Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080284018 | INTEGRATED CHIP CARRIER WITH COMPLIANT INTERCONNECTS - An electronic device includes: at least one electronic chip comprising a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE); and a carrier including a top surface connected to the bottom surface of the chip by solder bumps. The carrier further includes a second CTE that approximately matches the first CTE, and a plurality of through vias from the bottom surface of the carrier to the top surface of the carrier layer. Each through via includes a collar exposed at the top surface of the carrier, a pad exposed at the bottom surface of the carrier, and a post disposed between the collar and the pad. The post extends thorough a volume of space. | 11-20-2008 |
20080302860 | AIR BEARING GAP CONTROL FOR INJECTION MOLDED SOLDER HEADS - An air bearing gap control arrangement for injection molded solder filler heads. Also provided is a method of providing for a gap control for injection molded solder filler heads utilizing an air bearing arrangement. Provided is a C-ring seal, at the lower or dispensing region of the solder filler head structure, wherein the C-shape is open at the leading edge thereof. Hereby, a prevalent leading edge gap is tightly controlled by means of pressurized air in order to form an air bearing. Downstream of this leading edge is the molten solder, which is contained within a very narrow gap height between the solder filler head and the mold. As the solder fills the pits or recesses which are formed in the mold surface, air will rush out or be displaced from the pits towards the air bearing and is then expelled, while the deposited solder remains in place. | 12-11-2008 |
20080305585 | Method for Direct Heat Sink Attachment - A system and method of attaching a heat sink to an integrated circuit chip includes providing a compliant material for constraining the heat sink's mechanical motion while simultaneously allowing for thermal expansion of the heat sink. | 12-11-2008 |
20090037016 | C4NP Servo Controlled Solder Fill Head - An apparatus for placing solder bumps on a mold plate includes: a solder fill head configured for dispensing molten solder onto the mold plate, the solder fill head also configured for relative movement over the mold plate; and a control mechanism configured for controlling positions of the solder fill head relative to the mold plate. The control mechanism includes: a control input signal containing data about an ideal positioning of the solder fill head; a plurality of sensors positioned on the solder fill head, the sensors configured for providing data about a gap between the solder fill head and the mold plate; a position controller configured for receiving the gap data and comparing the gap data with the control input signal, wherein said position controller provides an inequality signal if the gap data and the control input signal are not equal; an amplifier configured for receiving the inequality signal and amplifying it; and an actuator configured for receiving the amplified inequality signal and controlling movement of the solder fill head in response to the inequality signal received. The control mechanism may be a servo control mechanism. The sensors may be gap sensors. | 02-05-2009 |
20090039499 | Heat Sink with Thermally Compliant Beams - A heat dissipating structure includes: a heat spreader; and a plurality of compliant beams attached to the heat spreader. The beams are formed of a high-conductive material such that a maximum stress of each beam is less than a fatigue stress of the high-conductive material; said beams are placed at an angle relative to a chip surface such that the beams are able to exert bending compliance in response to x, y, and z forces exerted upon them. The structure also includes a thermal material interface for bonding said structure to the chip surface. Both the heat spreader and the compliant beams can be machined from a copper block. An alternative heat dissipating structure includes compliant beams soldered to the chip surface. | 02-12-2009 |
20100052891 | METHOD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SENSING - Data pertaining to environmental information is acquired using sensors on a multiplicity of networked pervasive devices, and analyzed to determine occurrence of at least one environmental event. Such data can be obtained, for example, from an inventive wireless communications device including an antenna, transmit circuitry coupled to the antenna for transmission of radio frequency radiation therefrom, at least one environmental sensor configured to obtain environmental data, and a communications module coupled to the at least one environmental sensor and configured to cause transmission of a representation of the data via the antenna and the transmit circuitry. | 03-04-2010 |
20110101540 | INTEGRATED CHIP CARRIER WITH COMPLIANT INTERCONNECTS - A silicon chip includes a silicon substrate, a plurality of pads, and a plurality of through vias to connect back-end-of-line wiring to the plurality of pads. The silicon substrate includes a layer of active devices and the back-end-of-line wiring connected to the active devices. | 05-05-2011 |
