is a top view of a heat plate member of a heat spreader and in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2B  is a left side view of the heat plate member of  FIG. 2A  and in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2C  is a bottom view of the heat plate member of  FIG. 2A  and in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2D  is a cross-section view of the heat plate member  FIG. 2A  and in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2E  is a top perspective view of the heat plate member of  FIG. 2A  and in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3A  is a top view of a spring member and in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3B  is a bottom view of the spring member of  FIG. 3A  and in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3C  is a cross-section view of the spring member of  FIG. 3A  and in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3D  is a bottom perspective view of a spring member of  FIG. 3A  and in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3E  is a left-side view of the spring member  FIG. 3A  in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3F  is a right-side view of the spring member of  FIG. 3A  and in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4A  is a partial cross-sectional view of a device, having a heat spreader configured in accordance with at last one embodiment of the present disclosure, where the device is in an unassembled state. 
         FIG. 4B  is a partial cross-sectional view of a device, having a heat spreader configured in accordance with at last one embodiment of the present disclosure, where the device is in an assembled state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The various embodiments described herein are directed to devices, systems, and methods for using a heat spreader that is configured to transfer heat away from a heat generating component in an electronic device or other device using a heat plate or similar assembly and at least one spring. Such heat spreaders of the present disclosure may be configured to fill a gap that may otherwise arise between a heat plate situated on or about an enclosure of a device and a heat generating component in such device. The device may be any type of device that generates heat and where such heat may be transferred to the device elsewhere using an embodiment of the heat spreader of the present disclosure. Non-limiting examples of such devices include computers, set-top boxes, televisions, smart-phones, automobile electronics, and others. The one or more embodiments of such a heat spreader may be configured to improve the efficiency of the device by improving the thermal control properties of such device. It is to be appreciated, that improvements in thermal control, for a device, may result in improvements in power, energy use, operating characteristics, and otherwise. 
     As shown in FIGs. lA to  1 G and in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a heat spreader  100  for use in a device  400 , as shown in  FIG. 4A , to transfer heat away from a component in such device and into an environment includes a heat plate  102 , as further shown in  FIGS. 2A-2E , that is mechanically and thermally coupled to a spring  104 , as further shown in  FIGS. 3A-3E . It is to be appreciated that heat may be transferred to/from the component via the spring  104  and heat plate  102  into an environment  404  internal to the device  400  and/or to an environment external to the device  400 , as desired for any given implementation of an embodiment of the present disclosure. Such heat transfer may occur by use of well-known thermodynamic principles including thermal conduction, convection, radiation, combinations thereof, and otherwise. A person having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that active and/or passive thermal control technologies may be used in conjunction with the heat plate. 
     The heat plate  102  has a top surface  102 -T, as shown in  FIG. 1A , and a bottom surface  102 -B, as shown in  FIG. 1C . For at least one embodiment, the heat plate  102  may include a substantially flat surface. For other embodiments, the heat plate  102  may have any suitable form. 
     The heat plate  102  may be sized to accommodate the heat transfer properties desired for a given device  400 , as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , and/or one or more heat generating components  402  thereof. The heat plate  102  may be configured to abut an enclosure, such as a top enclosure  408 , or other member of a device  400 , and to receive heat conducted from a component  402  in the device  400 , using at least the spring  104 . The heat plate  102  may be configured to transfer the heat transferred to hit, via the spring  104 , from the component  402  to an internal or external environment and/or to other components in a device  400 , such as component  414 . It is to be appreciated that such components  402  and  414  may mechanically, thermally, and/or electrically interconnected by use of printed circuit boards (PCBs)  412 , wiring, or other known structures. Accordingly, the transfer of heat by use of an embodiment of a heat spreader  100  of the present disclosure is not intended for use only with the transfer of heat arising from any single, given component, such as component  402 . As desired for any given implementation of an embodiment of the present disclosure, heat spreader  100  may be used for any transfer of heat to/from/within or without a device, by using principles of conduction and convection, radiation or otherwise. Further, such heat transfer may occur throughout and/or out of the device, as desired for any given embodiment. It is to be appreciated that the heat plate  102  may also be configured to transfer heat from one or more heat generating components in a device to one or more heat absorbing components in a device. The use of a heat plate  102  is accordingly not to be construed as being limited for only the transfer heat from a component  402  and out of a device, but is also to be considered as being applicable to any desired transfer of heat through, in and/or out of a device. 
