US6167948B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thin, planar heat spreader
Assignee: Novel Concepts Inc
•
Filing: 1996-11-18
•
Granted: 2001-01-02
•
Expires: 2016-11-18
Abstract
Abstract A heat spreading apparatus includes a first planar body for attachment to a heat generating surface which results in a hot region and a cool region on the first planar body. A second planar body connected to the first planar body is used to define a void between the first planar body and the second planar body. The void includes a planar capillary path and a non-capillary region. A fluid positioned within the void distributes heat by vaporizing the fluid from the planar capillary path in the hot region, condensing the fluid in the non-capillary region in the cool region, and moving from the non-capillary region to the planar capillary path in the hot region through capillarity.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel Lee Thomas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:51
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D15/00; F28D15/02; H; H10; H10W; H10W40/00; H10W40/70; H10W40/73; F28F; F28F2210/00; F28F2210/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A heat spreading apparatus, comprising: a first planar body for attachment to a heat generating surface which produces a hot region and a cool region on said first planar body; a second planar body connected to said first planar body to define a void between said first planar body and said second planar body, said void including a non-capillary region with a first vertical height to facilitate vapor transport and a planar capillary region with a second vertical height, less than said first vertical height to facilitate capillary fluid motion, said planar capillary region having a substantially rectangular cross-section; and a fluid positioned within said void for distributing heat by vaporizing said fluid from said planar capillary region in said hot region, condensing said fluid in said non-capillary region in said cool region, and moving from said non-capillary region to said planar capillary region in said hot region through capillarity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A heat spreading apparatus, comprising: a first planar body for attachment to a heat generating surface which produces a hot region and a cool region on said first planar body; a second planar body connected to said first planar body to define a void between said first planar body and said second planar body, said void including a non-capillary region with a first vertical height to facilitate vapor transport and a planar capillary region with a second vertical height, less than said first vertical height to facilitate capillary fluid motion, said planar capillary region having a substantially rectangular cross-section; and a fluid positioned within said void for distributing heat by vaporizing said fluid from said planar capillary region in said hot region, condensing said fluid in said non-capillary region in said cool region, and moving from said non-capillary region to said planar capillary region in said hot region through capillarity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said planar capillary region is defined by a bottom planar capillary surface and a corresponding top planar capillary surface, said bottom planar capillary surface being vertically positioned with respect to said top planar capillary surface to produce said capillarity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the vertical distance between said bottom planar capillary surface and said top planar capillary surface is less than 0.5 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said bottom planar capillary surface is a continuous surface allowing said fluid to travel to any position on said continuous surface and said top planar capillary surface is an aligned continuous surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first planar body and said second planar body are each in a substantially square configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a heat removal device attached to said second planar body, said heat removal device being selected from the group including a finned heat sink and a fan.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first planar body and said second planar body have a combined vertical height of less than 1.5 mm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first planar body forms a floor of said void and said second planar body forms a ceiling of said void, the vertical distance between said ceiling and said floor at said non-capillary region is less than 1.0 mm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the amount of fluid within said void is approximately 0.007 cc per cm 2 of surface area of said apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said non-capillary region is configured to include a center region with planar capillary regions extending therefrom in a radial configuration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said non-capillary region includes a plurality of non-capillary regions each shaped in a predetermined pattern that is surrounded by said planar capillary region.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of 11 wherein said plurality of non-capillary regions have varying sizes.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of 11 wherein said plurality of non-capillary regions have varying sizes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said predetermined pattern is a square.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said predetermined pattern is a circle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said predetermined pattern is a triangle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said planar capillary region is bound by a perimeter surface, a fluid path bridge, and an evaporator plateau.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said evaporator plateau includes a plurality of non-capillary regions each shaped in a predetermined pattern.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said planar capillary region is bound by extended surface elements.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein only one surfaces previusly recited of said void include nucleation sites.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said nucleation sites are positioned only on the perimeter of a planar capillary path bounding said planar capillary region.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said nucleation sites are positioned only on the perimeter of a planar capillary path bounding said planar capillary region, said planar capillary path positionally corresponding to said heat generating surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first planar body includes a pedestal to vertically lift a portion of said first planar body above said heat generating surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first planar body and said second planar body include apertures to accommodate surface protrusions on said heat generating, surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising, heat dissipation fins formed in the plane defined by said first planar body and said second planar body.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first planar body and said second planar body include a curved region.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said curved region causes said first planar body and said second planar body to exist in both a horizontal plane and a vertical plane.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
86 words
A heat spreading apparatus, comprising: a first body portion; and a second body portion connected to said first body portion to define a void between said first body portion and said second body portion, said void including a planar capillary region with a substantially rectangular cross-section defined by said first planar body and said second planar body, said planar capillary region adapted to transport a condensed fluid from a cool region of said void to a hot region of said void where said fluid is evaporated.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
86 words
A heat spreading apparatus, comprising: a first body portion; and a second body portion connected to said first body portion to define a void between said first body portion and said second body portion, said void including a planar capillary region with a substantially rectangular cross-section defined by said first planar body and said second planar body, said planar capillary region adapted to transport a condensed fluid from a cool region of said void to a hot region of said void where said fluid is evaporated.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said planar capillary region is defined by a bottom planar capillary surface and a corresponding top planar capillary surface, said bottom planar capillary surface being vertically positioned with respect to said top planar capillary surface such that said condensed fluid is transported from said cool region to said hot region by capillarity.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the vertical distance between said bottom planar capillary surface and said top planar capillary surface is less than 0.5 mm.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said bottom planar capillary surface is a continuous surface allowing said fluid to travel to any position on said continuous surface and said top planar capillary surface is an aligned continuous surface.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said first body portion and said second body portion have a combined vertical height of less than 1.5 mm.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said first body portion forms a floor of said void and said second body portion forms a ceiling of said void, the vertical distance between said ceiling and said floor being less than 1.0 mm.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 27 further comprising a non-capillary region formed within said void, said non-capillary region being configured to include a center region with planar capillary regions extending therefrom in a radial configuration.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said surfaces of said void include nucleation sites.
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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) | 2004-01-02 | 2004-07-03 | 2005-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-01-02 | 2008-07-03 | 2009-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-01-02 | 2012-07-03 | 2013-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |