Patent Description:
With the development of electronic technology, the thermal density of electronic devices is getting higher and higher. An outdoor communication base station is generally provided with a plurality of base station modules, such as a remote radio unit, a baseband processing unit and a power module. Currently, modules of an outdoor communication base station still generally utilize natural environment to dissipate heat with natural cooling as a main solution. <FIG> illustrates one such solution. As shown in <FIG>, the base of the heat sink is in contact with the printed circuit board (PCB) on which a heat source (e.g. a processor, a chip, etc.) is mounted. A plurality of (e.g. elongated) upright heat sink fins are arranged on the base. Air can go through the space between the heat sink fins. The designer may change the number and the thickness of the heat sink fins to improve the heat dissipation efficiency. However, the obtained heat dissipation efficiency is still low. Heat dissipation apparatuses according to the prior art are disclosed in documents <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

One of the objects of the disclosure is to provide an improved heat dissipation apparatus.

According to a first aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a heat dissipation apparatus. The heat dissipation apparatus may comprise a base and a plurality of first heat sink fins arranged in parallel on the base. On a top of each first heat sink fin of the plurality of first heat sink fins, a first heat dissipation component and a second heat dissipation component may be sequentially arranged along the parallel direction of the plurality of first heat sink fins. The first heat dissipation component may comprise a bottom plate and a plurality of second heat sink fins which are arranged at intervals along the parallel direction on a top face of the bottom plate. Each second heat sink fin may have a shape of a comb having three or more comb teeth. The second heat dissipation component may comprise a plurality of third heat sink fins which are arranged at intervals along the parallel direction. Each third heat sink fin may have a shape of a comb having three or more comb teeth.

With the above first aspect, since the first heat dissipation component is arranged, a stack effect can be formed by the first heat dissipation component together with the base and the first heat sink fins, such that the velocity of airflow is increased to enhance the heat dissipation efficiency. In addition, since the second heat dissipation component is further arranged, air can flow through the hollowed-out portions between the third heat sink fins to also enhance the heat dissipation efficiency.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, a gap may be provided between the first and second heat dissipation components corresponding to each first heat sink fin and the first and second heat dissipation components corresponding to an adjacent first heat sink fin that is adjacent to the first heat sink fin.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, an extending length of the first heat dissipation component in the parallel direction may be less than an extending length of the second heat dissipation component in the parallel direction.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the bottom plate may be arranged perpendicular to the first heat sink fin.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the plurality of comb teeth of each second heat sink fin may be arranged on the bottom plate at intervals in a direction forming a first predetermined angle with the parallel direction.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the first predetermined angle may be <NUM> degrees.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the comb teeth of each second heat sink fin may form a second predetermined angle with the bottom plate.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the second predetermined angle may be <NUM> degrees.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, each third heat sink fin may extend in a direction forming a third predetermined angle with the parallel direction and may be arranged to be spaced apart from an adjacent third heat sink fin on a plane in which the bottom plate is located.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the third predetermined angle may be <NUM> degrees.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the comb teeth of each third heat sink fin may form a fourth predetermined angle with a plane in which the bottom plate is located.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the fourth predetermined angle may be <NUM> degrees.

According to a second aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a remote radio unit. The remote radio unit may comprise a heat dissipation apparatus according to the above first aspect.

According to a third aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a baseband processing unit. The baseband processing unit may comprise a heat dissipation apparatus according to the above first aspect.

According to a fourth aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a base station. The base station may comprise a heat dissipation apparatus according to the above first aspect.

Apparently, the schematic structure diagrams in the following drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but exhibit various features in a simplified form. Furthermore, the drawings in the following description relate merely to some embodiments of the disclosure, but should not be construed as limiting the disclosure.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a heat dissipation apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is a partially enlarged perspective view of the heat dissipation apparatus shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the heat dissipation apparatus <NUM> may comprise a base <NUM> and a plurality of first heat sink fins <NUM> arranged in parallel on the base <NUM>. The term "parallel" may refer to that the plurality of first heat sink fins <NUM> are parallel to each other, and may also refer to that the plurality of first heat sink fins <NUM> form a certain non-zero angle with each other and do not intersect each other. The main function of the first heat sink fins <NUM> is to conduct heat from the base <NUM> to the outside and exchange heat with the air between the first heat sink fins <NUM>. On a top of each first heat sink fin <NUM> of the plurality of first heat sink fins <NUM>, a first heat dissipation component <NUM> and a second heat dissipation component <NUM> may be sequentially arranged along the parallel direction of the plurality of first heat sink fins <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the first heat dissipation component <NUM> may comprise a bottom plate <NUM> and a plurality of second heat sink fins <NUM> which are arranged at intervals along the parallel direction on a top face of the bottom plate <NUM>. The bottom plate <NUM> may be arranged perpendicular to the first heat sink fins <NUM>. Each second heat sink fin <NUM> may have a shape of a comb having three comb teeth. The plurality of comb teeth of each second heat sink fin <NUM> may be arranged on the bottom plate <NUM> at intervals in a direction perpendicular to the parallel direction. The comb teeth of each second heat sink fin <NUM> may be perpendicular to the bottom plate <NUM>. Since the first heat dissipation component is arranged, a stack effect can be formed by the first heat dissipation component together with the base and the first heat sink fins, such that the velocity of airflow is increased to enhance the heat dissipation efficiency.

