Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Brunschwiler
Thomas J. Brunschwiler 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).
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Patent number: 7990711Abstract: A plurality of heat-dissipating electronic chips are arranged in a vertical chip stack. The electronic chips have electronic components thereon. A cold plate is secured to a back side of the chip stack. A silicon carrier sandwich, defining a fluid cavity, is secured to a front side of the chip stack. An inlet manifold is configured to supply cooling fluid to the cold plate and the fluid cavity of the silicon carrier sandwich. An outlet manifold is configured to receive the cooling fluid from the cold plate and the fluid cavity of the silicon carrier sandwich. The cold plate, the silicon carrier sandwich, the inlet manifold, and the outlet manifold are configured and dimensioned to electrically isolate the cooling fluid from the electronic components. A method of operating an electronic apparatus and a method of manufacturing an electronic apparatus are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2010Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Paul S. Andry, Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Evan G. Colgan, John H. Magerlein
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Patent number: 7928565Abstract: A semiconductor device having a higher thermal dissipation efficiency includes a thermally conducting structure attached to a surface of the semiconductor device via soldering. The thermally conducting structure is essentially formed of a thermally conducting material and comprises an array of freestanding fins, studs or frames, or a grid of connected fins. A process for fabricating such a semiconductor device includes forming a thermally conducting structure on a carrier and attaching the thermally conducting structure formed on the carrier to a surface of the semiconductor device via soldering.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2010Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Michel Despont, Mark A. Lantz, Bruno Michel, Peter Vettiger
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Publication number: 20110036538Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling arrangement comprising a heat spreader (2) comprising a first surface (5), a second surface (8), at least one heat absorption chamber (9) and at least one heat dissipation chamber (10), the at least one heat absorption chamber (9) being in thermal contact with the first surface (5) and the at least one heat dissipation chamber (10) being in thermal contact with the second surface (8) and hydraulically coupled to the at least one heat absorption chamber (9). A cooling fluid (13) can be driven from the heat absorption chamber (9) to the heat dissipation chamber (10) using a plurality of flow patterns for cooling the first surface (5).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2008Publication date: February 17, 2011Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Urs Koter, Ryan Joseph Linderman, Bruno Michel, Hugo E. Rothuizen, Reto Waelchli
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Patent number: 7866173Abstract: Disclosed herein is a server system having a plurality of computer systems and a liquid cooling system. The computer systems are capable of operating in a first mode of operation at a first operating speed and a first temperature. The computer systems are further capable of operating in a second mode of operation at a second operating speed and a second temperature. The server system switches from the second mode and the first mode in response to a request for processing services rising above a first threshold. The server system further uses a cold battery to store coolant during times of low demand and releases coolant from said cold battery when the system switches to the first mode.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2008Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Ryan J. Linderman, Bruno Michel, Erich M. Ruetsche
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Publication number: 20100290188Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated circuit stack (1) comprising a plurality of integrated circuit layers (2) and at least one cooling layer (3) arranged in a space between two circuit layers (2). The integrated circuit stack (1) is cooled using a cooling fluid (10) pumped through the cooling layer (3). The invention further relates to a method for optimizing a configuration of such an integrated circuit stack (1).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2008Publication date: November 18, 2010Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Ryan Joseph Linderman, Bruno Michel, Hugo E. Rothuizen
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Patent number: 7808780Abstract: Disclosed herein is a data center having a plurality of liquid cooled computer systems. The computer systems each include a processor coupled with a cold plate that allows direct liquid cooling of the processor. The cold plate is further arranged to provide adapted flow of coolant to different portions of the processor whereby higher temperature regions receive a larger flow rate of coolant. The flow is variably adjusted to reflect different levels of activity. By maximizing the coolant temperature exiting the computer systems, the system may utilize the free cooling temperature of the ambient air and eliminate the need for a chiller. A data center is further provided that is coupled with a district heating system and heat is extracted from the computer systems is used to offset carbon emissions and reduce the total cost of ownership of the data center.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2008Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Ryan J. Linderman, Bruno Michel, Erich M. Ruetsche
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Publication number: 20100246117Abstract: Disclosed herein is a data center having a plurality of liquid cooled computer systems. The computer systems each include a processor coupled with a cold plate that allows direct liquid cooling of the processor. The cold plate is further arranged to provide adapted flow of coolant to different portions of the processor whereby higher temperature regions receive a larger flow rate of coolant. The flow is variably adjusted to reflect different levels of activity. By maximizing the coolant temperature exiting the computer systems, the system may utilize the free cooling temperature of the ambient air and eliminate the need for a chiller. A data center is further provided that is coupled with a district heating system and heat is extracted from the computer systems is used to offset carbon emissions and reduce the total cost of ownership of the data center.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES COPORATIONInventors: Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Ryan J. Linderman, Bruno Michel, Erich M. Ruetsche
