Patent ID: 8445836

Claim:
A system to maintain an even distribution of heat across a laser detector, the system including a multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) assembly having at least first, second and fourth layers, the system comprising: the first layer comprising a thermally-conductive ring provided circumferentially around a thermally-conductive detector region for mounting the laser detector thereon; the second layer comprising a plurality of resistive elements aligned with the thermally-conductive detector region to generate heat; the fourth layer coupled along the second layer, the fourth layer comprising a thermally-conductive heat-distribution region aligned with the thermally-conductive detector region, and the thermally-conductive heat-distribution region of the fourth layer absorbs heat generated by the resistive elements of the second layer coupled along the fourth layer; and a plurality of thermally-conductive vias coupling the thermally-conductive ring to the thermally-conductive heat-distribution region, wherein the thermally-conductive vias are provided through the multi-layer PCB assembly to transfer heat absorbed in the thermally-conductive heat distribution region from the resistive elements between the thermally-conductive heat-distribution region and the thermally-conductive ring.