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US4879632A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Cooling system for an electronic circuit device

Assignee: Fujitsu Ltd
•
Filing: 1986-10-03
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Granted: 1989-11-07
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Expires: 2006-10-03
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Abstract

Abstract A cooling system includes a cooling module which has a heat transfer plate elastically biased and exposed to the flow of a coolant for transferring heat dissipated from a circuit component on a printed circuit board to the coolant, and a solder or low-melting-point metal for establishing thermal contact between the transfer plate and the circuit component.

Inventors

  • 👤 Haruhiko Yamamoto
  • 👤 Masahiro Suzuki
  • 👤 Yoshiaki Udagawa
  • 👤 Mitsuhiko Nakata
  • 👤 Koji Katsuyama
  • 👤 Izumi Ono
  • 👤 Shunichi Kikuchi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 20:51
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W40/00; H10W40/40; H10W40/47; H10W40/475; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/0009; G02F1/0036; G11; G11B; G11B11/00; G11B11/10; G11B11/105; G11B11/10582; G11B11/10586; G11B11/10589; G11B11/10591; H10W40/70; H10W40/77; H10W40/772

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim 158 words
In an electronic circuit device comprising a printed circuit board supporting thereon at least one electronic circuit component connected thereto by first solder means, a cooling system for the component including a cooling module which comprises a conduit for coolant flow, a first heat transfer plate directly exposed to the flow of the coolant for transferring the heat dissipated from the circuit component to the coolant, second solder means between the heat transfer plate and the circuit component for establishing a compliant contact between the first heat transfer plate and the circuit component through the second solder means, and elastic means connected to the first heat transfer plate for resiliently biasing the first heat transfer plate toward the circuit component, said second solder means having a melting point which is lower than that of the first solder means so as to ensure that the second solder means melts at a temperature where the first solder means remains solid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 158 words
In an electronic circuit device comprising a printed circuit board supporting thereon at least one electronic circuit component connected thereto by first solder means, a cooling system for the component including a cooling module which comprises a conduit for coolant flow, a first heat transfer plate directly exposed to the flow of the coolant for transferring the heat dissipated from the circuit component to the coolant, second solder means between the heat transfer plate and the circuit component for establishing a compliant contact between the first heat transfer plate and the circuit component through the second solder means, and elastic means connected to the first heat transfer plate for resiliently biasing the first heat transfer plate toward the circuit component, said second solder means having a melting point which is lower than that of the first solder means so as to ensure that the second solder means melts at a temperature where the first solder means remains solid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 41 words
A cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said cooling module further comprises a second heat transfer plate which is provided on the circuit component and which is thermally connected to the first heat transfer plate through the second solder means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 52 words
A cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said cooling module further comprises means interposed between the first heat transfer plate and the circuit component for maintaining a constant amount of the second solder means therebetween when the first heat transfer plate is pressed against the circuit component by the elastic means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 41 words
A cooling system according to claim 3, wherein said maintaining means comprises projection means on the first heat transfer plate disposed to come into contact with the circuit component when the first heat transfer plate is pressed against the circuit component.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 41 words
A cooling system according to claim 3, wherein said maintaining means comprises projection means on the circuit component disposed to come into contact with the first heat transfer plate when the first heat transfer plate is pressed against the circuit component.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 24 words
A cooling system according to claim 4, wherein said projection means comprises three protrusions each having an end which defines a flat contacting face.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
A cooling system according to claim 4, wherein said projection means defines a semispherically curved contacting surface on the first heat transfer plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 21 words
A cooling system according to claim 5, wherein said projection means defines a semispherically curved contacting surface on the circuit component.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 41 words
A cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said cooling module further comprises means disposed between the first heat transfer plate and the circuit component, for discharging air bubbles which otherwise would remain in the second solder means without being discharged.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 34 words
A cooling system according to claim 9, wherein said air bubbles discharging means comprises at least one recessed passage through which the air bubbles can be discharged, provided on the first heat transfer plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 32 words
A cooling system according to claim 9, wherein said air bubbles discharging means comprises at least one recessed passage through which the air bubbles can be discharged, provided on the circuit component.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 19 words
A cooling system according to claim 10, wherein said recessed passage comprises a plurality of radially extending recessed grooves.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 18 words
A cooling system according to claim 10, wherein said recessed passage comprises a plurality of grid-like recessed grooves.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 13 words
A cooling system according to claim 12, wherein said recessed grooves are V-shaped.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 13 words
A cooling system according to claim 13, wherein said recessed grooves are V-shaped.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 15 words
A cooling system according to claim 12, wherein said recessed grooves are trapezoid in section.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 15 words
A cooling system according to claim 13, wherein said recessed grooves are trapezoid in section.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 17 words
A cooling system according to claim 10, wherein said recessed passage is formed from patterned solder resist.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 36 words
A cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said cooling module further comprises means disposed between the first heat transfer plate and the circuit component for preventing the second solder means from leaking out from therebetween.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 28 words
A cooling system according to claim 19, wherein said preventing means comprises a circumferential wall provided on the first heat transfer plate to surround the second solder means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 26 words
A cooling system according to claim 19, wherein said preventing means comprises a circumferential wall provided on the circuit component to surround the second solder means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 17 words
A cooling system according to claim 20, wherein said circumferential wall is made of a solder resist.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 47 words
A cooling system according to claim 19, wherein said preventing means comprises a circumferential wall provided on either the first heat transfer plate or on the circuit component, and a projection means provided on the other one of the first heat transfer plate and the circuit component.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 37 words
A cooling system according to claim 23, wherein said projection means comprises three protrusions each having an end which defines a flat contacting face, said protrusions having a height larger than the height of the circumferential wall.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 27 words
A cooling system according to claim 23, wherein said projection means comprises a trapezoidal protrusion which has a height smaller than the height of the circumferential wall.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 34 words
A cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said cooling module further comprises means for directing a flow of high temperature fluid into said conduit when the second solder means is to be melted.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 28 words
A cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said cooling module further comprises heating means provided in the first heat transfer plate for heating the second solder means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 22 words
A cooling system according to claim 27, wherein said heating means comprises an electrical heater installed in the first heat transfer plate.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 48 words
A cooling system according to claim 28, wherein said heating means comprises a separate heater unit having an electrical heater which can be brought into contact with the first heat transfer plate to melt the second solder means, said heater unit being detachably attached to the cooling module.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 42 words
A cooling system according to claim 29, wherein said conduct comprises a detachable cover which defines a passage in which the coolant flows, and wherein said separate heater unit is detachably inserted into the conduit after the removal of the detachable cover.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 25 words
A cooling system according to claim 29, wherein said heater unit comprises elastic means for resiliently biasing the heater against the first heat transfer plate.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 24 words
A cooling system according to claim 5, wherein said projection means comprises three protrusions each having an end which defines a flat contacting face.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 19 words
A cooling system according to claim 11, wherein said recessed passage comprises a plurality of radially extending recessed grooves.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 18 words
A cooling system according to claim 11, wherein said recessed passage comprises a plurality of grid-like recessed grooves.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 17 words
A cooling system according to claim 11, wherein said recessed passage is formed from patterned solder resist.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 17 words
A cooling system according to claim 21, wherein said circumferential wall is made of a solder resist.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

EP0079424A2 Cited
EP0151068A2 Cited
US4561040A Cited
EP0196054A2 Cited
US4740866A Cited
US4688147A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-11-06 1993-05-08 1993-11-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-11-06 1997-05-08 1997-11-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-11-06 2001-05-08 2001-11-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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