     In at least one embodiment, the heat plate  102  is constructed of plate aluminum and has a first thickness D 1 . For at least one embodiment, D 1  equals 1.0 mm. In other embodiments, other materials and/or thicknesses thereof may be utilized to facilitate heat transfer in a device. Such materials and their respective heat transfer properties are well known in the art and are not described further herein. 
     The heat plate  102  may be configured to include one or more rivets  105 A/ 105 B at respective one or more first locations, such as locations L 1 A and L 1  shown in  FIG. 2A . It is to be appreciated that the one or more first locations may be located anywhere on the heat plate  102 , as desired for an implementation of any given embodiment of the present disclosure. The rivets  105 A/ 105 B may be aligned in one or more directions. For at least one embodiment, the rivets  105  may be used to mechanically connect the spring  104  to the heat plate  102 . For at least one embodiment, the rivets  105  may be configured to thermally couple the spring  104  to the heat plate  102 . The sizing of the rivets  105  may vary based upon the size of the spring  104 , the anticipated amount of vertical, horizontal, and/or shear forces imparted on the spring  104  when in one or more of various states, as described below, and in view of other factors known in the art, such as the heat conductive properties of materials and otherwise. 
     For at least one embodiment, the rivets  105  may be formed by use of riveting, punch metal, or other known metal processing techniques. The rivets may be positioned at any desired first location(s) on the heat plate  102 , as intended for use in securing at least one spring  104  of corresponding size and dimension to the heat plate  102 . As shown in  FIG. 2D , a rivet  105 A may have a height D 6 . For at least one embodiment, the height of a first rivet  105 A is the same as the height of a second rivet  105 B. For at least one embodiment, a first rivet  105 A has a different height than the second rivet  105 B. Each rivet  105 A/ 105 B has a desired radius. For at least one embodiment, the radius of the first rivet  105 A is the same as the radius of the second rivet  105 B. For at least one embodiment, the first rivet  105 A has a different radius than the second rivet  105 B. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that height and radius of a rivet used for any given embodiment is commonly dependent upon the thickness and intended use of the materials being riveted. Accordingly, D 6  is not limited to any height or radius. Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that the rivets may have a uniform properties, such as height and radius, or varying properties and known acceptable tolerances between rivet properties are well-known by a person having ordinary skill in the art. 
