Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of an electrically conductive fluid interconnect for coupling an integrated circuit (IC) device to a substrate. The IC device may be coupled to the substrate in a socketless manner or using a socket. The electrically conductive fluid interconnect may include, for example, a metal, an electrically conductive paste, or an electrically conductive polymer material. The fluid may be in a liquid or paste state over at least part of an operating temperature range of the IC device, and in other embodiments the fluid may be in the liquid or paste state at room temperature. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method to provide localized cooling to a microelectronic device are generally described. In this regard, according to one example embodiment, a cooling apparatus comprising a heat spreader and one or more thermoelectric cooler(s) thermally coupled to the heat spreader provides cooling to one or more hot spot(s) of a microelectronic device, the one or more thermoelectric cooler(s) having a single heat exchanging element of a single material.

Abstract: A compact rake piezoelectric assembly comprises a body (110), a plurality of blades (120) extending away from the body, and a piezoelectric patch (130) attached to the body. The piezoelectric patch has a fixed portion (138) and a free portion (139), with the fixed portion being constrained to be in physical contact with the body.

Abstract: Apparatuses and associated methods and systems to provide localized cooling to a microelectronic device are generally described. In this regard, according to one example embodiment, a microelectronic cooling apparatus comprising a microelectronic device thermally coupled to one or more thermally conductive pin(s) provides cooling to one or more hot spot(s) of the microelectronic device.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of confining a liquid metal alloy within a closed-loop system; distributing a first portion of the liquid metal alloy in a cavity within the closed-loop system; turning on an electromagnet to generate a magnetic field to permeate flexible sidewalls of the cavity; attracting the liquid metal alloy in the cavity towards the electromagnet to expand the flexible sidewalls; inducing a second portion of the liquid metal alloy to enter the cavity from an inlet end of a pipe within the closed-loop system; turning off the electromagnet; repelling the liquid metal alloy in the cavity away from the electromagnet to contract the flexible sidewalls; and inducing a third portion of the liquid metal alloy to exit the cavity to an outlet end of the pipe.

Abstract: Systems for cooling the backside of a semiconductor die located in a die-down integrated circuit (IC) package are described. The IC package is attached to the topside of a printed circuit board (PCB) with the backside of the die residing below the topside surface of the PCB. A cooling plate is attached to the backside of the die and thermally connected to a heat sink located above the topside surface of the PCB via conduits that pass through openings in the PCB.

Abstract: A circuit board including a blower thereon to cool a heat generating arrangement. The circuit board includes a board substrate; a blower disposed on the board substrate, the blower having an inlet adapted to take in coolant in a inlet direction, and an outlet adapted to blow out coolant in a first outlet direction extending at an angle with respect to the inlet direction; and a heat-generating arrangement disposed on the board substrate such that the blower is adapted to blow out coolant in the first outlet direction to cool the heat generating arrangement.

Abstract: A cooling system including one or more piezo fans for an electronic assembly is disclosed. The electronic assembly may include heat-generating components coupled with a front side of a printed circuit board (PCB) and one or more piezo fans coupled with a back side of the PCB. One or more piezo fans may be capable of cooling the heat-generating components from the back side. The cooling system may further include a heat sink coupled with the back side of the PCB.

Abstract: A heatsink comprises a base (110, 210, 310), a fin (120, 220, 320) attached to the base, and a piezoelectric patch (130, 230, 330) attached to the fin. The piezoelectric patch causes the fin to oscillate, thus generating air circulation near the fin surface. This airflow disturbs the boundary layer near the fin and dramatically increases the heat transfer from the fin to air compared to a non-oscillating fin, even for the same bulk flow rate.

Abstract: A piezoelectric fan comprises a blade (110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610), a piezoelectric actuator patch (120, 220, 320, 420, 520 ,620, 811) adjacent to the blade, and a piezoelectric sensor patch (130, 230, 330, 430, 530, 630, 812) adjacent to one of the piezoelectric actuator patch and the blade. The piezoelectric sensor patch measures a voltage proportional to a deflection of the piezoelectric actuator patch and a deflection of a tip of the blade and uses that voltage to generate an input signal to an active feedback controller (840) that in turn ensures that the oscillation amplitude of the blade satisfies certain cooling specifications.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to use and/or provision of a rake piezo actuator are described. In one embodiment, a piezo patch may be coupled to a plurality of blades (e.g., to cause the blades to oscillate and provide air flow between fins of one or more heat sinks). Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A piezo actuator includes a plurality of layers of ceramic material, a plurality of layers of conductive material interspersed between the plurality of layers of ceramic material, and a plate attached to an end of the actuator. The plate of the piezo actuator includes an overhang portion.

Abstract: In some embodiments, piezoelectric air jet augmented cooling for electronic devices is presented. In this regard, an apparatus is introduced having a plurality of more than about one hundred lead-free piezoelectric layers and electrodes stacked on top of each other and formed around a central opening, and a diaphragm coupled to the piezoelectric layers and substantially covering the central opening to vibrate and blow air when an operating voltage is applied to the electrodes. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A cooling system including one or more piezo fans for an electronic assembly is disclosed. The electronic assembly may include heat-generating components coupled with a front side of a printed circuit board (PCB) and one or more piezo fans coupled with a back side of the PCB. One or more piezo fans may be capable of cooling the heat-generating components from the back side. The cooling system may further include a heat sink coupled with the back side of the PCB.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of an electrically conductive fluid interconnect for coupling an integrated circuit (IC) device to a substrate. The IC device may be coupled to the substrate in a socketless manner or using a socket. The electrically conductive fluid interconnect may include, for example, a metal, an electrically conductive paste, or an electrically conductive polymer material. The fluid may be in a liquid or paste state over at least part of an operating temperature range of the IC device, and in other embodiments the fluid may be in the liquid or paste state at room temperature. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A compact rake piezoelectric assembly comprises a body (110), a plurality of blades (120) extending away from the body, and a piezoelectric patch (130) attached to the body. The piezoelectric patch has a fixed portion (138) and a free portion (139), with the fixed portion being constrained to be in physical contact with the body.

Abstract: In some embodiments, piezoelectric air jet augmented cooling for electronic devices is presented. In this regard, an apparatus is introduced having a plurality of more than about one hundred lead-free piezoelectric layers and electrodes stacked on top of each other and formed around a central opening, and a diaphragm coupled to the piezoelectric layers and substantially covering the central opening to vibrate and blow air when an operating voltage is applied to the electrodes. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Systems for cooling the backside of a semiconductor die located in a die-down integrated circuit (IC) package are described. The IC package is attached to the topside of a printed circuit board (PCB) with the backside of the die residing below the topside surface of the PCB. A cooling plate is attached to the backside of the die and thermally connected to a heat sink located above the topside surface of the PCB via conduits that pass through openings in the PCB.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a thermally-conductive heat sink core having at least one surface, a solid-state heat pump including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface in contact with the at least one surface of the core, and a thermally-conductive unit in contact with the second surface of the solid-state heat pump. Also included may be a stop in contact with the thermally-conductive unit, disposed at least partially over the first end of a cavity defined by the thermally-conductive unit, and defining an opening, and a fastener passing through the cavity, in contact with the core, and to bias the core toward the stop.

Abstract: A piezoelectric fan includes a piezoelectric actuator patch (110, 210, 310) and a blade (120, 220, 320) attached to the piezoelectric actuator patch. The blade has a hole (121, 127, 221) in it, and a door (122, 128, 222) is adjacent to the hole and attached to the blade (as with a hinge (123, 129, 223)) such that the door is capable of opening and closing.