As shown in <FIG>, the second heat dissipation component <NUM> may comprise a plurality of third heat sink fins <NUM> which are arranged at intervals along the parallel direction. Each third heat sink fin <NUM> may have a shape of a comb having three comb teeth. The comb teeth of each third heat sink fin <NUM> may be arranged at intervals in a direction perpendicular to the parallel direction on a plane in which the bottom plate <NUM> is located. The comb teeth of each third heat sink fin <NUM> may be perpendicular to a plane in which the bottom plate <NUM> is located. Since the second heat dissipation component is arranged, air can flow through the hollowed-out portions between the third heat sink fins to enhance the heat dissipation efficiency.

According to the Fourier's Law, the larger the temperature difference is, the higher the heat transfer efficiency is. The top of the first heat sink fin has a larger temperature difference than the bottom of the first heat sink fin, and thus has higher heat dissipation efficiency. Both the first heat dissipation component and the second heat dissipation component increase the area of the top of the first heat sink fin. Consequently, the area with high heat dissipation efficiency can be increased.

<FIG> is a sectional view of an electronic device on which a heat dissipation apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure is mounted. For the purpose of illustration and not limitation, it is assumed that the electronic device is the same as that shown in <FIG>, also containing a PCB on which a heat source is mounted. When the heat dissipation apparatus is cut from above the first heat dissipation component <NUM> in a direction perpendicular to the base <NUM>, along an imaginary line perpendicular to the parallel direction in <FIG>, the resulting cross section is as shown in <FIG>. As can be seen from <FIG>, a gap may be provided between the first and second heat dissipation components <NUM>, <NUM> corresponding to each first heat sink fin <NUM> and the first and second heat dissipation components corresponding to an adjacent first heat sink fin that is adjacent to the first heat sink fin <NUM>.

In designing the heat dissipation apparatus <NUM>, the ratio between the extending length of the first heat dissipation component <NUM> in the parallel direction and the extending length of the second heat dissipation component <NUM> in the parallel direction may be adjusted to obtain the optimal heat dissipation efficiency. For example, according to a simulation experiment, the extending length of the first heat dissipation component <NUM> in the parallel direction may be set to be smaller than the extending length of the second heat dissipation component <NUM> in the parallel direction, thereby obtaining better heat dissipation efficiency.

However, the present disclosure is not limited to the examples shown in <FIG>. As another example, the number of comb teeth of each second heat sink fin <NUM> and/or each third heat sink fin <NUM> may be three or more (i.e., greater than or equal to three). As still another example, the comb teeth of each second heat sink fin <NUM> may be arranged at intervals on the bottom plate <NUM> in a direction forming a first predetermined angle with the parallel direction. The first predetermined angle may be <NUM> degrees or any other suitable angle. The first predetermined angle of each of the plurality of second heat sink fins <NUM> may be the same or different with each other. As yet another example, the comb teeth of each second heat sink fin <NUM> may form a second predetermined angle with the bottom plate <NUM>. The second predetermined angle may be <NUM> degrees or any other suitable angle. The second predetermined angle of each of the plurality of second heat sink fins <NUM> and/or the second predetermined angle of each of the comb teeth thereof may be the same or different with each other.

Similarly, as yet another example, each third heat sink fin <NUM> may extend in a direction forming a third predetermined angle with the parallel direction and is arranged to be spaced apart from an adjacent third heat sink fin on a plane in which the bottom plate <NUM> is located. The third predetermined angle may be <NUM> degrees or any other suitable angle. The third predetermined angle of each of the plurality of third heat sink fins <NUM> may be the same or different with each other. As yet another example, the comb teeth of each third heat sink fin <NUM> may form a fourth predetermined angle with a plane in which the bottom plate <NUM> is located. The fourth predetermined angle may be <NUM> degrees or any other suitable angle. The fourth predetermined angle of each of the plurality of third heat sink fins <NUM> and/or the fourth predetermined angle of each of the comb teeth thereof may be the same or different with each other. In addition, the intervals between the plurality of second heat sink fins <NUM> may be the same or different with each other. Similarly, the intervals between the plurality of third heat sink fins <NUM> may be the same or different with each other.