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Publication number: 20100241278Abstract: Disclosed herein is a data center having a plurality of liquid cooled computer systems. The computer systems each include a processor coupled with a cold plate that allows direct liquid cooling of the processor. The cold plate is further arranged to provide adapted flow of coolant to different portions of the processor whereby higher temperature regions receive a larger flow rate of coolant. The flow is variably adjusted to reflect different levels of activity. By maximizing the coolant temperature exiting the computer systems, the system may utilize the free cooling temperature of the ambient air and eliminate the need for a chiller. A data center is further provided that is coupled with a district heating system and heat is extracted from the computer systems is used to offset carbon emissions and reduce the total cost of ownership of the data center.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2010Publication date: September 23, 2010Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES COPORATIONInventors: Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Ryan J. Linderman, Bruno Michel, Erich M. Ruetsche
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Patent number: 7748440Abstract: The present invention provides a thermal interface with a first and a second face that are in contact to each other by a thermal conducting material. A first face includes grooves that are at least partly filled with the thermal conducting material, wherein at least two types of grooves are arranged, namely first grooves having a larger width than second grooves. The first face comprises an array with protrusions that are confined by the second grooves, the array being divided by the first grooves into sub-arrays.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2005Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Bruno Michel, Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Hugo E. Rothuizen, Urs Kloter
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Publication number: 20100148358Abstract: A semiconductor device having a higher thermal dissipation efficiency includes a thermally conducting structure attached to a surface of the semiconductor device via soldering. The thermally conducting structure is essentially formed of a thermally conducting material and comprises an array of freestanding fins, studs or frames, or a grid of connected fins. A process for fabricating such a semiconductor device includes forming a thermally conducting structure on a carrier and attaching the thermally conducting structure formed on the carrier to a surface of the semiconductor device via soldering.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2010Publication date: June 17, 2010Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Michel Despont, Mark A. Lantz, Bruno Michel, Peter Vettiger
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Patent number: 7713789Abstract: Provides semiconductor devices and method for fabricating devices having a high thermal dissipation efficiency. An example device comprises a thermally conducting structure attached to a surface of the semiconductor device via soldering. The thermally conducting structure is essentially formed of a thermally conducting material and comprises an array of freestanding fins, studs or frames, or a grid of connected fins. A process for fabricating such a semiconductor device includes forming a thermally conducting structure on a carrier and attaching the thermally conducting structure formed on the carrier to a surface of the semiconductor device via soldering.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2007Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Michel Despont, Mark A. Lantz, Bruno Michel, Peter Vettiger
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Publication number: 20100037461Abstract: A method for producing a plate with a first face with protrusions confined by first and second grooves includes steps of: etching recessed zones into a plate; depositing a photoresist layer on the plate; forming a passivation layer over the photoresist layer; removing the passivation layer at the bottom of the recessed zones; electroplating metal in the recessed zones; removing the passivation layer; removing the photoresist layer; and removing the semiconductor material to expose the first and second grooves.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2009Publication date: February 18, 2010Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Bruno Michel, Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Hugo E. Rothuizen, Urs Kloter
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Publication number: 20090234705Abstract: Disclosed herein is a server system having a plurality of computer systems and a liquid cooling system. The computer systems are capable of operating in a first mode of operation at a first operating speed and a first temperature. The computer systems are further capable of operating in a second mode of operation at a second operating speed and a second temperature. The server system switches from the second mode and the first mode in response to a request for processing services rising above a first threshold. The server system further uses a cold battery to store coolant during times of low demand and releases coolant from said cold battery when the system switches to the first mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2008Publication date: September 17, 2009Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Ryan J. Linderman, Bruno Michel, Erich M. Ruetsche
