PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10772190-B2
Application Number: US-201815865156-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Heat-removal assemblies with opposing springs

Abstract:
Heat-removal assemblies with springs on opposing sides of a support structure and methods for using the same are provided. Heat may be removed from a heat-generating assembly of an electronic device by a heat-removal assembly that may include a heat-dissipating subassembly (e.g., a heat spreader and/or a heat pipe) and a fastener subassembly. The fastener subassembly may be configured to press the heat-dissipating subassembly against the heat-generating assembly for enabling the heat-dissipating subassembly to be thermally coupled to the heat-generating assembly for removing heat therefrom. In order for the fastener subassembly to provide an even pressure distribution across the heat-dissipating subassembly for such heat removal and/or to limit deformation of one or more portions of the electronic device during such heat removal, the fastener subassembly may include two springs positioned on opposite sides of a circuit board that may be supporting the heat-generating assembly.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device comprising:
 a circuit board comprising a first circuit board surface and a second circuit board surface opposite the first circuit board surface; 
 a heat-generating assembly positioned on the first circuit board surface; and 
 a heat-removal assembly comprising:
 a heat-dissipating subassembly; and 
 a fastener subassembly comprising: 
 a first spring comprising a first anchor portion and a first contact portion; 
 a second spring comprising a second anchor portion and a second contact portion; and 
 a coupling mechanism that couples the first anchor portion to the second anchor portion via a circuit board through-hole extending through the circuit board between the first circuit board surface and the second circuit board surface, wherein:
 the first contact portion exerts a first contact force for forcing a portion of the heat-dissipating subassembly towards a portion of the heat-generating assembly; 
 the second contact portion exerts a second contact force for forcing a portion of the circuit board towards the heat-dissipating subassembly; and 
 the second spring exerts a force that is offset from all forces exerted by the first spring. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism couples the first anchor portion to the second anchor portion via the circuit board through-hole and via a heat-dissipating subassembly through-hole extending through a structure of the heat-dissipating subassembly. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the structure of the heat-dissipating subassembly comprises a heat pipe structure. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the structure of the heat-dissipating subassembly comprises a heat spreader structure that is thermally coupled to a heat pipe structure of the heat-dissipating subassembly. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism does not extend through any structure of the heat-dissipating subassembly. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism fastens the first anchor portion to the second anchor portion. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism prevents movement of the first anchor portion with respect to the second anchor portion. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first anchor portion is not fixed to any portion of the heat-dissipating subassembly. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the heat-dissipating subassembly comprises a portion of a heat spreader structure. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the heat-dissipating subassembly comprises a portion of a heat pipe structure. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the second contact force is offset from the first contact force for encouraging crowning of a portion of the electronic device. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the first contact force and a portion of the second contact force are linear along an axis that is perpendicular to the second circuit board surface. 
     
     
       13. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first spring further comprises a third anchor portion such that the first contact portion is between the first and third anchor portions; 
 the second spring further comprises a fourth anchor portion such that the second contact portion is between the second and fourth anchor portions; and 
 the fastener subassembly further comprises another coupling mechanism that couples the third anchor portion to the fourth anchor portion via a second circuit board through-hole extending through the circuit board between the first circuit board surface and the second circuit board surface. 
 
     
     
       14. The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first contact portion is positioned between the first anchor portion and third anchor portion along a linear structure of the first spring; and 
 the second contact portion is positioned between the second anchor portion and the fourth anchor portion along a linear structure of the second spring. 
 
     
     
       15. A fastener assembly for pressing a heat-dissipating assembly against a heat-generating assembly that is positioned on a first board surface of a board comprising a through-hole between the first board surface and a second board surface, the fastener assembly comprising:
 a first spring structure comprising:
 a first spring anchor; and 
 a first spring contact; and 
 
 a second spring structure comprising:
 a second spring anchor; and 
 a second spring contact, wherein:
 the second spring anchor is fastened to the first spring anchor through the passageway; 
 the first spring contact presses the heat-dissipating assembly towards the first board surface; and 
 the second spring contact presses, along an axis, the second board surface towards the heat-dissipating assembly, wherein the axis is offset from each axis along which the first spring structure presses the heat dissipating assembly towards the first board surface. 
 
 
 
     
     
       16. A fastener assembly for holding a heat-dissipating assembly against a heat-generating assembly that is positioned on a first support structure surface of a support structure comprising a through-hole between the first support structure surface and a second support structure surface of the support structure, the fastener assembly comprising:
 a first spring structure comprising:
 a first spring anchor; and 
 a first spring contact; 
 
 a second spring structure comprising:
 a second spring anchor; and 
 a second spring contact; and 
 
 a coupling mechanism at least partially positioned within the through-hole, wherein:
 the coupling mechanism couples the first spring anchor to the second spring anchor; 
 the first spring contact exerts a first contact force for forcing the heat-dissipating assembly towards the first support structure surface; 
 the second spring contact exerts a second contact force for forcing the second support structure surface towards the heat-dissipating assembly; and 
 the second spring contact exerts the second contact force along an axis that does not intersect the first spring structure. 
 
 
     
     
       17. An electronic device comprising:
 a circuit board comprising a first circuit board surface, a second circuit board surface opposite the first circuit board surface, and a through-hole therebetween; 
 a heat-generating assembly positioned on the first circuit board surface; and 
 a heat-removal assembly comprising:
 a heat-dissipating subassembly; and 
 a fastener subassembly for holding the heat dissipating subassembly against the heat generating assembly, the fastener subassembly comprising:
 a first spring structure including a first spring anchor, and a first spring contact, and 
 a second spring structure including a second spring anchor, and a second spring contact; and 
 a coupling mechanism at least partially positioned within the through-hole couples together the first spring anchor and the second spring anchor such that: (i) the first spring contact exerts a first contact force that compels the heat dissipating assembly towards the first circuit board surface, and (ii) the second spring contact exerts a second contact force that compels the second circuit board surface towards the heat dissipating assembly along an axis that is offset from the first spring structure. 
 
 
 
     
     
