IP Library Granted Patent US 9,123,686
Granted Patent B2
US 9,123,686 · App. 13/904,992 · Granted Sep 1, 2015

Thermal management for solid-state drive

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,123,686
App. No.
13/904,992
Granted
Sep 1, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device including a printed circuit board (PCB) including a thermal conduction plane and at least one heat generating component mounted on the PCB and connected to the thermal conduction plane. A frame is connected to the PCB so as to define a first thermally conductive path between at least a portion of the frame and the at least one heat generating component. The electronic device further includes at least one thermally conductive layer between the frame and the at least one heat generating component so as to define a second thermally conductive path between at least a portion of the frame and the at least one heat generating component.

Claims (42)

1. An electronic device comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB) including a thermal conduction plane;

at least one heat generating component mounted on the PCB and connected to the thermal conduction plane through at least one via, wherein the at least one via is located between the at least one heat generating component and the thermal conduction plane and formed directly above or directly beneath the at least one heat generating component;

a frame connected to the PCB so as to define a first thermally conductive path between at least a portion of the frame and the at least one heat generating component from the at least one heat generating component through the at least one via and the thermal conduction plane; and

at least one thermally conductive layer between the frame and the at least one heat generating component so as to define a second thermally conductive path between at least a portion of the frame and the at least one heat generating component.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermally conductive layer includes a graphene layer.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat generating component includes a first heat generating component and a second heat generating component,

wherein the at least one thermally conductive layer includes a first thermally conductive layer between the frame and the first heat generating component and a second thermally conductive layer between the frame and the second heat generating component, and

wherein the first thermally conductive layer does not directly contact the second thermally conductive layer so as to reduce heat transfer between the first and second heat generating components.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the PCB includes a plurality of planes and the thermal conduction plane is predisposed for thermal conduction based on a location of the thermal conduction plane, a size of the thermal conduction plane, and/or a material composition of the thermal conduction plane.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the thermal conduction plane is not continuous across a total length of the thermal conduction plane so as to direct heat transfer in the thermal conduction plane.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a first portion and a second portion and the electronic device further comprises at least one graphene layer between the first and second portions of the frame.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the PCB is mounted on the frame and the electronic device further comprises at least one graphene layer between the PCB and the frame.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes exterior protrusions to increase heat dissipation from the electronic device.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a thermally conductive label attached to the frame, the label configured to indicate characteristics of the electronic device and dissipate heat from the electronic device.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the thermally conductive label comprises aluminum.

11. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the thermally conductive label includes a thermally conductive adhesive.

12. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the exterior of the frame is etched to remove a coating from the frame.

13. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a raised portion housing components of the device which extend beyond portions of the frame that are not raised.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the raised portion includes a ramp to reduce turbulence of a fluid flowing over the raised portion.

15. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a solid-state drive for storing data.

16. An electronic device comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB) including a thermal conduction plane;

at least one heat generating component mounted on the PCB and connected to the thermal conduction plane;

a frame connected to the PCB so as to define a first thermally conductive path between at least a portion of the frame and the at least one heat generating component, wherein the frame includes a first portion with a first surface and a second portion with a second surface, the second surface directly above or directly beneath the first surface;

at least one thermally conductive layer between the frame and the at least one heat generating component so as to define a second thermally conductive path between at least a portion of the frame and the at least one heat generating component; and

at least one graphene layer between the first surface of the first portion of the frame and the second surface of the second portion of the frame.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the at least one thermally conductive layer includes a graphene layer.

18. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the at least one heat generating component includes a first heat generating component and a second heat generating component,

wherein the at least one thermally conductive layer includes a first thermally conductive layer between the frame and the first heat generating component and a second thermally conductive layer between the frame and the second heat generating component, and

wherein the first thermally conductive layer does not directly contact the second thermally conductive layer so as to reduce heat transfer between the first and second heat generating components.

19. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the PCB includes a plurality of planes and the thermal conduction plane is predisposed for thermal conduction based on a location of the thermal conduction plane, a size of the thermal conduction plane, and/or a material composition of the thermal conduction plane.

20. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the thermal conduction plane is not continuous across a total length of the thermal conduction plane so as to direct heat transfer in the thermal conduction plane.

21. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the PCB is mounted on the frame and the electronic device further comprises at least one graphene layer between the PCB and the frame.

22. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the frame includes exterior protrusions to increase heat dissipation from the electronic device.

23. The electronic device of claim 16 , further comprising a thermally conductive label attached to the frame, the label configured to indicate characteristics of the electronic device and dissipate heat from the electronic device.

24. The electronic device of claim 23 , wherein the thermally conductive label comprises aluminum.

25. The electronic device of claim 23 , wherein the thermally conductive label includes a thermally conductive adhesive.

26. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the exterior of the frame is etched to remove a coating from the frame.

27. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the frame includes a raised portion housing components of the device which extend beyond portions of the frame that are not raised.

28. The electronic device of claim 27 , wherein the raised portion includes a ramp to reduce turbulence of a fluid flowing over the raised portion.

29. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the electronic device is a solid-state drive for storing data.

Assignments (13)
SECURITY AGREEMENT (SUPPLEMENTAL) Recorded Nov 14, 2024
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069411/0208 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2024
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069168/0273 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 23, 2024
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS THE AGENT
Reel/Frame 068762/0494 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 27, 2024
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067982/0032 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 29, 2024
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067567/0682 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - DDTL LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 067045/0156 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - A&R LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064715/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 038744 FRAME 0481 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058982/0556 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 045501/0714 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0481 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0281 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038722/0229 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2014
From: MATAYA, RICHARD A.; CAMPBELL, TEGAN
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 034521/0897 →