Abstract: A tool which accurately controls the thickness of a thermal grease applied to an integrated circuit that is mounted to a printed circuit board. The tool includes a bracket that supports the printed circuit board and the integrated circuit. A thermal grease is applied to the top surface of the integrated circuit. A lid is attached to the bracket to capture the printed circuit board. The lid has a platen that is separated from the integrated circuit by a space which has a predetermined thickness. The space defines the thickness of the thermal grease. Any excess thermal grease is pushed out of the space by the lid so that a consistent thickness of thermal grease is applied for each integrated circuit assembly. The bracket, lid, integrated circuit and printed circuit board can be mounted to a motherboard as a single integrated circuit module. Alternatively, the lid can be detached from the base so that the grease covered integrated circuit can be removed from the tool for subsequently assembly.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package that contains an integrated circuit that is mounted to a bond portion of a substrate. The bond portion of the substrate is separated from a contact portion of the substrate by a flexible portion. The contact portion is attached to a printed circuit board by a plurality of solder joints. The flexible portion decouples the bond portion from the contact portion to allow relative movement between the package and the circuit board to minimize the strain on the solder joints. The package may also contain a spacer that separates a heat pipe from the integrated circuit and controls the thickness of a thermal grease located between the circuit and the pipe.

Abstract: A semiconductor package which includes a package substrate and a semiconductor chip located on the package substrate have coefficients of thermal expansion which differs by a large margin. The semiconductor chip has beveled edges and an epoxy is provided which reduce stresses on the semiconductor chip when the package is being heated.

Abstract: An electrical cartridge of the present invention includes a spring that pushes an integrated circuit package into a thermal plate. The integrated circuit package and substrate are attached to a substrate such as a printed circuit board. A cover may be attached to an opposite side of the substrate. There is typically a space between the integrated circuit package and the thermal plate that is filled with a thermal grease. The spring is located between the cover and the substrate in a manner which deflects the spring and exerts a force on the substrate. The spring force pushes the substrate and the integrated circuit package into the thermal plate. The spring may be designed to always provide a sufficient force to ensure a minimum space between the integrated circuit package and the thermal plate for assemblies produced in a mass production process.

Abstract: An electronic assembly which has a ring that creates a dam for a thermal grease. The assembly may include an integrated circuit which is mounted to a substrate. The assembly may also include a cover which has an opening that exposes the integrated circuit. The ring is coupled to the integrated circuit and the cover. A thermal element may be placed adjacent to the integrated circuit and the thermal grease. The dam controls the flow of the thermal grease. The opening allows the thermal element to be placed adjacent to the integrated circuit. In one embodiment the thermal element may be attached to the cover by a hinge. The hinge thermal element may compensate for tolerances in the assembly without creating excessive forces on the integrated circuit.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package that contains an integrated circuit that is mounted to a bond portion of a substrate. The bond portion of the substrate is separated from a contact portion of the substrate by a flexible portion. The contact portion is attached to a printed circuit board by a plurality of solder joints. The flexible portion decouples the bond portion from the contact portion to allow relative movement between the package and the circuit board to minimize the strain on the solder joints. The package may also contain a spacer that separates a heat pipe from the integrated circuit and controls the thickness of a thermal grease located between the circuit and the pipe.

Abstract: An electrical assembly which includes a clip that couples a thermal element to an integrated circuit package. The integrated circuit package is mounted to a printed circuit board. An elastomer is located between the printed circuit board and the clip. The assembly is designed so that the elastomer applies a pre-load force which pulls the thermal element into the integrated circuit package. The pre-load is typically set so that the thermal element does not become separated from the package when the assembly is subjected to external shock and vibration loads. The elastomer applies the pre-load force uniformly along the area of contact with the printed circuit board. The elastomer does not create localized high stress points on the board. Additionally, the elastomer has an inner opening that is larger than the outer dimensions of the integrated circuit package so that the elastomer applies the pre-load force onto the board in an area away from the solder joints of the package.

Abstract: A tool which accurately controls the thickness of a thermal grease applied to an integrated circuit that is mounted to a printed circuit board. The tool includes a bracket that supports the printed circuit board and the integrated circuit. A thermal grease is applied to the top surface of the integrated circuit. A lid is attached to the bracket to capture the printed circuit board. The lid has a platen that is separated from the integrated circuit by a space which has a predetermined thickness. The space defines the thickness of the thermal grease. Any excess thermal grease is pushed out of the space by the lid so that a consistent thickness of thermal grease is applied for each integrated circuit assembly. The bracket, lid, integrated circuit and printed circuit board can be mounted to a motherboard as a single integrated circuit module. Alternatively, the lid can be detached from the base so that the grease covered integrated circuit can be removed from the tool for subsequently assembly.

Abstract: An improved heat dissipation device particularly suited for removing heat from a surface mounted integrated circuit component coupled to a printed circuit board in a portable computer. Vias, which are at least partially filled with a heat conductive material, improve heat transfer between a component and a heat conductive block mounted on opposite surfaces of the circuit board. A first section near one end of the heat pipe is attached to the heat conductive block in a channel formed receptive to the heat pipe. A second section of the heat pipe including the second end is attached to a metal plate which is affixed beneath the keyboard. Heat from the component flows through the vias to the block and is transferred by the heat pipe to the metal plate where it is dissipated.