       18. The electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein the first contact force is along a first spring force axis, wherein the first spring force axis is offset from the axis that is offset from the first spring structure.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims the benefit of prior filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/565,440, filed Sep. 29, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to heat-removal assemblies and, more particularly, to heat-removal assemblies with springs on opposing sides of a support structure. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An electronic device (e.g., a laptop computer, a cellular telephone, etc.) may be provided with a heat-removal assembly for removing heat from a heat-generating assembly. However, heretofore, such a heat-removal assembly has been unable to effectively press against such a heat-generating assembly without deforming the electronic device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This document describes heat-removal assemblies with springs on opposing sides of a support structure and methods for using the same. 
     For example, an electronic device is provided that may include a circuit board including a top circuit board surface and a bottom circuit board surface, a heat-generating assembly positioned on the top circuit board surface, and a heat-removal assembly including a heat-dissipating subassembly and a fastener subassembly including a top spring including a top anchor portion and a top contact portion positioned above the top circuit board surface, a bottom spring including a bottom anchor portion and a bottom contact portion positioned below the bottom circuit board surface, and a coupling mechanism that couples the top anchor portion to the bottom anchor portion via a circuit board passageway extending through the circuit board between the top circuit board surface and the bottom circuit board surface, wherein the top contact portion exerts a top contact force for forcing a portion of the heat-dissipating subassembly towards a portion of the heat-removal assembly, and wherein the bottom contact portion exerts a bottom contact force for forcing a portion of the circuit board towards the heat-dissipating subassembly. 
     As another example, an assembly is provided for pressing a heat-dissipating assembly against a heat-generating assembly that is positioned on a first board surface of a board comprising a passageway between the first board surface and a second board surface, wherein the fastener assembly may include a first spring structure including a first spring anchor and a first spring contact, and second spring structure including a second spring anchor and a second spring contact, wherein the second spring anchor is fastened to the first spring anchor through the board passageway, wherein the first spring contact presses the heat-dissipating assembly towards the first board surface, and wherein the second spring contact presses the second board surface towards the heat-dissipating assembly. 
     As yet another example, a method is provided for using a heat-dissipating assembly and a spring assembly to remove heat from a heat-generating assembly positioned on a first support structure surface of a support structure that also includes a second support structure surface, wherein the method may include pressing, with the spring assembly, the heat-dissipating assembly towards the first support structure surface of the support structure, and pressing, with the spring assembly, the second surface of the support structure towards the heat-dissipating assembly. 
     This Summary is provided only to summarize some example embodiments, so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the subject matter described in this document. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the features described in this Summary are only examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following Detailed Description, Figures, and Claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The discussion below makes reference to the following drawings, in which like reference characters may refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an illustrative electronic device including a heat-removal assembly; 
         FIG. 2A  is an exploded top perspective view of a portion of another electronic device including a heat-removal assembly; 
         FIG. 2B  is an exploded bottom perspective view of the portion of the electronic device of  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 2C  is an assembled top perspective view of the portion of the electronic device of  FIGS. 2A and 2B ; 
         FIG. 2D  is an assembled bottom perspective view of the portion of the electronic device of  FIGS. 2A-2C ; 
         FIG. 2E  is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the electronic device of  FIGS. 2A-2D , taken from line IIE-IIE of  FIG. 2C ; 
         FIG. 2F  is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the electronic device of  FIGS. 2A-2E , taken from line IIF-IIF of  FIG. 2C ; 
         FIG. 3A  is an assembled top plan view of a portion of yet another electronic device including a heat-removal assembly; 
         FIG. 3B  is an assembled bottom plan view of the portion of the electronic device of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 4A  is an assembled top plan view of a portion of yet another electronic device including a heat-removal assembly; 
         FIG. 4B  is an assembled bottom plan view of the portion of the electronic device of  FIG. 4A ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart of an illustrative process for removing heat from a heat-generating assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Heat-removal assemblies with springs on opposing sides of a support structure and methods of using the same are provided. Heat may be removed from a heat-generating assembly (e.g., any suitable electronic component or assembly) of an electronic device by a heat-removal assembly that may include a heat-dissipating subassembly (e.g., a heat spreader and/or a heat pipe) and a fastener subassembly. The fastener subassembly may be configured to press the heat-dissipating subassembly against the heat-generating assembly for enabling the heat-dissipating subassembly to be thermally coupled to the heat-generating assembly for removing heat therefrom. In order for the fastener subassembly to provide an even pressure distribution across the heat-dissipating subassembly for such heat removal and/or to limit deformation of one or more portions of the electronic device during such heat removal, the fastener subassembly may include two springs positioned on opposite sides of a circuit board that may be supporting the heat-generating assembly. An anchor portion of a first spring positioned on a first side of the circuit board may be fixed or fastened or anchored or otherwise coupled to an anchor portion of a second spring positioned on a second side of the circuit board, where such anchor portion coupling may be provided via a passageway through the circuit board between the first and second sides of the circuit board. A contact portion of the first spring may be configured to press or push or otherwise force the heat-dissipating subassembly towards the first side of the circuit board while a contact portion of the second spring may be configured to press or push or otherwise force the second side of the circuit board towards the heat-dissipating subassembly, which may facilitate robust thermal coupling between the heat-dissipating subassembly and the heat-generating assembly that may be positioned between the first side of the circuit board and the heat-dissipating subassembly. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an illustrative electronic device  100  that may include a heat-removal assembly. Electronic device  100  can include, but is not limited to, a music player (e.g., an iPod™ available by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), video player, still image player, game player, other media player, music recorder, movie or video camera or recorder, still camera, other media recorder, radio, medical equipment, domestic appliance, transportation vehicle instrument, musical instrument, calculator, cellular telephone (e.g., an iPhone™ available by Apple Inc.), other wireless communication device, wearable device (e.g., an Apple Watch™ available by Apple Inc.), personal digital assistant, remote control, pager, computer (e.g., a desktop (e.g., an iMac™ available by Apple Inc.), laptop (e.g., a MacBook™ available by Apple Inc.), tablet (e.g., an iPad™ available by Apple Inc.), server, etc.), monitor, television, stereo equipment, set up box, set-top box, boom box, modem, router, printer, or any combination thereof. Electronic device  100  may be any portable, mobile, hand-held, or miniature electronic device that may be configured to remove heat from any suitable heat-generating component wherever a user travels. Some miniature electronic devices may have a form factor that is smaller than that of hand-held electronic devices, such as an iPhone™. Illustrative miniature electronic devices can be integrated into various objects that may include, but are not limited to, watches (e.g., an Apple Watch™ available by Apple Inc.), rings, necklaces, belts, accessories for belts, headsets, accessories for shoes, virtual reality devices, glasses, other wearable electronics, accessories for sporting equipment, accessories for fitness equipment, key chains, or any combination thereof. Alternatively, electronic device  100  may not be portable at all, but may instead be generally stationary. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, electronic device  100  may include a housing  101  defining a space or cavity  102  that may at least partially house one or more of a processor assembly  103 , a memory assembly  104 , a communications assembly  105 , a power supply assembly  106 , an input assembly  107 , an output assembly  108 , a circuit board  120 , and a heat-removal assembly  130 . Electronic device  100  may also include a bus  109  that may provide one or more wired or wireless communication links or paths for transferring data and/or power to, from, or between various assemblies of device  100 . In some embodiments, one or more assemblies of electronic device  100  may be combined or omitted. Moreover, electronic device  100  may include any other suitable assemblies not combined or included in  FIG. 1  and/or several instances of the assemblies shown in  FIG. 1 . For the sake of simplicity, only one of each of the assemblies is shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Memory assembly  103  may include one or more storage mediums, including, but not limited to, a hard-drive, flash memory, permanent memory such as read-only memory (“ROM”), semi-permanent memory such as random-access memory (“RAM”), any other suitable type of storage component, and any combinations thereof. Memory  104  may include cache memory, which may be one or more different types of memory used for temporarily storing data for electronic device applications. Communications assembly  105  may be provided to allow device  100  to communicate with one or more other electronic devices (e.g., wirelessly or via a wired connection) using any suitable communications protocol, such as Wi-Fi™ (e.g., an 802.11 protocol), Ethernet, Bluetooth™, high frequency systems (e.g., 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.6 GHz communication systems), any other communications protocol, and any combinations thereof Power supply assembly  106  may provide power to one or more of the various electronic assemblies of electronic device  100 . One or more input assemblies  107  may be provided to permit a user to interact or interface with device  100  (e.g., to provide one or more dedicated control functions for making selections or issuing commands associated with operating device  100 ) or to detect environmental data about an environment of device  100 , where input assembly  107  can take a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, a pad, dial, click wheel, scroll wheel, touch screen, one or more buttons (e.g., a keyboard), mouse, joy stick, track ball, microphone, light sensor, camera, video recorder, and any combinations thereof. One or more output assemblies  108  can be provided to present information (e.g., textual, graphical, audible, and/or tactile information) to a user of device  100 , where output assembly  108  can take a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, audio speakers, headphones, signal line-outs, visual displays, antennas, infrared ports, rumblers, vibrators, and any combinations thereof. Processor assembly  103  may control the operation of many functions and other circuitry provided by device  100 . For example, processor assembly  103  may receive input signals from input assembly  107  and/or drive output signals through output assembly  108 . Processor assembly  103  may load a user interface program (e.g., a program stored in memory assembly  104  or on another device or server) to determine how instructions received via input assembly  107  may manipulate the way in which information may be provided to a user via output assembly  108 . 
     Circuit board  120  may be a central or primary printed circuit board (“PCB”) of electronic device  100 , and may also be known as a main circuit board, mainboard, motherboard, baseboard, system board, planar board, or logic board. Circuit board  120  may provide attachment points for any component(s) of one or more of the other electronic assemblies of electronic device  100  (e.g., processor assembly  103 , memory assembly  104 , communications assembly  105 , power supply assembly  106 , input assembly  107 , output assembly  108 , any external peripheral devices, etc.). Generally, most of the basic circuitry and components required for electronic device  100  to function may be onboard or coupled (e.g., via a cable) to circuit board  120 . Circuit board  120  may include one or more chipsets (e.g., a chip with one or more die) or specialized groups of integrated circuits. For example, circuit board  120  may include two components or chips, such as a Northbridge and Southbridge. Although in other embodiments, these chips may be combined into a single component. 
     Housing  101  may at least partially enclose one or more of the various electronic assemblies associated with operating electronic device  100  for protecting them from debris and other degrading forces external to device  100 . In some embodiments, housing  101  may include one or more housing walls that define cavity  102  within which the various electronic assemblies of device  100  can be disposed. Housing  101  can support various electronic assemblies of device  100 , such as a portion of input assembly  107  and/or a portion of output assembly  108 , at the surfaces or within one or more housing openings through the surfaces of the housing walls. Such housing openings may also be configured to also allow certain fluids (e.g., air) to be drawn into and discharged from cavity  102  of electronic device  100  for helping to manage the internal temperature of device  100 . One or more of the electronic assemblies of electronic device  100  may be provided within its own housing component (e.g., input assembly  107  may be an independent keyboard or mouse within its own housing component that may wirelessly or through a wire communicate with processor assembly  103 , which may similarly be provided within its own housing component). Housing  101  can be formed from a wide variety of materials including, but not limited to, metals (e.g., steel, copper, titanium, aluminum, and various metal alloys), ceramics, plastics, and any combinations thereof. Housing  101  may also help to define the shape or form of electronic device  100 . That is, the contour of housing  101  may embody the outward physical appearance of electronic device  100 . 
     One or more heat-removal assemblies  130  can be provided to help dissipate or diffuse heat generated by the various other electronic assemblies of device  100 . Heat-removal assembly  130  may include one or more heat-dissipating subassemblies that may take various forms, including, but not limited to, heat sinks, heat spreaders, heat pipes, and any combinations thereof. For example, a heat-dissipating subassembly may include any suitable thermally conductive substance, such as, for example, graphite, aluminum, magnesium, copper, an aluminum alloy, a magnesium alloy, a copper alloy, and any combinations thereof. 
     Heat may be generated by one or more heat-generating assemblies  110  of electronic assemblies of device  100 , such as a chipset of circuit board  120 , processor assembly  103 , memory assembly  104 , communications assembly  105 , power supply assembly  106 , input assembly  107 , output assembly  108 , and/or the like. The heat may increase the temperature of an external surface of any heat-generating assembly  110 . If this heat is not adequately dissipated, heat-generating assembly  110  may fail and/or cause damage to electronic device  100 . Therefore, one or more heat-dissipating subassemblies of heat-removal assembly  130  may be positioned adjacent an external surface of heat-generating assembly  110  in order to transfer the heat generated at the surface of heat-generating assembly  110  away from heat-generating assembly  110 . In order to efficiently remove heat from heat-generating assembly  110 , a heat-dissipating subassembly of heat-removal assembly  130  ought to be held against and exert sufficient pressure onto an external surface of heat-generating assembly  110 . Such pressure ought to be exerted in an even pressure distribution across such an external surface of such a heat-generating assembly  110  and without bending or improperly crowning portions of device  100  (e.g., without crowning or bending or deflecting or otherwise deforming circuit board  120  or any portion of heat-generating assembly  110  or any portion of the heat-dissipating subassembly of heat-removal assembly  130 ). Therefore, in some embodiments, heat-removal assembly  130  may include two spring components positioned on opposite sides of circuit board  120  and coupled together by one or more coupling mechanisms via one or more openings provided through circuit board  120  in order to hold a heat-dissipating subassembly (e.g., a heat pipe) of heat-removal assembly  130  against a surface of a heat-generating assembly  110  that may be coupled to one side of circuit board  120 . For example, a first of the spring components of heat-removal assembly  130  may be positioned above a top surface of circuit board  120  and may exert a downward force onto a heat-dissipating subassembly of heat-removal assembly  130  for forcing the heat-dissipating subassembly against a surface of heat-generating assembly  110  coupled to the top surface of circuit board  120 , while a second of the spring components of heat-removal assembly  130  may be positioned below a bottom surface of circuit board  120  and may exert an upward force onto the bottom surface of circuit board  120  for forcing the heat-generating assembly  110  coupled to the top surface of circuit board  120  against the heat-dissipating subassembly. Such a downward force of the first spring component of heat-removal assembly  130  and such an upward force of the second spring component of heat-removal assembly  130  may directly counter each other, thereby resulting in little to no deformation of circuit board  120  and/or of the heat-generating assembly  110  and/or of the heat-dissipating subassembly of heat-removal assembly  130 . 
     For example, as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2F , an electronic device  200 , similarly to device  100 , may include (e.g., within a housing space defined by a housing) a circuit board  220 , at least one heat-generating assembly  210  positioned on circuit board  220 , and a heat-removal assembly  230 . Circuit board  220  may be any suitable structure that may include a top board surface  221  and a bottom board surface  229 . Each heat-generating assembly  210  may be any portion of any electronic assembly of electronic device  200  capable of generating heat (e.g., at least a portion of a processor assembly, at least a portion of a memory assembly, at least a portion of a communications assembly, at least a portion of a power supply assembly, at least a portion of an input assembly, at least a portion of an output assembly, at least a portion of any suitable chipset of circuit board  220 , and/or the like). As shown, three heat-generating assemblies  210  may be provided on top board surface  221  of circuit board  229 , although any suitable number of heat-generating assemblies fewer than or greater than three may be provided. Each heat-generating assembly  210  may include a heat-generating assembly top surface  211  and a heat-generating assembly bottom surface  219 . Bottom surface  219  of each heat-generating assembly  210  may be configured to interact with top board surface  221 , such that circuit board  220  may mechanically support each heat-generating assembly  210  and/or such that circuit board  220  may be electrically coupled to each heat-generating assembly  210  (e.g., via any suitable electronic components of circuit board  220 , of heat-generating assembly  210 , and/or any interconnect components). Each heat-generating assembly  210  may be configured to spread or otherwise generate heat at its top surface  211 , thereby increasing the temperature of heat-generating assembly top surface  211 . 
