Change Of Physical State Patents (Class 361/700)
  • Patent number: 9042099
    Abstract: A method is provided which includes providing a cooling apparatus which includes a door assembly coupled to the electronics rack at an inlet or air outlet side of the rack. The door assembly includes: an airflow opening configured to facilitate ingress or egress of airflow through the electronics rack with the door assembly mounted to the rack; an air-to-coolant heat exchanger disposed so that airflow through the airflow opening passes across the air-to-coolant heat exchanger, the air-to-coolant heat exchanger being configured to extract heat from the airflow passing thereacross; and a vapor condenser configured to facilitate condensing of dielectric fluid vapor egressing from at least one immersion-cooled electronic component section of the electronics rack. The cooling apparatus, including the door assembly, facilitates air-cooling and immersion-cooling of different electronic components of the electronics rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 9042097
    Abstract: An electronic component assembly includes a housing that provides a cavity filled with a cooling fluid that has a liquid phase and a vapor phase. An electronic element is arranged in the cavity and is configured to generate heat. A wicking material is arranged in the cavity between the housing and the electronic device. The cavity provides a gap adjacent to the wicking material. The wicking material is configured to absorb the liquid phase, and the vapor phase is provided in the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Debabrata Pal
  • Patent number: 9042098
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus for an electronics rack is provided which includes a door assembly coupled to the electronics rack at an inlet or air outlet side of the rack. The door assembly includes: an airflow opening configured to facilitate ingress or egress of airflow through the electronics rack with the door assembly mounted to the rack; an air-to-coolant heat exchanger disposed so that airflow through the airflow opening passes across the air-to-coolant heat exchanger, the air-to-coolant heat exchanger being configured to extract heat from the airflow passing thereacross; and a vapor condenser configured to facilitate condensing of dielectric fluid vapor egressing from at least one immersion-cooled electronic component section of the electronics rack. The cooling apparatus, including the door assembly, facilitates air-cooling and immersion-cooling of different electronic components of the electronics rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
  • Publication number: 20150138731
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus is disclosed, which may include multiple heat producing units. The cooling apparatus may also have a thermal interface material (TIM) to facilitate heat transfer away from the heat producing units. The cooling apparatus may also have multiple heat sink columns located above, and designed to conduct heat away from, corresponding heat producing units, through thermally conductive contact with corresponding portions of the TIM layer. The cooling apparatus may also have a load plate located above the heat sink columns, designed to hold the heat sink columns in a relatively fixed position above the heat producing units. The TIM layer may have an initial compressed state between the heat sink columns and the corresponding heat producing units. Each of the heat sink columns may be designed so that, in operation, the corresponding portion of the TIM layer may have a further compressed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip V. Mann, Kevin M. O'Connell, Arvind K. Sinha
  • Patent number: 9033028
    Abstract: A heat dissipation module includes a centrifugal fan and a heat pipe. The centrifugal fan includes an outer housing, a heat dissipation fin array, a retaining wall, an impeller and a rotation-driving device. The outer housing includes an axial air inlet, an axial air outlet and a radial air outlet. The heat dissipation fin array is located at an inner wall of the radial air outlet. The retaining wall is located on a flat wall of the outer housing on which the axial air outlet is located. The retaining wall is in contact with an inner wall of an electronic device to collectively form a circulation channel so as to guide airflows output from the axial air outlet through the flat wall with which the heat dissipation fin array is aligned, and into the axial air inlet. The heat pipe is in contact with the heat dissipation fin array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: QUANTA COMPUTER INC.
