U.S. patent application number 15/929657 was filed with the patent office on 2021-11-18 for micro-strand heat dissipation system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Dell Products L.P.. Invention is credited to Shree Rathinasamy, Victor Teeter.
Application Number | 20210360826 15/929657 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005940972 |
Filed Date | 2021-11-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210360826 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Teeter; Victor ; et
al. |
November 18, 2021 |
MICRO-STRAND HEAT DISSIPATION SYSTEM
Abstract
A micro-strand heat dissipation system includes a first
processing device and a plurality of first micro-strand heat
dissipator elements that are each positioned on the first
processing device in a spaced apart orientation from the other
first micro-strand heat dissipator elements. Each of the plurality
of first micro-strand heat dissipator elements include a first
micro-strand heat dissipator element portion that extends into the
first processing device from an outer surface of the first
processing device, and a second micro-strand heat dissipator
element portion that extends from the outer surface of the first
processing device. The first processing device may define a
plurality of micro-strand heat dissipator connector features to
which each of the plurality of first micro-strand heat dissipator
elements may be connected, or the plurality of first micro-strand
heat dissipator elements may be integrated as part of the first
processing device.
Inventors: |
Teeter; Victor; (Round Rock,
TX) ; Rathinasamy; Shree; (Round Rock, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dell Products L.P. |
Round Rock |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005940972 |
Appl. No.: |
15/929657 |
Filed: |
May 14, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/20445 20130101;
H05K 7/20409 20130101; G06F 1/20 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H05K 7/20 20060101
H05K007/20; G06F 1/20 20060101 G06F001/20 |
Claims
1. A micro-strand heat dissipation system, comprising: a first
processing device; a plurality of first micro-strand heat
dissipator elements that are each positioned on the first
processing device in a spaced apart orientation from the other
first micro-strand heat dissipator elements, wherein each of the
plurality of first micro-strand heat dissipator elements include: a
first micro-strand heat dissipator element portion that extends
into the first processing device from an outer surface of the first
processing device; and a second micro-strand heat dissipator
element portion that extends from the outer surface of the first
processing device.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first processing device
includes: a plurality of micro-strand heat dissipator connector
features that are each accessible on the outer surface of the first
processing device in a spaced apart orientation from the other
micro-strand heat dissipator connector features, wherein each of
the plurality of first micro-strand heat dissipator elements are
connected to a respective micro-strand heat dissipator connector
feature.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first
micro-strand heat dissipator elements are integrated as part of the
first processing device.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein: the outer surface of the first
processing device includes a first outer surface and a second outer
surface that is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the first
outer surface; each of a first subset of the plurality of first
micro-strand heat dissipator elements extend from the first outer
surface of the first processing device; and each of a second subset
of the plurality of first micro-strand heat dissipator elements
extend from the second outer surface of the first processing
device.
5. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a second processing
device that is coupled to the first processing device in a stacked
processing system configuration; a plurality of second micro-strand
heat dissipator elements that are each positioned on the second
processing device in a spaced apart orientation from the other
second micro-strand heat dissipator elements, wherein each of the
plurality of second micro-strand heat dissipator elements include:
a first micro-strand heat dissipator element portion that extends
into the second processing device from the outer surface of the
second processing device; and a second micro-strand heat dissipator
element portion that extends from the outer surface of the second
processing device.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first micro-strand heat
dissipator element portion of at least one of the plurality of
first micro-strand heat dissipator elements extends into the first
processing device from the outer surface of the first processing
device and through the first processing device such that the first
micro-strand heat dissipator element portion of the at least one of
the plurality of first micro-strand heat dissipator elements is
located immediately adjacent a heat producing component in the
first processing device.
7. An Information Handling System (IHS), comprising: a chassis; a
memory system that is included in the chassis and that stores
instruction; and a first processing device that is included in the
chassis, coupled to the memory system, and configured to read
instructions from the memory system to perform one or more
operations; a plurality of first micro-strand heat dissipator
elements that are each positioned on the first processing device in
a spaced apart orientation from the other first micro-strand heat
dissipator elements, wherein each of the plurality of first
micro-strand heat dissipator elements include: a first micro-strand
heat dissipator element portion that extends into the first
processing device from an outer surface of the first processing
device; and a second micro-strand heat dissipator element portion
that extends from the outer surface of the first processing
device.
8. The IHS of claim 7, wherein the first processing device
includes: a plurality of micro-strand heat dissipator connector
features that are each accessible on the outer surface of the first
processing device in a spaced apart orientation from the other
micro-strand heat dissipator connector features, wherein each of
the plurality of first micro-strand heat dissipator elements are
connected to a respective micro-strand heat dissipator connector
feature.
9. The IHS of claim 7, wherein the plurality of first micro-strand
heat dissipator elements are integrated as part of the first
processing device.
10. The IHS of claim 7, wherein: the outer surface of the first
processing device includes a first outer surface and a second outer
surface that is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the first
outer surface; each of a first subset of the plurality of first
micro-strand heat dissipator elements extend from the first outer
surface of the first processing device; and each of a second subset
of the plurality of first micro-strand heat dissipator elements
extend from the second outer surface of the first processing
device.
11. The IHS of claim 7, further comprising: a second processing
device that is included in the chassis, coupled to the memory
system, configured to read instructions from the memory system to
perform one or more operations, and coupled to the first processing
device in a stacked processing system configuration; a plurality of
second micro-strand heat dissipator elements that are each
positioned on the second processing device in a spaced apart
orientation from the other second micro-strand heat dissipator
elements, wherein each of the plurality of second micro-strand heat
dissipator elements include: a first micro-strand heat dissipator
element portion that extends into the second processing device from
the outer surface of the second processing device; and a second
micro-strand heat dissipator element portion that extends from the
outer surface of the second processing device.
12. The IHS of claim 7, wherein the first micro-strand heat
dissipator element portion of at least one of the plurality of
first micro-strand heat dissipator elements extends into the first
processing device from the outer surface of the first processing
device and through the first processing device such that the first
micro-strand heat dissipator element portion of the at least one of
the plurality of first micro-strand heat dissipator elements is
located immediately adjacent a heat producing component in the
first processing device.
13. The IHS of claim 7, wherein the first processing device is a
silicon photonics processing device.
14. A method for dissipating heat, comprising: generating, by a
first processing device that includes a plurality of first
micro-strand heat dissipator elements that are each positioned on
the first processing device in a spaced apart orientation from the
other first micro-strand heat dissipator elements, heat;
conducting, by a first micro-strand heat dissipator element portion
on each of the plurality of first micro-strand heat dissipator
elements that extends into the first processing device from an
outer surface of the first processing device, the heat that is
generated by the first processing device to a respective second
micro-strand heat dissipator element portion on that first
micro-strand heat dissipator element that extends from the outer
surface of the first processing device; and dissipating, by the
second micro-strand heat dissipator element portion on each of the
plurality of first micro-strand heat dissipator elements that
extends from the outer surface of the first processing device, the
heat.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: connecting each of
the plurality of first micro-strand heat dissipator elements to
respective micro-strand heat dissipator connector features that are
each accessible on the outer surface of the first processing device
in a spaced apart orientation from the other micro-strand heat
dissipator connector features.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of first
micro-strand heat dissipator elements are integrated as part of the
first processing device.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein: the outer surface of the first
processing device includes a first outer surface and a second outer
surface that is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the first
outer surface; each of a first subset of the plurality of first
micro-strand heat dissipator elements extend from the first outer
surface of the first processing device; and each of a second subset
of the plurality of first micro-strand heat dissipator elements
extend from the second outer surface of the first processing
device.
18. The method of claim 14, further comprising: generating, by a
second processing device that is provided with the first processing
device in a stacked processing system configuration and that
includes a plurality of second micro-strand heat dissipator
elements that are each positioned on the second processing device
in a spaced apart orientation from the other second micro-strand
heat dissipator elements, heat; conducting, by a first micro-strand
heat dissipator element portion on each of the plurality of second
micro-strand heat dissipator elements that extends into the second
processing device from an outer surface of the second processing
device, the heat that is generated by the second processing device
to a respective second micro-strand heat dissipator element portion
on that second micro-strand heat dissipator element that extends
from the outer surface of the second processing device; and
dissipating, by the second micro-strand heat dissipator element
portion on each of the plurality of second micro-strand heat
dissipator elements that extends from the outer surface of the
second processing device, the heat.
19. The method of claim 14, the first micro-strand heat dissipator
element portion of at least one of the plurality of first
micro-strand heat dissipator elements extends into the first
processing device from the outer surface of the first processing
device and through the first processing device such that the first
micro-strand heat dissipator element portion of the at least one of
the plurality of first micro-strand heat dissipator elements is
located immediately adjacent a heat producing component in the
first processing device that generates the heat.
20. The method of claim 14, wherein the first processing device is
a silicon photonics processing device.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to information
handling systems, and more particularly to the dissipation of heat
generated by an information handling system using micro-strand heat
dissipator elements.
[0002] As the value and use of information continues to increase,
individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and
store information. One option available to users is information
handling systems. An information handling system generally
processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or
data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing
users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because
technology and information handling needs and requirements vary
between different users or applications, information handling
systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how
the information is handled, how much information is processed,
stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the
information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The
variations in information handling systems allow for information
handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or
specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline
reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In
addition, information handling systems may include a variety of
hardware and software components that may be configured to process,
store, and communicate information and may include one or more
computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
[0003] Processing devices in information handling systems such as,
for example, switch devices and other networking and/or computing
devices known in the art, are capable of generating relatively high
amounts of heat that must be dissipated. For example, silicon
photonics processing devices are provided by integrated circuits
that utilize silicon as an optical medium to create a processing
device with the ability to process optical data signals, which is
viewed as a solution to the issues associated with how to provide
the relatively high signal transmission rates required by next
generation switch/networking devices. However, silicon photonics
processing devices tend to be provided with a relatively high
circuit density, and high performance silicon photonics processing
devices can generate relatively high amounts of heat that must be
dissipated, particularly as the port density and port speeds of the
ports in the switch device in which they are utilized increase (as
is the case with many next generation switch/networking devices).
As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the relatively
higher amount of heat generated by the silicon photonics processing
devices discussed above may result in the disruption of the optical
data signals in the silicon photonics processing device due to the
heat or due to noise created by thermal issues, frequency shifts in
the optical data signals, failure of the silicon photonics
processing device, higher heat stresses that can result in switch
device component failures, higher performance cooling components
being required for the switch device that increase costs, higher
levels of cooling system operation that can cause cooling system
component failure and/or increased energy consumption costs, and/or
other heat-related issues known in the art.
[0004] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a processing
device heat dissipation system that addresses the issues discussed
above.
SUMMARY
[0005] According to one embodiment, an Information Handling System
(IHS) includes a chassis; a memory system that is included in the
chassis and that stores instructions; and a first processing device
that is included in the chassis, coupled to the memory system,
configured to read instructions from the memory system to perform
one or more operations; and a plurality of first micro-strand heat
dissipator elements that are each positioned on the first
processing device in a spaced apart orientation from the other
first micro-strand heat dissipator elements, wherein each of the
plurality of first micro-strand heat dissipator elements include: a
first micro-strand heat dissipator element portion that extends
into the first processing device from an outer surface of the first
processing device; and a second micro-strand heat dissipator
element portion that extends from the outer surface of the first
processing device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of an
Information Handling System (IHS).
[0007] FIG. 2A is a schematic top view illustrating an embodiment
of a processing device that may utilize the micro-strand heat
dissipation system of the present disclosure.
[0008] FIG. 2B is a schematic side view illustrating an embodiment
of the processing device of FIG. 2A.
[0009] FIG. 3A is a schematic top view illustrating an embodiment
of a micro-strand heat dissipation element that may be utilized
with the processing device of FIGS. 2A and 2B.
[0010] FIG. 3B is a schematic side view illustrating an embodiment
of the micro-strand heat dissipation element of FIG. 3A.
[0011] FIG. 4A is a schematic side view illustrating an embodiment
of a plurality of the micro-strand heat dissipation elements of
FIG. 3 provided for connection to a processing device.
[0012] FIG. 4B is a schematic side view illustrating an embodiment
of the plurality of micro-strand heat dissipation elements of FIG.
4A being connected to the processing device of FIGS. 2A and 2B.
[0013] FIG. 4C is a schematic side view illustrating an embodiment
of the plurality of micro-strand heat dissipation elements of FIG.
4A being connected to the processing device of FIGS. 2A and 2B.
[0014] FIG. 4D is a schematic side view illustrating an embodiment
of the plurality of micro-strand heat dissipation elements of FIG.
4A connected to the processing device of FIGS. 2A and 2B.
[0015] FIG. 4E is a schematic top view illustrating an embodiment
of the plurality of micro-strand heat dissipation elements of FIG.
4A connected to the processing device of FIGS. 2A and 2B.
[0016] FIG. 5A is a schematic side view illustrating an embodiment
of a plurality of the micro-strand heat dissipation elements of
FIG. 3 being connected to the processing device of FIGS. 2A and
2B.
[0017] FIG. 5B is a schematic side view illustrating an embodiment
of a plurality of the micro-strand heat dissipation elements of
FIG. 3 connected to the processing device of FIGS. 2A and 2B.
[0018] FIG. 5C is a schematic top view illustrating an embodiment
of a plurality of the micro-strand heat dissipation elements of
FIG. 3 connected to the processing device of FIGS. 2A and 2B.
[0019] FIG. 6A is a schematic side view illustrating an embodiment
of a plurality of the micro-strand heat dissipation elements of
FIG. 3 integrated in a processing device.
[0020] FIG. 6B is a schematic top view illustrating an embodiment
of the processing device with the plurality of integrated
micro-strand heat dissipation elements of FIG. 6A.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view illustrating an embodiment
of a processing device that may utilized the micro-strand heat
dissipation system of the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 8A is a schematic side view illustrating an embodiment
of a plurality of the micro-strand heat dissipation elements of
FIG. 3 being connected to the processing device of FIG. 7.
[0023] FIG. 8B is a schematic side view illustrating an embodiment
of a plurality of the micro-strand heat dissipation elements of
FIG. 3 connected to the processing device of FIG. 7.
[0024] FIG. 8C is a schematic top view illustrating an embodiment
of a plurality of the micro-strand heat dissipation elements of
FIG. 3 connected to the processing device of FIG. 7.
[0025] FIG. 9A is a schematic side view illustrating an embodiment
of a plurality of the micro-strand heat dissipation elements of
FIG. 3 connected to the processing device of FIG. 7.
[0026] FIG. 9B is a schematic top view illustrating an embodiment
of a plurality of the micro-strand heat dissipation elements of
FIG. 3 connected to the processing device of FIG. 7.
[0027] FIG. 10 is a schematic top view illustrating an embodiment
of a plurality of the micro-strand heat dissipation elements of
FIG. 3 integrated in a processing device.
[0028] FIG. 11A is a schematic side view illustrating an embodiment
of a stacked processing system that may utilized the micro-strand
heat dissipation system of the present disclosure.
[0029] FIG. 11B is a schematic side view illustrating an embodiment
of a plurality of the micro-strand heat dissipation elements of
FIG. 3 connected to the stacked processing system of FIG. 11A.
[0030] FIG. 12 is a schematic side view illustrating an embodiment
of a plurality of the micro-strand heat dissipation elements of
FIG. 3 connected to the stacked processing system of FIG. 11A.
[0031] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view illustrating an embodiment
of a plurality of the micro-strand heat dissipation elements of
FIG. 3 integrated in a stacked processing system.
[0032] FIG. 14 is a schematic side view illustrating an embodiment
of a plurality of the micro-strand heat dissipation elements of
FIG. 3 integrated in a processing device.
[0033] FIG. 15 is a schematic side view illustrating an embodiment
of a plurality of the micro-strand heat dissipation elements of
FIG. 3 integrated in a stacked processing system.
[0034] FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a
method for dissipating heat.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling
system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of
instrumentalities operable to compute, calculate, determine,
classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch,
store, display, communicate, manifest, detect, record, reproduce,
handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data
for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example,
an information handling system may be a personal computer (e.g.,
desktop or laptop), tablet computer, mobile device (e.g., personal
digital assistant (PDA) or smart phone), server (e.g., blade server
or rack server), a network storage device, or any other suitable
device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and
price. The information handling system may include random access
memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central
processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM,
and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of
the information handling system may include one or more disk
drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external
devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as
a keyboard, a mouse, touchscreen and/or a video display. The
information handling system may also include one or more buses
operable to transmit communications between the various hardware
components.
[0036] In one embodiment, IHS 100, FIG. 1, includes a processor
102, which is connected to a bus 104. Bus 104 serves as a
connection between processor 102 and other components of IHS 100.
An input device 106 is coupled to processor 102 to provide input to
processor 102. Examples of input devices may include keyboards,
touchscreens, pointing devices such as mouses, trackballs, and
trackpads, and/or a variety of other input devices known in the
art. Programs and data are stored on a mass storage device 108,
which is coupled to processor 102. Examples of mass storage devices
may include hard discs, optical disks, magneto-optical discs,
solid-state storage devices, and/or a variety of other mass storage
devices known in the art. IHS 100 further includes a display 110,
which is coupled to processor 102 by a video controller 112. A
system memory 114 is coupled to processor 102 to provide the
processor with fast storage to facilitate execution of computer
programs by processor 102. Examples of system memory may include
random access memory (RAM) devices such as dynamic RAM (DRAM),
synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), solid state memory devices, and/or a
variety of other memory devices known in the art. In an embodiment,
a chassis 116 houses some or all of the components of IHS 100. It
should be understood that other buses and intermediate circuits can
be deployed between the components described above and processor
102 to facilitate interconnection between the components and the
processor 102.
[0037] Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, an embodiment of a
processing device 200 is illustrated that may utilize the
micro-strand heat dissipation system of the present disclosure. In
many of the examples discussed below, the processing device 200 is
described as being provided by a silicon photonics integrated
circuit. However, one of skill in the art in possession of the
present disclosure will recognize that the processing device 200
may be provided by other processing devices, integrated circuits,
and/or heat producing devices while remaining within the scope of
the present disclosure as well. In an embodiment, the processing
device 200 may be provided as the processor 102 in the IHS 100
discussed above with reference to FIG. 1, or the functionality of
the micro-strand heat dissipation system of the present disclosure
may be utilized with another heat producing device that is included
in the IHS 100. As such, while illustrated and discussed as a
processing device, one of skill in the art in possession of the
present disclosure will recognize that devices utilizing the
micro-strand heat dissipation system of the present disclosure may
include any heat producing devices that may be configured to
operate similarly as the processing device 200 discussed below.
[0038] In the illustrated embodiment, the processing device 200
includes a base 202 having an outer surface that includes a top
surface 202a, a bottom surface 202b that is located opposite the
base 202 from the top surface 202a, a front surface 202c extending
between the top surface 202a and the bottom surface 202b, a rear
surface 202d located opposite the base 202 from the front surface
202c and extending between the top surface 202a and the bottom
surface, and a pair of side surfaces 202e and 202f that are located
opposite the base 202 from each other and that extend between the
top surface 202a, the bottom surface 202b, the front surface 202c,
and the rear surface 202d. In the schematic illustration of the
processing devices provided herein, the base is a rectangle with
the front surface, rear surface, and side surfaces of that base
oriented perpendicularly to the top surface and the bottom surface
of that base, but one of skill in the art in possession of the
present disclosure will recognize how the base of a processing
system may be provided in different shapes with its front surface,
rear surface, and side surfaces oriented at different angles to its
top surface and bottom surface, and how those angles may be
considered as substantially perpendicular while remaining within
the scope of the present disclosure as well.
[0039] In some embodiments, processing devices provided in the
micro-strand heat dissipation system of the present disclosure may
include micro-strand heat dissipator connector features, a specific
example of which are illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B as a plurality
of micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 204 that are
defined by the base 202 and that extend into the base 202 from the
top surface 202a. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B,
the micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 204 are provided
in an equally spaced, 13.times.15 rectangular grid, with each
micro-strand heat dissipator connector hole 204 extending
substantially the same depth into the base 202. However, one of
skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will
appreciate that the micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes
204 may be provided in any configuration and may extend different
depths into the base 202 while remaining within the scope of the
present disclosure as well. For example, in some embodiments the
micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 204 may be provided
only in areas/volumes of the base 202 (and extending into the outer
surface 202a of the base 202) that are known to become relatively
hot during operation of the processing device 200, and may extend
into the base 202 such that they are located immediately adjacent
heat producing components in the base 202 in order to maximize the
amount of cooling provided by the micro-strand heat dissipation
system of the present disclosure, discussed in further detail
below.
[0040] However, while illustrated and described herein as provided
by "holes" extending into the base 202 of the processing device
200, one of skill in the art in possession of the present
disclosure will recognize that other types of micro-strand heat
dissipator connector features may be provided with the processing
device 200 to allow the micro-strand heat dissipator elements
(discussed below) to be connected to the processing device 200 in a
variety of manners that will fall within the scope of the present
disclosure as well. Furthermore, as described below, in other
embodiments the micro-strand heat dissipator elements of the
present disclosure may be integrated as part of processing devices,
and thus the micro-strand heat dissipator connector features
illustrated and described herein may be omitted, and the processing
devices utilizing the micro-strand heat dissipation system of the
present disclosure may instead be manufactured, fabricated, and/or
otherwise produced with micro-strand heat dissipator element (i.e.,
rather than the micro-strand heat dissipator elements being
connected to the processing device 200 via the micro-strand heat
dissipator connector features as discussed in some of the
embodiments below).
[0041] As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, processing device
coupling elements 206 may extend from the front surface 202c, the
rear surface 202d, and the side surfaces 202e and 202f of the base
202, and one of skill in the art in possession of the present
disclosure will recognize how the processing device coupling
elements 206 may be provided by any processing device/integrated
circuit couplings that allow the processing device 200 to be
coupled to other components (e.g., via a circuit board or other
coupling medium known in the art.) However, while a specific
processing device 200 has been illustrated and described, one of
skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will
recognize that the micro-strand heat dissipation system of the
present disclosure may include a variety of components and
component configurations while remaining within the scope of the
present disclosure as well.
[0042] Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, an embodiment of a
micro-strand heat dissipator element 300 is illustrated. In the
illustrated embodiment, the micro-strand heat dissipator element
300 includes a base 302 that, in the examples discussed below, is
provided with a circular cross-section along a majority of the base
302 such that the base 302 is substantially shaped as an elongated
cylinder. However, while illustrated and described as provided by
an elongated cylinder, one of skill in the art in possession of the
present disclosure will recognize that the micro-strand heat
dissipator elements of the present disclosure may be provided with
cross-sections having different shapes other than those illustrated
herein in order to provide the base of the micro-strand heat
dissipator element with different shapes other than those
illustrated while remaining within the scope of the present
disclosure as well. In different embodiments, the base 302 may be
provided using a copper material, an aluminum material, and/or
other heat conducting materials that would be apparent to one of
skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure.
[0043] As illustrated, the base 302 of the micro-strand heat
dissipator element 300 includes a top end 302a and a bottom end
302b that is located opposite the base 302 from the top end 302a.
Furthermore, the base 302 may include a diameter 302c (or other
"thickness") that may vary based on the implementation of the
micro-strand heat dissipation system. For example, in some
embodiments the diameter 302c (or other thickness) of the base 302
of the micro-strand heat dissipator element 300 may be similar to
that of a human hair (e.g., 0.04 mm to 0.1 mm). As such, one of
skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will
appreciate that the examples of the micro-strand heat dissipator
elements 300 illustrated herein may not be draw to scale in order
to allow for features of those micro-strand heat dissipator
elements 300 (as well as features of the processing device 200 in
some embodiments) to be clearly visible for discussion.
Furthermore, one of skill in the art in possession of the present
disclosure will appreciate that larger diameters or thicknesses of
the base 302 of the micro-strand heat dissipator element 300 may be
utilized while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure
as well.
[0044] As discussed in further detail below, the base 302 of the
micro-strand heat dissipator element 300 may include a first
micro-strand heat dissipator element portion 304 that extends
between the top end 302a of the base 302 and a location on the base
302 that is located between the top end 302a and the bottom end
302b of the base 302, and that is configured to extend from an
outer surface of the processing device with which it is utilized in
the micro-strand heat dissipation system of the present disclosure.
The base 302 of the micro-strand heat dissipator element 300 may
also include a second micro-strand heat dissipator element portion
306 that extends from the first micro-strand heat dissipator
element portion 304 of the base 302 and to the bottom end 302b of
the base 302, and that is configured to extend into the base of the
processing device with which it is utilized in the micro-strand
heat dissipation system of the present disclosure. One of skill in
the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize that
the length of the first micro-strand heat dissipator element
portion 304 extending from the processing device and the length of
the second micro-strand heat dissipator element portion 306
extending into the processing device may be selected based on heat
dissipation requirements for the processing device, structural
integrity of the micro-strand heat dissipator element 300, and/or
any other system characteristics that would be apparent to one of
skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure.
[0045] As such, one of skill in the art in possession of the
present disclosure will appreciate that the length of the first
micro-strand heat dissipator element portion and the second
micro-strand heat dissipator element portion on any particular
micro-strand heat dissipator element utilized in the micro-strand
heat dissipation system of the present disclosure may vary relative
to the first micro-strand heat dissipator element portion and the
second micro-strand heat dissipator element portion on other
micro-strand heat dissipator elements utilized in the micro-strand
heat dissipation system of the present disclosure while remaining
within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, as
discussed in some embodiment of the present disclosure below,
different micro-strand heat dissipator elements may extend
different depths into the base of the processing device with which
they are utilized in the micro-strand heat dissipation system of
the present disclosure, and/or different micro-strand heat
dissipator elements may extend different lengths from the outer
surface on the base of the processing device with which they are
utilized in the micro-strand heat dissipation system of the present
disclosure. However, while a particular micro-strand heat
dissipator element 300 has been described, one of skill in the art
in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that
micro-strand heat dissipator elements may include a variety of
configurations for providing the functionality discussed below
while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as
well.
[0046] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4A, a micro-strand
heat dissipator element carrier 400 is illustrated that is coupled
to a plurality of the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300
(e.g., to the top ends 302a of the base 302 on the micro-strand
heat dissipator elements 300 discussed above with reference to FIG.
3) and that positions the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300
in a configuration that corresponds to the configuration of the
micro-strand heat dissipator connector features on the processing
device to which those micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300
will be connected. For example, FIG. 4B illustrates how the
micro-strand heat dissipator element carrier 400 coupled to the
plurality of the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 may be
positioned adjacent the top surface 202a of the processing device
200 such that respective micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300
are aligned with respective micro-strand heat dissipator connector
holes 204 defined by the base 202 of the processing device 200.
While not explicitly illustrated, one of skill in the art in
possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that the
micro-strand heat dissipator element carrier 400 may be coupled to
the plurality of the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 in a
variety of manners that allows the plurality of the micro-strand
heat dissipator elements 300 to be released from the micro-strand
heat dissipator element carrier 400 as discussed below.
[0047] As illustrated in FIGS. 4B and 4C, the micro-strand heat
dissipator element carrier 400 coupled to the plurality of the
micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 may be moved in a
direction A such that each of the micro-strand heat dissipator
elements 300 extend into the micro-strand heat dissipator connector
holes 204. As illustrated in FIG. 4D, the plurality of the
micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 may then be released from
the micro-strand heat dissipator element carrier 400, and the
micro-strand heat dissipator element carrier 400 may be moved
opposite the direction A. One of skill in the art in possession of
the present disclosure will appreciate that the micro-strand heat
dissipator elements 300 located in the micro-strand heat dissipator
connector holes 204 defined by the base 202 of the processing
device 200 may be connected to the base 202 and/or secured in the
micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 204 using a variety of
techniques. For example, prior to positioning the micro-strand heat
dissipator elements 300 in the micro-strand heat dissipator
connector holes 204, a heat conductive adhesive may be provided on
the bottom end 302b of the micro-strand heat dissipator elements
300 and/or micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 204 defined
by the base 202, and following the positioning of the micro-strand
heat dissipator elements 300 in the micro-strand heat dissipator
connector holes 204, that heat conductive adhesive may be allowed
to dry to connect/secure the micro-strand heat dissipator elements
300 to the micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 204 defined
by the base 202 of the processing device 200. However, in other
embodiments, mechanical couplings and/or other coupling subsystems
known in the art may be utilized to connect/secure the micro-strand
heat dissipator elements 300 to the micro-strand heat dissipator
connector holes 204 defined by base 202 of the processing device
200 while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as
well.
[0048] As such, each of the micro-strand heat dissipator connector
holes 204 defined by base 202 of the processing device 200 may have
a respective micro-strand heat dissipator element 300 coupled
thereto, with the second micro-strand heat dissipator element
portion 306 on each micro-strand heat dissipator element 300
extending into the base 202 from its top surface 202a, and the
first micro-strand heat dissipator element portion 304 on each
micro-strand heat dissipator element 300 extending from the top
surface 202a of the base 202, as illustrated in FIG. 4D.
