Heat Sink Adaptor

Abstract

An adaptor is provided for use with the heat sink, said heat sink comprising a base for contacting a heat source and a plurality of protrusions extending from said base. The adaptor itself comprises a base and a structure projecting therefrom. The structure is arranged to mate with one or more protrusions on the heat sink to enable heat transfer by conduction from the heat sink to the adaptor.

1 . An adaptor ( 200 ) for use with a heat sink, said heat sink comprising a base for contacting a heat source and a plurality of protrusions extending from said base, wherein said adaptor ( 200 ) comprises:
 a base ( 202 ); and   a structure ( 204 ) projecting from said base ( 202 );   wherein said structure ( 204 ) is arranged to mate with one or more protrusions on a heat sink to enable heat transfer by conduction from the heat sink to the adaptor ( 200 ).   
     
     
         2 . An adaptor ( 200 ) as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said structure ( 204 ) comprises a plurality of projections extending from said base ( 202 ) of the adaptor ( 200 ). 
     
     
         3 . An adaptor ( 200 ) as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said projections ( 204 ) comprise fins. 
     
     
         4 . An adaptor ( 200 ) as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said fins ( 204 ) are substantially rectangular in cross section. 
     
     
         5 . An adaptor ( 200 ) as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said projections ( 204 ) extend substantially perpendicularly from a face of said base ( 202 ). 
     
     
         6 . An adaptor ( 200 ) as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the projections ( 204 ) extend from a face of said base ( 202 ) in a flared arrangement. 
     
     
         7 . An adaptor ( 200 ) as claimed in  claim 1  wherein at least one surface of the structure ( 204 ) is arrange to contact at least one surface of the plurality of protrusions extending from the base of heat sink, to enable heat conduction from the heat sink to the adaptor ( 200 ). 
     
     
         8 . An adaptor as claimed in  claim 2  wherein at least one of said projections ( 204 ) is arranged to fit into a gap between adjacent protrusions on a heat sink, to provide a mating fit between the heat sink and the adaptor ( 200 ). 
     
     
         9 . An adaptor ( 200 ) as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said adaptor further comprises a built in cooling component. 
     
     
         10 . An adaptor ( 200 ) as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said built in cooling component comprises a fluid filled conduit. 
     
     
         11 . An adaptor ( 200 ) as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said base ( 202 ) is arranged to connect to an external cooling component for heat transfer from the adaptor ( 200 ) to said external cooling component. 
     
     
         12 . A cooling system for a heat source, said cooling system including:
 a heat sink ( 100 ) comprising a base ( 102 ) for contacting the heat source and a plurality of protrusions ( 104 ) extending from said base ( 102 ); and   an adaptor ( 200 ) as claimed in  claim 1  in mating contact with said heat sink ( 100 ).   
     
     
         13 . A method of adapting a heat sink ( 100 ), said heat sink ( 100 ) comprising a base ( 102 ) for contacting a heat source and a plurality of protrusions ( 104 ) extending from said base ( 102 ), wherein said method comprises fitting an adaptor ( 200 ) to the heat sink ( 100 ), said adaptor ( 200 ) comprising a base ( 202 ) and a structure ( 204 ) projecting from said base ( 202 ), wherein said fitting includes mating the structure ( 204 ) on the adaptor ( 200 ) with one or more protrusions ( 104 ) on the heat sink ( 100 ) to enable heat transfer by conduction from the heat sink ( 100 ) to the adaptor ( 200 ). 
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the step of mating the structure ( 204 ) on the adaptor ( 200 ) with one or more protrusions ( 104 ) on the heat sink ( 100 ) comprises bringing at least one surface of the structure ( 204 ) into contact with at least one surface of the plurality of protrusions ( 104 ). 
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the structure ( 204 ) on the adaptor ( 200 ) comprises a plurality of projections and wherein the step of mating said structure ( 204 ) with one or more protrusions ( 104 ) on the heat sink ( 100 ) comprises inserting at least one of said plurality of projections into a gap between adjacent protrusions ( 104 ) on the heat sink ( 100 ). 
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said at least one projection ( 204 ) is sized and shaped so that, when it is inserted into said gap between adjacent protrusions ( 104 ) on the heat sink ( 100 ), an upper surface of the projection ( 204 ) comes into contact with the base of the heat sink ( 100 ). 
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said at least one projection ( 204 ) is sized and shaped so that, when it is inserted into said gap between adjacent protrusions ( 104 ) on the heat sink ( 100 ), a side surface of the projection ( 204 ) comes into contact with a side surface of one of said adjacent protrusions ( 104 ) on the heat sink ( 100 ). 
     
     
         18 . A method as claimed in  claim 13  further comprising connecting said adaptor ( 204 ) to an external cooling component for transfer of heat from the adaptor ( 200 ) to said external cooling component.