20110213995 | Method, Apparatus And Computer Program Product Providing Instruction Monitoring For Reduction Of Energy Usage - A method is disclosed to operate a power advisor. The method includes, reading a first instruction set; reading a data bus; and reading register value(s) stored in at least one data register. This information is analyzed for energy usage purposes. If a set of instruction can provide the same result with a lower energy usage, the first instruction set is replaced with the lower power usage instruction set. An apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed. | 09-01-2011 |
20120279047 | METHOD OF FABRICATING A COOLED ELECTRONIC SYSTEM - A method of fabricating a liquid-cooled electronic system is provided which includes an electronic assembly having an electronics card and a socket with a latch at one end. The latch facilitates securing of the card within the socket. The method includes providing a liquid-cooled cold rail at the one end of the socket, and a thermal spreader to couple the electronics card to the cold rail. The thermal spreader includes first and second thermal transfer plates coupled to first and second surfaces on opposite sides of the card, and thermally conductive extensions extending from end edges of the plates, which couple the respective transfer plates to the liquid-cooled cold rail. The extensions are disposed to the sides of the latch, and the card is securable within or removable from the socket using the latch without removing the cold rail or the thermal spreader. | 11-08-2012 |
20120279233 | THERMOELECTRIC-ENHANCED, LIQUID-BASED COOLING OF A MULTI-COMPONENT ELECTRONIC SYSTEM - Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component. The apparatus includes a liquid-cooled structure, a thermal conduction path coupling the electronic component and the liquid-cooled structure, a coolant loop in fluid communication with a coolant-carrying channel of the liquid-cooled structure, and an outdoor-air-cooled heat exchange unit coupled to facilitate heat transfer from the liquid-cooled structure via, at least in part, the coolant loop. The thermoelectric array facilitates transfer of heat from the electronic component to the liquid-cooled structure, and the heat exchange unit cools coolant passing through the coolant loop by dissipating heat from the coolant to outdoor ambient air. In one implementation, temperature of coolant entering the liquid-cooled structure is greater than temperature of the outdoor ambient air to which heat is dissipated. | 11-08-2012 |
20120279686 | COOLED ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WITH LIQUID-COOLED COLD PLATE AND THERMAL SPREADER COUPLED TO ELECTRONIC COMPONENT - Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component. The apparatus includes a liquid-cooled cold plate and a thermal spreader associated with the cold plate. The cold plate includes multiple coolant-carrying channel sections extending within the cold plate, and a thermal conduction surface with a larger surface area than a surface area of the component to be cooled. The thermal spreader includes one or more heat pipes including multiple heat pipe sections. One or more heat pipe sections are partially aligned to a first region of the cold plate, that is, where aligned to the surface to be cooled, and partially aligned to a second region of the cold plate, which is outside the first region. The one or more heat pipes facilitate distribution of heat from the electronic component to coolant-carrying channel sections of the cold plate located in the second region of the cold plate. | 11-08-2012 |
20120281358 | COOLED ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WITH THERMAL SPREADERS COUPLING ELECTRONICS CARDS TO COLD RAILS - Liquid-cooled electronic systems are provided which include an electronic assembly having an electronics card and a socket with a latch at one end. The latch facilitates securing of the card within the socket or removal of the card from the socket. A liquid-cooled cold rail is disposed at the one end of the socket, and a thermal spreader couples the electronics card to the cold rail. The thermal spreader includes first and second thermal transfer plates coupled to first and second surfaces on opposite sides of the card, and thermally conductive extensions extending from end edges of the plates, which couple the respective transfer plates to the liquid-cooled cold rail. The thermally conductive extensions are disposed to the sides of the latch, and the card is securable within or removable from the socket using the latch without removing the cold rail or the thermal spreader. | 11-08-2012 |
20130081781 | ENERGY EFFICIENT DATA CENTER LIQUID COOLING WITH GEOTHERMAL ENHANCEMENT - A data center cooling system is operated in a first mode, and has an indoor portion wherein heat is absorbed from components in the data center by a heat transfer fluid, and an outdoor heat exchanger portion and a geothermal heat exchanger portion. The first mode includes ambient air cooling of the heat transfer fluid in the outdoor heat exchanger portion and/or geothermal cooling of the heat transfer fluid in the geothermal heat exchanger portion. Based on an appropriate metric, a determination is made that a switch should be made from the first mode to a second mode; and, in response, the data center cooling system is switched to the second mode. The second mode is different than the first mode. | 04-04-2013 |
20130107453 | DIRECTLY CONNECTED HEAT EXCHANGER TUBE SECTION AND COOLANT-COOLED STRUCTURE | 05-02-2013 |