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Publication number: 20090218078Abstract: Disclosed herein is a data center having a plurality of liquid cooled computer systems. The computer systems each include a processor coupled with a cold plate that allows direct liquid cooling of the processor. The cold plate is further arranged to provide adapted flow of coolant to different portions of the processor whereby higher temperature regions receive a larger flow rate of coolant. The flow is variably adjusted to reflect different levels of activity. By maximizing the coolant temperature exiting the computer systems, the system may utilize the free cooling temperature of the ambient air and eliminate the need for a chiller. A data center is further provided that is coupled with a district heating system and heat is extracted from the computer systems is used to offset carbon emissions and reduce the total cost of ownership of the data center.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2008Publication date: September 3, 2009Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Ryan J. Linderman, Bruno Michel, Erich M. Ruetsche
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Publication number: 20090154107Abstract: A series of hierarchical channels are formed in a first member surface of a first member using a continuous-feed manufacturing process. The channels are configured to control particle stacking. The first member is pressed to a second member with a layer of particle-filled viscous material between the first member surface and a second member surface of the second member. An inventive assembly includes mating surfaces with at least one surface formed with a series of parallel hierarchical channels configured to control stacking of the particles during pressing together of the surfaces. The surface is substantially free of any other hierarchical channels formed thereon.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2007Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Ryan J. Linderman, Erich M. Ruetsche
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Patent number: 7547582Abstract: A surface adapting cap with an integrated adapting thermally conductive material on single and multi chip module provides reduced gap tolerance and hence better thermal performance of the semiconductor device which enhances the reliability of the semiconductor device. In one of the embodiments the cap is modified with an integrated, confined, and high thermal adaptive material. The membrane on this system is highly flexible. The cap is preassembled to the chip at a temperature above liquidus below curing temperature of the adaptive material. At this state, a hydrostatic pressure in the material develops due to the compression exerted from the cap to the chip and the confined volume of the buried material. This hydrostatic pressure causes the membrane to deflect and to adapt the warping and tolerances of the chip. Due to the adaptive surface the gap on each position of the chip and from chip to chip is same.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2006Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas J Brunschwiler, Bruno Michel, Ryan Joseph Linderman, Urs Kloter, Hugo E Rothuizen
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Patent number: 7532475Abstract: A stress release thermal interface is provided for preventing the building up of stress between chip and heat sink surfaces in a multi-chip module (MCM) while maintaining reliable thermal and mechanical contact. The interface achieves enhanced thermal conduction by using flexible, interlocking posts attached to the surfaces of the chip and the heat sink.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2006Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Bruno Michel, Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Ryan J. Linderman, Hugo E. Rothuizen, Urs Kloter
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Publication number: 20080073775Abstract: A surface adapting cap with an integrated adapting thermally conductive material on single and multi chip module provides reduced gap tolerance and hence better thermal performance of the semiconductor device which enhances the reliability of the semiconductor device. In one of the embodiments the cap is modified with an integrated, confined, and high thermal adaptive material. The membrane on this system is highly flexible. The cap is preassembled to the chip at a temperature above liquidus below curing temperature of the adaptive material. At this state, a hydrostatic pressure in the material develops due to the compression exerted from the cap to the chip and the confined volume of the buried material. This hydrostatic pressure causes the membrane to deflect and to adapt the warping and tolerances of the chip. Due to the adaptive surface the gap on each position of the chip and from chip to chip is same.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2006Publication date: March 27, 2008Inventors: Thomas J Brunschwiler, Bruno Michel, Ryan Joseph Linderman, Urs Kloter, Hugo E Rothuizen
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Patent number: 7282799Abstract: An interface is formed by pressing a patterned first surface and a second surface together, with a particle-loaded interface material in between. The first surface is fabricated with a pattern of channels designed to redistribute the velocity gradients that occur in the interface material during interface formation in order to control the arrangement, orientation and concentration of particles at the end of the interface formation. The concept finds application in thermal interfaces and controlled placement of nano and micro particles and biological molecules.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2006Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Urs Kloter, Ryan Joesph Linderman, Bruno Michel, Hugo E. Rothuizen
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Patent number: 7271034Abstract: Provides semiconductor devices and method for fabricating devices having a high thermal dissipation efficiency. An example device comprises a thermally conducting structure attached to a surface of the semiconductor device via soldering. The thermally conducting structure is essentially formed of a thermally conducting material and comprises an array of freestanding fins, studs or frames, or a grid of connected fins. A process for fabricating such a semiconductor device includes forming a thermally conducting structure on a carrier and attaching the thermally conducting structure formed on the carrier to a surface of the semiconductor device via soldering.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2005Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Michel Despont, Mark A. Lantz, Bruno Michel, Peter Vettiger