Abstract: An electronic component to be encapsulated is introduced into a mold cavity. The mold cavity includes at least first and second halves, and at least one of the halves is formed with a negative of a thermal-interface-material engaging pattern thereon. An encapsulating material, which encapsulates the electronic component and engages the negative of the thermal-interface-material engaging pattern, is introduced into the mold cavity. The encapsulating material is allowed to solidify such that a thermal-interface-material engaging surface of the encapsulant solidifies with the thermal-interface-material engaging pattern thereon. During subsequent assembly, the thermal-interface-material engaging pattern engages thermal interface material to resist lateral motion of the thermal interface material.

Abstract: A method for controlling a cooling system based on a heat dissipation of an electronic module and an ambient air temperature includes determining a combination of individual controls on components of the cooling system that achieve a specific amount of cooling based on a cooling power relationship for the plurality of components, the heat dissipation of the electronic module and the ambient air temperature, and applying the individual controls to the plurality of components.

Abstract: A structure for cooling an integrated circuit. The structure may include; an interposer cold plate having at least two expanding channels, each expanding channel having a flow direction from a channel inlet to a channel outlet, the flow direction having different directions for at least two of the at least two expanding channels, the channel inlet having an inlet width and the channel outlet having an outlet width, wherein the inlet width is less than the outlet width.

Abstract: A structure for cooling an integrated circuit. The structure may include; an interposer cold plate having at least two expanding channels, each expanding channel having a flow direction from a channel inlet to a channel outlet, the flow direction having different directions for at least two of the at least two expanding channels, the channel inlet having an inlet width and the channel outlet having an outlet width, wherein the inlet width is less than the outlet width.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a storage controller coupled to at least one multi-region storage device. The at least one multi-region storage device comprises two or more storage regions, the two or more storage regions comprising a first storage region associated with a first set of failure characteristics and at least a second storage region associated with a second set of failure characteristics different than the first set of failure characteristics. The storage controller is configured to replicate in the second storage region at least a portion of data that is stored in the first storage region.

Abstract: A first fluid is heated in a preheating section and passes into an evaporator coupled to a first electronic component. Operational heat from the first electronic component vaporizes the first fluid. A second fluid passes into a cold plate coupled to a second electronic component. Operational heat from the second electronic component heats the second fluid. First and second portions of the second fluid output from the cold plate pass through first and second routes, respectively. The first portion becomes thermally coupled to the preheating section and the second portion bypasses the preheating section. Heat transfer from the first portion to the preheating section causes the heating of the first fluid in the preheating section.

Abstract: A method of forming metallic pillars between a fluid inlet and outlet for two-phase fluid cooling. The method may include; forming an arrangement of metallic pillars between two structures, the metallic pillars are electrically connected to metallic connecting lines that run through each of the two structures, the arrangement of metallic pillars located between a fluid inlet and a fluid channel, the fluid channel having channel walls running between arrangements of the metallic pillars and a fluid outlet, whereby a fluid passes through the arrangement of metallic pillars to flow into the fluid channel.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a computer system includes a primary cooling loop. The primary cooling loop includes an evaporator configured to cool at least a component of the computer system, an ambient cooled condenser connected to the evaporator, a first pump to provide a coolant flow within the cooling loop, a pressure regulator configured to maintain a selected pressure in the primary cooling loop, and a controller responsive to changes in outdoor ambient conditions and an amount of heat dissipated by the computer system and configured to dynamically adjust the pump and pressure regulator in response thereto.

Abstract: An electronic component to be encapsulated is introduced into a mold cavity. The mold cavity includes at least first and second halves, and at least one of the halves is formed with a negative of a thermal-interface-material engaging pattern thereon. An encapsulating material, which encapsulates the electronic component and engages the negative of the thermal-interface-material engaging pattern, is introduced into the mold cavity. The encapsulating material is allowed to solidify such that a thermal-interface-material engaging surface of the encapsulant solidifies with the thermal-interface-material engaging pattern thereon. During subsequent assembly, the thermal-interface-material engaging pattern engages thermal interface material to resist lateral motion of the thermal interface material.

Abstract: A first fluid is heated in a preheating section and passes into an evaporator coupled to a first electronic component. Operational heat from the first electronic component vaporizes the first fluid. A second fluid passes into a cold plate coupled to a second electronic component. Operational heat from the second electronic component heats the second fluid. First and second portions of the second fluid output from the cold plate pass through first and second routes, respectively. The first portion becomes thermally coupled to the preheating section and the second portion bypasses the preheating section. Heat transfer from the first portion to the preheating section causes the heating of the first fluid in the preheating section.

Abstract: A structure for cooling an integrated circuit. The structure may include; an interposer cold plate having at least two expanding channels, each expanding channel having a flow direction from a channel inlet to a channel outlet, the flow direction having different directions for at least two of the at least two expanding channels, the channel inlet having an inlet width and the channel outlet having an outlet width, wherein the inlet width is less than the outlet width.