     The heat plate  102  may also be configured to include one or more tabs  108 A/ 108 B extending along one or more second locations, as shown by designators L 2  and L 2 A in  FIG. 2A , and one or more third locations, as shown by designators L 3  and L 3 A in  FIG. 2A , relative to a plane formed by the heat plate  102 . It is to be appreciated that the one or more second locations and third locations are not fixed locations and generally refer to locations relative to the heat plate  102  with respect to which a given tab extends above and/or about and as desired for an implementation of any given embodiment of the present disclosure. The tabs  108 A/ 108 B may be aligned in one or more directions. For at least one embodiment, the tabs  108  may be used to slidably engage and mechanically connect the spring  104  to the heat plate  102  at each of the second and third locations. For at least one embodiment, the tabs  108  may be used to thermally couple the spring  104  to the heat plate  102 . As shown in  FIG. 1G  and for at least one embodiment, a tab  108  may be formed by suitably stamping, punching, and/or bending a portion of the heat plate  102  such that a tab member  108  extends from the surface of the heat plate  102 . For at least one embodiment, a tab member  108  extends a distance D 3  such that a tab opening  109  is formed in the surface of the heat plate  102 . A tab  108  may have a length D 2 . For at least one embodiment, D 2  equals approximately 10 mm. For at least one embodiment, the length of a first tab  108 A is the same as the length of a second tab  108 B. For at least one embodiment, a first tab  108 A has a different length than the second tab  108 B. Further, each tab  108 A and  108 B may be positioned on the heat plate  102  a distance from one or more corresponding rivets  105  to facilitate the retention of the spring  104  on the heat plate  102  while also permitting lateral movement of the spring  104  relative to the heat plate  102  when transitioning from the unassembled state to the assembled state. For at least one embodiment and as shown in  FIG. 2D , a tab  108 A is a distance D 18  from a corresponding rivet  105 A, where D 18  is measured from the center of the rivet  105 A to the outer edge of the tab  108 A. For at least one embodiment, D 18  is approximately 62 mm. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1G and 2D , for at least one embodiment, the first tab  108 A extends a distance D 3  above the top surface  102 -T of the heat plate  102 . For at least one embodiment, D 3  is approximately 1.50 mm. For at least one embodiment, each of the first tab  108 A and the second tab  108 B extend the same distance D 3  above the top surface  102 -T of the heat plate  102 . For at least one embodiment, the first tab  108 A and the second tab  108 B each extend a different distance above the top surface  102 -T of the heat plate  102 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2B  for at least one embodiment, the first tab  108 A has a width D 4 . For at least one embodiment, D 4  is approximately 3.40 mm. For at least one embodiment, the width D 4  of the first tab  108 A is the same as the width D 5  of the second tab  108 B. For at least one embodiment, the width D 4  of the first tab  108 A is different than the width D 5  of the second tab  108 B. 
     It is to be appreciated, that for at least one embodiment, a tab  108  may be formed without using one or more metal stamping, punching, and bending processes and instead by attaching separately formed tab members to the heat plate  102 . Such attachment may occur using fasteners, adhesives, metal bonding, any other known processes. When a tab is formed using separate materials, a tab opening  109 A may not be present or formed in the heat plate  102 . Likewise, it is to be appreciated that for at least one embodiment, rivets may not be utilized to attach the spring  104  to the heat plate  102 . Instead and for at least one embodiment, a corresponding set of second tabs may be used in lieu of the rivets to attach each end of the spring  104  to the heat plate  102 . 
     The spring  104  may be sized and configured to abut a surface area of one or more selected heat generating components  402  in a device  400 ,  FIG. 4A . In at least one embodiment, the spring  104  may be sized to abut a top surface  403  of a component  402 . The top surface  403  may have any desired geometric shape. For at least one embodiment, the top surface  403  is a substantially flat surface. In other embodiments, the spring  104  may be configured to abut and/or contact other surface areas of a component  402 , such as a bottom, a side, an extension, combinations thereof, or otherwise. 
     As discussed above and as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3F  for at least one embodiment, the spring  104  may include a first spring member  302 , a top spring member  306 , and a second spring member  310 . For at least one embodiment, the first spring member  302  is configured to be attached to the heat plate  102  by the one or more rivets  105 . For at least one embodiment, the top spring member  306  is configured to make physical contact with the top surface  403  of the heat generating component  402 . The second spring member  310  is configured to make physical contact with the one or more tabs  108 . At least one of the first spring member  302  and the second spring member  310  are configured to facilitate thermal conductivity between the heat generating component  402  and the heat plate  102 . 
     For at least one embodiment, the first spring member  302  is connected to the top spring member  306  by a first connecting member  304 . For at least one embodiment, the first connecting member  304  includes a flat first connecting member  304 S. For at least one embodiment the first flat connecting member  304 S is substantially flat and is approximately 19 mm long. Other lengths may be used for other embodiments. For at least one embodiment, the first connecting member  304  also includes a first spring curvature  303  and a second spring curvature  305 . For at least one embodiment, the second spring curvature  305  is 2.4 mm long. Other embodiments may utilize different lengths. 
