Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for conveying heat away from an electronic component. In one embodiment, an adjustable vane is positioned so that air in a channel is diverted from a first cooling zone to a second cooling zone by the adjustable vane to another part of the chassis using a control mechanism. The apparatus can be controlled in a way that regulates temperature of an electronic component by adjusting airflow within the chassis.

Abstract: The chip stack of semiconductor chips with enhanced cooling apparatus includes a first chip with circuitry on a first side and a second chip electrically and mechanically coupled to the first chip by a grid of connectors.

Abstract: An electronic module is provided in which a chip is disposed over a substrate and electrically connected to the substrate by a plurality of electrical connect structures disposed between the chip and the substrate. A heat distributor, fabricated of a thermally conductive material, is disposed between the chip and the substrate and sized to extend beyond an edge of the chip to facilitate conduction of heat laterally out from between the chip and substrate. The heat distributor includes openings sized and positioned to allow the electrical connect structures to pass through the heat distributor without electrically contacting the heat distributor. The heat distributor is electrically isolated from the electrical connect structures, the chip and the substrate. In one implementation, the heat distributor physically contacts a thermally conductive enclosure of the electronic module to facilitate conduction of heat from between the chip and substrate to the enclosure.

Abstract: An electronic module is provided in which a chip is disposed over a substrate and electrically connected to the substrate by a plurality of electrical connect structures disposed between the chip and the substrate. A heat distributor, fabricated of a thermally conductive material, is disposed between the chip and the substrate and sized to extend beyond an edge of the chip to facilitate conduction of heat laterally out from between the chip and substrate. The heat distributor includes openings sized and positioned to allow the electrical connect structures to pass through the heat distributor without electrically contacting the heat distributor. The heat distributor is electrically isolated from the electrical connect structures, the chip and the substrate. In one implementation, the heat distributor physically contacts a thermally conductive enclosure of the electronic module to facilitate conduction of heat from between the chip and substrate to the enclosure.

Abstract: A heat spreader includes a plurality of sensors that indicate that the heat spreader is flat against a chip stack. One or more nodes within a sensor are electrically connected. The electrical resistance values of the connection may be compared to determine if the nodes within the sensors are relatively flat. Sensor flatness may be correlated to heat spreader flatness for determining whether the heat spreader is flat against the chip stack when the heat spreader is installed upon the chip stack.

Abstract: A heat spreader includes a plurality of sensors that indicate that the heat spreader is flat against and in thermal contact with a plurality of chips when the heat spreader is loaded upon a chip stack. One or more nodes within the sensors are connected by electric conductors. The resistances of the conductors may be compared to determine if the nodes within the sensors are relatively flat. Sensor flatness may be indicated to a higher level electronic device such as a visual display. The display may ultimately be viewed by a user to determine whether the heat spreader is flat and in thermal contact with the plurality of chips when the heat spreader is loaded upon the chip stack.

Abstract: An electrical connector monitoring system for a plug and receptacle assembly, that includes a plug connected to the plug assembly, a recess located within the plug, an electrically insulative layer disposed in the recess, a wear member disposed on the plug that at least partially traverses the insulated recess and in electrical contact with the plug, a contact member movably connected with a receptacle of the receptacle, and a signal device in electrical connection through a circuit with the plug, wear member, and contact member when the plug is fully seated within the receptacle.

Abstract: An impact sensor includes a piezoelectric transducer operatively connected to a chromic device. The chromic device includes a chromic material that changes from a first color state to a second color state in response to electric power generated by the piezoelectric transducer when exposed to a given level of impact force. The chromic material is bistable so that the chromic material remains in the second color state for a significant amount of time. An impact force to which the sensor has been subjected may be quantified by observing the chromic device. In one embodiment, the chromic material is an electrochromic material, such as a viologen, that changes through a color gradient of light transmission states from the first color state to the second color state. A printed color gradient may be used to aid in quantifying the impact force. In another embodiment, the chromic device includes a thermochromic material.

Abstract: A method and structure for implementing enhanced dimensional stability with a graphite nanotube hybrid socket. A socket housing wall includes a plurality of aligned graphite nanofibers. The plurality of aligned graphite nanofibers distributing heat and providing enhanced dimensional stability. For example, the plurality of aligned graphite nanofibers more evenly distributes heat when the socket is undergoing solder reflow processes, thereby reducing strain.

Abstract: A system, method, and motherboard assembly are described for interconnecting and distributing signals and power between co-planar boards that function as a single motherboard. The motherboard assembly includes a multilayered first printed circuit board having opposed parallel first and second surfaces, each having at least one land grid array (LGA) disposed thereon. The assembly further includes at least one wiring layer (Y) designed to only electrically interconnect components on or within the first PCB, and at least one wiring layer (X) designed to only electrically connect the components on the first PCB to a multilayered second PCB. The multilayered second PCB has opposed parallel first and second surfaces, the first surface having at least one LGA disposed thereon.

Abstract: An electrical connector monitoring system for a plug and receptacle assembly, that includes a plug connected to the plug assembly, a recess located within the plug, an electrically insulative layer disposed in the recess, a wear member disposed on the plug that at least partially traverses the insulated recess and in electrical contact with the plug, a contact member movably connected with a receptacle of the receptacle, and a signal device in electrical connection through a circuit with the plug, wear member, and contact member when the plug is fully seated within the receptacle.

