Stack-PCB design and midplane architecture
A multi-board system for an electronic device that includes an heat spreader between at least two boards. In examples, the multi-board system may include a stack-PCB architecture on one side of the heat spreader and one or more boards on an opposite side of the heat spreader from the stack-PCB. The heat spreader may comprise a vapor chamber and/or include a graphite layer or core to transfer heat along a length of the heat spreader.
1. A stack printed circuit board architecture comprising:
a heat spreader comprising a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side,
a first printed circuit board coupled to the first side of the heat spreader;
a second printed circuit board separate from the first printed circuit board;
one or more complementary elements coupled to the second side of the heat spreader, and
an interposer located at the first side of the heat spreader and interposed between the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board, wherein the interposer includes a frame having one or more openings disposed within an interior of the interposer.
2. The stack printed circuit board architecture of claim 1 , wherein the heat spreader comprises a vapor chamber.
3. The stack printed circuit board architecture of claim 1 , wherein the first printed circuit board comprises a system on chip printed circuit board connected to the first side of the heat spreader, and the second printed circuit board comprises a functional printed circuit board.
4. The stack printed circuit board architecture of claim 3 , wherein the one or more complementary elements comprise one or more additional printed circuit boards.
5. The stack printed circuit board architecture of claim 4 , wherein the one or more additional printed circuit boards comprise at least two additional printed circuit boards.
6. The stack printed circuit board architecture of claim 4 , wherein the one or more additional printed circuit boards comprise at least one of a sensor board, an optics board, or an inertia board.
7. The stack printed circuit board architecture of claim 1 , wherein the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board are arranged in parallel and comprise one or more solder connections.
8. The stack printed circuit board architecture of claim 1 , wherein a first number of the one or more printed circuit boards coupled to the first side of the heat spreader is equal to a second number of the one or more printed circuit boards coupled to the second side of the heat spreader.
9. The stack printed circuit board architecture of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first printed circuit board or the second printed circuit board comprise at least one of:
a transistor;
a diode;
an integrated circuit;
a resistor;
a capacitor;
a functional printed circuit board; or
a system on a chip printed circuit board.
10. The stack printed circuit board architecture of claim 1 , wherein the heat spreader comprises a plate with a graphite core.
11. The stack printed circuit board architecture of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first circuit board or the second circuit board is directly coupled to the one or more complementary elements.
12. The stack printed circuit board architecture of claim 1 , wherein the opening of the frame of the interposer is configured to receive at least one electrical component.
13. A method of forming an electronic device comprising:
stacking a first printed circuit board on a first side of a heat spreader;
stacking an interposer on the first printed circuit board, wherein the interposer includes a frame having one or more openings disposed within an interior of the interposer;
stacking a second printed circuit board on the interposer such that the interposer is interposed between the first printed circuit board and the second circuit board; and
stacking one or more complementary elements on a second side of the heat spreader.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein stacking at least one of the first printed circuit board or the second printed circuit board comprises:
electrically connecting a system on chip printed circuit board to the heat spreader via first connections;
electrically connecting the interposer to the system on chip printed circuit board via second connections;
electrically connecting a functional printed circuit board to the interposer via third connections; and
coupling the system on chip printed circuit board, the interposer, and the functional printed circuit board to the heat spreader via one or more fasteners.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein each of the first connections, the second connections, and the third connections comprise solder connections.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein connecting a functional printed circuit board to the interposer comprises connecting a radio frequency printed circuit board to the interposer.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein stacking one or more complementary elements comprises:
connecting to the second side of the heat spreader at least one of a sensor board, an optics board, or an inertia board.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the heat spreader comprises a vapor chamber and the stacking of one or more printed circuit boards comprises connecting at least one printed circuit board to the first side of the vapor chamber using a first fastener, and the stacking of one or more complementary elements comprises connecting at least one complementary element to the second side of the vapor chamber using a second fastener.
19. A computing device comprising a stack printed circuit board architecture comprising:
a heat spreader comprising a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side,
a first printed circuit board coupled to the first side of the heat spreader;
a second printed circuit board separate from the first printed circuit board;
one or more complementary elements coupled to the second side of the heat spreader; and
an interposer located at the first side of the heat spreader and interposed between the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board, wherein the interposer includes a frame having one or more openings disposed within an interior of the interposer.
20. The computing device of claim 19 , wherein the computing device comprises a head-mounted wearable device.