Patent Publication Number: US-2022238416-A1

Title: Distributing heatsink load across a processor module with separable input/output (i/o) connectors

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The field of the invention is heatsink connection, or, more specifically, methods and apparatus for distributing heatsink load across a processor module with separable input/output (I/O) connectors. 
     Description of Related Art 
     The development of the EDVAC computer system of 1948 is often cited as the beginning of the computer era. Since that time, computer systems have evolved into extremely complicated devices. Today&#39;s computers are much more sophisticated than early systems such as the EDVAC. Computer systems typically include a combination of hardware and software components, application programs, operating systems, processors, buses, memory, input/output devices, and so on. As advances in semiconductor processing and computer architecture push the performance of the computer higher and higher, more sophisticated computer software has evolved to take advantage of the higher performance of the hardware, resulting in computer systems today that are much more powerful than just a few years ago. 
     Some processor modules incorporate high speed separable interconnects that are coupled to the top face of a processor laminate. These separable interconnects must be mated after the processor module is installed in the system. The processor module lid is truncated to allow for the high speed separable interconnects, and the mated connectors are taller than the lid of the processor module. As there are input/output contacts beneath the area of the processor module populated by the separable interconnects, a heatsink needs to provide load over the connector area. Accordingly, a heatsink needs to provide load across the connector area and also account for the variation in height between the processor module lid and the mated I/O interconnects. 
     SUMMARY 
     A heatsink for distributing heatsink load across a processor module with separable input/output (I/O) connectors, includes: a thermal conductor; and one or more pistons aligned with one or more separable interconnects of the processor module. The one or more pistons provide a distributed load across the heatsink and allow for even load distribution that accounts for variations in height between a processor lid and mated interconnects of the processor module. In some embodiments, the pistons include spring-loaded pistons. This provides the technical advantage of the pistons providing pressure to the separable interconnects of the processor module that is proportional to the height of the separable interconnects. In some embodiments, the heatsink one or more retention plates having one or more openings allowing for partial passage of the one or more pistons. This provides the advantage of allowing the pistons to move within the heatsink to account for the height variations of the couplable interconnects, while also preventing the pistons and springs from being dislodged from the heatsink. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a processor module including one or more separable interconnects and a heatsink described above. In some embodiments, a method for distributing heatsink load across a processor module with separable input/output (I/O) connectors includes: aligning one or more pistons of the heatsink with one or more separable interconnects of the processor module; and thermally coupling a thermal conductor of the heatsink to the processor module 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular descriptions of exemplary embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers generally represent like parts of exemplary embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an example view of a heatsink for distributing heatsink load across a processor module with separable input/output (I/O) connectors according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an example view of piston assembly components of a heatsink for distributing heatsink load across a processor module with separable input/output (I/O) connectors according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is another example view of a heatsink for distributing heatsink load across a processor module with separable input/output (I/O) connectors according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is another example view of a heatsink for distributing heatsink load across a processor module with separable input/output (I/O) connectors according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is an example view of a heatsink for distributing heatsink load across a processor module with separable input/output (I/O) connectors according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is an example view of an apparatus including a processor module compatible with a heatsink for distributing heatsink load across a processor module with separable input/output (I/O) connectors according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is an example view a heatsink for distributing heatsink load across a processor module with separable input/output (I/O) connectors aligned for installation according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is an example view of an apparatus including a processor module compatible with a heatsink for distributing heatsink load across a processor module with separable input/output (I/O) connectors according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Some processor modules incorporate high speed separable interconnects that are coupled to the top face of a processor laminate. These separable interconnects must be mated after the processor module is installed in the system. The processor module lid is truncated to allow for the high speed separable interconnects, and the mated connectors are typically taller than the lid of the processor module. As there are input/output contacts beneath the area of the processor module populated by the separable interconnects, a heatsink needs to provide load over the connector area. Accordingly, a heatsink needs to provide load across the connector area and also account for the variation in height between the processor module lid and the mated I/O interconnects. 
     To address these needs,  FIG. 1  shows an example heatsink  100  for distributing heatsink load across a processor module with separable input/output (I/O) connectors according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The heatsink  100  includes a thermal conductor  102 . The thermal conductor  102  includes panes, plates, or other configurations of thermally conductive material such as thermally conductive metal including aluminum or aluminum alloys. The thermal conductor  102  channels heat generated by a processor module into another medium such as air, liquid, or another medium as can be appreciated. Although not shown, the heatsink  100  may include other components to facilitate heat conduction and dissipation, including fans, liquid cooling apparatuses, or other components. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the thermal conductor  102  configuration shown is merely exemplary, and that the approaches set forth herein are applicable to other configurations of thermal conductors  102  or heatsinks  100 . The heatsink  100  also includes attachment holes  103  facilitating attachment of the heatsink  100  to a processor module, motherboard, socket, or other component through the use of screws, bolts, or other interconnects as can be appreciated. 
