Patent Description:
To compensate for irregularity of surfaces of the component and the heat sink, thermal paste or another fluid with favorable thermal conductivity may be applied between the component and a component-contacting surface of the heat sink. The portion of fluid between the component and the component-contacting surface of the heat sink may be referred to as a bond line.

Heat transfer from the component to the heat sink is typically greater where pressure between the component and the heat sink is greater and where the bond line is thinner. Greater pressure is also usually observed where the bond line is thinner. The distribution of bond line thickness and pressure between a heat sink and a component usually results from unintended surface irregularities of either or both of the heat sink and the component. Such irregularities may not align points with high pressure or a thin bond line with the portions of the component that have the greatest need for heat dissipation. As such, a solution for creating an intended load distribution between a component and a heat sink could improve cooling efficiency.

Aspects of this disclosure are directed to a heat sink adapted to provide a vectored, or intentionally uneven, load across multiple points of attachment to a component to be cooled. The heat sink may include multiple load cells, with each of the load cells being configured to provide a tensile load between a respective load point on the heat sink and a respective attachment point on the component. At least one of the load cells may be adapted to provide a different tensile load than another of the load cells. The load that any of the load cells is adapted to provide may be at a predefined condition of the load cells, such as when the load cells are tightened to a maximum degree. Thus, in some examples, at least one of the load cells may have a different maximum tensile load capacity than another of the load cells. In further examples, some or all of the load cells may be adapted to provide different tensile loads than any number of the other load cells. Some or all of load cells may be adapted to provide different loads from one another by varying any aspect between load cells. Such a varied aspect may be, for example, elastic properties of respective biasing components in the load cells. In further examples, the varied aspect may be sizes of respective spaces within which the biasing components are confined. In further examples, the varied aspect may be respective differences between minimally and maximally loaded positions of the load cells. In still further examples, the component itself may be adapted so that identical load cells may produce different tensile loads at different attachment points of the component.

Other aspects of this disclosure are directed to determining an optimal load distribution and designing heat sinks or components to achieve the optimal load distribution. An optimal load distribution for a given component may be experimentally determined by tightening test load cells, which may be standard or non-preconfigured, on a heat sink attached to a given component by differing amounts and measuring the results. In some examples, the optimal load distribution may be found by measuring the thermal performance of the heat sink at various load distributions. In such examples, the optimal load distribution may be the load distribution that results in the greatest heat loss from the heat sink or that keeps the component at the lowest temperatures while the component operates. In further examples, a pressure sensor can be disposed between the heat sink and the component, and the pressure distribution may be observed as the load cells are tightened to varying degrees. In such examples, an optimal load distribution may be chosen by finding the configuration that best matches a target load distribution derived from the known geometry and hot spots of the component. In further examples, the pressure sensor may be used together with measurement of thermal performance of the heat sink to find a load distribution that results in the best thermal performance. Heat sinks or components may be designed to produce the optimal load distribution according to any of the method for adapting a heat sink or component to create a vectored load described herein.

In another aspect, a heat sink may comprise a plurality of load points. The heat sink may also comprise a plurality of load cells each configured to attach to a respective attachment point on a component and to create a tensile load between the respective attachment point and a respective one of the load points. At least one load cell among the plurality of load cells may be configured to have a different maximum tensile load than another load cell among the plurality of load cells.

In some arrangements according to any of the foregoing, each load cell among the plurality of load cells may comprise a spring and a screw. The screw may include a head. The spring may be trapped between the head and a respective one of the load points.

In some arrangements according to any of the foregoing, each load cell among the plurality of load cells may comprise a washer disposed between the head and the load point. At least one of the washers may be different in thickness than another of the washers.

In some arrangements according to any of the foregoing, the plurality of load cells may comprise a first load cell and a second load cell. The first load cell may include a first head, a first spring, and a washer disposed between the first head and the first spring. The second load cell may include a second head and a second spring that abuts the second head.

