US5757620A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for cooling of chips using blind holes with customized depth
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1996-08-02
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Granted: 1998-05-26
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Expires: 2016-08-02
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates generally to a new apparatus and method for customized cooling of chips. More particularly, the invention encompasses an apparatus and a method that provides customized cooling of a MCM (Multi-Chip Module) by varying the depth of thermal compound filled gap or the blind hole that is above each chip.
Inventors
- 👤 David Linn Edwards
- 👤 Mark Gerard Courtney
- 👤 Albert Joseph Fahey
- 👤 Gregory Scott Hopper
- 👤 Sushumna Iruvanti
- 👤 Charles Frederick Jones
- 👤 Gaetano Paolo Messina
- 👤 Raed A. Sherif
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:45
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W90/00; H10W40/00; H10W40/70; H10W72/00; H10W72/071; H10W72/072; H10W72/07251; H10W72/20; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/4913; Y10T29/49144
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
A semiconductor cooling apparatus comprising customized thermally conductive path between at least two semiconductor elements and a thermal cap, wherein said thermal cap has at least two thermal contact areas, wherein at least one of said thermal contact area is a blind hole, and wherein each of said thermal contact areas correspond to each of said semiconductor elements, and wherein each of said semiconductor elements comprise a first surface and a second surface, such that first surface of each of said semiconductor element is secured to a substrate and said second surface faces said thermal contact area such that the distance between at least one of said second surface of said semiconductor element to said thermal contact area is noticeably different, and wherein there is at least a first and a second thermally conductive fluid present between said at least two semiconductor elements and said corresponding thermal contact areas, and wherein said first thermally conductive fluid is present between one of said at least two semiconductor elements and said corresponding thermal contact area, and wherein said second thermally conductive fluid is present between the second of said at least two semiconductor elements and said corresponding thermal contact area, and wherein the thermal conductivity of said first thermally conductive fluid is different than the thermal conductivity of said second thermally conductive fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
A semiconductor cooling apparatus comprising customized thermally conductive path between at least two semiconductor elements and a thermal cap, wherein said thermal cap has at least two thermal contact areas, wherein at least one of said thermal contact area is a blind hole, and wherein each of said thermal contact areas correspond to each of said semiconductor elements, and wherein each of said semiconductor elements comprise a first surface and a second surface, such that first surface of each of said semiconductor element is secured to a substrate and said second surface faces said thermal contact area such that the distance between at least one of said second surface of said semiconductor element to said thermal contact area is noticeably different, and wherein there is at least a first and a second thermally conductive fluid present between said at least two semiconductor elements and said corresponding thermal contact areas, and wherein said first thermally conductive fluid is present between one of said at least two semiconductor elements and said corresponding thermal contact area, and wherein said second thermally conductive fluid is present between the second of said at least two semiconductor elements and said corresponding thermal contact area, and wherein the thermal conductivity of said first thermally conductive fluid is different than the thermal conductivity of said second thermally conductive fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one thermally conductive fluid is present between said at least two semiconductor elements and said corresponding thermal contact areas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one thermally conductive fluid is present between said at least two semiconductor elements and said corresponding thermal contact areas, and wherein said at least one thermally conductive fluid is selected from a group comprising thermal oil, thermal paste, thermal grease and thermal compound.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of at least one of said semiconductor elements is secured to a substrate using at least one first electrical connection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said at least one first electrical connection is selected from a group comprising C4, solder ball, solder column, low-melting point solder or high-melting point solder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said semiconductor elements is a chip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said semiconductor elements is a decoupling capacitor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the entire area between said thermal cap and said substrate is filled with at least one thermally conductive fluid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the entire area between said thermal cap and said substrate is filled with at least one thermally conductive fluid, and wherein said at least one thermally conductive fluid is selected from a group consisting of thermal oil, thermal paste, thermal grease and thermal compound.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of said thermal cap is secured said substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of said thermal cap is secured to said substrate by at least one means, and wherein said at least one means is selected from a group consisting of solder, adhesive and mechanical clamp.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat generation of said at least two semiconductor elements is different.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said thermal contact area is not a blind hole.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wall of said blind hole is selected from a group comprising square shape, circular shape, triangular shape or a polygonal shape.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
167 words
A semiconductor cooling apparatus comprising customized thermally conductive path between at least two semiconductor elements and a thermal cap, wherein said thermal cap has at least two thermal contact areas, wherein at least one of said thermal contact area is a blind hole, and wherein each of said thermal contact areas correspond to each of said semiconductor elements, and wherein each of said semiconductor elements comprise a first surface and a second surface, such that first surface of each of said semiconductor element is secured to a substrate and said second surface faces said thermal contact area such that the distance between at least one of said second surface of said semiconductor element to said thermal contact area is noticeably different, wherein at least a portion of at least one of said semiconductor elements is secured to a substrate using at least one first electrical connection, and wherein the entire area between said thermal cap and said substrate is filled with at least one thermally conductive fluid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
167 words
A semiconductor cooling apparatus comprising customized thermally conductive path between at least two semiconductor elements and a thermal cap, wherein said thermal cap has at least two thermal contact areas, wherein at least one of said thermal contact area is a blind hole, and wherein each of said thermal contact areas correspond to each of said semiconductor elements, and wherein each of said semiconductor elements comprise a first surface and a second surface, such that first surface of each of said semiconductor element is secured to a substrate and said second surface faces said thermal contact area such that the distance between at least one of said second surface of said semiconductor element to said thermal contact area is noticeably different, wherein at least a portion of at least one of said semiconductor elements is secured to a substrate using at least one first electrical connection, and wherein the entire area between said thermal cap and said substrate is filled with at least one thermally conductive fluid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one thermally conductive fluid is present between said at least two semiconductor elements and said corresponding thermal contact areas.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one thermally conductive fluid is present between said at least two semiconductor elements and said corresponding thermal contact areas, and wherein said at least one thermally conductive fluid is selected from a group comprising thermal oil, thermal paste, thermal grease and thermal compound.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said at least one first electrical connection is selected from a group comprising C4, solder ball, solder column, low-melting point solder or high-melting point solder.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one of said semiconductor elements is a chip.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one of said semiconductor elements is a decoupling capacitor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the entire area between said thermal cap and said substrate is filled with at least one thermally conductive fluid, and wherein said at least one thermally conductive fluid is selected from a group consisting of thermal oil, thermal paste, thermal grease and thermal compound.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of said thermal cap is secured said substrate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of said thermal cap is secured to said substrate by at least one means, and wherein said at least one means is selected from a group consisting of solder, adhesive and mechanical clamp.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the heat generation of said at least two semiconductor elements is different.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one of said thermal contact area is not a blind hole.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the wall of said blind hole is selected from a group comprising square shape, circular shape, triangular shape or a polygonal shape.
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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) | 2001-05-25 | 2001-11-24 | 2002-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-25 | 2005-11-24 | 2006-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-25 | 2009-11-24 | 2010-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |