IP Library Granted Patent US 7,149,087
Granted Patent B2
US 7,149,087 · App. 11/220,456 · Granted Dec 12, 2006

Liquid cooled heat sink with cold plate retention mechanism

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,149,087
App. No.
11/220,456
Granted
Dec 12, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for cooling electronic components with a surface having one or more electronic components, including an integrated circuit, mounted thereon. A liquid cooled heat exchanger located in overlying contacting relation with the integrated circuit. A resilient cold plate coupled to the surface so as to be biased by a portion of the liquid cooled heat exchanger thereby providing a forced engagement between the liquid cooled heat exchanger, the integrated circuit, and the resilient cold plate.

Claims (38)

1. A system for cooling electronic components, said system comprising:

a surface;

one or more electronic components including an integrated circuit mounted on said surface;

a liquid cooled heat exchanger located in overlying contacting relation with said integrated circuit; and

a resilient cold plate coupled to said surface so as to be biased by a portion of said liquid cooled heat exchanger thereby providing a loaded engagement between said liquid cooled heat exchanger, said integrated circuit, and said resilient cold plate.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said liquid cooled heat exchanger includes a base plate having a plurality of fins projecting outwardly from a top surface.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein said plurality of fins are arranged in mutually parallel relation to one another.

4. A system according to claim 2 wherein end ones of said fins include a radiused outer surface.

5. A system according to claim 2 wherein said plurality of fins have a length and width that is less than a length and a width of said base plate so that a circumferential portion of said base plate forms a flange that extends outwardly from all sides of said plurality of fins.

6. A system according to claim 2 wherein said liquid cooled heat exchanger includes a lid positioned in overlying relation to said base plate, and that includes a first conduit and a second conduit.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein said lid includes a central depression defined by a circumferential wall that is bounded by a central top wall.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein said lid defines two through-bores in said top wall that are arranged in spaced apart relation to one another.

9. A system according to claim 7 wherein said lid includes a circumferential flange that extends outwardly from all sides of said lid and away from said central depression.

10. A system according to claim 6 wherein said lid is assembled to said base plate so that said plurality of fins are located within a central depression defined by a circumferential wall that is bounded by a central top wall of said lid.

11. A system according to claim 10 wherein said lid, said base plate and said fins define a first manifold and a second manifold.

12. A system according to claim 2 wherein said cold plate is formed from a sheet of thermally conductive, resilient metal having a top surface, a bottom surface, an opening defined by a peripheral edge through a thickness, and at least one depression.

13. A system according to claim 1 wherein said cold plate stores energy when deflected in a spring-like fashion so that a force or load is exerted by said cold plate in response to said deflection.

14. A system according to claim 12 wherein said plurality of fins have a length and width that is less than a length and a width of said base plate so that a circumferential portion of said base plate forms a flange that extends outwardly from all sides of said plurality of fins and deflects said cold plate in a spring-like fashion.

15. A system according to claim 1 wherein said resilient cold plate includes at least one depression that is formed in a top surface so as to define a prominence protruding from a bottom surface.

16. A system according to claim 1 wherein said surface forms a portion of a printed wiring board.

17. A system according to claim 1 wherein said one or more electronic components comprise graphics memory modules distributed around a perimeter of said integrated circuit.

18. A system according to claim 1 wherein said resilient cold plate includes a plurality of depressions that are formed in a top surface so as to define a plurality of prominences protruding from a bottom surface.

19. A system for cooling electronic components, said system comprising:

a surface;

a plurality of electronic components including an integrated circuit mounted on said surface;

a liquid cooled heat exchanger located in overlying contacting relation with said integrated circuit; and

a resilient cold plate coupled to said surface in overlying contacting relation with said electronic components and so as to be biased by a portion of said liquid cooled heat exchanger thereby providing a spring-loaded engagement between said liquid cooled heat exchanger, said electronic components, and said resilient cold plate.

20. A system for cooling electronic components, said system comprising:

a first surface and a second surface;

one or more electronic components including an integrated circuit mounted on at least said first surface;

a liquid cooled heat exchanger located in overlying contacting relation with said integrated circuit;

a first resilient cold plate coupled to said first surface in overlying contacting relation with said one or more electronic components and so as to be biased by a portion of said liquid cooled heat exchanger thereby providing a forced engagement between said liquid cooled heat exchanger, said one or more electronic components, and said first resilient cold plate; and

a second resilient cold plate coupled to said second surface and said first resilient cold plate.