    Inventor: Che-Ming Wang
  • Publication number: 20150131229
    Abstract: It is impossible in a cooling device using a phase-change system, seeking high heat transport performance, to obtain sufficient cooling performance due to the increase in thermal resistance with a heating element to be cooled, therefore, a connecting structure of a cooling device according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes a connecting board with an opening; a pressing plate of thin plate elastically deformable; first fixing means for fixing the pressing plate to the connecting board with the pressing plate disposed covering heat receiving means composing the cooling device; and second fixing means for fixing the connecting board to a substrate with the heat receiving means abutting against a heating element mounted on the substrate and disposed in the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Arihiro Matsunaga, Minoru Yoshikawa, Hitoshi Sakamoto, Akira Shoujiguchi, Masaki Chiba, Kenichi Inaba
  • Patent number: 9025330
    Abstract: A cabinet for housing and cooling electronic components with internally circulating air that is cooled at each of a plurality of equipment shelves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Marc Hodes, Alan Michael Lyons, William Harold Scofield
  • Patent number: 9025331
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus for an electronics rack is provided which includes a door assembly configured to couple to an air inlet side of the electronics rack. The door assembly includes: one or more airflow openings facilitating passage of airflow through the door assembly and into the electronics rack; one or more air-to-coolant heat exchangers disposed so that airflow through the airflow opening(s) passes across the heat exchanger(s), which is configured to extract heat from airflow passing thereacross; and one or more airflow redistributors disposed in a direction of airflow through the airflow opening(s) downstream of, and at least partially aligned to, the heat exchanger(s). The airflow redistributor(s) facilitates redistribution of the airflow passing across the air-to-liquid heat exchanger(s) to a desired airflow pattern at the air inlet side of the electronics rack, such as a uniform airflow distribution across the air inlet side of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons, Daniel E. Zambrano
  • Patent number: 9025332
    Abstract: A method is provided which includes providing a cooling apparatus for an electronics rack which includes a door assembly configured to couple to an air inlet side of the electronics rack. The door assembly includes: one or more airflow openings facilitating passage of airflow through the door assembly and into the electronics rack; one or more air-to-coolant heat exchangers disposed so that airflow through the airflow opening(s) passes across the heat exchanger(s), which is configured to extract heat from airflow passing thereacross; and one or more airflow redistributors disposed in a direction of airflow through the airflow opening(s) downstream of, and at least partially aligned to, the heat exchanger(s). The airflow redistributor(s) facilitates redistribution of the airflow passing across the air-to-liquid heat exchanger(s) to a desired airflow pattern at the air inlet side of the electronics rack, such as a uniform airflow distribution across the air inlet side of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons, Daniel E. Zambrano
  • Publication number: 20150116941
    Abstract: Methods are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component. The method includes providing a liquid-cooled cold plate and a thermal spreader associated with the cold plate. The cold plate includes multiple coolant-carrying channel sections extending within the cold plate, and a thermal conduction surface with a larger surface area than a surface area of the component to be cooled. The thermal spreader includes one or more heat pipes including multiple heat pipe sections. One or more heat pipe sections are partially aligned to a first region of the cold plate, that is, where aligned to the surface to be cooled, and partially aligned to a second region of the cold plate, which is outside the first region. The one or more heat pipes facilitate distribution of heat from the electronic component to coolant-carrying channel sections of the cold plate located in the second region of the cold plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Timothy J. CHAINER, David P. GRAYBILL, Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Vinod KAMATH, Bejoy J. KOCHUPARAMBIL, Roger R. SCHMIDT, Mark E. STEINKE
  • Publication number: 20150116940
    Abstract: A circuit card assembly is provided. The circuit card assembly includes a printed circuit board, at least one electronic component mounted on the printed circuit board, and a frame coupled to the printed circuit board such that the electronic component is disposed between the printed circuit board and the frame. The circuit card assembly also includes a heat transfer device coupled to the frame. The heat transfer device has a heat pipe disposed at least in part between the frame and the printed circuit board. The circuit card assembly further includes a pivotable brace biasing the heat pipe toward the electronic component to facilitate cooling the electronic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joo Han Kim, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Jay Todd Labhart, Shakti Singh Chauhan, Graham Charles Kirk, Stuart Connolly
