Patent ID: 12199009

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments provide an electronic apparatus capable with improved heat dissipation, a vibration resistance, and an impact resistance.

In general, according to an embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and an elastic member. The first substrate has a first surface on which a metal member is provided. The second substrate is coupled to the first substrate above the first surface and on which a plurality of electronic components is mounted. The second substrate has a second surface that faces away from the first surface. The elastic member has an inner surface that contacts the second surface or at least one of the electronic components and an outer surface that faces the first surface and is in thermal contact with the metal member.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

An electronic apparatus according to a first embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS.1to3.FIG.1is a side view diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the electronic apparatus according to the first embodiment.FIG.2is a plan view diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an SSD module in the first embodiment. As illustrated inFIG.1, an electronic apparatus1includes a mother board10, an SSD module20, and a heat dissipation rubber30.

The mother board10is an example of a first substrate. A socket11is mounted on the mother board10. The socket11is configured such that a connector25of the SSD module20is inserted into the socket11. When the connector25of the SSD module20is inserted into the socket11, a wiring of the connector25of the SSD module20is electrically connected to a wiring12of the mother board10via an internal wiring of the socket11. Furthermore, the mother board10includes grounds13A and13B formed of metal such as copper. The grounds13A and13B are interconnections to have a reference potential when electronic components, not illustrated, mounted on the mother board10operate. The grounds13A and13B are electrically connected to a ground of the SSD module20via the connector25and the socket11. The socket11is an example of a connection component.

The SSD module20includes a substrate21, a DRAM22, an SSD controller23, two NAND flash memory chips24A and24B, the connector25, and a screw clamp26(refer toFIG.2). The DRAM22, the SSD controller23, and the NAND flash memory chips24A and24B are packaged devices each having a semiconductor chip encapsulated with a sealing material and mounted on the substrate21. The substrate21is an example of a second substrate. The DRAM22, the SSD controller23, and the NAND flash memory chips24A and24B are an example of electronic components.

The DRAM22is a volatile memory that can temporarily store data. While the SSD module20uses the DRAM22as the volatile memory, the volatile memory is not limited to the DRAM and may be, for example, an SRAM. The DRAM22may or may not be built in the SSD controller23.

The NAND flash memory chips24A and24B are nonvolatile memory chips capable of storing data in a nonvolatile manner. While the SSD module20includes the two NAND flash memory chips24A and24B, the number of NAND flash memory chips is not limited to two and the SSD module20may include either one NAND flash memory chip or three or more NAND flash memory chips.

The SSD controller23controls writing and reading of data to and from the NAND flash memory chips24A and24B, and the like in response to a request from an external host. The SSD controller23uses the DRAM22for controlling these operations. The external host is, for example, a processor (an example of the electronic components) mounted on the mother board10.

The connector25is provided in one end portion of the substrate21. The connector25is configured to be inserted into the socket11of the mother board10. Part of the electronic components mounted on the SSD module20are electrically connected to the wiring12of the mother board10.

The screw clamp26is provided in an opposite end portion to the one end portion of the substrate21. The screw clamp26has a semicircular shape and thus may be referred as a notch. An external shape of the screw clamp26may be a circular arc or polygonal shape. In the following description, a direction in which the connector25of the substrate21is provided may be referred to as “tip end side” and a direction in which the screw clamp26of the substrate21is provided may be referred to as “base end side”. The screw clamp26is an example of an attachment.

As illustrated inFIG.1, the screw clamp26is screwed to the mother board10by a screw40. The SSD module20is thereby fixed to the mother board10. Furthermore, the screw40is connected to the ground13B of the mother board10. The screw40is thermally conductive. That is, the screw40has a fixing function to fix the SSD module20to the mother board10, and a heat dissipation function to dissipate heat of the substrate21to the ground13B. The screw40is an example of a fixing member.

The heat dissipation rubber30has higher thermal conductivity than thermal conductivities of normal plastic resin and rubber. The thermal conductivity of the heat dissipation rubber30is, for example, 2 to 5 W/mk. The heat dissipation rubber30is an example of an elastic member.

A configuration of the heat dissipation rubber30will be described with reference toFIG.3.FIG.3is a perspective view diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the heat dissipation rubber in the first embodiment. As illustrated inFIG.3, the heat dissipation rubber30includes a through-hole31that passes through the heat dissipation rubber30from one side surface to the other side surface located opposite to the one side surface. The SSD module20is inserted into this through-hole31and the heat dissipation rubber30is disposed at a position at which the heat dissipation rubber30covers the SSD controller23.

