Patents by Inventor Robert R. Atkinson

Robert R. Atkinson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11398692
    Abstract: The connector portion of a flex connector may be integrated into a socket, by forming a complete cutout in the socket in which the connector is located, or by forming the socket with a portion having a reduced thickness relative to the rest of the socket, with the connector being positioned in this portion of reduced thickness between the socket and an MLB. Another flex connector may be formed vertically above the first flex connector, mounted to the top surface of the package and clamped in place by a heat sink on top of the stack. Providing both top and bottom flex connectors may multiply the number of available connections for a given footprint. A heatsink positioned on top of the stack may include a spring assembly on a bottom portion to engage specified portions of the stack with a predefined force to ensure correct loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mahesh S. Hardikar, David A. Secker, Rajasekaran Swaminathan, Ravindranath T. Kollipara, Robert R. Atkinson
  • Publication number: 20220102884
    Abstract: The connector portion of a flex connector may be integrated into a socket, by forming a complete cutout in the socket in which the connector is located, or by forming the socket with a portion having a reduced thickness relative to the rest of the socket, with the connector being positioned in this portion of reduced thickness between the socket and an MLB. Another flex connector may be formed vertically above the first flex connector, mounted to the top surface of the package and clamped in place by a heat sink on top of the stack. Providing both top and bottom flex connectors may multiply the number of available connections for a given footprint. A heatsink positioned on top of the stack may include a spring assembly on a bottom portion to engage specified portions of the stack with a predefined force to ensure correct loading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: MAHESH S. HARDIKAR, DAVID A. SECKER, RAJASEKARAN SWAMINATHAN, RAVINDRANATH T. KOLLIPARA, ROBERT R. ATKINSON
  • Patent number: 7832215
    Abstract: A heat sink may be clamped to a thermoelectric cooler and vapor chamber using a U-shaped retention band. The band may attach underneath the vapor chamber, extending around the thermoelectric cooler, and over a heat sink. The heat sink may include a plate to distribute the force of the band across the heat sink. Bolts may be utilized to transfer the force from the free ends of the U-shaped retention band to a vapor chamber support frame. Thus, in some embodiments of the present invention, a thermoelectric cooler may be clamped to a heat sink without wasting heat transfer area through the use of bolts, without unnecessary bending, and without requiring a relatively thick base on the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Robert R. Atkinson
  • Patent number: 7161808
    Abstract: A heat sink assembly may be plugged into a receiving element in a printed circuit board. A retention element includes upper and lower portions. The lower portion may be plug locked onto a printed circuit board. The upper portion then telescopes into and releaseably locks in the lower portion. The upper portion may include a rod which may be rotated to free the upper portion from the lower portion for disassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Robert R. Atkinson