Patent ID: 7106589

Claim:
A heat sink for dissipating heat from a heat source, said heat sink comprising: a heat-conductive base plate; a plurality of heat pipes attached to and extending from said heat-conductive base plate; wherein each of said plurality of heat pipes comprises an inner surface, and outer surface and a working fluid disposed in contact with said inner surface; wherein said plurality of heat pipes are attached to said heat-conductive base plate in such a manner as to promote good thermal contact to a working fluid disposed within said plurality of heat pipes; wherein each of said plurality of heat pipes is a closed system comprising said working fluid and an evaporator portion in contact with said heat-conductive base; and wherein said plurality of heat pipes are of a number, and are spaced apart, such that each of said plurality of heat pipes convects heat from a substantial portion of the outer surface thereof; and means for increasing a contact area between said evaporator portion of at least one of said plurality of heat pipes and said base plate without increasing a thickness of said entire base plate.