     The heatsink  100  also includes piston assemblies  104 . Each piston assembly  104  includes one or more pistons aligned with separable interconnects of a processor module to which the heatsink  100  is couplable. When the heatsink  100  is thermally coupled to a processor module, the pistons of the piston assemblies  104  apply pressure to the aligned separable interconnects. For example, the pistons include spring-loaded pistons such that each piston will apply pressure proportional to the height of the separable interconnect in contact with the piston. The use of spring-loaded pistons will allow for the heatsink  100  to be coupled to processor modules with separable interconnects having heights different than a processor lid of the processor module. Moreover, the use of spring-loaded pistons allows for compatibility with separable interconnects of a variety of heights. The piston assemblies  104 , as well as the pistons and other components of the piston assemblies  104 , may be made of conductive material. Thus, the piston assemblies  104  provide additional thermal conductivity to the thermal conductor  102  of the heatsink  100 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a view of the internal components of a piston assembly  104 . Each piston assembly  104  includes a plurality of pistons  202 . Each piston  202  includes a first portion  204  of a first diameter and a second portion  206  of a second diameter. The diameter of the first portion  204  is of a diameter less than or equal to the diameter of a corresponding opening  208  in a retention plate  210 . Thus, the first portion  204  of a piston  202  is passable through the opening  208  in the retention plate  210 . The diameter of the second portion  206  is greater than the diameter of the opening  208  such that the second portion  206  is impassible through the opening  208 . Each piston  202  also includes a cavity  212  into which a spring  214  may be housed. When assembled into a piston assembly  104 , the spring  214  will provide pressure on the inner facing of the piston  202  cavity  212  and pressure on an inner surface of the piston assembly  104 , such as an inner surface of a cavity of the piston assembly  104  housing both a piston  202  and spring  214 . Although  FIG. 2  shows a single piston  202  and spring  214 , it is understood that this is merely for clarity and that an assembled piston assembly  104  will likely include many pistons  202  corresponding to a number of openings  208  in a retention plate  210 . 
     The retention plate  210  is a plate or plane of material with one or more openings  208  allowing partial passage of pistons  202 . As is set forth above, as each piston  202  is restricted from passing completely though the holes of the retention plate  210 , the retention plate  210  contains the pistons  202  and springs  214  within the spring assembly  104 . The retention plate  210  may be secured to a shell or frame of the piston assembly  104  (not shown) using screws  216  or other interconnects as can be appreciated.  FIG. 3  shows how the disassembled components of the piston assembly  104  align for assembly in the example heatsink  100 . 
       FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  show alternative views of the example heatsink  100  with a cross sectional view of the piston assembly  104 . As shown, each piston assembly  104  includes a plurality of cavities each housing a piston  202  and spring  214 . Each spring  214  is further housed within a cavity of the corresponding piston  202 . The springs  214  and pistons  202  are held in place by a retention plate  210  that is secured to the piston assemblies  104  by screws  216 . The piston assemblies  104  each include an array of cavities, thereby including an array of pistons  202  and springs  214 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that other configurations and arrangements of pistons  202  and springs  214  are possible and contemplated within the scope of the present embodiments. For example, the particular arrangement of pistons  202  and springs  214  will correspond to an arrangement of separable interconnects of a processor module to which the heatsink  100  will be thermally coupled such that the pistons  202  are aligned with the separable interconnects. 
       FIG. 6  shows an example apparatus  600  into which the heatsink  100  may be installed. The apparatus  600  includes a processor module  602 . The processor module  602  includes a chip or processor such as a central processing unit (CPU). For example, the processor module  602  includes a land-grid array (LGA) package for an LGA socket. 
     The processor module  602  includes a plurality of separable interconnects  604 . The separable interconnects  604  include plugs or sockets that can be mated with other components to form a high-speed input/output (I/O) to the processor module  602 . For example, the separable interconnects  604  may include Nearstack or other on-the-substrate (OTS) connectors. The separable interconnects  604  are coupled directly to a processor module  602  laminate. In this example, the separable interconnects  604  are arranged as two rows or arrays of separable interconnects  604 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that other configurations or arrangements of separable interconnects  604  are also possible and contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The apparatus  600  also includes a retention bail  606 . The retention bail  606  includes one or more rigid components that, when engaged, restricts the movement of the processor module  602 . In the example apparatus  600 , the retention bail  606  includes two parallel portions connected by a perpendicular portion. The retention bail  606  may be engaged with one or more grooves of the apparatus  600  (not shown) or other engaging components. The retention bail  606  may be spring loaded or otherwise actuated to provide a retaining force to the processor module  602  when engaged. 
