Heat sink

Abstract

A heat sink includes a heat-transfer container incorporating a flow path through which a cooling fluid flows, for cooling a heating element in contact with the heat-transfer container The flow path includes a first cross-sectional portion that becomes narrower as the distance between a given point in the flow path and a side of the heat-transfer container which makes contact with the heating element becomes longer in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the cooling fluid flows, and a second cross-sectional portion that is approximately constant in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the cooling fluid flows. The first cross-sectional portion and the second cross-sectional portion alternately continue in the direction in which the cooling fluid flows causing a three-dimensional flow so the heat-transfer properties are enhanced with a simplified structure.

1 . A heat sink comprising:
 a heat-transfer container incorporating a flow path through which a cooling fluid flows; and   a heating element in contact with the heat-transfer container and in the flow path, wherein
 the flow path includes
 a first cross-sectional portion that becomes narrower as the distance between a given point in the flow path and a side of the heat-transfer container which makes contact with the heating element becomes longer in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the cooling fluid flows, and 
 a second cross-sectional portion that is approximately constant in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the cooling fluid flows, and 
 
 the first cross-sectional portion and the second cross-sectional portion alternately continue in the direction in which the cooling fluid flows. 
   
   
   
       2 . The heat sink according to  claim 1 , wherein the first cross-sectional portion has a shape including one or more protrusions located inside the heat-transfer container. 
   
   
       3 . The heat sink according to  claim 2 , wherein the protrusion has a shape selected from the group consisting of an approximate cone, an approximate multi-sided pyramid, an approximate sphere, and a hemisphere. 
   
   
       4 . The heat sink according to  claim 1 , including a fin extending in the direction in which the cooling fluid flows and located on an inner surface of the heat-transfer container. 
   
   
       5 . The heat sink according to  claim 2 , including a plurality of the protrusions on a substrate located in the heat-transfer container. 
   
   
       6 . The heat sink according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the substrate is disposed inside the heat-transfer container divides the flow path into first and second flow paths,   the protrusions are arranged on both sides of the substrate, and   the heat-transfer container has a first side in contact with the first flow path and a second side in contact with the second flow path, and the first and second sides contact respective heating elements.   
   
   
       7 . A heat sink comprising:
 a heat-transfer container having a flow path through which a cooling fluid flows; and   a heating element in contact with the heat-transfer container and in the flow path, wherein
 the heat-transfer container has an opening for bringing the cooling fluid into direct contact with the heating element, 
 the flow path includes
 a first cross-sectional portion that becomes narrower as distance between a given point in the flow path and a side of the heat-transfer container which makes contact with the heating element, becomes longer in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the cooling fluid flows, and 
 a second cross-sectional portion that is approximately constant in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the cooling fluid flows, and 
 
 the first cross-sectional portion and the second cross-sectional portion alternately continue in the direction in which the cooling fluid flows. 
   
   
   
       8 . The heat sink according to  claim 7 , including a fin extending in the direction in which the cooling fluid flows and located on a side of the heating element which makes contact with the cooling fluid.