Abstract: A thermal transfer system for reducing temperature cycling of an electronic device. The thermal system includes a thermally conductive device to which the electronic device is mounted, a heat sink and a thermal rail mounted to the heat sink. The thermal system further includes a plurality of shape memory alloy (SMA) elements extending through aligned openings in the rail and the thermally conductive device, where the SMA elements are shaped in a deformed wire-like configuration and attempt to return to an undeformed spring-like configuration when the plurality of SMA elements are heated above a transition temperature so as to increase a heat transfer contact pressure between the thermally conductive device and the rail.

Abstract: A planar heat pipe for removing heat from an electronic device. The heat pipe includes a planar portion defining a cool end of the heat pipe and a plate portion mounted to the electronic device and defining a hot end of the heat pipe. The heat pipe also includes a serpentine portion coupled to the planar portion and the plate portion, where each of the planar portion, the plate portion and the serpentine portion include an internal chamber being in fluid communication with each other and containing a working fluid. The serpentine portion can include a plurality of elements where each element is coupled to an adjacent element at substantially a 90° angle so as to allow the serpentine portion to flex in three-degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A planar heat pipe for removing heat from an electronic device. The heat pipe includes a planar portion defining a cool end of the heat pipe and a plate portion mounted to the electronic device and defining a hot end of the heat pipe. The heat pipe also includes a serpentine portion coupled to the planar portion and the plate portion, where each of the planar portion, the plate portion and the serpentine portion include an internal chamber being in fluid communication with each other and containing a working fluid. The serpentine portion can include a plurality of elements where each element is coupled to an adjacent element at substantially a 90° angle so as to allow the serpentine portion to flex in three-degrees of freedom.