Abstract: A computing system includes a first pool of collocated high heat density computing components; a second pool of collocated low heat density computing components; and a reconfigurable switching fabric electrically interconnecting the pools. A first cooling structure is in thermal communication with the first pool; a second cooling structure is in thermal communication with the second pool; and at least one heat rejection unit is in thermal communication with the first cooling structure, the second cooling structure, and at least one heat sink. A controller is configured to obtain a specification of a computing workload; electrically configure at least a portion of the first pool and at least a portion of the second pool to handle the computing workload, by reconfiguring the switching fabric; and select operating parameters for the first and second cooling structures and the at least one heat rejection unit to handle the computing workload.

Abstract: Techniques for integrating two-phase cooling into a microprocessor chip package lid are provided. In one aspect, a vapor chamber lid device includes: an evaporator plate; a condenser plate attached to the evaporator plate such that a cavity is formed between the evaporator plate and the condenser plate; a thermal insulation layer sandwiched between the evaporator plate and the condenser plate; and a working fluid enclosed within the cavity, wherein the working fluid partially fills the cavity. At least one heat-dissipating device can be placed in thermal contact with the evaporator plate via a thermal interface material. A method is also provided for forming the vapor chamber lid device.

Abstract: An electric potential is applied to first and second electrodes on opposite sides of a gap between an electronic component and a heat spreader. At least one of a thermal interface material in the gap, the electronic component and the heat spreader is subjected to a changing physical condition. The capacitance is monitored. Such a method can be practiced using an array of components sharing a common heat spreader. An assembly for testing thermal interfaces includes a printed circuit board, a plurality of electronic components mounted to and operatively associated with the printed circuit board, a heat spreader positioned for absorbing heat generated by the electronic components, a first electrode associated with the heat spreader, a plurality of second electrodes associated, respectively, with the electronic component, and a device for monitoring electrical capacitances. The technique may be employed for monitoring physical changes in electronic devices.

Abstract: Techniques that facilitate two-phase liquid cooling electronics are provided. In one example, a server system comprises a two-phase cooling system and an air moving system. The two-phase cooling system reduces a first temperature of a first electronic component in the server system using a pump that circulates a coolant refrigerant through a two-phase refrigerant loop associated with the first electronic component, where first electronic component satisfies a first defined criterion. The air moving system reduces a second temperature of a second electronic component in the server system using one or more fans associated with the second electronic component, where the second electronic component satisfies a second defined criterion.

Abstract: An electric potential is applied to first and second electrodes on opposite sides of a gap between an electronic component and a heat spreader. At least one of a thermal interface material in the gap, the electronic component and the heat spreader is subjected to a changing physical condition. The capacitance is monitored. Such a method can be practiced using an array of components sharing a common heat spreader. An assembly for testing thermal interfaces includes a printed circuit board, a plurality of electronic components mounted to and operatively associated with the printed circuit board, a heat spreader positioned for absorbing heat generated by the electronic components, a first electrode associated with the heat spreader, a plurality of second electrodes associated, respectively, with the electronic component, and a device for monitoring electrical capacitances. The technique may be employed for monitoring physical changes in electronic devices.

Abstract: Cooling control methods include measuring a temperature of at least one component of each of multiple nodes and finding a maximum component temperature across all such nodes, comparing the maximum component temperature to a first and second component threshold and comparing the air temperature to a first and second air threshold, and controlling a proportion of coolant flow and a coolant flow rate to the air-to-liquid heat exchanger and the nodes based on the comparisons.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a computer system includes a primary cooling loop. The primary cooling loop includes an evaporator configured to cool at least a component of the computer system, an ambient cooled condenser connected to the evaporator, a first pump to provide a coolant flow within the cooling loop, a pressure regulator configured to maintain a selected pressure in the primary cooling loop, and a controller responsive to changes in outdoor ambient conditions and an amount of heat dissipated by the computer system and configured to dynamically adjust the pump and pressure regulator in response thereto.

Abstract: Methods and devices for active control for two-phase cooling include a cooling volume that has cavities and active coolant flow controls in the cavities configured to adjust coolant flow through the cavities. A reservoir in fluid communication with the cavities and there is a two-phase coolant in the reservoir and cavities. The two-phase coolant has a phase transition temperature between an ambient temperature and an expected device temperature. A coolant sensor is configured to determine a coolant phase condition in the cavities. A control module is configured to adjust the active coolant flow controls in response to the determined coolant phase condition.

Abstract: A first fluid is heated in a preheating section and passes into an evaporator coupled to a first electronic component. Operational heat from the first electronic component vaporizes the first fluid. A second fluid passes into a cold plate coupled to a second electronic component. Operational heat from the second electronic component heats the second fluid. First and second portions of the second fluid output from the cold plate pass through first and second routes, respectively. The first portion becomes thermally coupled to the preheating section and the second portion bypasses the preheating section. Heat transfer from the first portion to the preheating section causes the heating of the first fluid in the preheating section.