The electronic components mounted on the SSD module20generate heat during an operation of the SSD module20. Heat generation by the SSD controller23is the highest in calorific value among the electronic components mounted on the SSD module20, and peripheral components such as the NAND flash memory chips24A and24B of the SSD module20are susceptible to an influence of the heat. In an implementation, to address this issue, the heat dissipation rubber30covers the SSD controller23. More specifically, the heat dissipation rubber30has a first surface (may be referred to as an inner surface) that forms part of the through-hole31and is disposed so that the first surface contacts the SSD controller23.

Moreover, the heat dissipation rubber30has a second surface (may be referred to as an outer surface or a bottom surface) that forms part of an external surface of the heat dissipation rubber30. With the connector25of the SSD module20inserted into the socket11and with the SSD module20fixed to the mother board10, the second surface of the heat dissipation rubber30is in thermal contact (e.g., direct contact) with the ground13A of the mother board10. This configuration enables efficient dissipation of the heat generated by the SSD controller23to the mother board10, so that the peripheral components of the SSD module20are less susceptible to the heat.

After the heat dissipation rubber30is disposed at the position at which the heat dissipation rubber30covers the SSD controller23, the connector25on the tip end side is inserted into the socket11of the mother board10and the screw clamp26on the base end side is screwed by the screw40. The electronic apparatus1illustrated inFIG.1is thus assembled. It is noted that the electronic apparatus1may be assembled by inserting the heat dissipation rubber30from the base end side of the SSD module20and screwing the screw clamp26on the base end side by the screw40after the connector25is inserted into the socket11.

As described above, since the heat dissipation rubber30is in contact with the SSD controller23and the ground13A of the mother board10, the heat generated by the SSD controller23dissipates to the mother board10. Furthermore, since the elastic heat dissipation rubber30covers the SSD controller23, so that a vibration resistance and an impact resistance of the electronic apparatus1are improved.

The electronic apparatus1according to the present embodiment is, therefore, capable of improving heat dissipation, the vibration resistance, and the impact resistance.

Modification

FIG.4is a perspective view diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a heat dissipation rubber according to a modification of the first embodiment.

A slit32that reaches the through-hole31from one end surface (e.g., a side surface facing a side edge of the substrate21) is formed in a heat dissipation rubber30A in the modification of the first embodiment. Deforming the heat dissipation rubber30A so that this slit32can be opened enables the SSD module20to be attached to or detached from the heat dissipation rubber30A.

For example, in the embodiment described above, it is impossible to attach the heat dissipation rubber30after the SSD module20is inserted into the socket11of the mother board10via the connector25and fixed to the mother board10with the screw40. Furthermore, when the heat dissipation rubber30is to be detached after the SSD module20is inserted into the socket11via the connector25and fixed to the mother board10with the screw40, it is impossible to detach the heat dissipation rubber30without detaching at least the screw40.

In contrast, the heat dissipation rubber30A in the modification has the slit32, and, therefore, can be freely attached or detached even after the SSD module20is inserted into the socket11via the connector25and fixed to the mother board10with the screw40. As a result, it is possible to improve attachability and detachability of the heat dissipation rubber30A to and from the SSD module20.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment will be described.

In the first embodiment, the screw40is used when the SSD module20is fixed to the mother board10. With these configurations, positional variations related to a screwing process may cause damage to the peripheral components, e.g., the NAND flash memory chip24B, of the screw clamp26, via the screw40. In addition, when the SSD module20is fixed to the mother board10using the screw40having relatively high hardness, the vibration resistance and the impact resistance are reduced. To address such a problem, the second embodiment is directed to fixing the SSD module20to the mother board10without the screw40.

FIG.5is a side view diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an electronic apparatus according to the second embodiment.FIG.6is a perspective view diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a heat dissipation rubber used in the second embodiment. InFIG.5, the same configurations as those inFIG.1are denoted by the same reference signs and not described repeatedly.

As illustrated inFIG.5, an electronic apparatus1A according to the second embodiment has a heat dissipation rubber30B as an alternative to the heat dissipation rubber30in the first embodiment. The heat dissipation rubber30B is shaped to cover the NAND flash memory chips24A and24B. As illustrated inFIG.6, the heat dissipation rubber30B has a stop hole33that is open on one side surface and closed on the other side surface. The stop hole33is an example of a recess. By inserting the base end side of the SSD module20into the stop hole33of the heat dissipation rubber30B, the heat dissipation rubber30B can be located at a position to cover the NAND flash memory chips24A and24B.