  • Patent number: 9019704
    Abstract: Methods and means related to rejecting heat through thermal storage are provided. A heat sink includes internal cavities containing a phase-change material. Heat from a thermal load is rejected by flowing fluid coolant at a normal operating temperature. Failure of the fluid coolant system causes heat storage within the phase-change material at a temperature slightly greater than the normal operating temperature. Restoration of the fluid coolant system results in stored heat rejection and a return to a normal operating temperature. Normal operation of the thermal load can be performed while efforts are made to restore the fluid coolant system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Brandon Rubenstein, Roy Zeighami
  • Publication number: 20150109737
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes an electrical circuit including a heat source, a heat pipe cooler in which a refrigerant is enclosed, the heat pipe cooler configured to cool the heat source, a freeze determiner configured to determine whether the refrigerant is frozen, and an output limiter configured to limit output when the freeze determiner determines that the refrigerant is frozen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC IND. SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Yosuke FUJII, Nobuhiro Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20150109735
    Abstract: Cooling apparatuses and methods of fabricating thereof are provided which facilitate pumped immersion-cooling of an electronic component(s). The cooling apparatus includes an enclosure having a compartment accommodating the electronic component(s), and dielectric fluid within the compartment at least partially immersing the electronic component(s). A liquid-cooled heat sink is associated with the enclosure to cool at least one cooling surface associated with the compartment, and facilitate heat transfer to the heat sink from the electronic component(s) via the dielectric fluid. A pump is disposed external to the compartment and in fluid communication therewith to facilitate pumped dielectric fluid flow through the compartment. The pumped dielectric fluid flow through the compartment enhances heat transfer from the electronic component(s) to the liquid-cooled heat sink via the cooling surface(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levi A. CAMPBELL, Richard C. CHU, Milnes P. DAVID, Michael J. ELLSWORTH, JR., Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Roger R. SCHMIDT, Robert E. SIMONS
  • Publication number: 20150109736
    Abstract: Electronic device assemblies employing dual phase change materials and vehicles incorporating the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, an electronic device assembly includes a semiconductor device having a surface, wherein the semiconductor device operates in a transient heat flux state and a normal heat flux state, a coolant fluid thermally coupled to the surface of the semiconductor device, and a phase change material thermally coupled to the surface of the semiconductor device. The phase change material has a phase change temperature at which the phase change material changes from a first phase to a second phase. The phase change material absorbs heat flux at least when the semiconductor device operates in the transient heat flux state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Shailesh N. Joshi, Ercan Mehmet Dede
  • Patent number: 9013876
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing, a heat source in the housing, and a heat dissipation device in the housing and separated from the heat source by a distance. The heat dissipation device includes a casing. A heat dissipation material is disposed in the casing. The heat dissipation material includes 15 to 30 percent volume of multiple copper materials, 50 to 85 percent volume of a phase change material, and 15 to 20 percent volume of air. The heat dissipation device has a surface facing the heat source. A central area and an outer ring area are defined on the surface. The outer ring area surrounds the central area. A geometric midpoint of the central area overlaps that of the surface. An orthographic projection region on the surface is in the outer ring area. The heat dissipation device absorbs heat from the heat source through thermal radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignees: Inventec (Pudong) Technology Corporation, Inventec Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Lun Cheng, Ming-Hung Lin, Chun-Lung Lin
  • Patent number: 9013874
    Abstract: A heat dissipation device for an electronic device includes a base, a plurality of fins and at least one heat pipe. The base has a front surface and a rear surface opposite to the front surface. A heat-generating component of the electronic device is disposed adjacent to the rear surface. The plurality of fins extend from the front surface of the base. The heat pipe is disposed on the front surface of the base and in a cutout portion of the plurality of fins. The heat dissipation device, which removes heat from the heat-generating component, has a low profile and improved heat dissipation capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: SK hynix memory solutions inc.
