Patent · US Expired

Smart bi-metallic heat spreader

US6278607A · kind A · utility

43Cited by
3References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 6, 1998
Grant dateAug 21, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 6, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F1/203
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A variable area heat sink has a first heat sink area and a second heat sink area. A bridge is connected to the first heat sink area and includes a bi-metallic portion operable to connect and disconnect with the second heat sink area in response to a temperature change in the bridge which is sufficient to distort the bi-metallic portion from a first shape to a second shape. The first heat sink area may be installed in a computer chassis adjacent a first heat producing component. The second heat sink area may be installed in the chassis adjacent a second heat producing component. The combination of heat sink areas may be enlarged or reduced in size due to the coupling or uncoupling.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.