In some arrangements according to any of the foregoing, the heat sink may comprise a heat receiving surface, and wherein at least one of the load points is a different distance from the heat receiving surface along an axis that is normal to the heat receiving surface than another of the load points.

In some arrangements according to any of the foregoing, at least one of the springs may have a different spring constant than another of the springs.

In some arrangements according to any of the foregoing, at least one of the springs may have a different neutral length than another of the springs.

In some arrangements according to any of the foregoing, each screw may include a threaded portion. At least one of the threaded portions may have a different length than another of the threaded portions.

In another aspect, a computer hardware component may comprise a chip. The component may also comprise a board supporting the chip. The component may also comprise a plurality of standoffs connected to the board configured for coupling a heat sink to the board. At least one standoff among the plurality of standoffs may have a different height than another standoff among the plurality of standoffs.

In some arrangements according to any of the foregoing, each standoff may include a threaded portion. At least one of the threaded portions may be different in length than another of the standoffs.

In another aspect, a method of tuning a load distribution may comprise mounting a test heat sink to a test component to be cooled using adjustable load cells. The method may also comprise adjusting tensile loads applied by the adjustable load cells such that at least one of the adjustable load cells creates a different tensile load between the test heat sink and the test component than another of the adjustable load cells to create a first load distribution. The method may also comprise measuring heat output from the test heat sink while the test component operates and the adjustable load cells maintain the first load distribution. The method may also comprise, after measuring a performance of the first load distribution, adjusting at least one of the tensile loads to create a second load distribution. The method may also comprise measuring heat output from the test heat sink while the test component operates and the adjustable load cells maintain the second load distribution.

In some examples according to any of the foregoing, the method may comprise disposing a pressure sensor between the test heat sink and the test component and measuring pressure distribution between the test heat sink and the test component while the adjustable load cells maintain the first load distribution and while the adjustable load cells maintain the second load distribution.

In some examples according to any of the foregoing, the first load distribution and the second load distribution may be among a plurality of evaluated load distributions and the method may comprise, for each evaluated load distribution among the plurality of evaluated load distributions, measuring heat output from the test heat sink while the test component operates and the adjustable load cells maintain the second load distribution. The method may also comprise selecting an optimal load distribution from among the plurality of evaluated load distributions, the optimal load distribution being an evaluated load distribution among the plurality of evaluated load distributions that results in a greatest measured heat output from the test heat sink while the test component operates.

In some examples according to any of the foregoing, the test component may be constructed according to a preliminary component design and the method includes creating a modified component design from the preliminary component design, wherein mounting the test heat sink to a component constructed according to the modified component design and tightening each of the adjustable load cells to a respective maximum possible load would create the optimal load distribution between the test heat sink and the component constructed according to the modified component design, and the respective maximum possible load of at least one of the adjustable load cells is limited by the modified component design.

In some examples according to any of the foregoing, creating the modified component design may include altering a height of at least one standoff among a plurality of standoffs in the preliminary component design that are configured for coupling the adjustable load cells to a board in the preliminary component design so that the height of the at least one standoff differs from a height of another standoff among the plurality of standoffs.

In some examples according to any of the foregoing, the test heat sink may include the adjustable load cells and is constructed according to a preliminary heat sink design and the method includes creating a modified heat sink design from the preliminary heat sink design, wherein mounting a modified heat sink constructed according to the modified heat sink design to the test component and tightening each load cell of the modified heat sink to a respective maximum possible load would create the optimal load distribution between the modified heat sink and the test component.

In some examples according to any of the foregoing, creating the modified heat sink design may include causing at least one of the respective maximum possible loads to differ from a corresponding respective maximum possible load of a load cell in the preliminary heat sink design and from another of the respective maximum possible loads of the modified heat sink.

In some examples according to any of the foregoing, creating the modified heat sink design may include designing each load cell of the modified heat sink design to include a spring that governs the respective maximum possible load of the load cell of the modified heat sink, with at least one of the springs having a different neutral length or spring constant than another of the springs.

