Abstract:
A test device for testing a heat sink including a plurality of fasteners is provided. Each fastener includes a screw and a spring sleeved on the screw. The test device includes a base, a heater arranged on the base, and a temperature sensor staying in contact with the heater and configured to detect a temperature of the heater. A timer counts a time duration during which the temperature of the heater changes from a first value to a second value. The heat sink is connected to the base by the screws and resides on the heater.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to test devices, and particularly, to a method and test device for testing a heat sink. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    The miniaturization and high integration have been rapidly advancing for semiconductors used in electronic equipment, especially for semiconductors represented by CPUs of information processing equipment. Accordingly, the amount of heat generation has been increasing. Thus, it is important and necessary to provide a method and device to test whether a heat sink for the CPU is mounted in a suitable position where the heat sink can dissipate the heat generated by the CPU effectively. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is an isometric, exploded view of a test device for testing a heat sink, in accordance with a first embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an isometric, exploded view of a test device for testing a heat sink, in accordance with a second embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an isometric, exploded view of a test device for testing a heat sink, in accordance with a third embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an isometric, assembled view of an adjustable support of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an isometric, assembled view of a test device and a heat sink of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a test device  100   a  for testing a heat sink  200  according to a first embodiment is shown. The test device  100   a  includes a base  10   a,  a heater  60 , a temperature sensor  70 , and a timer  80 . The heat sink  200  includes a bottom plate  210 , a number of thermally conductive sheets  220  on the bottom plate  210 , and a number of fasteners  230 . Each fastener  230  includes a screw  2301  and a spring  2302  sleeved on the screw  2301 . The spring  2302  includes two opposite ends abutting against both the head of the screw  2301  and the bottom plate  210 . 
         [0013]    The base  10   a  is a planar plate, and includes a top surface  11   a  and defines a number of threaded holes  111  for a threaded connection with the screws  2301 . The heater  60  includes a lower surface  61 , an upper surface  62 , and a power source  63 . The heater  60  is arranged on the base  10   a,  with the lower surface  61  contacting the top surface  11   a . The power source  63  provides electrical power that is converted into thermal power. 
         [0014]    The temperature sensor  70  detects the temperature of the heater  60 . In the embodiment, the sensor  70  includes a thermocouple wire  71  and a display  72  for a display of the detected temperature value. The heater  60  defines a groove  621  to receive the thermocouple wire  71 . 
         [0015]    The timer  80  is connected to the temperature sensor  72  and can output a time value counted by the timer  80  to the display  72 , for display. The timer  80  includes a controller  81  and an input unit to allow a user to set a start parameter and a stop parameter. The controller  81  starts the timer  80  when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor  70  reaches to the first start parameter, and stops the timer  80  when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor  70  reaches to the stop parameter. In an alternative embodiment, one or more buttons may be used to start/stop the timer  80 . 
         [0016]    When in use, the heater  60  is first started. The temperature of the heater  60  detected by the temperature sensor  70  is displayed on the display  72 . When the temperature of the heater  60  reaches to a first value, the heater  60  is stopped and the controller  81  starts the timer  80 . The timer  80  then starts to count a time duration during which the temperature of the heater  60  drops from the first value to a second value. The controller  81  then stops the timer  80  when the temperature of the heater  60  drops to the second value. A user can then turn the screw to further compress the spring  2302 , which increases the push force applied to the bottom plate  210 . The pressure force between the heat sink  200  and the heater  60  then increases. An indication line  2201  can be made on the heat sink to indicate the position of the head of each screw  2301 . The steps stated above can be repeated several times to obtain a set of time durations during which the temperature of the heater  60  drops from the first value to a second value. The indication lines  2201  corresponding to the shortest time duration of the obtained data can be determined. When mounting the heat sink  200  on a circuit board, a user can turn the screws  2301  as indicated by the determined indication lines  2201 . As a result, the heat sink  200  can dissipate the heat generated by the components such as a central processing unit in the shortest time. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a test device  100   b  according to a second embodiment is shown. The test device  100   b  includes all the elements of test device  100   a  and includes additionally a pressure sensing device  50 . The pressure sensing device  50  includes an upper plate  52 , a lower plate  51 , a number of piezoelectric sensors  53 , and a display  54 . 
         [0018]    The piezoelectric sensors  53  are arranged between the plates  51  and  52 . The lower plate  51  is arranged on the base  10   a  and the upper plate  52  contacts the bottom of the heater  60 . The pressure force detected by the piezoelectric sensors  53  can reflect the pressure force between the heat sink  200  and the heater  60 , and can be displayed on the display  54 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , a test device  100   c  according to a third embodiment is shown. The test device  100   c  includes all the elements of test device  100   b  and further includes two adjustable supports  90 . Each support  90  includes a frame  12 , a slider  20 , a support arm  30 , and a plurality of slidable tabs  40 . The frame  12  includes two bars  121  protruding from the base  10   a.  Each bar  121  defines a groove  122  extending along its heightwise direction. 
         [0020]    The slider  20  includes a slidable bar  201  and two screws  202 . Each screw  202  passes through one groove  122  of the frame  12  and is screwed into a threaded hole  203  defined in one end of the slidable bar  201 , thereby slidably connecting the slider  20  to the frame  12 . The slider  20  can slide along the grooves  122  in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the base  10   a.  The slider  20  further defines an opening  2011 . 
         [0021]    The support arm  30  is T-shaped and includes a base plate  302  and an elongated bar  301  formed at an end of the base plate  302 . The base plate  302  passes through the opening  2011  and can slide along the opening  2011  in a second direction substantially parallel to the base  10   a.  The elongated bar  301  defines a guide groove  3011  to receive some of the tabs  40 . The tabs  40  can slide along the guide groove  3011  in a third direction substantially parallel to the base  10   a  and perpendicular to the second direction. Each tab  40  defines a threaded hole  401  for threaded connection with a screw  2301 . The adjustable supports  90  can adapt heat sinks of different sizes. 
         [0022]    While various embodiments have been described and illustrated, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various modifications can be made to the embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.