Application specific apparatus for dissipating heat from multiple electronic components

Abstract

An application specific heat sink assembly is presented wherein a heat-dissipating substrate is selected of a particular size, shape and material in order to meet predetermined heat-dissipating requirements and more than one heat-dissipating stud is selected or formed of particular sizes, shapes and materials in order to meet predetermined requirements. The heat-dissipating substrate and heat-dissipating studs form a heat sink assembly having application specific features selected to optimize the heat-dissipating, CTE matching, environmental resistance requirements, low mass requirements, size, machinability, cost structure and other desirable features of a particular application for dissipating heat from multiple electronic components.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An application specific heat sink device for dissipating heat from more than one electronic component, the application specific heat sink device comprising: 
 a heat-dissipating substrate selected for one or more of the following properties: size, shape, mass, cost, thermal conductivity, environmental resistance; and    more than one heat-dissipating stud, wherein each heat-dissipating stud is selected for its CTE and machinability properties, wherein each heat-dissipating stud is attached to the heat-dissipating substrate such that an electronic component may be attached to each heat-dissipating stud.    
     
     
         2 . The application specific heat sink device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the heat-dissipating substrate comprises Aluminum Silicon Carbide.  
     
     
         3 . The application specific heat sink device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the heat-dissipating substrate comprises a carbon-metal alloy.  
     
     
         4 . The application specific heat sink device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the heat-dissipating substrate comprises a ceramic.  
     
     
         5 . The application specific heat sink device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the heat-dissipating substrate includes fins.  
     
     
         6 . The application specific heat sink device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each heat-dissipating stud comprises a material with a CTE relatively close to the CTE of the electronic component to be attached to it.  
     
     
         7 . The application specific heat sink device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each heat-dissipating stud comprises a material with a CTE relatively intermediate between the CTE of the electronic component to be attached to it and the heat-dissipating substrate.  
     
     
         8 . The application specific heat sink device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each heat-dissipating stud comprises a metal, a metal alloy or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         9 . An application specific heat sink device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the heat-dissipating substrate comprises one or more cavities on a first surface, wherein at least one heat-dissipating stud is attached to the heat-dissipating substrate within the one or more cavities on the first surface of the heat-dissipating substrate, wherein the cavity provides an alignment means.  
     
     
         10 . An application specific heat sink device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the each heat-dissipating studs is formed by forming a layer of application specifically selected material to a top surface of the heat-dissipating substrate and then forming one or more of the heat-dissipating studs from the application specifically selected material.  
     
     
         11 . An application specific heat sink device in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein one or more of the heat-dissipating studs is formed by machining, laser cutting or chemical etching the one or more heat-dissipating studs from the layer of application specifically selected material.  
     
     
         12 . A method for manufacturing an application specific heat sink device, comprising: 
 selecting a heat-dissipating substrate;    forming more than one heat-dissipating studs, wherein each heat-dissipating stud is shaped and sized to mate with an electronic device to be cooled; and    attaching the more than one heat-dissipating studs to predetermined locations on the heat-dissipating substrate.    
     
     
         13 . The method in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the heat-dissipating substrate comprises Aluminum Silicon Carbide.  
     
     
         14 . The method in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein each of the more than one heat-dissipating studs comprises a material selected to have a relatively close CTE with the electronic device to be attached to it.  
     
     
         15 . The method in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein each of the more than one heat-dissipating studs comprises a material selected to have an intermediate CTE between the heat-dissipating substrate and a device to be attached to it.  
     
     
         16 . The method in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the heat-dissipating substrate is selected for one or more of the following qualities, thermal conductivity, environmental resistance, low mass, inexpensive price, or bondability.  
     
     
         17 . The method in accordance with  claim 12 , further comprising the step of forming one or more cavities in a top surface of the heat-dissipating substrate; wherein one or more of the two or more heat-dissipating studs is attached within the one or more cavities formed on the heat-dissipating substrate.  
     
     
         18 . The method in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the heat-dissipating substrate includes fins.