In some examples according to any of the foregoing, creating the modified heat sink design may include designing a first load cell among the load cells of the modified heat sink to include a first movable end, a first spring trapped between the first movable end and a first immovable load point of the modified heat sink, and a first washer trapped between the first spring of the first load cell and the first movable end or the first immovable load point. Creating the modified heat sink design may also include designing a second load cell among the load cells of the modified heat sink to include a second movable end and a second spring trapped between the second movable end and a second immovable load point of the modified heat sink and to either be free of washers between the second movable end and the second immovable load point or to include a second washer trapped between the spring and the second end or the second immovable load point having a different thickness than the first washer.

In some examples according to any of the foregoing, creating the modified heat sink design may include designing each load cell of the modified heat sink design to apply load to a respective immovable load point of the modified heat sink design, at least one of the immovable load points being spaced from a heat receiving surface of the heat sink that is configured to contact the test component by a different distance than a distance by which another of the immovable load points is spaced from the heat receiving surface.

All directional terms, such as "up," "down," "above," "below," "vertical," or "height" used in the following description refer only to the orientation of features as depicted in the figure being described. Such directional terms are not intended suggest that any features of the devices described herein must exist in any particular orientation when constructed.

<FIG> shows an assembly <NUM> that includes a load vectoring heat sink <NUM> and a computer hardware component <NUM> to which heat sink <NUM> is mounted. Computer hardware component <NUM> of the illustrated example includes a board <NUM>, such as a printed circuit board, a chip <NUM>, and four standoffs <NUM>. Chip <NUM> can be any device from which heat should be conducted away, such as, for example, a processor, a collection of circuitry, or any other heat producing electronic element. Each of the standoffs <NUM> provides a connection point on component <NUM> for connecting heat sink <NUM> to component <NUM>. In other examples, component <NUM> may include any number of standoffs <NUM> other than four. In further examples, component <NUM> may lack a board <NUM> distinct from chip <NUM>, and in such examples the standoffs <NUM> or other connection points of component <NUM> may be located on chip <NUM> itself.

Heat sink <NUM> includes a block <NUM>, which may be any device for dissipating or transferring heat. Block <NUM> may be, for example, a group of heat dissipating fins, a housing for fluid heat exchange conduits, or any other device capable of conveying heat away from chip <NUM>.

Heat sink <NUM> also includes load cells <NUM> for creating a tensile load up to a maximum tensile load <NUM> between the standoffs <NUM> and respective load points <NUM> of heat sink <NUM>. Each load point <NUM> is a feature at a fixed location on heat sink <NUM>. Whereas heat sink <NUM> of the illustrated example includes four load cells <NUM>, heat sinks of other examples may include other numbers of load cells.

Each load cell <NUM> of the illustrated example includes a screw <NUM>, a washer <NUM>, and a spring <NUM> coiled around the screw <NUM> and trapped between the washer <NUM> and the respective load point <NUM>. Each screw <NUM> also includes a head <NUM> adapted for cooperation with a screwdriver and having a larger diameter than a shank of screw <NUM>, preventing washer <NUM> and spring <NUM> from sliding off of the upper end of screw <NUM>. Each spring <NUM> in the illustrated example is therefore trapped between both a head <NUM> and a washer <NUM> at one end and a load point <NUM> at an opposed end. In other examples, some or all of load cells <NUM> may lack a washer <NUM>, and springs <NUM> of load cells lacking washers <NUM> may each be trapped directly between a respective head <NUM> and load point <NUM>. In further examples, washers <NUM> may be placed adjacent load points <NUM> so that springs <NUM> would be trapped between a washer <NUM> and a load point <NUM> at one end and a head <NUM> at an opposed end.