    Inventor: Givargis George Kaldani
  • Patent number: 9013875
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing, a heat source located in a casing, and a heat dissipation device disposed in a casing. The heat dissipation device is kept apart from the heat source. The heat dissipation device includes a casing having a heat dissipation material including 15 to 30 percent volume of multiple copper materials, 50 to 85 percent volume of a phase change material, and 15 to 20 percent volume of air. The casing has a surface facing the heat source. A central area and an outer ring area are defined on the surface. A geometric midpoint of the central area overlaps a geometric midpoint of the surface. An orthographic projection region of the heat source to the surface is located in the central area. The heat dissipation device absorbs heat generated by the heat source through thermal radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignees: Inventec (Pudong) Technology Corporation, Inventec Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Lun Cheng, Ming-Hung Lin, Chun-Lung Lin
  • Patent number: 9007769
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing, a heat source located inside a casing, and a heat dissipation device disposed inside a casing. The heat dissipation device is in thermal contact with the heat source. The heat dissipation device includes a casing having a heat dissipation material. The heat dissipation material includes 15 to 30 volume percent of multiple copper materials, 50 to 85 volume percent of a phase change material, and 15 to 20 volume percent of air. The casing has a surface being in thermal contact with the heat source. A central area and an outer ring area are defined on the surface. The outer ring area surrounds the central area. A geometric midpoint of the central area and a geometric midpoint of the surface are overlapped. The heat dissipation device absorbs heat generated by the heat source located in the central area through thermal conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Inventec (Pudong) Technology Corporation, Inventec Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Lun Cheng, Ming-Hung Lin, Chun-Lung Lin
  • Patent number: 9007770
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing, a heat source located in the housing, and a heat dissipation device disposed in the housing. The heat dissipation device thermally contacts the heat source. The heat dissipation device includes a casing. A heat dissipation material is disposed in the casing. The heat dissipation material includes 15 to 30 percent volume of multiple copper materials, 50 to 85 percent volume of a phase change material and 15 to 20 percent volume of air. The heat dissipation device has a surface thermally contacting the heat source. A central area and an outer ring area are defined on the surface. The outer ring area surrounds the central area. A geometric midpoint of the central area overlaps that of the surface. The heat source is located in the outer ring area. The heat dissipation device absorbs heat from the heat source through thermal conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Inventec (Pudong) Technology Corporation, Inventec Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Lun Cheng, Ming-Hung Lin, Chun-Lung Lin
  • Patent number: 9007768
    Abstract: A system for cooling items of equipment likely to give off energy, comprises: an enclosure comprising a membrane that is porous to water vapor and sealed to liquid water, said membrane separating the cavity into a first portion designed to contain a fluid consisting of water and vapor, a second portion designed to contain the vapor resulting from the vaporization of the water, a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the liquid-vapor fluid contained in the cavity, a device to discharge the vapor from the cavity into the environment creating a vacuum in this cavity and breaking the natural liquid/vapor balance of the cavity containing the liquid, thus causing a vaporization of a portion of the liquid, a means for controlling the flow rate of the vapor discharged to outside of the cavity, said control means being regulated on the signal delivered by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventor: Martin Raynaud
  • Publication number: 20150092348
    Abstract: A thermal management system includes a distributor plate secured to and parallel to a circuit board. The circuit board has a module secured thereto and the distributor plate defines an area on an inner surface thereof secured to or otherwise in thermal contact with the module. Heat pipes embedded in the distributor plate include a portion over the module and a portion over the circuit board outward from the module. A portion of the heat pipes outward from the module may be substantially perpendicular to a direction of airflow between the circuit board and distributor plate. The module may be located closer to one edge of the circuit board and the heat pipes may according extend from adjacent that edge to an opposite edge of the circuit board. An inward facing surface may include fins extending toward the circuit board and the fins may be contoured to the circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Cyan Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Andrew Newhouse, Colin John Wilson
  • Patent number: 8988880
    Abstract: An electronics device and method for assembling a heat transfer assembly of the same. An electronics device includes a circuit board, a chassis that houses the circuit board, a heat pipe configured to transfer heat from the circuit board to a wall of the chassis, and a brace configured to press the heat pipe against the wall. A brace includes a medial portion configured to contact a heat pipe and an end portion including a protrusion that is configured to be received in a depression of a chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: GE Intelligent Platforms, Inc.