21. A system for cooling electronic components, said system comprising:

a surface;

one or more electronic components including at least one integrated circuit mounted on said surface;

at least one liquid cooled heat exchanger located in overlying contacting relation with said at least one integrated circuit; and

at least one resilient cold plate coupled to said surface so as to be biased by a portion of said at least one liquid cooled heat exchanger thereby providing a loaded engagement between said at least one liquid cooled heat exchanger, said at least one integrated circuit, and said at least one resilient cold plate.

Assignments (17)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 12, 2025
From: THERMAL CORP.
To: AAVID THERMAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 071573/0309 →
RELEASE (REEL047028/FRAME0743) Recorded Jul 30, 2024
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: LTI FLEXIBLE PRODUCTS, INC.; LIFETIME INDUSTRIES, INC.; AAVID THERMALLOY, LLC (NOW KNOWN AS BOYD LACONIA, LLC; NUVENTIX, INC.; THERMAL CORP. (NOW KNOWN AS AAVID THERMAL CORP.; CSI MEDICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 068195/0243 →
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (042477/0643) Recorded Sep 10, 2018
From: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AND COLLATERAL AGENT
To: LTI HOLDINGS, INC.; AAVID NIAGARA, LLC; AAVID THERMACORE, INC.; AAVID THERMAL CORP.; AAVID THERMALLOY, LLC; LIFETIME INDUSTRIES, INC.; LTI FLEXIBLE PRODUCTS, INC.; NUVENTIX, INC.
Reel/Frame 047223/0380 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (042477/0565) Recorded Sep 10, 2018
From: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AND COLLATERAL AGENT
To: LTI HOLDINGS, INC.; AAVID NIAGARA, LLC; AAVID THERMACORE, INC.; AAVID THERMAL CORP.; AAVID THERMALLOY, LLC,; LIFETIME INDUSTRIES, INC.; LTI FLEXIBLE PRODUCTS, INC.; NUVENTIX, INC.
Reel/Frame 047052/0001 →
SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 7, 2018
From: LTI FLEXIBLE PRODUCTS, INC.; LIFETIME INDUSTRIES, INC.; AAVID THERMALLOY, LLC; NUVENTIX, INC.; AAVID THERMAL CORP. (F/K/A THERMAL CORP.); CSI MEDICAL, INC.
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 047028/0743 →
FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2018
From: LTI FLEXIBLE PRODUCTS, INC.; LIFETIME INDUSTRIES, INC.; AAVID THERMALLOY, LLC; NUVENTIX, INC.; AAVID THERMAL CORP. (F/K/A THERMAL CORP.); CSI MEDICAL, INC.
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 047026/0666 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 40355/0672 Recorded May 23, 2017
From: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS SUCCESSOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS AGENT
To: THERMAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 042554/0151 →
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2017
From: LTI HOLDINGS, INC.; AAVID NIAGARA, LLC; AAVID THERMACORE, INC.; AAVID THERMAL CORP.; AAVID THERMALLOY, LLC; LIFETIME INDUSTRIES, INC.; LTI FLEXIBLE PRODUCTS, INC.; NUVENTIX, INC.
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 042477/0565 →
SECOND LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2017
From: LTI HOLDINGS, INC.; AAVID NIAGARA, LLC; AAVID THERMACORE, INC.; AAVID THERMAL CORP.; AAVID THERMALLOY, LLC; LIFETIME INDUSTRIES, INC.; LTI FLEXIBLE PRODUCTS, INC.; NUVENTIX, INC.
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 042477/0643 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 021398/0300 Recorded Oct 28, 2016
From: NATIONAL PENN BANK
To: THERMAL CORP.; THERMACORE, INC. F/K/A FSBO VENTURE ACQUISITIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040508/0620 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 026039/0865 Recorded Oct 28, 2016
From: SANTANDER BANK, N.A. F/K/A SOVEREIGN BANK
To: THERMAL CORP.; THERMACORE, INC.
Reel/Frame 040508/0649 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 035134/0363 Recorded Oct 20, 2016
From: PINE STREET CAPITAL PARTNERS II, L.P.
To: THERMAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 040425/0584 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2016
From: THERMAL CORP.
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 040355/0672 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2015
From: THERMAL CORP.
To: PINE STREET CAPITAL PARTNERS II, L.P.
Reel/Frame 035134/0363 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2011
From: THERMACORE, INC.; THERMAL CORP.
To: SOVEREIGN BANK
Reel/Frame 026039/0865 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 15, 2008
From: THERMAL CORP.; FSBO VENTURE ACQUISITIONS, INC.
To: NATIONAL PENN BANK
Reel/Frame 021398/0300 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 28, 2005
From: WILSON, MICHAEL J.; WATTELET, JONATHAN; LIGHTNER, DONALD; DEKEUSTER, RICHARD; DUBBLE, EARNEST H.; BALDASSARRE, GREGG J.
To: THERMAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 016820/0860 →