     For at least one embodiment, at least one of the first spring curvature  303  and the second spring curvature  305  are configured to respectively bend in the vertical direction “Y” to facilitate the vertical deflection of the spring  104 . For at least one embodiment, at least one of the first spring curvature  303  and the second spring curvature  305  are configured to extend in the horizontal direction “X” to facilitate the horizontal extension of the spring  104 . 
     For at least one embodiment, the second spring member  310  is connected to the top spring member  306  by a second connecting member  308 . For at least one embodiment, the second connecting member  308  includes a flat second connecting member  308 S. For at least one embodiment the second flat connecting member  308 S is substantially flat and has a length of approximately 19 mm for at least one embodiment. However, other lengths may be used for other embodiments. 
     For at least one embodiment, the second connecting member  308  includes a third spring curvature  307  and a fourth spring curvature  309 . For at least one embodiment, at least one of the third spring curvature  307  and the fourth spring curvature  309  are configured to respectively bend, in the vertical Y direction, to facilitate the vertical deflection of the spring  104 . For at least one embodiment, at least one of the third spring curvature  307  and the fourth spring curvature  309  are configured to respectively extend in the horizontal X direction, to facilitate the horizontal extension of the spring  104 . For at least one embodiment, the second spring curvature  305  is longer than the third spring curvature  307 . 
     For at least one embodiment, at least one of the first spring member  302 , the top spring member  304 , and the second spring member  310  are configured to not substantially bend vertically while the spring  104  is vertically deflected while in the transition and assembled states. Instead, any substantial bending and/or deflection of the spring  104  occurs in one or more of the first spring curvature  303 , the first connecting member  304 , the second spring curvature  305 , the third spring curvature  307 , the second connecting member  308 , and/or the fourth spring curvature  309 . It is to be appreciated that by varying the thickness of the material used at one or more of the above-mentioned members of the spring  104 , the vertical deflection and/or horizontal extension of the spring  104  during the transition and assembled states may be controlled. 
     For at least one embodiment, the top spring member  306  has a length D 13 . For at least one embodiment, D 13  equals approximately 20 mm. 
     For at least one embodiment, the top spring member  306  may include one or more ribs  312   a - 312   n  which extend above the surface of the top spring member  306 . The ribs  312   a - n  may be formed using any known technique including but not limited to punching and stamping, metal deposition, affixing or otherwise. For at least one embodiment, the ribs  312   a - n  are formed by stamping the top spring member  306  such that multiple recesses  313   a - n  are formed in the top spring member  306 . It is to be appreciated that when stamped into the top spring member  306 , and depending on whether shown in a top, bottom or other view, the orientation of the ridges  312   a - n  and recesses  313   a - n  will vary. For at least one embodiment, a ridge extends a height D 14  above the bottom of the recesses  313   a - n . For at least one embodiment, D 14  is approximately 0.70 mm. For at least one embodiment, D 14  is a uniform height for each ridge and any adjacent recess(es) on the top spring member  306 . For at least one embodiment, D 14  may vary with respect to any given pairing of a ridge  312  and a recess  313 . For at least one embodiment, seven ridges  312   a - n  are formed on the top spring member  306 . It is to be appreciated that any number of ridges  312  and recesses  313  may be used for any given implementation of an embodiment of the present disclosure. For at least one embodiment, the ribs  312   a - 312   n  are oriented on the top spring member  306  substantially parallel to a length of the spring  104 , where the length is in the “X” direction shown in  FIG. 3B . Other orientations of the ribs  312   a - 312   n  may be used for other embodiments. For at least one embodiment, the ribs  312   a - 312   n  are oriented on the top spring member  306  to provide a substantially flat contact surface when positioned relative to a top surface  403  of the component  402  when the device  400  is in the assembled state. For at least one embodiment, the ribs  312   a - 312   n  are oriented on the top spring member  306  to prevent electrical contact between the spring  104  and the component  402  when the device is in the assembled state. 