Furthermore, the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 may be
provided on the processing device 200 in a spaced apart,
rectangular configuration that corresponds to the configuration of
the micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 204 and that
provides a 13.times.15 grid of micro-strand heat dissipator
elements 300 extending from the top surface 202a of the processing
device 200.
[0049] However, while discussed above with reference to FIGS. 4A-4E
as being provided by the connection/securing of the micro-strand
heat dissipator elements 300 to the micro-strand heat dissipator
connector holes 204 defined by the base 202 of the processing
device 200, in other embodiments the micro-strand heat dissipator
connector features/holes 204 may be omitted, and the micro-strand
heat dissipator elements 300 may be integrated with the processing
device 200 in the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 4D and 4E
during, for example, the manufacturing, fabrication, and/or other
provisioning of the processing device 200. As such, one of skill in
the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate
that the micro-strand heat dissipator element configuration
illustrated in FIGS. 4D and 4E may be provided on a processing
device in a variety of manners that will fall within the scope of
the present disclosure as well.
[0050] With reference to FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, another embodiment
of the provisioning of the micro-strand heat dissipator elements
300 of the present disclosure on a processing device is
illustrated. FIG. 5A illustrates a micro-strand heat dissipator
element carrier 500 that is coupled to a plurality of the
micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 (e.g., to the top ends
302a of the base 302 on the micro-strand heat dissipator elements
300) and that positions the micro-strand heat dissipator elements
300 in a configuration that may correspond to a heat generation
profile of the processing device to which those micro-strand heat
dissipator elements 300 will be connected. In one example, the
micro-strand heat dissipator element carrier 500 may be provided
with the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 in the
configuration illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5C based on expected heat
production of processing device components in the base 202 of the
processing device 200 (e.g., micro-strand heat dissipator elements
300 may be provided on the micro-strand heat dissipator element
carrier 500 so that they may be connected/secured to the processing
device 200 adjacent the highest heat generating components in the
processing device 200). In another example, the processing device
200 may be tested to determine how heat is generated by the
processing device 200 during its operations, and areas/volumes of
the processing device 200 that generate relatively high amounts of
heat during its operation may be identified. As will be appreciated
by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure,
the identification of such a heat generation profile for the
processing device 200 may allow the micro-strand heat dissipator
element carrier 500 to be provided with the micro-strand heat
dissipator elements 300 in the configuration that is illustrated in
FIGS. 5A-5C and that correspond to the areas/volumes of the
processing device 200 that generate relatively high amounts of heat
during its operation. However, while two specific examples have
been provided, the configuration of the micro-strand heat
dissipator elements 300 in the micro-strand heat dissipator element
carrier 500 may be determined in a variety of manners that will
fall within the scope of the present disclosure as well.
[0051] FIG. 5A illustrates how the micro-strand heat dissipator
element carrier 500 coupled to the plurality of the micro-strand
heat dissipator elements 300 may be positioned adjacent the top
surface 202a of the processing device 200 such that the
micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 are aligned with
corresponding micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 204
defined by the base 202 of the processing device 200. While not
explicitly illustrated, one of skill in the art in possession of
the present disclosure will appreciate that the micro-strand heat
dissipator element carrier 500 may be coupled to the plurality of
the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 in a variety of
manners that allows the plurality of the micro-strand heat
dissipator elements 300 to be released from the micro-strand heat
dissipator element carrier 500 as discussed below.
[0052] As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the micro-strand heat
dissipator element carrier 500 coupled to the plurality of the
micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 may be moved in a
direction B such that each of the micro-strand heat dissipator
elements 300 extend into corresponding micro-strand heat dissipator
connector holes 204. Similarly as discussed above, the plurality of
the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 may then be released
from the micro-strand heat dissipator element carrier 500, and the
micro-strand heat dissipator element carrier 500 may be moved
opposite the direction B. One of skill in the art in possession of
the present disclosure will appreciate that the micro-strand heat
dissipator elements 300 located in corresponding micro-strand heat
dissipator connector holes 204 defined by the base 202 of the
processing device 200 may be connected to the base 202 and/or
secured in those micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 204
using a variety of techniques. Similarly as discussed above, prior
to positioning the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 in
corresponding micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 204, a
heat conductive adhesive may be provided on the bottom end 302b of
the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 and/or those
micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 204 defined by the
base 202, and following the positioning the micro-strand heat
dissipator elements 300 in corresponding micro-strand heat
dissipator connector holes 204, the heat conductive adhesive may be
allowed to dry to connect/secure the micro-strand heat dissipator
elements 300 to corresponding micro-strand heat dissipator
connector holes 204 defined by the base 202 of the processing
device 200. However, in other embodiments, mechanical couplings
and/or other coupling subsystems known in the art may be utilized
to connect/secure the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 to
corresponding micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 204
defined by base 202 of the processing device 200 while remaining
within the scope of the present disclosure as well.
[0053] As such, subsets of the micro-strand heat dissipator
connector holes 204 defined by base 202 of the processing device
200 may have a respective micro-strand heat dissipator element 300
coupled thereto, with the second micro-strand heat dissipator
element portion 306 on each of those micro-strand heat dissipator
element 300 extending into the base 202 from the top surface 202a,
and the first micro-strand heat dissipator element portion 304 on
each of those micro-strand heat dissipator element 300 extending
from the top surface 202a of the base 202, as illustrated in FIG.
5B. Furthermore, the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 may
be provided on the processing device 200 in respective
configurations that are illustrated as providing a 5.times.5 grid
of micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 extending from an area
on the top surface 202a of the processing device 200, a 3.times.3
grid of micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 extending from an
area on the top surface 202a of the processing device 200, and a
13.times.2 grid of micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300
extending from an area on the top surface 202a of the processing
device 200, which as discussed above may provided those
micro-strand heat dissipator element grids immediately adjacent
areas/volumes of the base 202 of the processing device 200 that are
expected to (or known) to generate relatively high amounts of
heat.
[0054] However, while discussed above with reference to FIGS. 5A-5C
as being provided by the connection/securing of the micro-strand
heat dissipator elements 300 to the micro-strand heat dissipator
connector holes 204 defined by the base 202 of the processing
device, FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate how the micro-strand heat
dissipator connector holes 204 may be omitted, and the micro-strand
heat dissipator elements 300 may be integrated with the processing
device 200 in the same configuration illustrated in FIGS. 5B and 5C
during the manufacturing, fabrication, or other provisioning of the
processing device 200. As such, one of skill in the art in
possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that the
micro-strand heat dissipator element configuration illustrated in
FIGS. 5B and 5C may be provided in a variety of manners that will
fall within the scope of the present disclosure as well.
[0055] Referring now to FIG. 7, an embodiment of a processing
device 700 is illustrated that is similar to the processing device
200 discussed above with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, but with
additional micro-strand heat dissipator connector features. As
such, the processing device 700 is illustrated with similar
reference numbers for elements that are shared with the processing
device 200. In the specific example illustrated in FIG. 7, the
additional micro-strand heat dissipator connector features are
illustrated as a plurality of micro-strand heat dissipator
connector holes 702 that are defined by the base 202 and that
extend into the side surfaces 202e and 202f of the base 202.
Furthermore, as discussed below, a plurality of micro-strand heat
dissipator connector holes 702 may also extend into the base 202
from the front surface 202c and the rear surface 202d as well.