Each screw <NUM> has a threaded end opposite from head <NUM> that threadedly engages a respective one of the standoffs <NUM>. Each load cell <NUM> may therefore be tightened by turning screw <NUM> to advance the screw <NUM> further into standoff <NUM>. Threadedly advancing screw <NUM> into standoff <NUM> reduces a space between the corresponding load point <NUM> and head <NUM>, thereby compressing the corresponding spring <NUM>. When any spring <NUM> is compressed, that spring <NUM> pushes the corresponding head <NUM> and load point <NUM> apart, which in turn causes the threaded portion of the corresponding screw <NUM> to pull upward on a corresponding threaded portion of standoff <NUM> and thereby creates a tensile load between the load point <NUM> and standoff <NUM>. In other examples, load cells <NUM> may be configured to provide compressive or otherwise non-tensile loads between load points <NUM> and standoffs <NUM>. A maximum load <NUM>, which may be a tensile load, for a load cell <NUM> is created when the screw <NUM> of that load cell is threadedly advanced as far as possible in the direction that compresses spring <NUM>. Maximum threaded advancement of screw <NUM> may be limited in any manner, such as by the length of the threaded portion of the screw <NUM>, the length of the threaded receiving portion of the standoff <NUM>, or by the presence of portions of screw <NUM> with larger diameter that abut against other portions of heat sink <NUM> or standoff <NUM> when screw <NUM> is advanced to a certain point.

The illustrated load cells <NUM> are only one example of how load cells suitable for the concepts of the present disclosure may be constructed, and load cells in other examples may have any other structure capable of creating a load, tensile or otherwise, between connection points on component <NUM> and fixed load points on heat sink <NUM>. For example, load cells <NUM> in other arrangements may have springs <NUM> other than coil springs or elastic biasing elements other than springs. In other examples, load cells <NUM> may have latching or swing-locking constructions instead of screws <NUM>.

Each load cell <NUM> of heat sink <NUM> is capable of providing a different maximum load <NUM>, as represented by the differing lengths of the arrows symbolizing maximum loads <NUM> in <FIG>. Moreover, each of the load cells <NUM> may have a different maximum load <NUM> as compared to other load cells <NUM>. While in some examples some load cells <NUM> may have a same maximum load, in other examples one, some, or all of the load cells <NUM> may have a different maximum load <NUM> than any of the other load cells <NUM>.

<FIG> shows one example of an optimized assembly <NUM>'. Optimized assembly <NUM>' is one example of how assembly <NUM> may be preconfigured to have an intended uneven load distribution.

Of the four load cells <NUM>, the four load points 146a, and the four standoffs <NUM>, a first load cell 134a, a second load cell 134b, a first load point 146a, a second load point 146b, a first standoff 126a, and a second standoff 126b are visible in <FIG>. First load cell 134a includes a first screw 138a, first head 150a of first screw 138a, a first spring 142a, and first washer 154a. First load cell 134a is placed to load first load point 146a and is threadedly engaged to first standoff 126a. Similarly, second load cell 134b is placed to load second load point 146b, and is threadedly engaged to second standoff 126b. Second load cell includes second screw 138b, second head 150b of second screw 138b, second spring 142b, and second washer 154b. First spring 142a is trapped in a first spring space 162a, and second spring 142b is trapped in a second spring space 162b. Spring spaces 162a, 162b are measured along the respective axes on which springs 142a, 142b are compressed or allowed to expand during operation of the load cells. Spring spaces 162a, 162b of the illustrated example are therefore measured along the axes about which springs 142a, 142b are coiled, though spring spaces 162a, 162b may be oriented otherwise in examples having springs 142a, 142b of different types or arrangements. Furthermore, while spring spaces 162a, 162b in the illustrated example are each defined between a corresponding one of the washers 154a, 154b and one of the load points 146a, 146b, spring spaces 162a, 162b may be defined between whichever other features of heat sink <NUM> are used to constrain springs 142a, 142b in other arrangements.