     For at least one embodiment, the top spring member  306  may include a metal block (not shown). For at least one embodiment, the ribs  312   a - n  may be used in place of and/or in addition to a metal block. It is to be appreciated that a combination of a metal block and ribs may be used in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The layout of such metal block and/or ribs may vary based upon the shape and configuration of the top spring member  306  and the shape and configuration of a top surface  403  of the component  402 . 
     For at least one embodiment, the spring  104  may include a tab slot  314 . For at least one embodiment, a tab slot  314  is sized to correspond to the dimensions of a given tab  108  on a heat plate  102  such that desired amount of vertical and horizontal pressure arises between the given tab  108  and the given tab slot  314 , such vertical and horizontal pressures being sufficient to provide a desired mechanical and thermal connection between the spring  104  and the heat plate  102 . It is to be appreciated that the sizing of a given tab slot  314  relative to a given tab  108  may vary from embodiment to embodiment and will generally arise within a pre-determined range of tolerances. For at least one embodiment, the tab slot has a length D 16  and a width D 17 . For at least one embodiment, D 16  is approximately 4 mm and D 17  is approximately 2.75 mm. 
     As discussed above, the spring  104  may be mechanically attached to heat plate  102  by one or more rivets  105 , such as rivets  105 A and  105 B. As discussed above and further shown in  FIGS. 2D and 2C , the rivets  105 A and  105 B may be punched into the heat plate  102  prior to attachment of the spring  104  to the heat plate  102 . As shown in FIGs. lA and  3 A, the rivets  105  may be configured to extend into a rivet opening  106 A/ 106 B in the first spring member  302 . The one or more rivet openings  106  may be sized and configured using known and conventional riveting principles and techniques. The spring  104  may be attached to the heat plate  102  by aligning the rivet openings  106  with the rivets  105  and pressing the first spring member  302  onto the heat plate  102 . To facilitate such riveting, rivet tool openings  107 A/ 107 B may be provided in the first spring connecting member  304 . For at least one embodiment, the rivet tool openings  107  are optional and a suitable press tool or other techniques may be used to press the one or more rivet openings  106  onto the rivets  105  and thereby attach the first spring member  302  to the heat plate  102 . It is also to be appreciated that for other embodiments, the spring  104  may be attached to the heat plate  102  using other known types of connections, such as mechanical, adhesive, metal bonds, combinations thereof, or otherwise. Further, it is to be appreciated that any number of rivets or other connectors may be utilized to attach the first spring member  302  to the heat plate  102 . For at least one embodiment, the first spring member  302  may be attached to the heat plate using one or more tabs  108  on the heat plate  102  and one or more tab slots  314  in the spring  104 . 
     For at least one embodiment, the spring  104  is constructed from copper metal and has a thickness of approximately 0.4 mm. For at least one embodiment, the spring  104 , when in the non-assembled state, has a length D 7  of approximately 63 mm, a width D 8  of approximately 20 mm, a height D 9  of approximately 5 mm, a gap D 10  of approximately 42 mm between the end of the first spring member  302  and the end of the second spring member  310 , a thickness D 11  of approximately 0.5 mm, a height D 12  of approximately 3 mm, and a height D 15  of approximately 8.0 mm. It is to be appreciated that other materials, lengths, widths and/or thicknesses thereof may be used for any given implementation of an embodiment of the present disclosure. For at least one embodiment, the spring  104  may be configured to vertically deflect, between 1 and 4 mm as measured at either of the first spring curvature  303  or the fourth spring curvature  309 , in relation to the spring  104  in an unassembled state versus an assembled state. It is to be appreciated that other extensions and /or vertical deflections of the spring  104  may arise when the spring  104  is used for any given implementation of an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the spring  104  may be configured to conform to at least two corresponding shapes arising under at least two states: an unassembled state, as shown in  FIG. 4A , and an assembled state, as shown in  FIG. 4B . For the unassembled state, the spring  104  may be configured to have an expanded configuration, such that the spring  104  is not under pressure and is not extended longitudinally or deflected vertically relative to a first plane formed by the heat plate  102 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4B , when in the assembled state, the spring  104  is configured into a second form, where the spring  104  is