Abstract: Mechanisms for interconnecting and distributing signals and power between PCBs are provided. A first PCB having land grid arrays (LGAs) and a first wiring layer designed for interconnect components on the first PCB, and a second wiring layer for connecting the components to a second PCB, are provided. The second PCB has opposed parallel first and second surfaces, the first surface having a LGA. A wiring layer designed to interconnect components on the second PCB, and a layer for interconnecting the components on the second PCB with the components on the first PCB, are provided. A first interposer couples to a LGA of a first surface of the first PCB and connects a component to the first PCB. A second interposer is sandwiched between and couples to a LGA of a second surface of the first PCB and to the LGA of the first surface of the second PCB.

Abstract: A method and structures are provided for implementing enhanced thermal conductivity between a lid and heat sink for stacked modules. A chip lid and lateral heat distributor includes cooperating features for implementing enhanced thermal conductivity. The chip lid includes a groove along an inner side wall including a flat wall surface and a curved edge surface. The lateral heat distributor includes a mating edge portion received within the groove. The mating edge portion includes a bent arm for engaging the curved edge surface groove and a flat portion. The lateral heat distributor is assembled into place with the chip lid, the mating edge portion of the lateral heat distributor bends and snaps into the groove of the chip lid. The bent arm portion presses on the curved surface of the groove, and provides an upward force to push the flat portion against the flat wall surface of the groove.

Abstract: The chip stack of semiconductor chips with enhanced cooling apparatus includes a first chip with circuitry on a first side and a second chip electrically and mechanically coupled to the first chip by a grid of connectors. The apparatus further includes a thermal interface material pad placed between the first chip and the second chip, wherein the thermal interface material pad includes nanofibers aligned parallel to mating surfaces of the first chip and the second chip. The method includes creating a first chip with circuitry on a first side and creating a second chip electrically and mechanically coupled to the first chip by a grid of connectors. The method further includes placing a thermal interface material pad between the first chip and the second chip, wherein the thermal interface material pad includes nanofibers aligned parallel to mating surfaces of the first chip and the second chip.

Abstract: An embodiment is directed to an IC mounting assembly that comprises an IC device having a first planar surface, wherein multiple electrically conductive first terminals are located at the first surface. The assembly further comprises an IC device mounting platform having a second planar surface in closely spaced relationship with the first surface, wherein multiple electrically conductive second terminals are located at the second surface, each second terminal corresponding to one of the first terminals. A solder element extends between each first terminal and its corresponding second terminal, and a constraining element is fixably joined to the second surface, wherein the constraining element has a CTE which is selectively less than the CTE of the mounting platform at the second surface. The constraining element is provided with a number of holes or apertures, and each hole is traversed by a solder element that extends between a first terminal and its corresponding second terminal.

Abstract: A thermal flow material-free thermally conductive interface between a mounted integrated circuit device and a heat sink that comprises a mounted integrated circuit device, a heat sink vertically disposed over the device, a vertically compressible thermally conductive member unattachably disposed between the device and the heat sink, and an unattached frame member horizontally enclosing the compressible member.

Abstract: A heat spreader includes a plurality of sensors that indicate that the heat spreader is flat against and in thermal contact with a plurality of chips when the heat spreader is loaded upon a chip stack. One or more nodes within the sensors are connected by electric conductors. The resistances of the conductors may be compared to determine if the nodes within the sensors are relatively flat. Sensor flatness may be indicated to a higher level electronic device such as a visual display. The display may ultimately be viewed by a user to determine whether the heat spreader is flat and in thermal contact with the plurality of chips when the heat spreader is loaded upon the chip stack.

Abstract: A method and system for cooling an electrical heat source is disclosed. A heat exchanger has two principal sub-assemblies. A closed-loop fluid flow is provided through a second sub-assembly, disposed next to a heat source. An open-loop fluid flow is provided though a first sub-assembly in communication with a second sub-assembly. Each of the first and second sub-assemblies has a rotational element. The fluid flow entering the first sub-assembly rotates the first rotational element, and magnetic communication between the rotational elements causes movement of the second rotational element, thereby achieving fluid movement within the second sub-assembly. Operationally, the closed-loop sub-assembly removes heat from the heat source and transfers it to the open-loop sub-assembly for subsequent heat transfer in a downstream fluid flow.

Abstract: A mechanism for providing thermal compensation when measuring surface topography at an elevated temperature using a non-contact vibration transducer, such as a laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV). Thermal compensation is provided to a detector output signal to correct for thermal diffraction of a reflected portion of a beam of radiant energy directed at a surface of a test object. The thermal compensation is based on a calculated deviation between the detector output signal r2 at an elevated temperature and the detector output signal r1 at approximately room temperature.

Abstract: An electronic module is provided in which a chip is disposed over a substrate and electrically connected to the substrate by a plurality of electrical connect structures disposed between the chip and the substrate. A heat distributor, fabricated of a thermally conductive material, is disposed between the chip and the substrate and sized to extend beyond an edge of the chip to facilitate conduction of heat laterally out from between the chip and substrate. The heat distributor includes openings sized and positioned to allow the electrical connect structures to pass through the heat distributor without electrically contacting the heat distributor. The heat distributor is electrically isolated from the electrical connect structures, the chip and the substrate. In one implementation, the heat distributor physically contacts a thermally conductive enclosure of the electronic module to facilitate conduction of heat from between the chip and substrate to the enclosure.