A partial cutaway <NUM> shows a cross section of an upper portion of first standoff 126a. As shown by the partial cutaway <NUM>, first standoff 126a includes an internally threaded hole <NUM> for receiving and threadedly engaging a first threaded end 170a of first screw 138a. Though it is not visible in <FIG>, a second internally threaded hole is similarly included in second standoff 126b for receiving and threadedly engaging a second threaded end 170b of second screw 138b. Each spring space 162a, 162b therefore decreases as the corresponding screw 138a, 138b is threadedly advanced into the corresponding standoff 126a, 126b, resulting in a tightening or increased tensile load of the corresponding load cell 134a, 134b. First screw 138a and second screw 138b include a first collar 174a and a second collar 174b, respectively. Collars 174a, 174b are located above the respective threaded ends 170a, 170b, and have diameters greater than diameters of the internally threaded holes <NUM> of the standoffs 126a. Thus, in the illustrated example, collars 174a, 174b limit advancement of threaded ends 170a, 170b into standoffs 126a, 126b so that collars 174a, 174b abut standoffs 126a, 126b when load cells 134a, 134b reach a maximally tightened position. However, in other examples, the tightening of load cells 134a, 134b may be limited in other ways.

Also visible in <FIG> is a boss <NUM> extending downward from a lower end of block <NUM>. A lowermost face of boss <NUM> is pressed onto chip <NUM>. The lowermost face of boss <NUM> is therefore a component-contacting surface of heat sink <NUM>, meaning the surface intended to be pressed into contact with component <NUM> and through which heat from component <NUM> is intended to pass into block <NUM>. Boss <NUM> is optional, so heat sinks <NUM> of other arrangements may have a component-contacting surface defined directly on a downward face of block <NUM>. In either case, the component-contacting surface may include portions that do not actually contact the component <NUM>, but which are thermally coupled to component <NUM> by a bond line of thermal paste or another thermally conductive substance. The component-contacting surface is therefore a heat-receiving surface for heat sink <NUM>.

In the illustrated example, first load cell 134a and second load cell 134b are identical to one another, and to load cells <NUM> not visible in <FIG>, except for washers 154a, 154b. Specifically, first washer 154a is thinner than second washer 154b. Because load cells 134a, 134b are otherwise identical, the greater thickness of second washer 154b will cause second spring space 162b to be smaller than first spring space 162a when both load cells 134a, 134b are in their maximally tightened positions. First spring 142a will therefore be less compressed and create less load than second spring 142b when both load cells 134a, 134b are in their maximally tightened positions. The greater thickness of second washer 154b compared to first washer 154a, while all other features of load cells 134a, 134b remain identical, thus causes second maximum load 158b to exceed first maximum load 158a. Tightening all load cells <NUM> of the heat sink <NUM> to their respective maximum loads <NUM> will therefore cause an uneven distribution of loads that results from the preconfiguration of the load cells <NUM> with washers <NUM> of differing thicknesses.

Varying washer <NUM> thicknesses between load cells <NUM> while holding other aspects of load cells <NUM> constant is only one example of how heat sink <NUM> can be preconfigured to create an intended uneven load distribution when mounted to component <NUM>. Other aspects that can be varied between load cells <NUM> include, but are not limited to, the length of the threaded portion of threaded ends 170a, 170b, the location of collars 174a, 174b, the resilience of springs <NUM>, the resting, neutral, or uncompressed lengths of springs <NUM>, the distance between heads <NUM> and their respective threaded ends 170a, 170b or collars 174a, 174b, and the height of the load points <NUM> relative to the component-contacting surface of heat sink <NUM>. In other examples, some at least one load cell <NUM> may lack a washer <NUM> altogether while at least one other load cell <NUM> includes a washer <NUM>. Any of the foregoing aspects, including washer thickness, may be varied alone or in any combination while other aspects of load cells <NUM> are kept uniform.

Component <NUM> may also be preconfigured to receive an intended uneven load distribution when a heat sink <NUM> is mounted thereto. Component <NUM> may be preconfigured independently from heat sink <NUM>, such that the intended load distribution would result when a heat sink <NUM> having uniform load cells <NUM> is mounted to the preconfigured component <NUM>. In other examples, component <NUM> may be preconfigured to cooperate with a heat sink <NUM> that is preconfigured with non-uniform load cells <NUM> to create an intended non-uniform load distribution. Features of component <NUM> that can be varied, alone or in any combination, to preconfigure component <NUM> for a non-uniform load distribution include, but are not limited to, overall height of individual standoffs <NUM> and depths of internally threaded holes <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a process <NUM> for finding and producing an optimal load distribution for assemblies such as assembly <NUM>. While the operations of the process <NUM> are described in a particular order, it should be understood that operations may be performed simultaneously or in a different order. Moreover, operations may be added or omitted.

In testing phase <NUM>, one or more test assemblies <NUM> are used to evaluate different load distributions. Testing phase <NUM> includes configuring <NUM> one or more test assemblies <NUM> to have different distributions of load between heat sink <NUM> and component <NUM>. In some examples, the configuring <NUM> portion of testing phase <NUM> can be conducted once by configuring multiple different test assemblies <NUM> prior to evaluation <NUM>. In other examples, the configuring <NUM> portion of testing phase <NUM> can be conducted iteratively by reconfiguring one or more test assemblies <NUM> following one evaluation <NUM> and prior to another evaluation <NUM>.

A test assembly <NUM> may be configured <NUM> by tightening the test assembly's <NUM> load cells <NUM> by different amounts. The configuring <NUM> may be done manually or with a tool, such as, for example, a digitally controlled screwdriver or wrench. For that purpose, test assemblies <NUM> may be constructed with load cells <NUM> capable of providing a wider range of loads than load cells that would ordinarily be provided for commercial or mass-produced heat sinks.

The test assembly may be evaluated <NUM> by measuring performance of the test assembly <NUM> according to one or more metrics. Some examples of such metrics include thermal metrics. Thermal metrics that may be measured during evaluation <NUM> include, for example, an operating temperature of a test component <NUM> within test assembly <NUM> or an amount or rate of heat exiting block <NUM> of a test heat sink <NUM> within test assembly <NUM> while test component <NUM> operates. Generally, lower operating temperatures of test components <NUM> and greater rates of heat exiting block <NUM> indicate better performance for a given load configuration. In implementations wherein a pressure sensor is placed between heat sink <NUM> and component <NUM> of the evaluated test assembly <NUM>, a metric may be the similarity of a measured load distribution to an ideal load distribution.

When a satisfactory amount of information has been acquired from one or more evaluations <NUM>, an optimal load distribution may be identified (block <NUM>). Identification <NUM> includes analysis of results from evaluation <NUM> to find a load distribution that results in the best performance according to the evaluated metric or metrics, with the load distribution that results in the best performance being identified as an optimal load distribution. Where only one metric is considered, the optimal load distribution may be, for example, the load distribution that results in the lowest operating temperature for component <NUM>, the greatest amount or rate of heat exiting heat sink <NUM> or block <NUM>, or the greatest similarity to an ideal load distribution. Where multiple metrics are considered, some or all of the metrics may be assigned threshold acceptable values, and load distributions found to have performance results outside of the acceptable values may be disregarded. Where multiple metrics are considered beyond a binary determination of whether the performance results are acceptable, the evaluated load distributions may be scored by weighting those metrics.

Identification <NUM> may be the designation of one of the load distributions as the optimal load distribution based upon results of the evaluation <NUM>. In some examples, identification <NUM> may include extrapolation from the results found during evaluation <NUM> to predict the performance of load distributions that were not actually evaluated.