Based on the above description, at least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a heat dissipation apparatus. The heat dissipation apparatus comprises a base and a plurality of first heat sink fins arranged in parallel on the base. On a top of each first heat sink fin of the plurality of first heat sink fins, a first heat dissipation component and a second heat dissipation component are sequentially arranged along the parallel direction of the plurality of first heat sink fins. The first heat dissipation component comprises a bottom plate and a plurality of second heat sink fins which are arranged at intervals along the parallel direction on a top face of the bottom plate. Each second heat sink fin has a shape of a comb having three or more comb teeth. The second heat dissipation component comprises a plurality of third heat sink fins which are arranged at intervals along the parallel direction. Each third heat sink fin has a shape of a comb having three or more comb teeth.

As another embodiment, the present disclosure further provides a remote radio unit. The remote radio unit comprises the heat dissipation apparatus described hereinabove. The components of the remote radio unit other than the heat dissipation apparatus may be the same as any existing or future developed remote radio unit and are not described herein again. Since the heat dissipation apparatus described hereinabove can have enhanced heat dissipation efficiency, the temperature of the remote radio unit in which the heat dissipation apparatus is mounted can be effectively reduced.

As yet another embodiment, the present disclosure also provides a baseband processing unit. The baseband processing unit comprises the heat dissipation apparatus described hereinabove. The components of the baseband processing unit other than the heat dissipation apparatus may be the same as any existing or future developed baseband processing unit and are not described herein again. Since the heat dissipation apparatus described hereinabove can have enhanced heat dissipation efficiency, the temperature of the baseband processing unit in which the heat dissipation apparatus is mounted can be effectively reduced.

As yet another embodiment, the present disclosure also provides a base station. The base station comprises the heat dissipation apparatus described hereinabove. The components (e.g. a remote radio unit, a baseband processing unit, a power module, etc.) of the base station other than the heat dissipation apparatus may be the same as any existing or future developed base station and are not described herein again. Since the heat dissipation apparatus described hereinabove can have enhanced heat dissipation efficiency, the temperature of the base station in which the heat dissipation apparatus is mounted can be effectively reduced.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art. It should be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and the relevant art and should not be interpreted in an ideal or excessively formal sense unless clearly defined in the present disclosure.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises", "comprising", "has", "having", "includes" and/or "including", when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and/or combinations thereof. As used herein, the statement that two or more parts are "coupled", "connected" or "cascaded" together shall mean that the parts are joined together either directly or joined through one or more intermediate parts.

References in the present disclosure to "one embodiment", "an embodiment" and so on, indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to implement such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

It is to be understood that the orientation or position relationships indicated by the terms such as "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc. are the orientation or position relationships based on the drawings, which are only used to facilitate the description of the present disclosure or simplify the description, and are not intended to indicate or suggest that the members, components or apparatuses should have the specific orientations, or should be manufactured and operated in the specific orientations. Therefore, the terms should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure.

As used herein, the term "examples" particularly when followed by a listing of terms is merely exemplary and illustrative, and should not be deemed to be exclusive. It should be noted that various aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented individually or in combination with one or more other aspects. Furthermore, the detailed description and specific embodiments are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

Claim 1:
A heat dissipation apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a base (<NUM>) and a plurality of first heat sink fins (<NUM>) arranged in parallel on the base;
characterized in that:
on a top of each first heat sink fin of the plurality of first heat sink fins (<NUM>), a first heat dissipation component (<NUM>) and a second heat dissipation component (<NUM>) are sequentially arranged along the parallel direction of the plurality of first heat sink fins;
the first heat dissipation component (<NUM>) comprises a bottom plate (<NUM>) and a plurality of second heat sink fins (<NUM>) which are arranged at intervals along the parallel direction on a top face of the bottom plate (<NUM>), wherein each second heat sink fin has a shape of a comb having three or more comb teeth; and
the second heat dissipation component (<NUM>) comprises a plurality of third heat sink fins (<NUM>) which are arranged at intervals along the parallel direction, wherein each third heat sink fin has a shape of a comb having three or more comb teeth.