Method and system for removing heat from multiple controllers on a circuit board
View Patent ↗A heat sink including a top surface, a first bottom surface configured to thermally contact a first controller having a first height from a circuit board, and a second bottom surface configured to thermally contact a second controller having a second height from the circuit board, wherein the second height is different than the first height.
1. A computer system comprising:
a circuit board;
a first heat source, the first heat source being configured to be secured to the circuit board and to have a first height from the circuit board when secured to the circuit board;
a second heat source, the second heat source being configured to be secured to the circuit board and to have a second height from the circuit board when secured to the circuit board, the second height different than the first height; and
a heat sink comprising:
a top surface;
a first side;
a second side opposite the first side;
a first bottom surface configured to thermally contact the first heat source;
a second bottom surface configured to thermally contact the second heat source;
a plurality of fins extending from the top surface away from the first and second heat sources, wherein:
at least some of the plurality of fins extend, along the top surface, from the first side to the second side; and
at least some of the plurality of fins collectively define an aperture that exposes a portion of the top surface that is disposed at least partly between the first and second bottom surfaces, the aperture for a standoff component for fastening the heat sink to the circuit board;
a shroud located on the top surface of the heat sink and covering the first side; and
a fan attached to the shroud and fitted in a notch of the heat sink, wherein a bottom surface of the fan is flush with the first bottom surface.
2. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein:
the fan is configured to supply air into the shroud; and
the shroud is configured to spread out the air supplied by the fan over the plurality of fins.
3. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the heat sink further comprises:
a plurality of push pins configured to secure the heat sink to the circuit board at the first side of the heat sink; and
the standoff component is configured to secure the heat sink to the circuit board between the first side and the second side of the heat sink.
4. The computer system of claim 3 , wherein:
the first bottom surface is configured to thermally contact the first heat source between the plurality of push pins and the standoff component.
5. The computer system of claim 3 , wherein:
the second bottom surface is configured to thermally contact the second heat source between the standoff component and the second side.
6. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the first and second heat sources comprises a controller.
7. A device, comprising:
a top surface;
a first side;
a second side opposite the first side;
a first bottom surface configured to thermally contact a first heat source that is configured to be secured to a circuit board and to have a first height from the circuit board when secured to the circuit board;
a second bottom surface configured to thermally contact a second heat source that is configured to be secured to the circuit board and to have a second height from the circuit board when secured to the circuit board, the second height different than the first height;
a plurality of fins extending from the top surface away from the first and second bottom surfaces, wherein:
at least some of the plurality of fins extend, along the top surface, from the first side to the second side; and
at least some of the plurality of fins collectively define an aperture that exposes a portion of the top surface that is disposed at least partly between the first and second bottom surfaces, the aperture for a standoff component for fastening the heat sink to the circuit board;
a shroud located on the top surface of the device and covering the first side; and
a fan attached to the shroud and fitted in a notch of the device, wherein a bottom surface of the fan is flush with the first bottom surface.
8. The device of claim 7 , wherein:
the fan is configured to supply air into the shroud; and
the shroud is configured to spread out the air supplied by the fan over the plurality of fins.
9. The device of claim 7 , further comprising:
a plurality of push pins configured to secure the device to the circuit board at the first side of the device; and
the standoff component is configured to secure the device to the circuit board between the first side and the second side of the device.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein:
the first bottom surface is configured to thermally contact the first heat source between the plurality of push pins and the standoff component.
11. The device of claim 9 , wherein:
the second bottom surface is configured to thermally contact the second heat source between the standoff component and the second side.
12. The device of claim 7 , wherein:
at least one of the first and second heat sources comprises a controller.
13. A method of removing heat from a first heat source and a second heat source attached to a circuit board, the method comprising:
thermally contacting a first bottom surface of a heat sink and the first heat source, the first heat source having a first height from the circuit board;
thermally contacting a second bottom surface of the heat sink and the second heat source, the second heat source having a second height from the circuit board, the second height different than the first height;
providing a plurality of fins on a top surface of the heat sink, the top surface facing the first and second bottom surfaces and extending from a first side of the heat sink to a second side of the heat sink, at least some of the plurality of fins collectively defining an aperture that exposes a portion of the top surface that is disposed at least partly between the first and second bottom surfaces;
securing the heat sink to the circuit board using at least a standoff component disposed within the aperture, the standoff component being configured to extend at least from the top surface to the circuit board; and
supplying air to the plurality of fins using at least:
a shroud located on the top surface and covering the first side; and
a fan attached to the shroud and fitted in a notch of the heat sink, wherein a bottom surface of the fan is flush with the first bottom surface.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
attaching the shroud to the heat sink; and
spreading out the supplied air over the plurality of fins using the shroud.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
thermally contacting the first bottom surface of the heat sink and the first heat source using a first thermal conduction material; and
thermally contacting the second bottom surface of the heat sink and the second heat source using a second thermal conduction material.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
each of the first and second thermal conduction materials comprises one of a thermal paste and a thermal pad.