     Heat-removal assembly  230  may be provided to help dissipate or diffuse heat generated by one or more heat-generating assemblies  210 . Heat-removal assembly  230  may include a heat-dissipating subassembly  240  that may take various forms, including, but not limited to, heat sinks, heat spreaders, heat pipes, thermal stages, thermal interface features, and any combinations thereof. For example, as shown, heat-dissipating subassembly  240  may include a heat pipe subassembly  250  and a heat spreader subassembly  260 . Heat pipe subassembly  250  may provide any suitable heat pipe structure  252  (e.g., a hollow heat pipe structure) or any other suitable heat-transfer device structure that may remove heat away from heat-generating assembly  210 , for example, by providing a hot interface at or proximate heat-generating assembly  210  for receiving heat from heat-generating assembly  210  and a cold interface that may access such obtained heat. Heat spreader subassembly  260  may provide any suitable heat spreader structure  262  or any other suitable heat-exchanger device structure that may be positioned between heat pipe structure  252  and heat-generating assembly  210  for thermally conducting or otherwise effectively moving heat from heat-generating assembly  210  (e.g., from top surface  211  of heat-generating assembly  210 ) to heat pipe structure  252 . For example, as shown, a top surface  261  of heat spreader structure  262  may be configured to receive or otherwise support heat pipe structure  252  (e.g., a hot interface of heat pipe structure  252 ), which may be soldered or otherwise fixed to heat spreader structure  262 . As shown, a top channel  263  may be provided in top surface  261  of heat spreader structure  262  for receiving heat pipe structure  252  such that heat pipe structure  252  may not add to (e.g., not contribute to) the height (e.g., Z-height) of heat-dissipating subassembly  240  (e.g., the height of heat spreader structure  262  between surfaces  261  and  269 , and not any portion of heat pipe structure  252 , may define the magnitude of the height of heat-dissipating subassembly  240 ). As also shown, a bottom surface  269  of heat spreader structure  262  may be configured to receive or otherwise support or provide a heat exchanger component  268  for positioning along top surface  211  of heat-generating assembly  210 . For example, heat exchanger component  268  may be a thermally conductive plate (e.g., a copper plate or any other suitable material plate with high thermal conductivity) that may be operative to spread out any heat received from top surface  211  of heat-generating assembly  210  along heat exchanger component  268 , such that the spread-out heat may be more effectively received by heat pipe structure  252  from heat exchanger component  268  (e.g., via a portion of heat spreader structure  262 ). Additionally or alternatively, as shown, a bottom channel or cavity  267  may be provided in bottom surface  269  of heat spreader structure  262  for receiving and holding heat exchanger component  268  such that heat exchanger component  268  may not add to (e.g., not contribute to) the height (e.g., Z-height) of heat-dissipating subassembly  240  (e.g., the height of heat spreader structure  262  between surfaces  261  and  269 , and not any portion of heat exchanger component  268 , may define the magnitude of the height of heat-dissipating subassembly  240 ). 
     Heat-removal assembly  230  may also include a fastener subassembly  270  that may be operative to exert effective pressure on heat-dissipating subassembly  240  for functionally holding heat-dissipating subassembly  240  against heat-generating assembly  210  (e.g., for functionally holding heat exchanger component  268  against top surface  211  of heat-generating assembly  210 ) such that heat-dissipating subassembly  240  may effectively and efficiently remove heat from heat-generating assembly  210 . Such pressure ought to be exerted in an even pressure distribution across top surface  211  and/or across heat exchanger component  268  and/or without bending or improperly crowning portions of device  200  (e.g., without crowning or bending or deflecting or otherwise deforming circuit board  220  or any portion of heat-generating assembly  210  or any portion of heat-dissipating subassembly  240  of heat-removal assembly  230 ). Therefore, in some embodiments, as shown, fastener subassembly  270  may include at least one spring subassembly  280  (e.g., first spring subassembly  280 ) that may be configured to apply forces onto device  200  from different sides of circuit board  220 . 
     Spring subassembly  280  may include a top spring  281  (e.g., first top spring  281 ) positioned above top board surface  221  of circuit board  220  and a bottom spring  285  (e.g., first bottom spring  285 ) positioned below bottom board surface  229  of circuit board  220 . Top spring  281  may include at least one anchor portion for being anchored to another component (e.g., to bottom spring  285 ) and at least one heat contact portion (e.g., fulcrum, stress concentrator, feature, etc.) for exerting a contact force on heat-dissipating subassembly  240  (e.g., on a portion of top surface  261  of heat spreader structure  262 ), while bottom spring  285  may include at least one anchor portion for being anchored to another component (e.g., to top spring  281 ) and at least one heat contact portion for exerting a contact force on circuit board  220  (e.g., on a portion of bottom surface  229  of circuit board  220 ). For example, as shown, top spring  281  may include a first anchor portion  282  and a second anchor portion  284  (e.g., at or proximate opposite ends of the structure of top spring  281 ) as well as at least one heat contact portion therebetween, such as heat contact portions  283   a  and  283   b , while bottom spring  285  may include a first anchor portion  286  and a second anchor portion  288  (e.g., at or proximate opposite ends of the structure of bottom spring  285 ) as well as at least one heat contact portion therebetween, such as heat contact portions  287   a  and  287   b.    
     At least one anchor portion of top spring  281  may be fixed or fastened or otherwise coupled to at least one anchor portion of bottom spring  285  for enabling spring subassembly  280  to apply forces onto device  200  from different sides of circuit board  220 . For example, as shown, anchor portion  282  of top spring  281  may be fixed or fastened or otherwise coupled to anchor portion  286  of bottom spring  285  using any suitable coupling mechanism  272  that may extend through a passageway  226  provided between surfaces  221  and  229  of circuit board  220 , while anchor portion  284  of top spring  281  may be fixed or fastened or otherwise coupled to anchor portion  288  of bottom spring  285  using any suitable coupling mechanism  274  that may extend through a passageway  228  provided between surfaces  221  and  229  of circuit board  220 . While passageways  226  and  228  may be distinct from one another (as shown), in other embodiments they may be different portions of a single passageway (not shown). Springs  281  and  285  may be configured such that, when their opposing anchor portions are coupled to each other through circuit board passageways  226  and  228 , heat contact portions  283   a  and  283   b  (e.g., fulcrums, stress concentrators, features, etc.) may be operative to apply respective forces  283   af  and  283   bf  (e.g., in the −Z direction) onto different portions of top surface  261  of heat spreader structure  262 , and/or heat contact portions  287   a  and  287   b  (e.g., fulcrums, stress concentrators, features, etc.) may be operative to apply respective forces  287   af  and  287   bf  (e.g., in the +Z direction) onto different portions of bottom surface  229  of circuit board  220  (e.g., directly or via a protective padding  225  that may be provided along a portion of bottom surface  229 ), and/or anchor portions  282  and  284  of top spring  281  may be operative to apply respective forces  282   f  and  284   f  (e.g., in the +Z direction) onto respective anchor portions  286  and  288  of bottom spring  285 , and/or anchor portions  286  and  288  of bottom spring  285  may be operative to apply respective forces  286   f  and  288   f  (e.g., in the −Z direction) onto respective anchor portions  282  and  284  of top spring  281 . Each one of top spring  281  and bottom spring  285  may be provided by any suitable type of spring structure (e.g., any suitable leaf spring, cantilever spring, beam spring, etc.) that may be configured to exist in a pre-bent shape or resting position state of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  when no force is applied thereto and to exist in a bent shape or a compressed or stretched state of  FIGS. 2C-2F  when their anchor portions are coupled to each other (e.g., when anchor portions  282  and  286  are fixed together via coupling mechanism  272  and passageway  226  and when anchor portions  284  and  288  are fixed together via coupling mechanism  274  and passageway  228 ), which may facilitate or bias or otherwise cause springs  281  and  285  to exert forces  282   f ,  283   af ,  283   bf ,  284   f ,  286   f ,  287   af ,  287   bf , and  288   f . As shown, a top channel or cavity  266  may be provided in top surface  261  of heat spreader structure  262  for receiving top spring  281  such that top spring  281  (e.g., in combination with coupling mechanisms  272  and  274  when fixed to bottom spring  285 ) may not add to (e.g., not contribute to) the height (e.g., Z-height) of heat-dissipating subassembly  240  (e.g., the height of heat spreader structure  262  between surfaces  261  and  269 , and not any portion of top spring  281 , may define the magnitude of the height of heat-dissipating subassembly  240 ). 