Similarly as discussed above, the micro-strand heat dissipator
connector holes 204 may be provided in any configuration and may
extend different depths into the base 202 while remaining within
the scope of the present disclosure as well. For example,
micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 204 may be provided
only in areas on the outer surface of the base 202 that are known
to become relatively hot during operation of the processing device
700, and may extend into the base 202 and adjacent heat producing
components in the base 202 in order to maximize the amount of
cooling provided by the micro-strand heat dissipation system of the
present disclosure, discussed in further detail below.
[0056] However, while illustrated and described herein as provided
by "holes" extending into the base 202 of the processing device
700, one of skill in the art in possession of the present
disclosure will recognize that other types of micro-strand heat
dissipator connector features may be provided with the processing
device 700 to allow the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300
to be connected to the processing device 700 in a variety of
manners that will fall within the scope of the present disclosure
as well. Furthermore, similarly as described above, in other
embodiments the micro-strand heat dissipator elements of the
present disclosure may be integrated as part of processing devices,
and thus the micro-strand heat dissipator connector features
discussed above may be omitted, and the processing devices
utilizing the micro-strand heat dissipation system of the present
disclosure may be manufactured, fabricated, or otherwise
provisioned with micro-strand heat dissipator elements (i.e.,
rather than connecting the micro-strand heat dissipator elements to
the processing device 700 via the micro-strand heat dissipator
connector features as discussed above).
[0057] With reference to FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C, another embodiment
of the provisioning of the micro-strand heat dissipator elements
300 of the present disclosure on a processing device is
illustrated. FIG. 8A illustrates a micro-strand heat dissipator
element carrier 800 that is coupled to a plurality of the
micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 (e.g., to the top ends
302a of the base 302 on the micro-strand heat dissipator elements
300) and that positions those micro-strand heat dissipator elements
300 in a configuration that corresponds to the configuration of the
micro-strand heat dissipator connector features on the processing
device to which those micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300
will be connected, a micro-strand heat dissipator element carriers
802 that is coupled to a plurality of the micro-strand heat
dissipator elements 300 (e.g., to the top ends 302a of the base 302
on the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300) and that
positions those micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 in a
configuration that corresponds to the configuration of the
micro-strand heat dissipator connector features on the processing
device to which those micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300
will be connected, and a micro-strand heat dissipator element
carriers 804 that is coupled to a plurality of the micro-strand
heat dissipator elements 300 (e.g., to the top ends 302a of the
base 302 on the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300) and that
positions those micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 in a
configuration that corresponds to the configuration of the
micro-strand heat dissipator connector features on the processing
device to which those micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300
will be connected.
[0058] FIG. 8A illustrates how the micro-strand heat dissipator
element carrier 800 coupled to the plurality of the micro-strand
heat dissipator elements 300 is positioned adjacent the top surface
202a of the processing device 700 such that the micro-strand heat
dissipator elements 300 are aligned with corresponding micro-strand
heat dissipator connector holes 204 defined by the base 202 of the
processing device 700. While not explicitly illustrated, one of
skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will
appreciate that the micro-strand heat dissipator element carrier
800 may be coupled to the plurality of the micro-strand heat
dissipator elements 300 in a variety of manners that allows the
plurality of the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 to be
released from the micro-strand heat dissipator element carrier 800
as discussed below.
[0059] FIG. 8A also illustrates how the micro-strand heat
dissipator element carrier 802 coupled to the plurality of the
micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 is positioned adjacent
the side surface 202e of the processing device 700 such that the
micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 are aligned with
corresponding micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 702
defined by the base 202 of the processing device 700. While not
explicitly illustrated, one of skill in the art in possession of
the present disclosure will appreciate that the micro-strand heat
dissipator element carrier 802 may be coupled to the plurality of
the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 in a variety of
manners that allows the plurality of the micro-strand heat
dissipator elements 300 to be released from the micro-strand heat
dissipator element carrier 802 as discussed below.
[0060] FIG. 8A also illustrates how the micro-strand heat
dissipator element carrier 804 coupled to the plurality of the
micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 is positioned adjacent
the side surface 202f of the processing device 700 such that the
micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 are aligned with
corresponding micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 702
defined by the base 202 of the processing device 700. While not
explicitly illustrated, one of skill in the art in possession of
the present disclosure will appreciate that the micro-strand heat
dissipator element carrier 804 may be coupled to the plurality of
the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 in a variety of
manners that allows the plurality of the micro-strand heat
dissipator elements 300 to be released from the micro-strand heat
dissipator element carrier 804 as discussed below. While not
explicitly illustrated, one of skill in the art in possession of
the present disclosure will appreciate how similar micro-strand
heat dissipator element carriers coupled to micro-strand heat
dissipator elements may be positioned adjacent the front surface
202c and the rear surface 202d of the base 202 on the processing
device 200 as well.
[0061] As illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the micro-strand heat
dissipator element carrier 800 coupled to the plurality of the
micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 may be moved in a
direction C such that each of the micro-strand heat dissipator
elements 300 extend into corresponding micro-strand heat dissipator
connector holes 204, the plurality of the micro-strand heat
dissipator elements 300 may then be released from the micro-strand
heat dissipator element carrier 800, and the micro-strand heat
dissipator element carrier 800 may be moved opposite the direction
C. Similarly, the micro-strand heat dissipator element carrier 802
coupled to the plurality of the micro-strand heat dissipator
elements 300 may be moved in a direction D such that each of the
micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 extend into corresponding
micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 702, the plurality of
the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 may then be released
from the micro-strand heat dissipator element carrier 802, and the
micro-strand heat dissipator element carrier 802 may be moved
opposite the direction D. Similarly as well, the micro-strand heat
dissipator element carrier 804 coupled to the plurality of the
micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 may be moved in a
direction E such that each of the micro-strand heat dissipator
elements 300 extend into corresponding micro-strand heat dissipator
connector holes 702, the plurality of the micro-strand heat
dissipator elements 300 may then be released from the micro-strand
heat dissipator element carrier 804, and the micro-strand heat
dissipator element carrier 804 may be moved opposite the direction
E.
[0062] Similarly as discussed above, the micro-strand heat
dissipator elements 300 located in corresponding micro-strand heat
dissipator connector holes 204/702 defined by the base 202 of the
processing device 700 may be connected to the base 202 and/or
secured in those micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes
204/702 using a variety of techniques. For example, prior to
positioning the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 in
corresponding micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 204/702,
a heat conductive adhesive may be provided on the bottom end 302b
of the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 and/or those
micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 204/702 defined by the
base 202, and may be allowed to dry to connect/secure the
micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 to corresponding
micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 204/702 defined by the
base 202 of the processing device 700. However, in other
embodiments, mechanical couplings and/or other coupling subsystems
known in the art may be utilized to connect/secure the micro-strand
heat dissipator elements 300 to corresponding micro-strand heat
dissipator connector holes 204/702 defined by base 202 of the
processing device 700 while remaining within the scope of the
present disclosure as well.
[0063] As such, each of the micro-strand heat dissipator connector
holes 204/702 defined by base 202 of the processing device 200 may
have a respective micro-strand heat dissipator element 300 coupled
thereto, with the second micro-strand heat dissipator element
portion 306 on each of those micro-strand heat dissipator elements
300 extending into the base 202 from the top surface 202a, front
surface 202c, rear surface 202d, and side surfaces 202e and 202f,
and the first micro-strand heat dissipator element portion 304 on
each of those micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 extending
from the top surface 202a, front surface 202c, rear surface 202d,
and side surfaces 202e and 202f of the base 202, as illustrated in
FIGS. 8B and 8C. However, while discussed above with reference to
FIGS. 8A-8C as being provided by the connection/securing of the
micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 to the micro-strand heat
dissipator connector holes 204/702 defined by the base 202 of the
processing device 700, in some embodiments the micro-strand heat
dissipator connector holes 204/702 may be omitted, and the
micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 may be integrated with
the processing device 700 in the same configuration illustrated in
FIGS. 8B and 8C during the manufacturing, fabrication, or other
provisioning of the processing device 700. As such, one of skill in
the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate
that the micro-strand heat dissipator element configuration
illustrated in FIGS. 8B and 8C may be provided in a variety of
manners that will fall within the scope of the present disclosure
as well.