    Inventor: Laith Anthony Vincent
  • Publication number: 20150077939
    Abstract: An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner may include an electronic device, which may include a control component to drive a refrigerant cycle, and a cooling tube through which a refrigerant to cool the electronic device may flow. The cooling tube may be coupled to one side of the electronic device. The electronic device may include an electronic case having at least one through hole, an electronic board to which the control component may be coupled, the electronic board being disposed in the electronic case, at least one heat transfer plate disposed to contact the control component, the at least one heat transfer plate being coupled to the electronic case, and at least one heat sink, to which the cooling tube may be coupled, the at least one heat sink contacting the at least one heat transfer plate through the at least one through hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Hakjin LEE, Taegeol KIM, Seokhoon JANG
  • Publication number: 20150077937
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a fluid-circulator loop configured to be located on a circuit board, wherein a heat-removal portion of the fluid-circulator loop is configured to be located adjacent to an optical transceiver module on the circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: John Daly, Brian Donnelly, Nicholas Jeffers, Wei Ling, Salvatore J. Messana, Paul M. Rominski
  • Publication number: 20150077938
    Abstract: The present invention relates cooling system comprising at least one Thermo syphon, which Thermo syphon comprises at least one indoor evaporator, which is by first tubing connected to at least one outdoor condenser. It is the object of the present application to achieve effective automatic cooling of electronic systems placed inside a housing. This can be achieved by a system as disclosed in that the second tubing comprises a valve, which valve comprises a valve seat and a moveable valve piston, which valve piston is by decreasing temperature by the actuator moving towards the valve seat for closing the valve. Hereby a highly efficient cooling system can be achieved which can operate automatically without any energy supply from the outside, due to the use of the Thermo syphon principle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: DANTHERM COOLING A/S
    Inventor: Morten Espersen
  • Patent number: 8978739
    Abstract: A heat dissipating device for dissipating heat from a heat radiation element includes a base, a fixing frame, a fan, and a securing arm. The fixing frame is fixedly attached to the base, and the fixing frame has two coaxially aligned receiving holes defined therein. The fan includes two coaxially aligned shafts. The aligned shafts are fittingly received in the respective receiving holes, such that the fan is detachably attached to the fixing frame and rotatable about the aligned shafts. The securing arm is rotatably attached to the base, and the securing arm is configured for holding the fan against the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chin-Ming Chang
  • Patent number: 8982559
    Abstract: A heatsink is provided with a base body opposed to a heat generating body and absorbing heat from the heat generating body. Thermal resistance of that opposed portion of the base body which is opposed to the heat generating body is higher than thermal resistance of a surrounding portion surrounding the opposed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignees: Fuchigami Micro Co., Ltd., Kagoshima University
    Inventors: Kenji Ohsawa, Katsuya Tsuruta, Toshiaki Kotani, Kei Mizuta
  • Publication number: 20150070846
    Abstract: An immersion cooling tank comprises: a dielectric liquid disposed within a lower volume of the tank; at least one electronic equipment immersed within the dielectric liquid and which requires electrical power to operate; and at least one power distribution unit and/or a bus bar distribution system submerged beneath a surface of the dielectric liquid and providing electrical power to the at least one electronic equipment. The immersion cooling tank further includes a condenser located vertically above the dielectric fluid and the at least one electronic equipment, and through which is flowing a condensation fluid that has a lower density than the dielectric liquid. A leak of the condensation fluid into the tank volume results in the condensation fluid floating atop the dielectric liquid and prevents the condensation liquid from coming into contact with the power distribution unit. The bus bar distribution system enables blind mating of inserted electronic components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventor: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
  • Patent number: 8975838
    Abstract: An electric motor controller includes controller electronics configured to control an electric motor. The electric motor controller also includes a thermoelectric cooler in thermal communication with the controller electronics. The thermoelectric cooler is configured to receive a braking current associated with braking of the electric motor and provide cooling to the controller electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Richard E. Versailles, Robert D. Klapatch, Kerry R. Querns
  • Patent number: 8976528
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates heat transfer in an electronic device. The system includes a heat pipe configured to conduct heat away from a heat-generating component in the electronic device. The system also includes a thermal stage disposed along a thermal interface between the heat-generating component and the heat pipe, wherein the thermal stage applies a spring force between the heat-generating component and the heat pipe. The thermal stage includes a first thickness to accommodate the heat pipe and a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness to increase a spring force between the heat-generating component and the heat pipe. Finally, the system includes a set of fasteners configured to fasten the thermal stage to a surface within the electronic device and form a thermal gap between the heat pipe and an enclosure of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Patrick Kessler, Charles A. Schwalbach, Richard H. Tan, William F. Leggett
