Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for cooling a microelectronic device including: (a) a rigid support ring having a top surface and a bottom surface; (b) a mechanically resilient, thermally conductive bottom membrane having a top and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface of the membrane is attached to the bottom surface of the ring; and (c) a multiplicity of thermally conductive posts having top and bottom surfaces, the posts being disposed with their bottom surfaces in thermal contact with the top surface of the bottom membrane over an area, wherein the posts are arrayed in the area with spaces therebetween so that heat transferred from the microelectronic device to the bottom surface of the membrane may be transferred to the multiplicity of thermally conductive posts.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for cooling a microelectronic device including: (a) a rigid support ring having a top surface and a bottom surface; (b) a mechanically resilient, thermally conductive bottom membrane having a top and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface of the membrane is attached to the bottom surface of the ring; and (c) a multiplicity of thermally conductive posts having top and bottom surfaces, the posts being disposed with their bottom surfaces in thermal contact with the top surface of the bottom membrane over an area, wherein the posts are arrayed in the area with spaces therebetween so that heat transferred from the microelectronic device to the bottom surface of the membrane may be transferred to the multiplicity of thermally conductive posts.