[0064] Referring now to FIGS. 9A and 9B, an embodiment of the
processing system 700 is illustrated with micro-strand heat
dissipator elements 300 connected/secured to subsets of its
micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 204/702 in a manner
similar to that described above with reference to FIGS. 5A-5C. As
such, micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 may be
connected/secured to subsets of the micro-strand heat dissipator
connector holes 204/702 on the processing device 700 using
micro-strand heat dissipator element carriers that are similar to
the micro-strand heat dissipator carrier 500 of FIG. 5A, and that
are populated with micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 based
on the expected (or known) heat generation of the processing device
700. Similarly, FIG. 10 illustrates how the micro-strand heat
dissipator connector holes 204/702 may be omitted from the
processing device 700, and the micro-strand heat dissipator
elements 300 may be integrated with processing device 700 during
its manufacture in the same configuration as illustrated in FIGS.
9A and 9B.
[0065] Referring now to FIG. 11A, an embodiment of a stacked
processing system 1100 is illustrated that includes a plurality of
processing devices 1102, 1104, 1106, 1108, and 1110 in a stacked
processing system configuration. As will be appreciated by one of
skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the
processing device 1102 may be substantially similar to the
processing system 700 based on its inclusion of micro-strand heat
dissipator connector holes 1102a extending into its top surface and
side surfaces, while the processing devices 1104, 1106, 1108, and
1110 may be substantially similar to the processing system 700
based on their inclusion of respective micro-strand heat dissipator
connector holes 1104a, 1106a, 1108a, and 1110a extending into their
side surfaces. Furthermore, one of more processing device coupling
elements 1112 may extend from the processing devices 1102, 1104,
1106, 1108, and 1110, and one of skill in the art in possession of
the present disclosure will recognize how the processing device
coupling elements 1112 may be provided by any processing
device/integrated circuit couplings that allow the processing
devices 1102, 1104, 1106, 1108, and 1110 to be coupled to other
components (e.g., via a circuit board or other coupling medium
known in the art.) However, while a specific stacked processing
system 1100 has been illustrated and described, one of skill in the
art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize that the
micro-strand heat dissipation system of the present disclosure may
include a variety of components and component configurations while
remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.
[0066] With reference to FIG. 11B, an embodiment of the stack
processing system 1100 is illustrated that includes micro-strand
heat dissipator elements 300 connected/secured in each of the
micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 1102a, 1104a, 1106a,
1108a, and 1110a included on the stacked processing system 1100,
and one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure
will appreciate that the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300
may be connected to each of the micro-strand heat dissipator
connector holes 1102a, 1104a, 1106a, 1108a, and 1110a in
substantially the same manner as described above with reference to
FIGS. 4A-4E and/or 8A-8C.
[0067] With reference to FIG. 12, an embodiment of the stack
processing system 1100 is illustrated that includes micro-strand
heat dissipator elements 300 connected/secured in subsets of the
micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 1102a, 1104a, 1106a,
1108a, and 1110a included on the stacked processing system 1100,
and one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure
will appreciate that the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300
may be connected to each of the micro-strand heat dissipator
connector holes 1102a, 1104a, 1106a, 1108a, and 1110a in
substantially the same manner as described above with reference to
FIGS. 5A-5C and/or 9A and 9B. Similarly, FIG. 13 illustrates how
the micro-strand heat dissipator connector holes 1102a, 1104a,
1106a, 1108a, and 1110a may be omitted from the stacked processing
system 1100, and the micro-strand heat dissipator elements 300 may
be integrated with stacked processing system 1100 during its
manufacture, fabrication, or other provisioning in the same
configuration as illustrated in FIG. 12.
[0068] Referring now to FIG. 14, an embodiment of a processing
device 1400 is illustrated that may include integrated micro-strand
heat dissipator elements that provide the micro-strand heat
dissipation system of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the
processing device 1400 includes a base 1402 with a plurality of
processing device coupling elements 1404 extending from the outer
surface of the base 1400. Furthermore, a micro-strand heat
dissipator element 1406 is illustrated that includes a first
micro-strand heat dissipator element portion that extends from the
outer surface of the base 1402, and that includes a second
micro-strand heat dissipator element portion 1406a that extends
into the base 1402 from its outer surface and that is oriented
substantially perpendicularly to the first micro-strand heat
dissipator element portion of the micro-strand heat dissipator
element 1406 that extends from the outer surface of the base 1402.
Similarly, a micro-strand heat dissipator element 1408 is
illustrated and includes a first micro-strand heat dissipator
element portion that extends from the outer surface of the base
1402, and that includes a micro-strand heat dissipator element
portion 1408a that extends into the base 1402 from its outer
surface and that is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the
first micro-strand heat dissipator element portion of the
micro-strand heat dissipator element 1408 that extends from the
outer surface of the base 1402.
[0069] Similarly as well, a micro-strand heat dissipator element
1410 is illustrated that includes a first micro-strand heat
dissipator element portion that extends from the outer surface of
the base 1402, and that includes a pair of micro-strand heat
dissipator element portions 1410a and 1410b that extend into the
base 1402 from its outer surface and that are oriented
substantially parallel to the first micro-strand heat dissipator
element portion of the micro-strand heat dissipator element 1408
that extends from the outer surface of the base 1402 but in
different planes than the first micro-strand heat dissipator
element portion of the micro-strand heat dissipator element 1408
that extends from the outer surface of the base 1402. As will be
appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present
disclosure, the micro-strand heat dissipator element portion 1406a,
1408a, 1410a, and 1410b may be routed to locations in the base 1402
where heat generation is expected or known to occur, which allows
the first micro-strand heat dissipator element portions of their
respective micro-strand heat dissipator elements 1406, 1408, and
1410 that extend from the outer surface of the base 1402 to
dissipate that heat more efficiently.
[0070] Referring now to FIG. 15, an embodiment of a stacked
processing system 1500 is illustrated that may include integrated
micro-strand heat dissipator elements that provide the micro-strand
heat dissipation system of the present disclosure. As illustrated,
the stacked processing system 1500 includes processing devices
1502, 1504, 1506, 1508, and 1510 in a stacked processing system
orientation and with a plurality of processing device coupling
elements 1512 extending from the outer surface of the base
processing device 1510. Furthermore, a plurality of micro-strand
heat dissipator elements 1514 are illustrated that extend from the
outer surface of the processing device 1502, with each micro-strand
heat dissipator elements 1514 extending into the processing device
1502 and out of the processing device 1502 substantially the same
distance. Similarly, a pair of micro-strand heat dissipator
elements 1516 and 1518 are illustrated that extend from opposing
outer surfaces of the processing device 1504, and that extend
different distances into the processing device 1504.