     One skilled in the art will appreciate that, where the processor module  602  is installed in an LGA socket, the LGA contacts push upwards against the I/O pads on the base of the processor module  602  laminate. Without the downward force applied by the apparatus  600  on the separable interconnects  604 , the forces would be unbalanced and would result in the processor module  602  laminate being stressed to resolve the load. This would cause the laminate to deflect upward on the areas where the separable interconnects  604  are located, reducing the LGA contact load and potentially damaging the laminate. Accordingly, the apparatus  600  balances the LGA contact load and prevents damage on the laminate. One skilled in the art will also appreciate that the apparatus  600  provides such an advantage on any socket whose contacts push upwards against I/O pads of a laminate similar to an LGA socket. 
       FIG. 7  shows an example view of a heatsink  100  aligned for installation in an apparatus  600 . A processor lid  702  is placed between a surface of the processor module  602  and the heatsink  100 . The processor lid  702  is truncated to only cover the portion of the processor module  602  not covered by the separable interconnects  604 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the separable interconnects  604  are mated such that the mated separable interconnects  604  and the processor lid  702  rest at different heights. As such, the pistons  202  of the piston assembly  104  may rest at heights and apply pressure based on the height of the separable interconnects  604  to which they are aligned. 
     For further explanation,  FIG. 8  sets forth a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for distributing heatsink load across a processor module with separable input/output (I/O) connectors according to embodiments of the present invention that includes aligning  802  one or more pistons  202  of a heatsink  100  with one or more separable interconnects  604  of a processor module  602 . The separable interconnects  604  include plugs or sockets that can be mated with other components to form a high-speed input/output (I/O) to the processor module  602 . For example, the separable interconnects  604  may include Nearstack or other on-the-substrate (OTS) connectors. The separable interconnects  604  are coupled directly to a processor module  602  laminate. The separable interconnects  604  may be arranged as rows or arrays of separable interconnects  604 . The separable interconnects  604  may also be arranged according to other configurations. 
     In some embodiments, the pistons  202  are housed within a piston assembly  104  of the heatsink. In some embodiments, each piston  202  includes a first portion  204  of a first diameter and a second portion  206  of a second diameter. The diameter of the first portion  204  is of a diameter less than or equal to the diameter of a corresponding opening  208  in a retention plate  210 . Thus, the first portion  204  of a piston  202  is passable through the opening  208  in the retention plate  210 . The diameter of the second portion  206  is greater than the diameter of the opening  208  such that the second portion  206  is impassible through the opening  208 . 
     In some embodiments the pistons  202  are spring-loaded pistons. Accordingly, in some embodiments, each piston  202  also includes a cavity  212  into which a spring  214  may be housed. When assembled into a piston assembly  104 , the spring  214  will provide pressure on the inner facing of the piston  202  cavity  212  and pressure on an inner surface of the piston assembly  104 , such as an inner surface of a cavity of the piston assembly  104  housing both a piston  202  and spring  214 . Aligning  802  the one or more pistons  202  with the one or more separable interconnects  604  of the processor module  602  causes the pistons  202  to contact with the separable interconnects  604  after installation of the heatsink  100 . 
     The method of  FIG. 8  also includes thermally coupling  804  a thermal conductor  102  of the heatsink  100  to the processor module  602 . In some embodiments, thermally coupling  804  a thermal conductor  102  of the heatsink  100  to the processor module  602  includes installing or attaching the heatsink  100  to an apparatus  600  housing the processor module  602 . For example, the heatsink  100  mat be attached to the apparatus  600  using clips, clamps, screws, or other interconnects as can be appreciated. 
     In some embodiments, thermally coupling  804  a thermal conductor  102  of the heatsink  100  to the processor module  602  includes applying thermally conductive materials between the processor module  602 , or a processor lid  702  of the processor module  602 , and the heatsink  100 . Examples of the thermally conductive materials include thermally conductive paste, pads, or other materials. 
     When the heatsink  100  is thermally coupled  804  to the processor module  602  by virtue of installation in an apparatus  600  housing the processor module  602 , the pistons  202  of the heatsink  100  apply pressure to the separable interconnects  604  of the processor module  602 . Due to the pistons  202  being spring loaded, the pistons  202  apply pressure proportional to the height of the separable interconnects  604 . Where the separable interconnects  604  and processor lid  702  vary in height, the spring loaded pistons  202  provide for even load distribution across the processor module  602 , including the separable interconnects  604 . 
     In view of the explanations set forth above, readers will recognize that the benefits of distributing heatsink load across a processor module with separable input/output (I/O) connectors according to embodiments of the present invention include:
         Improved operation of a heatsink thermally coupled to a processor by providing for even load distribution across the processor module and separable interconnects attached to the processor module.       

     It will be understood from the foregoing description that modifications and changes may be made in various embodiments of the present invention without departing from its true spirit. The descriptions in this specification are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is limited only by the language of the following claims.