     Fastener subassembly  270  may also include at least one other spring subassembly  290  (e.g., second spring subassembly  290 ) that may also be configured to apply forces onto device  200  from different sides of circuit board  220  and also from an opposite side of heat-generating assembly  210  than spring subassembly  280  (e.g., opposite sides of heat-generating assembly  210  with respect to the Y-axis). Spring subassembly  290  may include a top spring  291  (e.g., second top spring  291 ) positioned above top board surface  221  of circuit board  220  and a bottom spring  295  (e.g., second bottom spring  295 ) positioned below bottom board surface  229  of circuit board  220 . Top spring  291  may include at least one anchor portion for being anchored to another component (e.g., to bottom spring  295 ) and at least one heat contact portion (e.g., fulcrum, stress concentrator, feature, etc.) for exerting a contact force on heat-dissipating subassembly  240  (e.g., on a portion of top surface  261  of heat spreader structure  262 ), while bottom spring  295  may include at least one anchor portion for being anchored to another component (e.g., to top spring  291 ) and at least one heat contact portion for exerting a contact force on circuit board  220  (e.g., on a portion of bottom surface  229  of circuit board  220 ). For example, as shown, top spring  291  may include a first anchor portion  292  and a second anchor portion  294  (e.g., at or proximate opposite ends of the structure of top spring  291 ) as well as at least one heat contact portion therebetween, such as heat contact portions  293   a  and  293   b , while bottom spring  295  may include a first anchor portion  296  and a second anchor portion  298  (e.g., at or proximate opposite ends of the structure of bottom spring  295 ) as well as at least one heat contact portion therebetween, such as heat contact portions  297   a  and  297   b.    
     At least one anchor portion of top spring  291  may be fixed or fastened or otherwise coupled to at least one anchor portion of bottom spring  295  for enabling spring subassembly  290  to apply forces onto device  200  from different sides of circuit board  220 . For example, as shown, anchor portion  292  of top spring  291  may be fixed or fastened or otherwise coupled to anchor portion  296  of bottom spring  295  using any suitable coupling mechanism  276  that may extend through a passageway  222  provided between surfaces  221  and  229  of circuit board  220 , while anchor portion  294  of top spring  291  may be fixed or fastened or otherwise coupled to anchor portion  298  of bottom spring  295  using any suitable coupling mechanism  278  that may extend through a passageway  224  provided between surfaces  221  and  229  of circuit board  220 . While passageways  222  and  224  may be distinct from one another (as shown), in other embodiments they may be different portions of a single passageway (not shown). Springs  291  and  295  may be configured such that, when their opposing anchor portions are coupled to each other through circuit board passageways  222  and  224 , heat contact portions  293   a  and  293   b  (e.g., fulcrums, stress concentrators, features, etc.) may be operative to apply respective heat contact forces  293   af  and  293   bf  (e.g., in the −Z direction) onto different portions of top surface  261  of heat spreader structure  262 , and/or heat contact portions  297   a  and  297   b  (e.g., fulcrums, stress concentrators, features, etc.) may be operative to apply respective heat contact forces  297   af  and  297   bf  (e.g., in the +Z direction) onto different portions of bottom surface  229  of circuit board  220  (e.g., directly or via a protective padding  227  that may be provided along a portion of bottom surface  229 ), and/or anchor portions  292  and  294  of top spring  291  may be operative to apply respective anchor forces  292   f  and  294   f  (e.g., in the +Z direction) onto respective anchor portions  296  and  298  of bottom spring  295 , and/or anchor portions  296  and  298  of bottom spring  295  may be operative to apply respective anchor forces  296   f  and  298   f  (e.g., in the −Z direction) onto respective anchor portions  292  and  294  of top spring  291 . Each one of top spring  291  and bottom spring  295  may be provided by any suitable type of spring structure (e.g., any suitable leaf spring, cantilever spring, beam spring, etc.) that may be configured to exist in a pre-bent shape or resting position state of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  when no force is applied thereto and to exist in a bent shape or a compressed or stretched state of  FIGS. 2C-2F  when their anchor portions are fixed or fastened or otherwise coupled to each other (e.g., when anchor portions  292  and  296  are fixed together via coupling mechanism  276  and passageway  222  and when anchor portions  294  and  298  are fixed together via coupling mechanism  278  and passageway  224 ), which may facilitate springs  291  and  295  to exert forces  292   f ,  293   af ,  293   bf ,  294   f ,  296   f ,  297   af ,  297   bf , and  298   f . As shown, a top channel or cavity  264  may be provided in top surface  261  of heat spreader structure  262  for receiving top spring  291  such that top spring  291  (e.g., in combination with coupling mechanisms  276  and  278  when fixed to bottom spring  295 ) may not add to (e.g., not contribute to) the height (e.g., Z-height) of heat-dissipating subassembly  240  (e.g., the height of heat spreader structure  262  between surfaces  261  and  269 , and not any portion of top spring  291 , may define the magnitude of the height of heat-dissipating subassembly  240 ). 
     Each one of coupling mechanisms  272 ,  274 ,  276 , and  278  may be configured in any suitable manner to fix or fasten or otherwise couple an anchor portion of a top spring to an anchor portion of a bottom spring via a circuit board passageway (e.g., to oppose anchor forces of the anchor portions that the coupling mechanism is coupling together and/or to prevent movement of the top spring anchor portion with respect to the bottom spring anchor portion). For example, as shown, coupling mechanism  272  may include a screw  272   s  that may be operative to be passed partially through an opening  272   o  provided through top spring  281  (e.g., at or near anchor portion  282 ) and through an opening  272   p  provided through heat spreader structure  262  (e.g., within cavity  266 ) and through circuit board passageway  226  and into a threaded boss  272   t  that may be provided on or by bottom spring  285  (e.g., at or near anchor portion  286 ), such that screwing screw  272   s  into threaded boss  272   t  may fix anchor portion  282  of top spring  281  to anchor portion  286  of bottom spring  285  via circuit board passageway  226 , where threaded boss  272   t  may be configured to extend up through at least a portion of circuit board passageway  226  and/or opening  272   p  and/or opening  272   o  (e.g., to reduce the overall height of coupling mechanism  272  and/or of fastener subassembly  270  and/or of heat-removal assembly  230  (e.g., Z-height)). Similarly, as shown, coupling mechanism  274  may include a screw  274   s  that may be operative to be passed partially through an opening  274   o  provided through top spring  281  (e.g., at or near anchor portion  284 ) and through an opening  274   p  provided through heat spreader structure  262  (e.g., within cavity  266 ) and through circuit board passageway  228  and into a threaded boss  274   t  that may be provided on or by bottom spring  285  (e.g., at or near anchor portion  288 ), such that screwing screw  274   s  into threaded boss  274   t  may fix anchor portion  284  of top spring  281  to anchor portion  288  of bottom spring  285  via circuit board passageway  228 , where threaded boss  274   t  may be configured to extend up through at least a portion of circuit board passageway  228  and/or opening  274   p  and/or opening  274   o  (e.g., to reduce the overall height of coupling mechanism  274  and/or of fastener subassembly  270  and/or of heat-removal assembly  230  (e.g., Z-height)). Similarly, as shown, coupling mechanism  276  may include a screw  276   s  that may be operative to be passed partially through an opening  276   o  provided through top spring  291  (e.g., at or near anchor portion  292 ) and through an opening  276   p  provided through heat spreader structure  262  (e.g., within cavity  264 ) and through circuit board passageway  222  and into a threaded boss  276   t  that may be provided on or by bottom spring  295  (e.g., at or near anchor portion  296 ), such that screwing screw  276   s  into threaded boss  276   t  may fix anchor portion  292  of top spring  291  to anchor portion  296  of bottom spring  295  via circuit board passageway  222 , where threaded boss  276   t  may be configured to extend up through at least a portion of circuit board passageway  222  and/or opening  276   p  and/or opening  276   o  (e.g., to reduce the overall height of coupling mechanism  276  and/or of fastener subassembly  270  and/or of heat-removal assembly  230  (e.g., Z-height)). Similarly, as shown, coupling mechanism  278  may include a screw  278   s  that may be operative to be passed partially through an opening  278   o  provided through top spring  291  (e.g., at or near anchor portion  294 ) and through an opening  278   p  provided through heat spreader structure  262  (e.g., within cavity  264 ) and through circuit board passageway  224  and into a threaded boss  278   t  that may be provided on or by bottom spring  295  (e.g., at or near anchor portion  298 ), such that screwing screw  278   s  into threaded boss  278   t  may fix anchor portion  294  of top spring  291  to anchor portion  298  of bottom spring  295  via circuit board passageway  224 , where threaded boss  278   t  may be configured to extend up through at least a portion of circuit board passageway  224  and/or opening  278   p  and/or opening  278   o  (e.g., to reduce the overall height of coupling mechanism  278  and/or of fastener subassembly  270  and/or of heat-removal assembly  230  (e.g., Z-height)). 