20130138252 | DYNAMICALLY LIMITING ENERGY CONSUMED BY COOLING APPARATUS - Cooling apparatuses and methods are provided which include one or more coolant-cooled structures associated with an electronics rack, a coolant loop coupled in fluid communication with one or more passages of the coolant-cooled structure(s), one or more heat exchange units coupled to facilitate heat transfer from coolant within the coolant loop, and N controllable components associated with the coolant loop or the heat exchange unit(s), wherein N≧1. The N controllable components facilitate circulation of coolant through the coolant loop or transfer of heat from the coolant via the heat exchange unit(s). A controller is coupled to the N controllable components, and dynamically adjusts operation of the N controllable components, based on Z input parameters and one or more specified constraints, to provide a specified cooling to the coolant-cooled structure(s), while limiting energy consumed by the N controllable components, wherein Z≧1. | 05-30-2013 |
20130138253 | DYNAMICALLY LIMITING ENERGY CONSUMED BY COOLING APPARATUS - Cooling methods are provided which include providing: one or more coolant-cooled structures associated with an electronics rack, a coolant loop coupled in fluid communication with one or more passages of the coolant-cooled structure(s), one or more heat exchange units coupled to facilitate heat transfer from coolant within the coolant loop, and N controllable components associated with the coolant loop or the heat exchange unit(s), wherein N≧1. The N controllable components facilitate circulation of coolant through the coolant loop or transfer of heat from the coolant via the heat exchange unit(s). A controller is also provided to dynamically adjust operation of the N controllable components, based on Z input parameters and one or more specified constraints, and provide a specified cooling to the coolant-cooled structure(s), while limiting energy consumed by the N controllable components, wherein Z≧1. | 05-30-2013 |
20130174421 | DIRECTLY CONNECTED HEAT EXCHANGER TUBE SECTION AND COOLANT-COOLED STRUCTURE - A method is provided for fabricating a cooling apparatus for cooling an electronics rack, which includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger, one or more coolant-cooled structures, and a tube. The heat exchanger is associated with the electronics rack and disposed to cool air passing through the rack, includes a plurality of coolant-carrying tube sections, each tube section having a coolant inlet and outlet, one of which is coupled in fluid communication with a coolant loop to facilitate flow of coolant through the tube section. The coolant-cooled structure(s) is in thermal contact with an electronic component(s) of the rack, and facilitates transfer of heat from the component(s) to the coolant. The tube connects in fluid communication one coolant-cooled structure and the other of the coolant inlet or outlet of the one tube section, and facilitates flow of coolant directly between that coolant-carrying tube section of the heat exchanger and the coolant-cooled structure. | 07-11-2013 |
20130192794 | INTERCHANGEABLE COOLING SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT AND CIRCUIT BOARD - Several apparatuses and methods for providing cooling system interchangeability. One apparatus includes a thermally conductive plate thermally coupled to an integrated circuit. The thermally conductive plate is configured to couple interchangeably to a liquid cooling assembly or an air cooling assembly, and the liquid cooling assembly and the air cooling assembly are separate devices. | 08-01-2013 |
20130264045 | PROVISIONING COOLING ELEMENTS FOR CHILLERLESS DATA CENTERS - Systems and methods for cooling include one or more computing structure, an inter-structure liquid cooling system that includes valves configured to selectively provide liquid coolant to the one or more computing structures; a heat rejection system that includes one or more heat rejection units configured to cool liquid coolant; and one or more liquid-to-liquid heat exchangers that include valves configured to selectively transfer heat from liquid coolant in the inter-structure liquid cooling system to liquid coolant in the heat rejection system. Each computing structure further includes one or more liquid-cooled servers; and an intra-structure liquid cooling system that has valves configured to selectively provide liquid coolant to the one or more liquid-cooled servers; | 10-10-2013 |
20130264046 | COOLANT AND AMBIENT TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR CHILLERLESS LIQUID COOLED DATA CENTERS - Cooling control methods and systems include measuring a temperature of air provided to one or more nodes by an air-to-liquid heat exchanger; measuring a temperature of at least one component of the one or more nodes and finding a maximum component temperature across all such nodes; comparing the maximum component temperature to a first and second component threshold and comparing the air temperature to a first and second air threshold; and controlling a proportion of coolant flow and a coolant flow rate to the air-to-liquid heat exchanger and the one or more nodes based on the comparisons. | 10-10-2013 |