[0071] Similarly as well, a micro-strand heat dissipator element
1520 is illustrated that includes a first micro-strand heat
dissipator element portion that extends from the outer surface of
the processing device 1506, and that includes a second micro-strand
heat dissipator element portion 1520a that extends into the
processing device 1506 from its outer surface and that is oriented
substantially perpendicular to the first micro-strand heat
dissipator element portion of the micro-strand heat dissipator
element 1520 that extends from the outer surface of the processing
device 1506. Similarly as well, a micro-strand heat dissipator
element 1522 is illustrated that extends from the outer surface of
the processing device 1508, and that extends into the processing
device 1506 from its outer surface. Similarly as well, micro-strand
heat dissipator elements 1524 and 1526 are illustrated that include
first micro-strand heat dissipator element portions that extend
from the outer surface of the processing device 1510, and that
include respective micro-strand heat dissipator element portions
1524a and 1516a that extend into the processing device 1510 from
its outer surface and that are oriented substantially perpendicular
to the first micro-strand heat dissipator element portions of the
respective micro-strand heat dissipator elements 1524 and 1526 that
extend from the outer surface of the processing device 1510. As
will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the
present disclosure, the portions of the micro-strand heat
dissipator elements 1514, 1515, 1518, 1520, 1522, 1524, and 1526
that extend into the processing devices in the stacked processing
system 1500 may be routed to locations in the stacked processing
system 1500 where heat generation is expected or known to occur,
which allows those micro-strand heat dissipator elements 1514,
1515, 1518, 1520, 1522, 1524, and 1526 to dissipate that heat more
efficiently.
[0072] Referring now to FIG. 16, an embodiment of a method 1600 for
dissipating heat is illustrated. As discussed below, the systems
and methods of the present disclosure provide for the dissipation
of heat from a processing device via the use of micro-strand heat
dissipator elements. For example, a plurality of micro-strand heat
dissipator elements may each be positioned on the processing device
in a spaced apart orientation from the other micro-strand heat
dissipator elements, with each micro-strand heat dissipator element
including a first micro-strand heat dissipator element portion that
extends into the processing device from an outer surface of the
processing device, and a second micro-strand heat dissipator
element portion that extends from the outer surface of the
processing device. As such, heat generated by the processing device
may be conducted by the first micro-strand heat dissipator element
portion of at least some of the micro-strand heat dissipator
elements to the second micro-strand heat dissipator element
portions of those micro-strand heat dissipator elements, and then
dissipated by the second micro-strand heat dissipator element
portions of those micro-strand heat dissipator elements. It has
been found that the use of micro-strand heat dissipator elements
allows for targeted dissipation of heat generated from particular
areas or volumes in the processing device, and may operate to meet
the cooling requirements of relatively higher performance
processing devices such as those provided by silicon photonics
integrated circuits.
[0073] The method 1600 begins at block 1602 where a processing
device generates heat. In an embodiment, at block 1602, any of the
processing devices discussed above may operate to generate heat.
For example, processing devices utilizing the micro-strand heat
dissipation system of the present disclosure may be provided by
silicon photonics integrated circuits, and the operation of
components in those processing devices will product heat. In
particular one of skill in the art in possession of the present
disclosure will recognize how the operation of components in
processing devices provided by silicon photonics integrated
circuits may result in particular areas (e.g., as viewed from a top
surface of the processing device) or volumes of the processing
device that generate heat and reach relatively high temperatures
(as opposed to other areas or volumes of the processing device that
do not include such components and, as such, do not generate as
much heat and, as such, reach relatively lower temperatures).
However, while a specific processing device is discussed, one of
skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will
appreciate how uniform or non-uniform heat generation by any of a
variety of devices may utilize the micro-strand heat dissipation
system of the present disclosure while remaining within its
scope.
[0074] The method 1600 then proceeds to block 1604 where a first
micro-strand heat dissipator element portion of micro-strand heat
dissipator elements conducts heat to a second micro-strand heat
dissipator element portion of the micro-strand heat dissipator
elements. In an embodiment, at block 1604, the first micro-strand
heat dissipator element portion of at least some of the
micro-strand heat dissipator elements that extends into the
processing device will operate to conduct the heat generated by the
processing device at block 1602 to the corresponding second
micro-strand heat dissipator element portion of those micro-strand
heat dissipator elements that extend out of the surface of the
processing device, and one of skill in the art in possession of the
present disclosure will appreciate that micro-strand heat
dissipator elements positioned closer to the source of heat
generation within the processing device may conduct more heat
relative to micro-strand heat dissipator elements positioned
further from the source of heat generation within the processing
device. As discussed in detail above, the second micro-strand heat
dissipator element portion of the micro-strand heat dissipator
elements may extend into the processing device to an area or volume
that is expected or known to generated relatively high
temperatures, and thus the configuration of the micro-strand heat
dissipator elements on the processing device may be designed to
maximize the heat transfer from the processing device at block
1604. At will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in
possession of the present disclosure, the micro-strand heat
dissipator elements in the processing system stacks described above
with reference to FIGS. 11A, 11B, 12, 13, and 15 may operate
similarly as discussed above to conduct heat generated by any of
the processing devices included in those processing system
stacks.
[0075] The method 1600 then proceeds to block 1606 where the second
micro-strand heat dissipator element portion of the micro-strand
heat dissipator elements dissipates the heat. In an embodiment, at
block 1606, the heat conducted to the second micro-strand heat
dissipator element portion of the micro-strand heat dissipator
elements will then be dissipated by the second micro-strand heat
dissipator element portion of those micro-strand heat dissipator
elements. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in
possession of the present disclosure, the heat conducted to the
second micro-strand heat dissipator element portion of those
micro-strand heat dissipator elements may be dissipated at block
1606 via radiative heat transfer, as well as convective heat
transfer. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in
possession of the present disclosure, the configuration of the
micro-strand heat dissipator elements may allow air (or other
fluids) to move past the second micro-strand heat dissipator
element portion of those micro-strand heat dissipator elements in
different directions (i.e., rather than blocking airflow in some
directions, as occurs in many "finned" heat sink systems) in order
to enhance the convective heat transfer from those micro-strand
heat dissipator elements. As such, heat generated by the processing
device (or devices) may be dissipated by the micro-strand heat
dissipator elements extending from that processing device.
[0076] Thus, systems and methods have been described that provide
for the dissipation of heat from a silicon photonics integrated
circuit via the use of micro-strand heat dissipator elements. For
example, a plurality of micro-strand heat dissipator elements may
each be positioned on the silicon photonics integrated circuit in a
spaced apart orientation from the other micro-strand heat
dissipator elements, with each micro-strand heat dissipator element
including a first micro-strand heat dissipator element portion that
extends into the silicon photonics integrated circuit from an outer
surface of the silicon photonics integrated circuit, and a second
micro-strand heat dissipator element portion that extends from the
outer surface of the silicon photonics integrated circuit. As such,
heat generated by the silicon photonics integrated circuit may be
conducted by the first micro-strand heat dissipator element portion
of at least some of the micro-strand heat dissipator elements to
the second micro-strand heat dissipator element portions of those
micro-strand heat dissipator elements, and then dissipated by the
second micro-strand heat dissipator element portions of those
micro-strand heat dissipator elements. It has been found that the
use of micro-strand heat dissipator elements allows for targeting
dissipation of heat generated from particular areas or volumes in
the silicon photonics integrated circuit, and may operate to meet
the cooling requirements of silicon photonics integrated
circuits.
[0077] Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and
described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is
contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances,
some features of the embodiments may be employed without a
corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate
that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner
consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.
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