     While opposing anchor portions of opposing springs may be shown to be fixed to one another via a coupling mechanism provided by a screw and a threaded boss on a bottom spring, it is understood that any suitable coupling mechanism may be provided for coupling any two opposing anchor portions of any two opposing springs. For example, rather than providing a threaded boss as an integral part of a spring, a threaded boss may be made available through an opening in a spring (e.g., boss  276   t  may be provided through an opening in anchor portion  296  of spring  295  (e.g., similarly to screw  276   s  being provided through opening  276   o  in anchor portion  292  of spring  291 ) rather than as a top of anchor portion  296 ). As another example, rather than providing a threaded boss at an anchor portion of a spring, a threaded nut may be made available beyond an opening in a spring (e.g., a nut may be provided below (e.g., in the −Z direction beyond) an opening in anchor portion  296  of spring  295  that may receive and fasten screw  276   s  thereto). Additionally or alternatively, rather than providing a threaded boss or nut at or below an anchor portion of a bottom spring, a threaded boss or nut may be provided at or above an anchor portion of a top spring and a screw may be provided at or below an anchor portion of a bottom spring. Any other suitable type of coupling mechanism may be used to couple or fix or fasten or anchor opposing anchor portions of opposing springs to one another via a circuit board passageway, and different coupling mechanisms of fastener subassembly  270  may differ from one another in any suitable way(s) (e.g., coupling mechanism  272  may differ from coupling mechanism  274  and/or  276  and/or  278  in one or more different ways). For example, one, some, or each coupling mechanism may be provided by any suitable rivet mechanism that may couple two anchoring portions. A coupling mechanism may fix or fasten or anchor or connect or otherwise couple two opposing anchor portions to one another via a circuit board passageway without fixing or fastening or anchoring or connecting or otherwise coupling the anchor portions to the circuit board. Additionally or alternatively, a coupling mechanism may fix or fasten or anchor or connect or otherwise couple two opposing anchor portions to one another via an opening through a structure of a heat-dissipating assembly (e.g., via opening  278   p  provided through heat spreader structure  262 ) without fixing or fastening or anchoring or connecting or otherwise coupling the anchor portions to the heat-dissipating assembly. Opposing springs may be configured to have the same spring rate such that they may find a neutral position to balance themselves once opposing anchor portions are coupled to one another. 
     By fastening an anchor portion of a top spring to an anchor portion of an opposing bottom spring via a circuit board passageway, the coupled anchor portions of the opposed springs may be configured to apply anchor forces to one another that may directly counter each other (e.g., components of forces  294   f  and  298   f  of coupled anchor portions  294  and  298  may oppose one another in the same Z-axis and/or may be of the same magnitude), which may thereby result in little to no deformation of a heat-dissipating subassembly and/or of a circuit board that may be positioned between the opposing springs. For example, when anchor portions  294  and  298  are coupled together, anchor portion  294  may apply upward force  294   f  on anchor portion  298  of bottom spring  295  that may directly counter downward force  298   f  that may be applied by anchor portion  298  on anchor portion  294  of top spring  291 , such that any moment exerted upon or applied to heat-dissipating subassembly  240  by coupled anchor portions  294  and  298  (e.g., to a portion of heat spreader subassembly  260  that may be positioned between coupled anchor portions  294  and  298 ) may be reduced or minimized or obviated, and/or such that deformation of heat-dissipating subassembly  240  by coupled anchor portions  294  and  298  may be reduced or minimized or obviated. For example, the bending moment (e.g., about a Y-axis) may be essentially eliminated. This may also be true with respect to any portion of heat-dissipating subassembly  240  between coupled anchor portions  282  and  286  with forces  282   f  and  286   f  and/or between coupled anchor portions  284  and  288  with forces  284   f  and  288   f  and/or between coupled anchor portions  292  and  296  with forces  292   f  and  296 . Additionally or alternatively, for example, when anchor portions  294  and  298  are coupled together, anchor portion  294  may apply upward force  294   f  on anchor portion  296  of bottom spring  295  that may directly counter downward force  298   f  that may be applied by anchor portion  298  on anchor portion  294  of top spring  291 , such that any moment exerted upon or applied to circuit board  220  by coupled anchor portions  294  and  298  (e.g., to a portion of circuit board  220  about circuit board passageway  224  that may be positioned between coupled anchor portions  294  and  298 ) may be reduced or minimized or obviated, and/or such that deformation of circuit board  220  by coupled anchor portions may be reduced or minimized or obviated. For example, the bending moment (e.g., about a Y-axis) may be essentially eliminated. This may also be true with respect to any portion of circuit board  220  between coupled anchor portions  282  and  286  with forces  282   f  and  286   f  and/or between coupled anchor portions  284  and  288  with forces  284   f  and  288   f  and/or between coupled anchor portions  292  and  296  with forces  292   f  and  296 . 
     Moreover, by fastening at least one anchor portion of a top spring to at least one anchor portion of an opposing bottom spring via a circuit board passageway, one or more heat contact portions of each one of the coupled springs may be configured to apply heat contact forces to device  200  that may directly counter each other (e.g., components of forces  293   bf  and  297   bf  of opposing heat contact portions  293   b  and  297   b  of opposing coupled springs  291  and  295  may oppose one another in the same Z-axis and/or may be of the same magnitude), which may thereby result in little to no deformation of a heat-dissipating subassembly and/or of a circuit board that may be positioned between the opposing springs. For example, when springs  291  and  295  are coupled together (e.g., when anchor portions  292  and  296  are coupled together and when anchor portions  294  and  298  are coupled together), such that springs  291  and  295  may be in their bent shapes or compressed or stretched states of  FIGS. 2C-2F , heat contact portion  293   a  may apply downward force  293   af  (e.g., downwardly along a first Z-axis Z 1  of  FIG. 2F ) onto a portion of top surface  261  of heat spreader structure  262  that may directly counter upward force  297   af  that may be applied (e.g., upwardly along first Z-axis Z 1  of  FIG. 2F ) by heat contact portion  297   a  on bottom surface  229  of circuit board  220  (e.g., directly or via padding  227 ) and/or heat contact portion  293   b  may apply downward force  293   bf  (e.g., downwardly along a second Z-axis Z 2  of  FIG. 2F ) onto another portion of top surface  261  of heat spreader structure  262  that may directly counter upward force  297   bf  that may be applied (e.g., upwardly along second Z-axis Z 2  of  FIG. 2F ) by heat contact portion  297   b  on bottom surface  229  of circuit board  220  (e.g., directly or via padding  227 ), such that any moment exerted upon or applied to device  200  by heat contact portions  293   a  and  297   a  and/or by heat contact portions  293   b  and  297   b  (e.g., to a portion of heat-dissipating subassembly  240  and/or to a portion of circuit board  220  and/or to any other portion of device  200  that may be positioned between opposing heat contact portions) may be reduced or minimized or obviated, and/or such that deformation of device  200  (e.g., of heat-dissipating subassembly  240  and/or of circuit board  220 ) by opposing heat contact portions may be reduced or minimized or obviated (e.g., components of forces  293   bf  and  297   bf  may oppose one another in the same Z-axis and/or may be of the same magnitude). For example, the bending moment (e.g., about a Y-axis) may be essentially eliminated. This may also be true with respect to any portion of device  200  between opposing heat contact portions  283   a  and  287   a  with forces  283   af  and  287   af  and/or between opposing heat contact portions  283   b  and  287   b  with forces  283   bf  and  287   bf.    
     Therefore, while one or more heat contact forces applied by one or more heat contact portions of each one of two opposing springs may counter each other on opposite sides of circuit board  220  for reducing or obviating deformation of circuit board  220  and/or of heat-dissipating subassembly  240 , such heat contact forces may also be operative to hold heat-dissipating subassembly  240  in a functionally effective position against heat-generating assembly  210  of device  200  (e.g., to hold heat exchanger component  268  along and against top surface  211  of heat-generating assembly  210  (e.g., in a pressure distributed manner across heat exchanger component  268  and top surface  211 )). However, in some other embodiments, heat contact portions of opposing springs may be offset from one another to induce certain crowning or other deformation of portions of device  200  when useful. For example, although  FIGS. 2A-2F  may show forces  293   af  and  297   af  of opposing heat contact portions  293   a  and  297   a  to be aligned with one another (e.g., along first Z-axis Z 2  of  FIG. 2F ) and/or forces  293   bf  and  297   bf  of opposing heat contact portions  293   b  and  297   b  to be aligned with one another (e.g., along second Z-axis Z 1  of  FIG. 2F ) for reducing or obviating crowning or any other deformation of circuit board  220  and/or of heat-dissipating subassembly  240  and/or of any other portion of device  200  therebetween, heat contact portion  297   a  may instead be offset in the +X direction by a distance  297   ax  from second Z-axis Z 2  such that upward heat contact force  297   af  may be offset from downward heat contact force  293   af  (e.g., heat contact force  297   af  may be applied upwardly along a fourth Z-axis Z 4  of  FIG. 2F  that may be offset from second Z-axis Z 2  along which downward heat contact force  293   af  may be applied by heat contact portion  293   a ) and/or heat contact portion  297   b  may instead be offset in the −X direction by a distance  297   bx  from first Z-axis Z 1  such that upward heat contact force  297   bf  may be offset from downward heat contact force  293   bf  (e.g., heat contact force  297   bf  may be applied upwardly along a third Z-axis Z 3  of  FIG. 2F  that may be offset from first Z-axis Z 1  along which downward heat contact force  293   bf  may be applied by heat contact portion  293   b ). Such offset heat contact forces of opposing springs may encourage a particular type of crowning or deflection or deformation of device  200 . For example, such downward heat contact forces  293   af  and  293   bf  along respective outer Z-axes Z 2  and Z 1  in combination with such upward heat contact forces  297   af  and  297   bf  along respective inner Z-axes Z 4  and Z 3  may encourage deformation or crowning of device  200  (e.g., of circuit board  220  and/or of heat-dissipating subassembly  240 ) in the shape of arrow C of  FIG. 2F , which may be useful to encourage consistent contact between heat-dissipating subassembly  240  and heat-generating assembly  210  in certain embodiments (e.g., when height Ha of a first heat-generating assembly  210   a  is less than height Hb of a second heat-generating assembly  210   b  and/or when height Hc of a third heat-generating assembly  210   c  is less than height Hb of second heat-generating assembly  210   b ). In addition to or as an alternative to offsetting certain heat contact portions of opposing springs of a spring subassembly, different opposing springs of a spring assembly may have different numbers of heat contact portions. For example, rather than each one of opposing springs  291  and  295  providing two heat contact portions (e.g., heat contact portions  293   a ,  293   b ,  297   a , and  297   b ), spring  291  may include each one of two heat contact portions  293   a  and  293   b  for applying downward heat contact forces  293   af  and  293   bf  along respective Z-axes Z 2  and Z 1 , while spring  295  may include only one heat contact portion for applying one upward heat contact force (e.g., along a fifth Z-axis Z 5 , which for example, may also encourage deformation in the shape of arrow C). 