Designing <NUM> optimized parts, may include designing parts that are preconfigured by any of the approaches described above for preconfiguring heat sinks <NUM> or components <NUM> to have intentionally uneven load distributions. Designed parts are preconfigured to create an assembly such as assembly <NUM> that has the optimal load distribution when all load cells <NUM> are tightened by an intended amount. For example, an optimized heat sink <NUM> may be designed to create the optimal load distribution when mounted to a given type of component <NUM> with all load cells <NUM> tightened to a maximum amount. In other examples, an optimized component <NUM> may be designed to create the optimal load distribution when a given type of heat sink <NUM> is mounted to the optimized component <NUM> with all load cells <NUM> tightened to a maximum amount.

Designing <NUM> may include modifying preliminary part designs to achieve the intended configuration. The preliminary part designs may be generally alike to the test parts. As such, designing <NUM> an optimized heat sink <NUM> may include beginning from a preliminary heat sink design that is similar to the test heat sink <NUM>, then modifying that preliminary heat sink design to create a heat sink <NUM> preconfigured to create the intended load distribution. Similarly, designing <NUM> an optimized component <NUM> may include beginning from a preliminary component design that is similar to the test component <NUM>, then modifying that preliminary component design to create a component <NUM> that is preconfigured to create the intended load distribution.

Optimized parts designed according to process <NUM> can compensate for hot spots in components <NUM> and for surface irregularities of components <NUM> and heat sinks <NUM>, which are difficult to eliminate but tend to be consistent across components <NUM> or heat sinks <NUM> of the same type. Process <NUM> could therefore be used with a test component <NUM> of a given type to design a heat sink <NUM> that is optimized for that type of component <NUM>. In other examples, process <NUM> could be used with a test component <NUM> so that an optimized version of that component could be designed and marketed for use with standard, non-optimized heat sinks <NUM>. In further examples, optimized heat sinks <NUM> and components <NUM> could be designed for use with one another.

<FIG> illustrates a non-optimal load distribution <NUM>, which may occur in a test assembly <NUM> or an assembly of a non-optimized heat sink and a non-optimized component, and an optimal load distribution <NUM> that may be found with process <NUM>. In both load distributions <NUM>, <NUM>, the load gradient is represented by shade. A known hot spot <NUM> resulting from the architecture of the relevant component type is shown on both load distributions. It is usually preferable to prioritize cooling of hot spot <NUM>.

Non-optimal load distribution <NUM> includes an unintended high-pressure zone <NUM>. In non-optimized assemblies, such unintended high-pressure zones <NUM> typically result from unplanned surface irregularities on the heat sink, the component, or both. As a result, unintended high-pressure zone <NUM> may not extend over hot spot <NUM>, as shown in the illustrated example.

Optimal load distribution <NUM> in the illustrated example includes a planned high pressure zone <NUM> that extends over hot spot <NUM>, which results in greater heat transfer from hot spot <NUM> to a heat sink than non-optimal load distribution. The illustrated example of optimal load distribution <NUM> includes an artifact <NUM> of unintended high-pressure zone <NUM>, but artifact <NUM> is lesser in size and magnitude than unintended high-pressure zone <NUM>. The presence of an artifact <NUM> that is distinct from planned high pressure zone <NUM> and the general load profile of optimal load distribution <NUM> shown in <FIG> are aspects of merely one example of how an optimal load distribution <NUM> may look. Optimal load distributions <NUM> derived from different components, heat sinks, or metrics can vary greatly.

According to another aspect, there is disclosed a heat sink including multiple load points and a plurality of load cell for each of the load points. Each of the load cells is configured to attach to a respective attachment point on a component and to create a tensile load between the respective attachment point of the component and a respective one of the load points of the heat sink. At least one of the load cells is configured to produce a different maximum tensile load than another load cell among the plurality of load cells.

Further embodiments are given in the examples below:.

Claim 1:
A heat sink (<NUM>) comprising:
a plurality of load points (<NUM>); and
a plurality of load cells (<NUM>) each configured to attach to a respective attachment point on a component (<NUM>) and to create a load between the respective attachment point and a respective one of the load points characterised in that at least one load cell among the plurality of load cells is configured to have a different maximum load than another load cell among the plurality of load cells.