Heat spreader with a liquid-vapor separation structure

Abstract

A heat spreader with a liquid-vapor separation structure includes a first panel, a second panel bonded with the first panel and defining therebetween an enclosed accommodation chamber, multiple spacer members arranged spaced apart from one another in the accommodation chamber and abutted between the first panel and the second panel and defining multiple vapor passages and liquid passages therebetween and dividing the accommodation chamber into a heat-absorbing zone and a condensing zone that are disposed in communication with each other through the vapor passages and the liquid passages, a first wick material partially disposed in the liquid passages and partially disposed in the heat-absorbing zone and the condensing zone, and a working fluid filled in the accommodation chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat spreader, comprising:
 at least one first panel;   a second panel bonded with said at least one first panel and defining with said at least one first panel at least one enclosed accommodation chamber therebetween;   a plurality of spacer members abutted between said at least one first panel and said second panel and arranged spaced apart from one another in said at least one enclosed accommodation chamber and defining a plurality of vapor passages and at least one liquid passage, said spacer members dividing said at least one enclosed accommodation chamber into a heat-absorbing zone and condensing zone, said heat-absorbing zone and said condensing zone being disposed in communication with each other through said vapor passages and said at least one liquid passage;   at least one piece of first wick material having a part thereof disposed in said at least one liquid passage and the other part thereof respectively disposed in said heat-absorbing zone and said condensing zone; and   a working fluid filled in said at least one enclosed accommodation chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The heat spreader as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said heat-absorbing zone and said condensing zone define a heat-insulating zone therebetween; said spacer members are disposed in said heat-insulating zone. 
     
     
         3 . The heat spreader as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said spacer members exhibit an elongated shape. 
     
     
         4 . The heat spreader as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said vapor passages and said at least one liquid passage respectively exhibit an elongated shape. 
     
     
         5 . The heat spreader as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one piece of first wick material exhibits an elongated shape and fills up said at least one liquid passage. 
     
     
         6 . The heat spreader as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one vapor discharge tube mounted in the bonding area between said at least one first panel and said second panel, said at least one vapor discharge tube each having one end thereof disposed in communication with said at least one enclosed accommodation chamber and an opposite end thereof extended out of the said heat spreader and blocked. 
     
     
         7 . The heat spreader as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said second panel has a plurality of support blocks mounted therein corresponding to said heat-absorbing zone and/or said condensing zone and abutted against said at least one first panel and disposed at two opposite lateral sides of said at least one first wick material to hold said at least one first wick material in position. 
     
     
         8 . The heat spreader as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said support blocks are optionally aligned with one another or arranged in staggered rows; said support block are respectively disposed in alignment with said spacer members, forming a plurality of support member sets. 
     
     
         9 . The heat spreader as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said second panel further comprises a second wick material sintered thereto, said second wick material being disposed in said heat-absorbing zone and/or said condensing zone and kept in contact with said at least one piece of first wick material. 
     
     
         10 . The heat spreader as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said second panel further comprises at least one recessed portion disposed within said condensing zone, and a third wick material sintered to a bottom side of each said recessed portion and connected with said first wick material, the height of said at least one recessed portion being greater than the height from said at least one first panel to said second panel. 
     
     
         11 . The heat spreader as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one first wick material is selected from the material group of fiber tow, copper powder and mesh.