Flexure plate for maintaining contact between a cooling plate/heat sink and a microchip
View Patent ↗A flexible plate for securing a microchip surface to the surface of a cooling device. The flexible plate allows for z-directional movement between the microchip subassembly having a circuit board and a semiconductor substrate, and the cooling device. The flexible plate is a compact, single piece design that provides constraints in alignment in the x-, y-, and theta-directions, while allowing for z-direction compliance and tilt compliance. The flexible plate has tabs for mounting the microchip subassembly and tabs for mounting the cooling device. The microchip tabs are opposite one another and the cooling device mounting tabs are opposite one another. The flexible plate is a one-piece construction made from sheet metal, plastic, or metal castings. The flexible plate has a band with all the tabs mounted on the inside of the band, or one set of tabs mounted on the outside of the band.
1. A flexure plate for mounting a cooling device to a microchip comprising:
a band having a center aperture, an inner edge and an outer edge;
a first set of tabs for mounting, said tabs of said first set connected to said inner edge, inwardly extending with respect to said band, and located opposite one another on said band; and
a second set of tabs for mounting, said tabs of said second set located opposite one another on said band such that each tab of said second set is adjacent to each tab of said first set;
wherein one set of said tabs is attached to said cooling device and another set of said tabs is attached to a structure holding said microchip, such that said microchip is in contact with a surface of said cooling device, and z-directional motion of said structure holding said microchip and said cooling device is allowed perpendicular to a plane locating said band.
2. The flexure plate of claim 1 further comprising a one-piece construction.
3. The flexure plate of claim 1 wherein said first and second set of tabs include y-shaped tabs, each connected to said band of said flexure plate at a base of each of said y-shaped tabs.
4. The flexure plate of claim 1 including mounting holes, studs, pop rivets, adhesive, or spot weld points on each of said tabs for mounting.
5. The flexure plate of claim 1 including said second set of tabs connected to said inner edge and inwardly extending with respect to said band.
6. The flexure plate of claim 1 including said second set of tabs connected to said outer edge and outwardly extending with respect to said band.
7. The flexure plate of claim 3 including two mounting holes for each of said y-shaped tab located at each end opposite said y-shaped tab base.
8. The flexure plate of claim 2 including said one-piece construction manufactured by laser cut, EDM, water jet, punch, or CNC mill.
9. The flexure plate of claim 1 including having said flexure plate made from sheet metal, plastic or metal castings.
10. The flexure plate of claim 9 further comprising ¾ hard 304 stainless steel.
11. The flexure plate of claim 1 further comprising having non-uniform thickness for said band, said tabs, or both.
12. An assembly for cooling microchips comprising:
a heat sink or cold plate;
a flexure plate including a band having a periphery and an inner aperture, a first set of mounting tabs, and a second set of mounting tabs; and
a circuit card having a substrate and a microcircuit;
wherein said flexure plate includes having each mounting tab of said first set of tabs adjacent each mounting tab of said second set of tabs, said first set of mounting tabs attached to said heat sink or cold plate, and said second set of mounting tabs attached to said circuit card.
13. The assembly of claim 12 further comprising spring-loaded screws for attaching said circuit card to a chassis.
14. The assembly of claim 12 including having a surface of said heat sink or cold plate mate to a surface of said microchip, such that said surfaces remain in contact after said heat sink or cold plate and said circuit card are attached to said flexure plate.
15. The assembly of claim 14 further including thermal paste between said surface of said microchip and said surface of said heat sink or said cooling plate.
16. The assembly of claim 12 including said second set of tabs inwardly extending within said aperture.
17. The assembly of claim 12 including said second set of tabs outwardly extending with respect to said band, away from said aperture.
18. A flexible mounting bracket for attaching a microchip surface to a cooling device surface that allows for variances in motion perpendicular to the plane of the attached surfaces, said bracket including:
a flat rim having an aperture at a center location;
at least four mounting tabs including a first set of at least two tabs for mounting to a circuit card holding said microchip and a second set of at least two tabs for mounting said cooling device, said tabs attached to said rim, said first set of at least two tabs adjacent said second set of at least two tabs.
19. The flexible mounting bracket of claim 18 wherein both of said sets of said at least two tabs face inward toward said rim center location.
20. The flexible mounting bracket of claim 18 wherein one of said sets of said at least two tabs are located on the inside of said rim while the other of said sets of said at least two tabs are located on the outside of said rim.
21. An assembly for cooling microchips comprising:
a heat sink or cold plate;
a flexure plate including a band having a periphery and an inner aperture, a first set of tabs, and a second set of tabs; and
a circuit card having a substrate and a microcircuit;
wherein said flexure plate includes having each tab of said first set of tabs adjacent each tab of said second set of tabs, said first set of tabs connected to said heat sink or cold plate, and said second set of tabs connected to said circuit card, said second set of tabs inwardly extending within said aperture.