     Heat spreader subassembly  260  may be configured to interface with at least one anchor portion of at least one spring of fastener assembly  270 . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 2B-2F , each end portion of cavity  266  in top surface  261  of heat spreader structure  262  may be configured to receive and interface with a respective one of anchor portions  282  and  284  of spring  281 , such that the end portions of heat spreader structure  262  about openings  272   p  and  274   p  may be held in between coupled anchor portions of springs  281  and  285 , and each end portion of cavity  264  in top surface  261  of heat spreader structure  262  may be configured to receive and interface with a respective one of anchor portions  292  and  294  of spring  291 , such that the end portions of heat spreader structure  262  about openings  272   p  and  274   p  may be held in between coupled anchor portions of springs  291  and  295 . However, in alternative embodiments (not shown), one or more of top springs  281  and  291  may extend beyond at least one end of heat spreader structure  262  (e.g., along the X-axis in the +X-direction and/or in the −X-direction), such that at least one anchor portion of a top spring may not interface with any portion of heat spreader subassembly  260  when coupled to an anchor portion of a bottom spring. For example, a length of top spring  291  along the X-axis may be longer than such a length of heat spreader structure  262  such that anchor portion  292  of top spring  291  may be coupled to anchor portion  296  of bottom spring  295  by coupling mechanism  276  that may not extend through any portion of heat spreader structure  262  (e.g., coupling mechanism  276  may be configured not to extend through any opening  276   p  through heat spreader structure  262 ) or through any other portion of heat-dissipating subassembly  240  and/or such that anchor portion  294  of top spring  291  may be coupled to anchor portion  298  of bottom spring  295  by coupling mechanism  278  that may not extend through any portion of heat spreader structure  262  (e.g., coupling mechanism  278  may be configured not to extend through any opening  278   p  through heat spreader structure  262 ) or through any other portion of heat-dissipating subassembly  240 . In such embodiments, heat contact portions of spring  291  (e.g., heat contact portions  293   a  and  293   b ) may still interface with heat spreader structure  262  for holding heat-dissipating subassembly  240  against heat-generating assembly  210 . 
     Heat spreader subassembly  260  of heat-dissipating subassembly  240  may be configured to interface with at least one heat contact portion of at least one top spring of fastener subassembly  270  such that fastener subassembly  270  may be operative to force heat exchanger component  268  of heat spreader subassembly  260  against heat-generating assembly  210  for removing heat therefrom (e.g., in coordination with heat pipe subassembly  250  of heat-dissipating subassembly  240 ), where the interface between heat spreader subassembly  260  and one or more heat contact portions of fastener subassembly  270  may be positioned adjacent but not above heat pipe subassembly  250  (e.g., any heat contact force may be offset (e.g., in the −Y-direction and/or in the +Y-direction) along a Y-axis from heat pipe structure  252 ). Alternatively, in some other embodiments, fastener subassembly  270  may be configured to position one or more heat contact portions of one or more top springs above and aligned with heat pipe subassembly  250  and/or to position one or more heat contact portions of one or more bottom springs below and aligned with heat pipe subassembly  250 , for example, such that one or more of heat contact forces  283   af ,  283   bf ,  287   af ,  287   bf ,  293   af ,  293   bf ,  297   af , and  297   bf  may be aligned (e.g., along a Z-axis) with a portion of heat pipe subassembly  250  (e.g., with a portion of heat pipe structure  252 ). This may be accomplished by heat-dissipating subassembly  240  being configured such that at least a portion of heat pipe subassembly  250  may extend underneath a portion of heat spreader subassembly  260  (e.g., underneath a portion of heat spreader structure  262 ) that may be interfacing with a heat contact portion of a top spring of fastener subassembly  270  and/or by heat-dissipating subassembly  240  being configured not to provide any heat spreader subassembly  260 , but, instead, to provide heat pipe subassembly  250  with the ability to interface with one or more heat contact portions of one or more top springs of fastener subassembly  270 . 
     While each spring assembly of fastener subassembly  270  may be shown (e.g., in  FIGS. 2A-2F ) to include two substantially linear springs (e.g., along an X-axis), each of which may include two anchor portions at opposite ends of the spring and one or more force contact portions between the two anchor portions, each spring may be any suitable shape with any suitable number of anchor portions and any suitable number of force contact portions, and opposing springs of a particular spring assembly may or may not be of the same shape and/or may or may not include the same number of anchor portions and/or the same number of force contact portions. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3A , an electronic device  300  may include a circuit board  320  with a top circuit board surface  321  above which a heat-removal subassembly  330  may be provided for removing heat from a heat-generating assembly  310  that may be positioned above top circuit board surface  321 , where heat-removal subassembly  330  may include a fastener subassembly  370  with a spring assembly  380  with an H-shaped top spring  381  that may include spring portions  381   a - 381   g , such as portions  381   a - 381   c  sequentially aligned along a first linear portion of spring  381 , spring portions  381   d - 381   f  sequentially aligned along a second linear portion of spring  381 , and spring portion  381   g  that may be aligned in between portions  381   b  and  381   e  along a third linear portion of spring  381  that may extend between and perpendicularly to the first and second linear portions. Any one or more of portions  381   a - 381   g  may be provided as an anchor portion of spring  381  for being fastened to an opposing anchor portion of a bottom spring of spring assembly  380 , while any one or more other non-anchor portions of portions  381   a - 381   g  may be provided as a heat contact portion of spring  381 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 3B , spring assembly  380  may also include an H-shaped bottom spring  385  that may be positioned below circuit board bottom surface  329  of circuit board  320  and that may include spring portions  385   a - 385   g . As one example, portion  381   g  of spring  381  and portion  385   g  of spring  385  may each be an anchor portion that may be fastened to one another by any suitable coupling mechanism (e.g., that may be provided via a passageway through circuit board  320  and via one or more passageways through one or more subassemblies of heat-dissipating subassembly  340  (e.g., through a heat pipe and/or through a heat spreader, etc.)), while any one, some, or each of portions  381   a - 381   f  and any one, some, or each of portions  385   a - 385   f  may be a heat contact portion. As just one other example, of countless possible examples, each one of portions  381   a ,  381   c ,  381   d ,  381   f ,  385   a ,  385   c ,  385   d , and  385   f  may be anchor portions of fastener subassembly  370  and each one of portions  381   b ,  381   e ,  381   g ,  385   b ,  385   e , and  385   g  may be heat contact portions of fastener subassembly  370 . As just yet one other example, of countless possible examples, each one of portions  381   b ,  381   e ,  385   b , and  385   e  may be anchor portions of fastener subassembly  370  and each one of portions  381   a ,  381   c ,  381   d ,  381   f ,  381   g ,  385   a ,  385   c ,  385   d ,  385   f , and  385   g  may be heat contact portions of fastener subassembly  370 . In yet other embodiments, bottom spring  385  of fastener subassembly  370  may be used with two top springs  281  and  291  of fastener subassembly  270 , where portions  385   a ,  385   c ,  385   d , and  385   f  of spring  385  may be anchor portions operative to be fastened to anchor portions  282 ,  284 ,  292 , and  294  of springs  281  and  291 , while portions  385   b ,  385   e , and  385   g  may be heat contact portions, which may enable one less spring to be used (e.g., to obviate the use of two bottom springs  291  and  295 ). 