20130317785 | LIQUID COOLED DATA CENTER DESIGN SELECTION - Input data, specifying aspects of a thermal design of a liquid cooled data center, is obtained. The input data includes data indicative of ambient outdoor temperature for a location of the data center; and/or data representing workload power dissipation for the data center. The input data is evaluated to obtain performance of the data center thermal design. The performance includes cooling energy usage; and/or one pertinent temperature associated with the data center. The performance of the data center thermal design is output. | 11-28-2013 |
20140020418 | DATA CENTER COOLING SYSTEM - A data center cooling system may include heat transfer equipment to cool a liquid coolant without vapor compression refrigeration, and the liquid coolant is used on a liquid cooled information technology equipment rack housed in the data center. The system may also include a controller-apparatus to regulate the liquid coolant flow to the liquid cooled information technology equipment rack through a range of liquid coolant flow values based upon information technology equipment temperature thresholds. | 01-23-2014 |
20140020885 | DATA CENTER COOLING METHOD - A method aspect for removing heat from a data center may use liquid coolant cooled without vapor compression refrigeration on a liquid cooled information technology equipment rack. The method may also include regulating liquid coolant flow to the data center through a range of liquid coolant flow values with a controller-apparatus based upon information technology equipment temperature threshold of the data center. | 01-23-2014 |
20140048243 | ACTIVELY CONTROLLING COOLANT-COOLED COLD PLATE CONFIGURATION - Cooling apparatuses are provided to facilitate active control of thermal and fluid dynamic performance of a coolant-cooled cold plate. The cooling apparatus includes the cold plate and a controller. The cold plate couples to one or more electronic components to be cooled, and includes an adjustable physical configuration. The controller dynamically varies the adjustable physical configuration of the cold plate based on a monitored variable associated with the cold plate or the electronic component(s) being cooled by the cold plate. By dynamically varying the physical configuration, the thermal and fluid dynamic performance of the cold plate are adjusted to, for example, optimally cool the electronic component(s), and at the same time, reduce cooling power consumption used in cooling the electronic component(s). The physical configuration can be adjusted by providing one or more adjustable plates within the cold plate, the positioning of which may be adjusted based on the monitored variable. | 02-20-2014 |
20140049918 | ACTIVELY CONTROLLING COOLANT-COOLED COLD PLATE CONFIGURATION - A method is provided to facilitate active control of thermal and fluid dynamic performance of a coolant-cooled cold plate. The method includes: monitoring a variable associated with at least one of the coolant-cooled cold plate or one or more electronic components being cooled by the cold plate; and dynamically varying, based on the monitored variable, a physical configuration of the cold plate. By dynamically varying the physical configuration, the thermal and fluid dynamic performance of the cold plate are adjusted to, for example, optimally cool the one or more electronic components, and at the same time, reduce cooling power consumption used in cooling the electronic component(s). The physical configuration can be adjusted by providing one or more adjustable plates within the coolant-cooled cold plate, the positioning of which may be adjusted based on the monitored variable. | 02-20-2014 |
20140070822 | USING IN SITU CAPACITANCE MEASUREMENTS TO MONITOR THE STABILITY OF INTERFACE MATERIALS IN COMPLEX PCB ASSEMBLIES AND OTHER STRUCTURES - An electric potential is applied to first and second electrodes on opposite sides of a gap between an electronic component and a heat spreader. At least one of a thermal interface material in the gap, the electronic component and the heat spreader is subjected to a changing physical condition. The electrical capacitance between the electrodes is monitored during the changing physical condition. Such a method can be practiced using an array of components sharing a common heat spreader. An assembly for testing thermal interfaces includes a printed circuit board, a plurality of electronic components mounted to and operatively associated with the printed circuit board, a heat spreader positioned for absorbing heat generated by the electronic components, a first electrode associated with the heat spreader, a plurality of second electrodes associated, respectively, with the electronic component, and a device for monitoring electrical capacitances between the first and second electrodes. The technique may be employed for monitoring physical changes in electronic devices and other structures having interfaces between components. | 03-13-2014 |
20140078674 | COOLED ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WITH LIQUID-COOLED COLD PLATE AND THERMAL SPREADER COUPLED TO ELECTRONIC COMPONENT - Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component. The apparatus includes a liquid-cooled cold plate and a thermal spreader associated with the cold plate. The cold plate includes multiple coolant-carrying channel sections extending within the cold plate, and a thermal conduction surface with a larger surface area than a surface area of the component to be cooled. The thermal spreader includes one or more heat pipes including multiple heat pipe sections. One or more heat pipe sections are partially aligned to a first region of the cold plate, that is, where aligned to the surface to be cooled, and partially aligned to a second region of the cold plate, which is outside the first region. The one or more heat pipes facilitate distribution of heat from the electronic component to coolant-carrying channel sections of the cold plate located in the second region of the cold plate. | 03-20-2014 |
