IP Library Granted Patent US 11,460,895
Granted Patent B2
US 11,460,895 · App. 17/023,900 · Granted Oct 4, 2022

Thermal module assembly for a computing expansion card port of an information handling system

Inventors: Derric Christopher Hobbs (Round Rock, TX); Christopher M. Helberg (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F1/185G06F1/186H05K5/026H05K7/2039
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,460,895
App. No.
17/023,900
Granted
Oct 4, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A thermal module assembly, comprising: a computing expansion card; a thermal interface material (TIM) positioned on a surface of the computing expansion card; a thermal plate; and a carrier configured to hold the computing expansion card with the TIM positioned on the surface of the computing expansion card, the carrier include a first end positioned opposite to a second end, wherein the thermal plate is removably coupled to the carrier at the first end and the second end to provide an uniform pressure between the thermal plate, the TIM material, and the computing expansion card.

Claims (39)

1. A thermal module assembly, comprising:

a computing expansion card,

a thermal interface material (TIM) positioned on a surface of the computing expansion card;

a thermal plate; and

a carrier configured to hold the computing expansion card with the TIM positioned on the surface of the computing expansion card, the carrier including:

a first end positioned opposite to a second end,

a first side positioned opposite to a second side,

a support bar structure positioned between the first side and the second side at the first end of the carrier, the support bar including:

a first protruding member protruding towards the second end of the carrier, and

a second protruding member protruding towards the second end of the carrier,

wherein the thermal plate is removably coupled to the carrier at the first end and the second end to provide a uniform pressure between the thermal plate, the TIM material, and the computing expansion card.

2. The thermal module assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first side includes a first member extending between the first end and the second end of the carrier, and the second side includes a second member extending between the first end and the second end of the carrier.

3. The thermal module assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first protruding member and the second protruding member protrude over the first member and the second member, respectively.

4. The thermal module assembly of claim 3 , wherein a first end of the thermal plate, when coupled to the carrier, is positioned between the first protruding member and the first member, and between the second protruding member and the second member.

5. The thermal module assembly of claim 4 , wherein the carrier further includes a landing at the second end of the carrier, wherein a second end of the thermal plate, opposite to the first end of the thermal plate, is removably coupled to the landing by a fastener.

6. The thermal module assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first side includes a first platform and the second side includes a second platform, the first and the second platforms holding the computing expansion card.

7. The thermal module assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second end of the carrier includes a third platform connected between the first and the second platforms, the third platform holding the computing expansion card.

8. The thermal module assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the carrier further includes an opening positioned between the first side and the second side.

9. An information handling system, including:

a computing apparatus, including a printed circuit board having a computing expansion card port;

a thermal module assembly, comprising:

a computing expansion card,

a thermal interface material (TIM) positioned on a surface of the computing expansion card;

a thermal plate; and

a carrier configured to hold the computing expansion card with the TIM positioned on the surface of the computing expansion card, the carrier including:

a first end positioned opposite to a second end,

a first side positioned opposite to a second side,

a support bar structure positioned between the first side and the second side at the first end of the carrier, the support bar including:

a first protruding member protruding towards the second end of the carrier, and

a second protruding member protruding towards the second end of the carrier,

wherein the thermal plate is removably coupled to the carrier at the first end and the second end to provide a uniform pressure between the thermal plate, the TIM material, and the computing expansion card,

wherein the thermal module assembly is coupled to the computing expansion card port.

10. The information handling system of claim 9 , wherein the first side includes a first member extending between the first end and the second end of the carrier, and the second side includes a second member extending between the first end and the second end of the carrier.

11. The information handling system of claim 10 , wherein the first protruding member and the second protruding member protrude over the first member and the second member, respectively.

12. The information handling system of claim 11 , wherein a first end of the thermal plate, when coupled to the carrier, is positioned between the first protruding member and the first member, and between the second protruding member and the second member.

13. The information handling system of claim 12 , wherein the carrier further includes a landing at the second end of the carrier, wherein a second end of the thermal plate, opposite to the first end of the thermal plate, is removably coupled to the landing by a fastener.

14. The information handling system of claim 9 , wherein the first side includes a first platform and the second side includes a second platform, the first and the second platforms holding the computing expansion card.

15. The information handling system of claim 14 , wherein the second end of the carrier includes a third platform connected between the first and the second platforms, the third platform holding the computing expansion card.

16. The information handling system of claim 9 , wherein the first end of the carrier further includes an opening positioned between the first side and the second side.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (054475/0523) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 060332/0664 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (054475/0434) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 060332/0740 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (054475/0609) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 062021/0570 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 054591 FRAME 0471 Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 058001/0463 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2020
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 054475/0609 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2020
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 054475/0434 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2020
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 054475/0523 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 13, 2020
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 054591/0471 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 17, 2020
From: HOBBS, DERRIC CHRISTOPHER; HELBERG, CHRISTOPHER M.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 053803/0612 →