     Top and bottom springs of a fastener assembly may be of different shapes with different numbers of heat contact portions. As shown in  FIG. 4A , an electronic device  400  may include a circuit board  420  with a top circuit board surface  421  above which a heat-removal subassembly  430  may be provided for removing heat from a heat-generating assembly  410  that may be positioned above top circuit board surface  421 , where heat-removal subassembly  430  may include a fastener subassembly  470  with a spring assembly  480  with a hollow picture frame-shaped top spring  481  that may include spring portions  481   a - 481   f , such as portions  481   a - 481   c  sequentially aligned along one side of the frame, and portions  481   d - 481   f  sequentially aligned along another side of the frame. Any one or more of portions  481   a - 481   f  may be provided as an anchor portion of spring  481  for being fastened to an opposing anchor portion of a bottom spring of spring assembly  480 , while any one or more other non-anchor portions of portions  481   a - 481   f  may be provided as a heat contact portion of spring  481 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 4B , spring assembly  480  may also include a picture frame-shaped bottom spring  485  with an X-shaped interior that may be positioned below circuit board bottom surface  429  of circuit board  420  and that may include spring portions  485   a - 485   g  (e.g., with region  485   g  in the middle of the X-shaped interior). As one example, portions  481   a ,  481   c ,  481   d , and  481   f  of spring  481  and portions  485   a ,  485   c ,  485   d , and  485   f  of spring  485  may each be an anchor portion that may be fastened to one another by any suitable coupling mechanism (e.g., that may be provided via a passageway through circuit board  420  and via one or more passageways through one or more subassemblies of heat-dissipating subassembly  440  (e.g., through a heat pipe and/or through a heat spreader, etc.) or not via any portion of heat-dissipating subassembly  440  (see, e.g., the corner spring portions that are not aligned with any portion of heat-dissipating subassembly  440 )), while any one, some, or each of portions  481   b  and  481   e  and any one, some, or each of portions  485   b ,  485   e , and  485   g  may be a heat contact portion. Such a fastener subassembly  470  may enable two less springs to be used than fastener subassembly  270  (e.g., to obviate the use of a second top spring and a second bottom spring). 
     Therefore, a heat removal assembly may include a fastener subassembly that provides at least one top spring above a top circuit board surface and at least one bottom spring below a bottom circuit board surface, where each top spring may include at least one anchor portion coupled to an anchor portion of an opposing bottom spring by any suitable coupling mechanism via a passageway extending through the top and bottom surfaces of the circuit board, where each top spring may include one or more top spring heat contact portions operative to contact and/or exert downward pressure on a portion of a heat-dissipating subassembly for forcing the heat-dissipating subassembly against a heat generating assembly positioned between the heat-dissipating subassembly and the top circuit board surface (e.g., to press the heat-dissipating subassembly downward towards the circuit board), and where each bottom spring may include one or more bottom spring heat contact portions operative to contact and/or exert upward pressure on a portion of the bottom circuit board surface (e.g., to press the circuit board upward towards the heat-dissipating subassembly). One, some, or each top spring heat contact portion may be opposed to (e.g., aligned with along an axis perpendicular to the top circuit board surface) a bottom spring heat contact portion such that the opposing spring heat contact portions may apply forces that may directly counter one another for preventing those spring heat contact portions from promoting deformation and/or crowning of the circuit board and/or of the heat-dissipating subassembly. 
     Rather than coupling an anchor portion of a spring to the circuit board, which may put a direct bending moment into the circuit board, an anchor portion of a spring of a fastener subassembly may be coupled to an anchor portion of another spring of the fastener subassembly that may be on an opposing side of the circuit board. Moreover, by providing opposing springs of a fastener subassembly on opposing sides of a circuit board for holding a heat-dissipating subassembly against a heat-generating assembly on the circuit board, each spring may include a heat contact portion that may be operative to apply a heat contact force towards its side of the circuit board that may be counter to a heat contact force applied by an opposing spring toward its side of the circuit board, such that the opposing heat contact forces may balance each other out for reducing or obviating deformation and/or crowning of the circuit board and/or for reducing or obviating deformation and/or crowning of at least a portion of the heat-dissipating subassembly and/or for reducing or obviating deformation and/or crowning of at least a portion of the heat-generating assembly. Such a fastener subassembly may be operative to exert pressure evenly across a heat-dissipating subassembly (e.g., a thermal stage and/or heat spreader and/or heat pipe) so that the heat-dissipating subassembly may be held evenly against at least a portion of heat-generating assembly. Such a fastener subassembly may limit deformation and/or crowning while also enabling application of even pressure, which may provide a more effective and efficient heat removal assembly and/or may enable use of a thinner circuit board and/or a thinner heat-dissipating subassembly (e.g., along a Z-axis height). Variability of pressure applied to the device by such a fastener subassembly may be reduced due to at least some spring manufacturing tolerances being balanced out due to opposing springs. Different springs of such a fastener subassembly may be provided by different materials and/or may be provided to display different characteristics, where, for example, a top spring may be made of a first material and an opposing bottom spring may be made of a second material (e.g., a thicker top spring made of a weaker material and a thinner bottom spring made of a stronger material (e.g., such that the opposing springs may exert similar forces but such that the bottom spring may be thinner for enabling a thinner Z-height than the top spring)). 
     Any spring may be any suitable type of spring that may be provided by a single structure or by multiple spring structures that may be stacked on top of one another (e.g., top spring  281  may be a single spring, while bottom spring  285  may be provided by three or more springs stacked on top of one another to provide a single leaf spring). While each one of boards  120 ,  220 ,  320 , and  420  has been described as a circuit board to which a heat-generating assembly may be electrically coupled and through which opposing anchor portions of opposing springs may be coupled, it is to be understood that each one of boards  120 ,  220 ,  320 , and  420  may be any suitable structure (e.g., support structure) through which opposing anchor portions of opposing springs of a fastener subassembly may be coupled and which may be positioned on an opposing side of a heat-generating assembly from a heat-dissipating subassembly that may interact with the fastener subassembly. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart of an illustrative process  500  for using a heat-dissipating assembly and a spring assembly to remove heat from a heat-generating assembly that is positioned on a first support structure surface of a support structure that also includes a second support structure surface (e.g., a process for using heat-dissipating subassembly  240  and fastener subassembly  270  to remove heat from heat-generating assembly  210  position on surface  221  of circuit board  220 ). At operation  502  of process  500 , the spring assembly may press the heat-dissipating assembly towards the first support structure surface of the support structure (e.g., top spring  281  may press heat-dissipating subassembly  240  towards top circuit board surface  221  of circuit board  220  (e.g., with force  283   bf )). At operation  504  of process  500 , the spring assembly may press the second support structure surface of the support structure towards the heat-dissipating assembly (e.g., bottom spring  285  may press bottom circuit board surface  229  of circuit board  220  towards heat-dissipating subassembly  240  (e.g., with force  287   bf )). 
     It is understood that the operations shown in process  500  of  FIG. 5  are only illustrative and that existing operations may be modified or omitted, additional operations may be added, and the order of certain operations may be altered. 
     While there have been described heat-removal assemblies with springs on opposing sides of a support structure and methods for using the same, it is to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein in any way. Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. It is also to be understood that various directional and orientational terms, such as “up” and “down,” “front” and “back,” “top” and “bottom” and “side,” “above” and “below,” “length” and “width” and “thickness” and “diameter” and “cross-section” and “longitudinal,” “X-” and “Y-” and “Z-,” and the like, may be used herein only for convenience, and that no fixed or absolute directional or orientational limitations are intended by the use of these terms. For example, the components of a heat-removal assembly can have any desired orientation. If reoriented, different directional or orientational terms may need to be used in their description, but that will not alter their fundamental nature as within the scope and spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. 
     Therefore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concepts of the disclosure can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration rather than of limitation.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20180108
Publication Date: 20200908
Grant Date: 20200908
Priority Date: 20170929
Inventors: LAURENT, KRISTOPHER P.
DEGNER, BRETT W.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01L23/40", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/40", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/4006", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/367", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/20", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/20", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/4006", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/367", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/0203", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/40", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/367", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/0203", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/4006", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/20", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 65897046