20140078675 | COOLED ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WITH LIQUID-COOLED COLD PLATE AND THERMAL SPREADER COUPLED TO ELECTRONIC COMPONENT - Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component. The apparatus includes a liquid-cooled cold plate and a thermal spreader associated with the cold plate. The cold plate includes multiple coolant-carrying channel sections extending within the cold plate, and a thermal conduction surface with a larger surface area than a surface area of the component to be cooled. The thermal spreader includes one or more heat pipes including multiple heat pipe sections. One or more heat pipe sections are partially aligned to a first region of the cold plate, that is, where aligned to the surface to be cooled, and partially aligned to a second region of the cold plate, which is outside the first region. The one or more heat pipes facilitate distribution of heat from the electronic component to coolant-carrying channel sections of the cold plate located in the second region of the cold plate. | 03-20-2014 |
20140101933 | INTERCHANGEABLE COOLING SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT AND CIRCUIT BOARD - Several apparatuses and methods for providing cooling system interchangeability. One apparatus includes a thermally conductive plate thermally coupled to an integrated circuit. The thermally conductive plate is configured to couple interchangeably to a liquid cooling assembly or an air cooling assembly, and the liquid cooling assembly and the air cooling assembly are separate devices. | 04-17-2014 |
20140104787 | INTERCHANGEABLE COOLING SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT AND CIRCUIT BOARD - Several apparatuses and methods for providing cooling system interchangeability. One apparatus includes a thermally conductive plate thermally coupled to an integrated circuit. The thermally conductive plate is configured to couple interchangeably to a liquid cooling assembly or an air cooling assembly, and the liquid cooling assembly and the air cooling assembly are separate devices. | 04-17-2014 |
20140146845 | THERMALLY DETERMINING FLOW AND/OR HEAT LOAD DISTRIBUTION IN PARALLEL PATHS - A method including obtaining calibration data for at least one sub-component in a heat transfer assembly, wherein the calibration data comprises at least one indication of coolant flow rate through the sub-component for a given surface temperature delta of the sub-component and a given heat load into said sub-component, determining a measured heat load into the sub-component, determining a measured surface temperature delta of the sub-component, and determining a coolant flow distribution in a first flow path comprising the sub-component from the calibration data according to the measured heat load and the measured surface temperature delta of the sub-component. | 05-29-2014 |
20140153607 | CALIBRATING THERMAL BEHAVIOR OF ELECTRONICS - A method includes determining a relationship between indirect thermal data for a processor and a measured temperature associated with the processor, during a calibration process, obtaining the indirect thermal data for the processor during actual operation of the processor, and determining an actual significant temperature associated with the processor during the actual operation using the indirect thermal data for the processor during actual operation of the processor and the relationship. | 06-05-2014 |
20140190681 | ENERGY EFFICIENCY BASED CONTROL FOR A COOLING SYSTEM - A method for controlling a cooling system based on a heat dissipation of an electronic module and an ambient air temperature includes determining a combination of individual controls on components of the cooling system that achieve a specific amount of cooling based on a cooling power relationship for the plurality of components, the heat dissipation of the electronic module and the ambient air temperature, and applying the individual controls to the plurality of components. | 07-10-2014 |
20140192476 | COOLING APPARATUS WITH A RESILIENT HEAT CONDUCTING MEMBER - A cooling structure including a thermally conducting central element having a channel formed therein, the channel being configured for flow of cooling fluid there through, a first pressure plate, and a first thermally conductive resilient member disposed between the thermally conducting central element and the first pressure plate, wherein the first pressure plate, the first thermally conductive resilient member, and the thermally conducting central element form a first heat transfer path. | 07-10-2014 |
20140301036 | SERVER COOLING SYSTEM WITHOUT THE USE OF VAPOR COMPRESSION REFRIGERATION - A system, method, and computer product for cooling a server center without the use of vapor compression refrigeration. An example embodiment involves using outdoor ambient air to cool first server components directly and to cool heat exchanges containing liquid used to cool second server components. | 10-09-2014 |