  • Patent number: 8976526
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a medium voltage drive system includes a transformer, multiple power cubes each coupled to the transformer, and a manifold assembly. Each power cube includes cold plates each coupled to a corresponding switching device of the cube, an inlet port in communication with a first one of the cold plates and an outlet port in communication with a last one of the cold plates. The manifold assembly can support an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit and further support first and second connection members to enable blind mating of each of the first connection members to the inlet port of one of the power cubes and each of the second connection members to the outlet port of one of the power cubes to enable two phase cooling of the plurality of power cubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: TECO-Westinghouse Motor Company
    Inventors: Devdatta P. Kulkarni, Thomas Keister, Manzoor Hussain, Scott Simmons, Ut V. Pham, Rose Craft, Randall Pipho
  • Publication number: 20150062802
    Abstract: Heat pipe assemblies for Information Handling Systems (IHSs). In some embodiments, an IHS may comprise a motherboard including a Central Processing Unit (CPU); a cooling system coupled to the motherboard, the cooling system including a heat pipe, the CPU coupled to a first side of the heat pipe; and a daughterboard coupled to the motherboard and including a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) coupled to a second side of the heat pipe. In other embodiments, a method may include providing a motherboard including a CPU; coupling a cooling system to the motherboard, the cooling system including a heat pipe, the CPU coupled to a first side of the heat pipe; and coupling a daughterboard to the motherboard, the daughterboard including a GPU coupled to a second side of the heat pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: David William Grunow, Daniel William Kehoe, Matthew B. Mendelow
  • Publication number: 20150062821
    Abstract: The size of an electronic device using a cooling structure for an electronic circuit board is increased when using a heating element with a large amount of heat generation, therefore, a cooling structure for an electronic circuit board according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes an evaporator with an evaporation container storing a refrigerant; a condenser condensing and liquefying a vapor-phase refrigerant vaporized in the evaporator and radiating heat; and a pipe connecting the evaporator to the condenser, wherein the evaporator includes a heat receiving area, on one side of the evaporation container, thermally connecting to a heating element disposed on the electronic circuit board, and a plurality of flow path plates, in an area including the heat receiving area, extending in the direction parallel to the electronic circuit board; and a vapor-liquid interface of the refrigerant is positioned above or at the level of a lower end and below an upper end of the heat receiving area in th
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Yoshikawa, Hitoshi Sakamoto, Akira Shoujiguchi, Masaki Chiba, Kenichi Inaba, Arihiro Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20150062819
    Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one heat sink and first and second electronic assemblies mounted on the at least one heat sink at respective first and second mounting sites and configured to unequally (e.g., at least partially non-concurrently) produce heat. At least one heat pipe is thermally coupled to the at least one heat sink and extends between locations proximate the first and second mounting sites. For example, the first and second electronic assemblies may be components of respective subsystems of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), such as a rectifier and a battery converter, that generate heat in an at least partially non-concurrent manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: George W. Oughton, JR., George Arthur Navarro
  • Publication number: 20150062820
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a planar heat conducting material that comprises a first heat sink conduction portion configured to conduct heat between a first integrated circuit and a first heat sink, a second heat sink conduction portion configured to conduct heat between a second integrated circuit and a second heat sink, and a thermal bridge portion configured to conduct heat between the first heat sink conduction portion and the second heat sink conduction portion, such that the thermal bridge portion allows for flexural compensation for a height difference between the first integrated circuit and the second integrated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Mandy Hin Lam, Hong Tran Huynh, M. Baris Dogruoz
  • Publication number: 20150062804
    Abstract: Apparatuses are provided for cooling an electronic component(s), which include a heat sink coupled to the electronic component(s), and having a coolant-carrying channel for a first coolant. The first coolant provides two-phase cooling to the electronic component(s), and is discharged from the heat sink as coolant exhaust, which includes coolant vapor. The apparatus further includes a node-level condensation module coupled to the heat sink to receive the coolant exhaust. The condensation module is cooled via a second coolant, and facilitates condensing the coolant vapor in the coolant exhaust. A controller automatically controls the liquid-cooling of the heat sink and/or the liquid-cooling of the node-level condensation module. A control valve adjusts a flow rate of the second coolant of the node-level condensation module, with the valve being automatically controlled by the controller based on a characterization of the coolant vapor in the coolant exhaust.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Levi A. CAMPBELL, Richard C. CHU, Milnes P. DAVID, Michael J. ELLSWORTH, JR., Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Robert E. SIMONS
  • Publication number: 20150055300
    Abstract: A heat dissipation structure includes a heat conduction support body disposed in a handheld electronic device. The heat conduction support body has a first face and a second face opposite to the first face. A chamber is defined between the first and second faces. More than one capillary structure and a working fluid are disposed in the chamber. One of the first and second faces or both of the first and second faces are in contact with the electronic components of the handheld electronic device. One of the first and second faces is in contact with the housing of the handheld electronic device. Accordingly, the heat generated by the electronic components can be quickly conducted and dissipated outward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: ASIA VITAL COMPONENTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chun Hsieh, Chuan-Chin Huang
  • Patent number: 8964391
    Abstract: Cooling methods are provided for facilitating pumped immersion-cooling of electronic components. The cooling method includes: providing a housing forming a compartment about one or more components, and providing a supply manifold, a return manifold, and coupling a coolant loop coupling in fluid communication the supply and return manifolds and the housing. Coolant flowing through the coolant loop flows through the compartment of the housing and, at least partially, immersion-cools the component(s) by flow boiling. A pump facilitates circulation of coolant within the loop, and a coolant bypass line is coupled between the supply and return manifolds. The return manifold includes a mixed-phase manifold section, and the bypass line provides coolant from the supply manifold directly to the mixed-phase manifold section. Coolant flows from the coolant bypass line into the mixed-phase manifold section in a direction counter to the direction of any coolant vapor flow within that manifold section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 8964390
    Abstract: Cooling apparatuses and methods are provided for facilitating pumped immersion-cooling of electronic components. The cooling apparatus includes a housing forming a compartment about one or more components, a supply manifold, a return manifold, and a coolant loop coupling in fluid communication the supply and return manifolds and the housing. Coolant flowing through the coolant loop flows through the compartment of the housing and at least partially immersion-cools the component(s) by flow boiling. A pump facilitates circulation of coolant within the loop, and a coolant bypass line is coupled between the supply and return manifolds. The return manifold includes a mixed-phase manifold section, and the bypass line provides coolant from the supply manifold directly to the mixed-phase manifold section. Coolant flows from the coolant bypass line into the mixed-phase manifold section in a direction counter to the direction of any coolant vapor flow within that manifold section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 8953319
    Abstract: A heat-dissipating module applied to a circuit board having an electronic element is disclosed. The heat-dissipating module includes a plurality of connecting portions, a contacting portion and a folded portion. The heat-dissipating module is connected to the circuit board by the connecting portions, and a first surface of the contacting portion contacts the electronic element. The folded portion is connected to the contacting portion. The heat-dissipating module is suitable for a thin and light electronic device and has firm structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Asustek Computer Inc.
    Inventor: Cheng-Yu Wang
  • Patent number: 8953321
    Abstract: A small form factor desktop computing device having a suitable internal cooling arrangement is disclosed. The device can be formed of a single piece seamless housing machined from a single billet of aluminum. The single piece seamless housing includes an aesthetically pleasing foot support having at least a portion formed of RF transparent material that provides easy user access to selected internal components as well as offers electromagnetic shielding. The device can also include a removable foot, a heat producing element, a fan, an air processing manifold having a plurality of angled fins, and a heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Inventors: Eric A. Knopf, David P. Tarkinton, Matthew D. Rohrbach
  • Patent number: 8953318
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally pertain to passive cooling systems and methods for electronics. An exemplary passive cooling system for electronics has a circuit package and dielectric liquid. The circuit package has a cover positioned over a circuit element coupled to a substrate. The cover is attached to the substrate and creates a water-tight seal around the circuit element. The circuit package further has a porous media. The dielectric liquid directly contacts the circuit element, and heat from the circuit element is transferred to the dielectric liquid. As the liquid reaches its boiling point, vapor from the liquid is passed through the porous media for further cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, for and on behalf of the University of Alabama in Huntsville
    Inventors: James E. Smith, William Bishop
  • Patent number: 8953317
