Patent Application
20090059525
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to heat dissipation devices and particularly a heat dissipation device for a computer add-on card to dissipate heat generated by the card.
2. Description of Related Art
In order to enable desktop and other computers to rapidly process graphics and game technology, add-on units, generally referred to as “graphics cards” are often installed in computer devices. Such cards comprise a separate processor, called a GPU (graphics processor unit). The GPU generates a large amount of heat during operation. When the temperature of the GPU exceeds a certain level, the GPU may malfunction, or in the worst case fail outright. For this reason, a heat dissipation unit such as a heat sink is commonly required to be installed onto the GPU to dissipate the heat generated by the GPU and other electronic components adjacent to it into ambient air.
Conventionally, the heat sink comprises a solid base and a plurality of fins arranged on the base. The base is attached to the GPU mounted on the graphics card so as to absorb the heat. However, only a part of the base, usually a middle part, contacts the GPU. The heat originating from the GPU is directly absorbed by the middle part of the base and cannot quickly spread to other parts of the base. This results in an overheating of the middle part of the base, while the temperature of the other parts of the base have low temperatures relative to the middle part. The fins on the other parts of the base away from the middle part are not efficiently used. The efficiency of the heat sink needs to be improved through sufficient use of all of the fins on the base.
Accordingly, what is needed is a heat dissipation device with an enhanced heat dissipation performance.
A heat dissipation device mounted on a heat-generating component of a graphics card, includes a base, a fin unit and a fan. The base is kept in intimate contact with the heat-generating component. The fin unit includes a plurality of fins arranged on the base and forming a plurality of air passage between each fin and its neighboring fins. The fan is mounted on the base, close to the fin unit and producing airflow in the air passages. The base comprises a spreader inlayed in the base, the spreader is a flattened heat pipe, a bottom surface of the spreader is in contact with the heat-generating component, and the fin unit is thermally attached to a top surface of the spreader.
Many aspects of the present heat dissipation device can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present heat dissipation device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to
The heat dissipation device comprises a base 10 kept in contact with the GPU, a fin unit 20 arranged on one end of the base 10, a fan 30 mounted at another end of the base 10 for producing airflow to the fin unit 20, and a cover body 40 disposed on the base 10 and covering the fan 30 and the fin unit 20.
Referring also to
The frame 11 is integrally formed by a light metal with good heat conductivity such as aluminum for minimizing a weight of the base 10. The frame 11 defines a mounting portion 110 at one end thereof. The mounting portion 110 is substantially round in shape and is recessed from a top surface of the frame 11 for supporting the fan 30 thereon. The mounting portion 110 defines a mounting hole 1102 in a centre thereof and three mounting orifices 1104 around the mounting hole 1102 for engaging with screws 100 to secure the fan 30 thereon. The frame 11 has a plurality of flakes 114 extending upwardly from two corners thereof adjoining to the mounting portion 110. The flakes 114 whose lengths decrease sequentially from two opposite lateral sides to a middle of frame 11, are spaced from and parallel to each other and perpendicular to the top surface of the frame 11. The frame 11 defines a rectangular opening 112 adjacent to the mounting portion 110 in the other end thereof. The opening 112 is in a shape complementary with the spreader 13 for engagingly receiving the spreader 13 therein. The frame 11 is provided with a supporting flange 1120 that extends inwardly from a lower portion of an edge of the opening 112. The supporting flange 1120 is lower than a top surface of the frame 11. Portions of the supporting flange 1120 at four corner of the opening 112 extend inwardly further than remainder of the supporting flange 1120 so as to securely support the spreader 13 thereon. The frame 11 defines a plurality of countersinks 116 therein. The countersinks 116 are recessed from the top surface of the frame 11 and are located adjacent to edges thereof for receiving fixtures (not shown) to secure the base 10 to the add-on card. The frame 11 defines a plurality of fixing orifices 117 therein. The fixing orifices 117 are formed by drilling upwardly from a bottom surface of the frame 11 and are located adjacent to the edges of the frame 11, for allowing screws 200 to pass through to screw into the cover body 40. The frame 11 defines a receiving groove 118 (shown in
The spreader 13 is a flattened heat pipe in a plate-shape, great lighter and better heat conductive than a solid metallic plate such as copper in an equal volume. The spreader 13 defines a cavity (not shown) therein and contains working fluid in the cavity, the working fluid can take place phase change when it works. As shown in
Particularly referring to
The fan 30 is a centrifugal fan. The fan 30 comprises a fan holder (not labeled) and is mounted on the mounting portion 110 of the frame 11 through the fan holder. The fan holder is engaged in the mounting hole 1102 of the mounting portion 110 and secured in place by the screws 100.
The cover body 40 comprises a top wall 42 parallel to the base 10 and a sidewall 44 extending downwardly from an edge of the top wall 42. The top wall 42 defines a circular intake 420 therein in alignment with the fan 30. A plurality of spaced fixing columns 422 extend perpendicularly from the edge of the top wall 42 for engaging with the screws 200 passing through the fixing orifices 117 in the frame 11 to secure the cover body 40 on the base 10. An exhaust 440 is formed in the sidewall 44 between the cover body 40 and the base 10. The exhaust 440 is perpendicular to the intake 420 and is positioned corresponding to the inlets of the fin unit 20.
Referring to
In operation of the heat dissipation device, the heat dissipating device is mounted on the add-on card by the fixtures receiving in the countersinks 116. The spreader 13 of the base 10 is kept in intimate contact with the GPU and absorbs heat generated by the GPU. Due to the excellent heat conductivity of the spreader 13, the heat from the GPU is quickly transferred to all parts of the spreader 13, then evenly and effectively distributed to the whole fin unit 20 and finally brought into ambient by the airflow producing by the fan 30 through the air passages of the fin unit 20.
It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.