compressed vertically and extended laterally. While the spring  104  transitions from the unassembled state to the assembled state, a transition state occurs. During the transition state, pressure applied to the top enclosure  408  is transferred to the spring  104  while the spring  104  begins to contact, and while remaining in contact with, the heat generating component  402 . Such pressure is absorbed, at least in part, by lateral extension, as represented by V 3 , and vertical deflection, as represented by V 2 , of the spring  104 . It is to be appreciated that the amount of extension and deflection of the spring  104  may be pre-determined by a person having ordinary skill in the art in view of the properties chosen for a given spring  104  and that such properties may be selected such that any extension and deflection of the spring  104  when in the assembled state provides the desired amount of pressure by the spring  104  on the heat generating component  402 . For at least one embodiment, the spring  104  may be configured to fill, substantially, completely, or partially, one or more gaps that would otherwise exist, absent use of the spring  104 , between the heat plate  102  and the heat generating component  402  when the device  400  is in the assembled state. 
     For at least one embodiment, the use of the tabs  108  on the heat plate  102  and tab openings  109  on the spring  104  to attach at least one end of the spring  104  to the heat plate  104  may facilitate translation of a vertical force V 1  on the spring  104  into a lateral force V 3  and a second vertical force V 2 , where V 2  is less than V 1 . That is, the second spring member  310  (as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3F ) will further extend under and towards the tabs  108  such that the tab slots  314  shift from the second location to the third location when in the device  400  transitions from the unassembled state to the assembled state. The spring  104  will maintain this extended form during the assembled state. It is to be appreciated that the extension of the spring  104  results in absorption of some of the vertical force V 1  applied to the spring  104  during the transition and assembled states. Such extension of the spring  104  enables the spring  104  to fill any gap without inducing a crimping or bending of the spring  104  at or about the area of contact of the spring  104  with the desired contact surface on the component  402 . 
     More specifically and for at least one embodiment, during the transition state and while the top enclosure  408  is being affixed and remains affixed, during the assembled state, to the bottom enclosure  410 , a force V 1  is applied, via the spring  104  onto the component  402 . For at least one embodiment, the spring  104  design of the present disclosure enables the heat spreader  100  to translate the force V 1  into at least two force components: a lateral force V 3  and a second vertical force V 2 . It is to be appreciated that V 1  is a function of V 2  and V 3 , and the values of V 2  and V 3  will vary based on the properties of the spring  104  chosen for any given embodiment. Likewise, the value of V 1  will vary based on the amount of force applied by the spring  104  on the component  402  during assembly of the device  400  and while the device is assembled. It is to be appreciated that such force V 1  may vary based on the size of the actual gap  416  to be covered by the spring  104  versus the actual gap encountered for any given implementation, the thickness of the spring  104  and other known factors. 
     Further, for at least one embodiment, the relative direction of the lateral force V 3  may be defined by a plane formed by the area of the spring  104  in contact with the component  402  during the transition and assembled states. It is to be appreciated, that such lateral force need not arise in relation to a fixed geometric coordinate system, such as a system defined by a plane formed by a portion of the top enclosure  408  or the bottom enclosure  410  of the device  400 , and may arise at any relative orientation thereto. 
     For at least one embodiment, the heat spreader  100  may include use of a thermal pad  416  that can be affixed to the top spring member  306 . In accordance with at least one embodiment, the thermal pad  416  includes a silicone elastomer with thermal conductivity properties of approximately 7.0 W/mK over a temperature range of approximately 40 to 160 degrees Celsius. For at least one embodiment, the thermal pad  416  has a thickness of approximately 0.5 mm with a thickness tolerance of 20%. For at least one embodiment, the thermal pad  416  may be sized to the dimensions of the top spring member  306 . Other embodiments may use thermal pads having different characteristics and size, as desired for any given implementation of an embodiment of the present disclosure. The use, configuration and properties of thermal pads are well-known in the art and the present disclosure is not limited to any given type of configuration of thermal pad. 