    Abstract: Cooling apparatuses and methods are provided for immersion-cooling one or more electronic components. The cooling apparatus includes a housing at least partially surrounding and forming a fluid-tight compartment about the electronic component(s) and a dielectric fluid disposed within the fluid-tight compartment, with the electronic component(s) immersed within the dielectric fluid. A vapor-condenser and one or more wicking components are also provided. The vapor-condenser includes a plurality of thermally conductive condenser fins extending within the fluid-tight compartment, and the wicking component(s) is disposed within the fluid-tight compartment in physical contact with at least a portion of one or more thermally conductive condenser fins of the thermally conductive condenser fins extending within the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 8953320
    Abstract: Cooling apparatus and methods are provided for partial immersion-cooling of multiple electronic components. The cooling apparatus includes a housing at least partially surrounding and forming a compartment about the components, and a fluid disposed within the compartment. First and second electronic components are at least partially non-immersed within the fluid, with the first component being a different type of electronic component with different configuration than the second component. A vapor condenser is provided with a vapor-condensing surface disposed within the compartment for condensing fluid vapor, and a condensate redirect structure is disposed within the compartment between the vapor condenser and the first and second components. The redirect structure is differently configured over the first electronic component compared with over the second electronic component, and provides a different pattern of condensate drip over the first component compared with over the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 8944150
    Abstract: A heat dissipating device includes a chamber with an evaporation portion and a condensation portion, the chamber including a refrigerant. The chamber further includes an evaporation portion scraping brush provided corresponding to the evaporation portion, the evaporation portion scraping brush being able to sweep relative to an inner surface of the evaporation portion. A refrigerant liquid film is formed on the inner surface of the evaporation portion. Since the fluid refrigerant is uniformly applied to an inner surface of the evaporation portion to form a liquid film, the heat dissipating ability of the heat pipe heat dissipating device is improved, and the heat dissipating uniformity of the heat pipe heat dissipating device is enhanced. A heat dissipating method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20150029667
    Abstract: A receptacle assembly includes a cage having an interior cavity and a divider that divides the interior cavity into first and second ports. The cage has a front end that is open to the first and second ports, which are configured to receive first and second pluggable modules, respectively, therein through the front end. The divider includes an internal compartment that extends between the first and second ports. The receptacle assembly includes a thermal transfer assembly having a base and a spring. The base is received within the internal compartment of the divider and includes a module side that faces the first port. The spring is operatively connected between the divider and the base such that the spring is configured to bias the base toward the first port and thereby press the module side of the base into thermal communication with the first pluggable module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: David Stanley Szczesny
  • Patent number: 8941986
    Abstract: A computer system includes a computer case, an enclosure, and a heat dissipating device. The computer case includes a rear plate with a plurality of ventilation holes. The enclosure includes a separating portion to divide the computer case into a first receiving area and a second area. The heat dissipating device includes a first heat sink, a second heat sink, a heat pipe and a fan. The first heat sink is attached to a chip, and the fan communicates with the second heat sink. The first heat sink and the fan are received in the first receiving area, and the second heat sink is received in the second receiving area. The heat pipe extends through the separating portion, and the plurality of ventilation holes, the first heat sink, the fan, the heat pipe, and the second heat sink together defines an air path for air flowing through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: ScienBizIP Consulting (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yang Li
  • Publication number: 20150022975
    Abstract: A method and system for cooling a heat-generating component are provided. The system includes a heat generating electronic component including a heat conductive face, a heat sink device including at least one open face pin fin array surface directly coupled to the conductive face, each fin including a distal end including an outwardly facing contact area, the contact areas covering only a portion of the conductive face, the contact areas configured to carry electrical current therethrough, and an immersion of dielectric fluid contained in a vessel, the vessel including a heat-conductive hull at least partially submerged in a heat sink fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric Ayres Browne, Satish Sivarama Gunturi, Brian Magann Rush, Rixin Lai, Anurag Kasyap Vejjupalle Subramanyam
  • Patent number: 8937806
    Abstract: Flow diversion apparatuses and methods are provided. A flow diversion apparatus can include a vent configured to permit the flow of a fluid therethrough. The apparatus can also include an electronic device capable of a range of motion across at least a portion of the vent disposed proximate at least a portion of the vent. The apparatus can include a shutter disposed proximate at least a portion of the vent opposite the electronic device. The shutter can be capable of a range of motion across at least a portion of the vent in conjunction with the electronic device. The shutter can prevent at least a portion of the fluid flowing through the vent from impinging on the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Mark David Senatori