A surface that forms part of an external surface of the heat dissipation rubber30B is fixed to the mother board10via an adhesive50. The adhesive50is, for example, a thermally conductive adhesive to which metal, ceramic, or the like having high thermal conductivity is added. Furthermore, the adhesive50contacts the ground13B of the mother board10.

In this way, in the electronic apparatus1A, the SSD module20is fixed to the mother board10using not the screw40but the elastic heat dissipation rubber30B. At this time, the heat dissipation rubber30B is in thermal contact with the ground13B of the mother board10via the adhesive50that is the thermally conductive adhesive. It is thereby possible to reduce damage to the peripheral components, such as the NAND flash memory chip24B, of the screw clamp26and provide a heat dissipation path.

Moreover, in the electronic apparatus1A, the SSD module20is fixed to the mother board10using not the screw40but the elastic heat dissipation rubber30B. Therefore, it is possible to improve a vibration resistance, an impact resistance, and the like of the electronic apparatus1A.

While the heat dissipation rubber30B is shaped and/or located to cover the NAND flash memory chips24A and24B, a shape and/or a location of the heat dissipation rubber30B is not limited to this one. For example, the heat dissipation rubber30B may be shaped and/or located to cover only the NAND flash memory chip24B. Alternatively, the heat dissipation rubber30B may be shaped and/or located to cover not only the NAND flash memory chips24A and24B but also either the SSD controller23or the DRAM22and the SSD controller23. In another alternative, the heat dissipation rubber30B may be shaped and located as illustrated inFIGS.7,8, and9.

First Modification

FIG.7is a side view diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an electronic apparatus according to a first modification of the second embodiment. InFIG.7, the same configurations as those inFIG.5are denoted by the same reference signs and not described repeatedly.

As illustrated inFIG.7, an electronic apparatus1B according to the first modification of the second embodiment uses a heat dissipation rubber30C as an alternative to the heat dissipation rubber30B used in the second embodiment. The heat dissipation rubber30C is shaped not to cover the NAND flash memory chips24A and24B and to cover only part of the substrate21of the SSD module20. That is, the heat dissipation rubber30C accommodates part of the substrate21, which is a region not including a region where the electronic components such as the DRAM22, the SSD controller23, and the NAND flash memory chips24A and24B are mounted. The heat dissipation rubber30C is fixed to the mother board10via the adhesive50that is the thermally conductive adhesive.

With the configurations described above, in the electronic apparatus1B, the heat generated by the DRAM22, the SSD controller23, and the NAND flash memory chips24A and24B dissipates to the mother board10via the substrate21, the heat dissipation rubber30C, and the adhesive50. Furthermore, it is possible to increase a degree of freedom of other heat dissipation structures for the DRAM22, the SSD controller23, the NAND flash memory chips24A and24B, and the like.

Second Modification

FIG.8is a side view diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an electronic apparatus according to a second modification of the second embodiment.FIG.9is a plan view diagram illustrating a configuration of an SSD module and a heat dissipation rubber in the second modification of the second embodiment. InFIG.8, the same configurations as those inFIG.5are denoted by the same reference signs and not described repeatedly.

As illustrated inFIG.8, an electronic apparatus1C according to the second modification of the second embodiment uses a heat dissipation rubber30D as an alternative to the heat dissipation rubber30B used in the second embodiment. The heat dissipation rubber30D is disposed in an end portion closer to the base end side of the substrate21and fixed to the mother board10via the adhesive50.

As illustrated inFIG.9, the heat dissipation rubber30D has a projection34(may be referred to as a protrusion) of a semicircular shape that generally matches a shape of the screw clamp26. A diameter with respect to an external shape of the projection34may be set slightly larger than a diameter with respect to the shape of the screw clamp26. By fitting the projection34of the heat dissipation rubber30D into the screw clamp26provided on the base end side of the substrate21and fixing the heat dissipation rubber30D to the mother board10with the adhesive50, it is possible to fix the SSD module20to the mother board10.

With the configurations described above, in the electronic apparatus1C, the heat generated by the DRAM22, the SSD controller23, and the NAND flash memory chips24A and24B dissipates to the mother board10via the substrate21, the heat dissipation rubber30D, and the adhesive50. Furthermore, it is possible to increase a degree of freedom of other heat dissipation structures for the DRAM22, the SSD controller23, the NAND flash memory chips24A and24B, and the like.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.