     For at least one embodiment, a method of assembling the heat spreader  100  may include first stamping and configuring the heat plate  102  to include the one or more rivets  105  and the one or more tabs  108 . The operations may include configuring the spring  104  to have the desired members, including the first spring member, second spring member, top spring members and the connecting and curvature members. The operations may include fabricating the members to have a desired thickness. The operations may include, when riveting is utilized to mechanically connect the spring  104  to the heat plate  102 , forming a rivet opening  106  and a rivet tool opening  107 . The operations may include fabricating the spring  104  to include at least one tab slot  314 . The operations may include fabricating the top spring member to include one or more ribs  312 . The operations may include positioning the spring  104  on the heat plate  102  by inserting each tab  108  into a corresponding tab slot  314  such that the tab slot  314  corresponds to the tab  108  at the second location. The operations may include attaching the first spring member  302  to the heat plate  102 . For at least one embodiment, such attachment may occur by positioning a rivet opening  106  on a spring  104  above a corresponding rivet  105  on a heat plate  102  and using compressive forces to rivet the spring  104  to the heat plate  102 . For at least one embodiment, attachment of a first spring member  302  to a heat plate  102  may occur using at least one of mechanical fasteners, adhesives, and metal bonding. 
     An embodiment of the present disclosure may use one or more of the above operations and other operations to provide a heat spreader  100  for use in a device to transfer heat from a component in the device. The use of such a heat spreader  100  may include the operations of positioning the heat spreader  100  in a first portion of the device, such as a top enclosure, such that a spring  104  on the heat spreader is aligned above a component  402  in the device, wherein the component is position in a bottom enclosure  410 . The operations may also include applying a downward force on the top enclosure while it is aligned with the bottom enclosure such that corresponding force is exerted by the spring  104  onto the component, wherein the spring translates the downward force  104  into a horizontal force that results in an extension of the spring and a second downward force that results in a vertical deflection of the spring. The extension of the spring  104  results in an extension of the spring such that the tab slot  314  shifts from the second location to the third location, wherein while positioned at and transitioning between each of the second and third locations each tab slot  314  maintains physical contact with a corresponding tab  108  on the heat plate  102 . Continuing to apply the downward force until the top enclosure is positioned relative to the bottom enclosure such that the device is in an assembled state. And, securing the top enclosure to the bottom enclosure. The securing of the top enclosure to the bottom enclosure may occur using any known methods and components. 
     The various embodiments of the present disclosure also provide for an assembled electronic device wherein heat from a component in such device is transferred by a heat spreader configured according to the above description. 
     Although various embodiments of the claimed invention have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, or with reference to one or more individual embodiments, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention. The use of the terms “approximately” or “substantially” means that a value of an element has a parameter that is expected to be close to a stated value or position. However, as is well known in the art, there may be minor variations that prevent the values from being exactly as stated. Accordingly, anticipated variances, such as 10% differences, are reasonable variances that a person having ordinary skill in the art would expect and know are acceptable relative to a stated or ideal goal for one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. It is also to be appreciated that the terms “top” and “bottom”, “left” and “right”, “up” or “down”, “first”, “second”, “before”, “after”, and other similar terms are used for description and ease of reference purposes only and are not intended to be limiting to any orientation or configuration of any elements or sequences of operations for the various embodiments of the present disclosure. Further, the terms “and” and “or” are not intended to be used in a limiting or expansive nature and cover any possible range of combinations of elements and operations of an embodiment of the present disclosure. Other embodiments are therefore contemplated. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only of embodiments and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the basic elements of the invention as defined in the following claims.