US5403973A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Custom conformal heat sinking device for electronic circuit cards and methods of making the same
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1994-01-18
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Granted: 1995-04-04
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Expires: 2014-01-18
Abstract
Abstract A protective heat sinking device for an electronic circuit card having upper and lower layers of an air-impermeable polymer material forming an air-impermeable bag. A metallic foil having high thermal conductivity is inserted between the upper layer of air-impermeable polymer material and the top surface of the electronic circuit card. The air-impermeable bag has an open side into which the circuit card is inserted. The bag is evacuated to produce a conformal vacuum seal in which the upper and lower layers of air-impermeable polymer material and the metallic foil are drawn down onto the surface of the circuit card and form a conformal protective cover about its contours. A layer of electrically insulating material may be added between the metallic foil and an upper face of the circuit card to electronically insulate the metallic foil from the circuit components mounted on the upper face of the circuit card contained within the protective heat sinking device. A method for conformally sealing a circuit card in the protective heat sinking device is also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael A. Santilli
- 👤 William Z. Morgan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:02
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/20; H05K7/2039; H05K7/20509; H05K3/00; H05K3/22; H05K3/28; H05K3/284; H10; H10W; H10W42/00; H10W42/20; H10W42/261; H10W42/276; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/09; H05K2201/09209; H05K2201/09654; H05K2201/09781; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/08; H05K2203/085; H05K2203/13; H05K2203/1305; H05K2203/1311
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A protective device for an electronic circuit card, comprising: a bag having an upper layer and a lower layer of an air-impermeable material, said upper and lower layers being joined along three common edges, said bag having an open side to permit insertion of a circuit card; at least one layer of a metallic foil having high thermal conductivity, said at least one layer of metallic foil being insertable in said bag adjacent to at least one of said upper and lower layers of air-impermeable material; and when said electronic circuit card is inserted in said bag and said bag is evacuated, said bag conformally seals to said electronic circuit card and conformally shapes said metallic foil to the contours on a side of said electronic circuit card adjacent said upper layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A protective device for an electronic circuit card, comprising: a bag having an upper layer and a lower layer of an air-impermeable material, said upper and lower layers being joined along three common edges, said bag having an open side to permit insertion of a circuit card; at least one layer of a metallic foil having high thermal conductivity, said at least one layer of metallic foil being insertable in said bag adjacent to at least one of said upper and lower layers of air-impermeable material; and when said electronic circuit card is inserted in said bag and said bag is evacuated, said bag conformally seals to said electronic circuit card and conformally shapes said metallic foil to the contours on a side of said electronic circuit card adjacent said upper layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
The protective device as described in claim 1, further comprising at least one layer of electrically insulating material disposed adjacent to said at least one layer of metallic foil on a side opposite said at least upper layer and lower layer of air-impermeable material, said layer of insulating material being in direct contact with said circuit card when said circuit card is inserted into said device, said layer of insulating material also exhibiting good thermal conductivity characteristics.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The protective device as described in claim 1, further comprising said upper and lower layers of air-impermeable material and said at least one layer of metallic foil being vacuum sealable to said circuit card to conform to the shape of said circuit card, said bag being capable of being reexpanded and removed after said vacuum sealing to expose layer of metallic foil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The protective device as described in claim 3, further comprising additional layers of metallic foil being added to said at least one layer of metallic foil exposed by the removal of said bag.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The protective device as described in claim 1, further comprising said air-impermeable material being a polymer compound.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The protective device as described in claim 1, further comprising said metallic foil being constructed of an aluminum material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The protective device as described in claim 2, further comprising said electrically insulating material being constructed of a polymer compound.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The protective device as described in claim 1, further comprising the release of said vacuum-sealing causing said upper and lower layers of said air-impermeable material to revert back to their original shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The protective device as described in claim 1, wherein said upper and lower layers each further comprise inner and outer layers, said inner and outer layers are connected along predetermined boundaries to form at least one spatially separated enclosure between said layers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The protective device as described in claim 9, further comprising a fluid capable of being injected into said at least one spatially separated enclosure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The protective device as described in claim 10, wherein said fluid is a thermal wax.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The protective device as described in claim 10, wherein said fluid is a fluorinert.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The protective device as described in claim 10, wherein said fluid is a color-coded dye.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The protective device as described in claim 9, further comprising a fluid capable of being circulated throughout said at least one enclosure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The protective device as described in claim 1, further comprising electrical circuitry built into said bag, said circuitry communicating an electrical connector with circuit components located on said circuit card.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The protective device as described in claim 1, further comprising affixing at least one heat dissipating element to an external side of said at least one upper and lower layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The protective device as described in claim 15, further comprising flex circuitry for electrically connecting said circuit card in said bag to a further circuit card.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The protective device as described in claim 17, wherein said bag provides electrical circuitry for interfacing two or more circuit cards to be contained within said bag.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for conformal vacuum-sealing of a protective device onto an electronic circuit card, comprising the steps of: inserting a circuit card into a bag of a plastic material, said bag having a top surface adjacent an upper surface of said electronic circuit card, and a bottom surface adjacent a lower surface of said electronic circuit card; inserting a metallic foil between at least one of said top surface and said lower surface of said bag and said opposing surface of said electronic circuit card; and evacuating said bag to conformally seal said metallic foil to said electronic circuit card, said metallic foil constituting a heat sink for the electrical components mounted on said electronic circuit card.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for conformal vacuum-sealing of a protective device onto an electronic circuit card, comprising the steps of: inserting a circuit card into a bag of a plastic material, said bag having a top surface adjacent an upper surface of said electronic circuit card, and a bottom surface adjacent a lower surface of said electronic circuit card; inserting a metallic foil between at least one of said top surface and said lower surface of said bag and said opposing surface of said electronic circuit card; and evacuating said bag to conformally seal said metallic foil to said electronic circuit card, said metallic foil constituting a heat sink for the electrical components mounted on said electronic circuit card.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as described in claim 19, further comprising the step of reexpanding and removing said bag to expose said metallic foil.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as described in claim 20, further comprising the step of adding additional layers of said metallic foil to said exposed metallic foil.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method as described in claim 19, further comprising the step of inserting at least one layer of electrically insulating material between said metallic foil and said opposing surface of said electronic circuit card prior to said step of evacuating said bag so as to provide an insulating layer between said metallic foil and said circuit card.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method as described in claim 19, further comprising the step of providing said upper and lower bag layers each as inner and outer layers which are separately connected along predetermined boundaries, said respective inner and outer layers forming enclosures between said inner and outer layers.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as described in claim 23, further comprising the step of inserting a fluid into said enclosures.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as described in claim 23, further comprising the steps of circulating a fluid through at least one of said enclosures.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-04-03 | 1998-10-03 | 1999-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-04-03 | 2002-10-03 | 2003-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-04-03 | 2006-10-03 | 2007-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |