Patent Application
20140162473
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of mobile device components, and more particularly, to methods and apparatuses for securing a component such as a central processing unit (CPU) to a motherboard in a mobile device.
Pin grid arrays (PGAs) comprising a plurality of pins extending from a component of an integrated circuit have traditionally been used in mobile devices. In general, the pins from the component are matched with a socket that is attached to a board of the mobile device. However, PGAs can have drawbacks in mobile devices. Specifically, PGAs may be susceptible to damage or malfunction from misuse or errors during component installation. Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. To facilitate this description, like reference numerals designate like structural elements. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings.
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe an assembly in a mobile device. In embodiments, the assembly may include an LGA socket configured to couple with a component of the mobile device. In some embodiments the component may be a CPU, a semiconductor die, or some other component. The assembly may further include a mobile ILM configured to at least partially overlap the component and provide pressure to the component, thereby holding the component securely within the LGA socket. One or more fasteners may couple the mobile ILM with a printed circuit board (PCB) of the mobile device. For example, the fasteners may couple directly with the PCB, or alternatively they may couple with a backing plate that is on the opposite side of the PCB from the assembly. In some embodiments, the mobile ILM may further couple with a thermal mounting configured to receive one or more thermal components of the mobile device.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and in which is shown by way of illustration embodiments in which the subject matter of the present disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).
The description may use perspective-based descriptions such as top/bottom, in/out, over/under, and the like. Such descriptions are merely used to facilitate the discussion and are not intended to restrict the application of embodiments described herein to any particular orientation.
The description may use the phrases “in an embodiment,” or “in embodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of the present disclosure, are synonymous.
The term “coupled with,” along with its derivatives, may be used herein. “Coupled” may mean one or more of the following. “Coupled” may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. However, “coupled” may also mean that two or more elements indirectly contact each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with each other, and may mean that one or more other elements are coupled or connected between the elements that are said to be coupled with each other. The term “directly coupled” may mean that two or elements are in direct contact.
In various embodiments, the phrase “a first feature formed, deposited, or otherwise disposed on a second feature,” may mean that the first feature is formed, deposited, or disposed over the feature layer, and at least a part of the first feature may be in direct contact (e.g., direct physical and/or electrical contact) or indirect contact (e.g., having one or more other features between the first feature and the second feature) with at least a part of the second feature.
Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the claimed subject matter. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent.
As used herein, the term “module” may refer to, be part of, or include an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and/or memory (shared, dedicated, or group) that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality.
As noted above, PGA sockets have been used in mobile devices due to certain desirable properties of the PGA sockets. For example, the PGA sockets may have a smaller volume than alternative sockets such as LGA sockets. However, assemblies utilizing PGA sockets may be undesirable in mobile devices for a plurality of reasons. For example the PGA sockets generally have a corresponding PGA package designed to couple with the PGA socket. The PGA package may require gold-plated pins on the package, which can increase the cost of the PGA package and the corresponding device using the PGA package. Additionally, PGA packages may be susceptible to damage due to misuse or mishandling of the socket or component during manufacture or use of the device incorporating the PGA socket.
As noted above, alternatives to PGA sockets include BGA sockets and LGA sockets. One embodiment of an LGA socket is depicted in
In certain embodiments, the LGA socket 100 may include a space that is substantially contact free, such as center 106. In some embodiments, the center 106 may include additional components or elements. For example, the center 106 may include additional contacts 104. In other embodiments, the center may be cut out of the LGA socket 100 such that the center 106 is a recessed portion of the LGA socket 100. It will be understood that this embodiment of the arrangement of the contacts 104 is merely an example, and other embodiments are possible. For example, although only two rows of contacts 104 are shown in
Because the contacts 104 of the LGA socket 100 may couple directly with a component, force may be required to hold the component tightly against the LGA socket 100. In some embodiments, the LGA socket 100 may require as much as 80 pounds of force to properly couple with a component. To accomplish this amount of force, an assembly 200 utilizing an LGA socket may be used, for example LGA socket 100 as shown in
The assembly 200 may comprise a frame 202 mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) 204 of a device. The PCB 204 may be a motherboard of a device or some other circuit board. In some embodiments the frame 202 may be soldered to the PCB 204, though in other embodiments the frame 202 may be glued to the PCB 204 or attached in some other suitable way. The LGA socket 100 may be coupled with the frame 202 or coupled directly with the PCB 204. For example the LGA socket 100 may be glued, soldered, or otherwise connected to the PCB 204. In some embodiments an insulator 206 may be positioned between the frame 202 and the PCB 204. The insulator 206 may act to prevent the frame 202, which may be made of metal, from contacting the PCB 204.
The assembly 200 may further comprise a load plate 208 coupled with the frame 202. In some embodiments, the load plate 208 may be directly coupled with and at least partially under the frame 202. The frame 202 may further include a load lever 210. In embodiments, the load lever 210 may be coupled with the frame 202 at a first side 214 via a hinge.
In certain embodiments, the frame 202 and load plate 208 may rotate via the hinge on the second side 216. In some assemblies, the frame 202 and load plate 208 may be able to rotate separately from one another, while in other embodiments they may be affixed to one another. A circuit component (not shown) with contacts, for example a computer processing unit, a semiconductor die, or some other component, may be placed within the frame 202 such that the contacts of the component are directly coupled with the contacts 104 of the LGA socket 100. In some embodiments, the component may be coupled directly with an integrated heat spreader (IHS) 212. In other embodiments the IHS 212 may be separate from, but placed over, the component.
After the component and IHS 212 are positioned within the LGA socket 100, one or both of the frame 202 and load plate 208 may be rotated to at least partially overlap with, and apply pressure to, the IHS 212. The load lever 210 may then be rotated so that it locks with the frame 202. By rotating the load lever 210 down, the load plate 208 may be secured in a locked position such that it is applying force to the IHS 212, which in turn applies force against the component and holds the component securely within the LGA socket 100. In this embodiment, the IHS 212 may be configured such that it distributes both heat and pressure to and from the component. Therefore, the IHS 212 may help eliminate localized heat or pressure points against the component which may damage the component.
Because the assembly 200 may include a load plate 208, a frame 202, and a load lever 210, the assembly 200 may necessarily require a relatively large footprint on the PCB 204. In some embodiments the footprint of the assembly 200 may be as large as 4,056 square millimeters (mm2). A footprint of that size may be acceptable in devices such as personal computers (PCs), set-top boxes, or other stationary items. However, there is a constant desire to decrease the size of mobile devices. One way to decrease the size of a mobile device is to decrease the size of components or assemblies of the mobile device. Therefore, an assembly 200 with a footprint of up to 4,000 mm2 may in some cases be undesirable.
By coupling the mobile ILM 405 with the PCB 415 via the one or more fasteners 440, the mobile ILM 405 may be tightened to the PCB 415. As the mobile ILM 405 gets tightened to the PCB 415, the protrusions 430 of the mobile ILM 405 may in turn apply force to the protrusions 425 of the IHS 420. This force may in turn cause the IHS 420 to apply force to the component (not shown), thereby compressing the component against the LGA socket 410. In this manner, the force required by the LGA socket 410 may be achieved by using the mobile ILM 405 without requiring a footprint on the order of the assembly 200 described above with respect to
The mobile ILM 405 or 505, or the assemblies 400 or 500 as shown in
In some embodiments, an assembly such as assemblies 400 or 500 may be coupled with a thermal mounting (not shown). The thermal mounting may have a first side that is configured to couple with the mobile ILM 405 or 505, and/or the IHS 420. The thermal mounting may further include a second side opposite the first side. The second side of the thermal mounting may be configured to couple with one or more thermal components. For example, the second side of the thermal mounting may be recessed such that it can receive at least one of the thermal components. In other embodiments, the thermal mounting may be configured to at least partially or wholly surround one or more of the thermal components. In this way, the thermal components may be used to transfer heat to or from the thermal mounting, and through the thermal mounting to or from the assemblies 400 or 500, the ILMs 405, or 505, and/or the IHS 420. In some embodiments, the thermal mounting may be configured to couple with the PCB 415 or 515 via holes 445 or 545. In other embodiments the thermal mounting may couple with the ILM 535, for example by using the same fasteners 540 to couple the thermal mounting, the ILM 505 and the PCB 515 to one another via holes 545.
The above described assemblies 400 or 500 may provide significant benefits over assemblies utilizing LGA sockets such as assembly 200. For example, an assembly such as assemblies 400 or 500 may have a footprint on a PCB that is on the same order of PGA sockets, and less than half of the assembly 200 described above. In some embodiments the assemblies 400 or 500 may only have a footprint of less than 2000 mm2. Additionally, the assemblies 400 or 500 may be up to several millimeters closer to other components such as memory, for example 3.25 mm closer to the component, while the assembly 200 may require the components to be placed up to 2.5 mm further from the assembly 200. An assembly utilizing a thermal mounting may also have a footprint that is similar to the footprint of an assembly utilizing a PGA socket, which in some embodiments may be 51.5 mm×32.5 mm. By contrast, assembly 200 may have a significantly larger footprint of up to 52 mm×78 mm when coupled with a thermal mounting. The specific values given above are merely examples, and other embodiments may have alternative values that provide the same or similar advantages.
First, a socket such as LGA socket 410 may be coupled with PCB 415 at 700. As noted above, the LGA socket 410 may be coupled with the PCB 415 via solder, glue, or some other form of connection. Next, a component such as a component coupled with IHS 420 may be coupled with the LGA socket 410 at 705. As described above, the component may be a CPU, a semiconductor die, or some other component of an electrical circuit or chipset. Specifically, the component may comprise a first side and a second side wherein the first side is opposite the IHS 420 and includes electrical contacts configured to couple with the contacts 104 of the LGA socket 410.
An ILM such as ILM 405 may then be placed over the component and the IHS 420 at 710. Specifically, the ILM 405 may couple with the second side of the component, which may generally be understood to be opposite the first side. The IHS 420 may be disposed in between the component and the ILM 405. As described the above, the ILM 405 may at least partially overlap the component and the IHS 420 such that the ILM 405 applies pressure to the IHS 420 and/or the component.
Finally, the ILM 405 may be fastened to the PCB 415 via one or more of the fasteners 440 at 715. In this way, the pressure that the ILM 405 is exerting on the IHS 420 may be increased. Additionally, the ILM 405 may be secured over the IHS 420 such that the IHS 420 and the component are held securely within the LGA socket 410.
Embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented into a system using any suitable hardware and/or software to configure as desired.
Depending on its applications, computing device 800 may include other components that may or may not be physically and electrically coupled to the motherboard 802, for example by assemblies 400 or 500. These other components may include, but are not limited to, volatile memory (e.g., DRAM), non-volatile memory (e.g., ROM), flash memory, a graphics processor, a digital signal processor, a crypto processor, a chipset, an antenna, a display, a touchscreen display, a touchscreen controller, a battery, an audio codec, a video codec, a power amplifier, a global positioning system (GPS) device, a compass, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a speaker, a camera, and a mass storage device (such as hard disk drive, compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD), and so forth).
The communication chip 806 may enable wireless communications for the transfer of data to and from the computing device 800. The term “wireless” and its derivatives may be used to describe circuits, devices, systems, methods, techniques, communications channels, etc., that may communicate data through the use of modulated electromagnetic radiation through a non-solid medium. The term does not imply that the associated devices do not contain any wires, although in some embodiments they might not. The communication chip 806 may implement any of a number of wireless standards or protocols, including but not limited to Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) standards including Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 family), IEEE 802.16 standards (e.g., IEEE 802.16-2005 Amendment), Long-Term Evolution (LTE) project along with any amendments, updates, and/or revisions (e.g., advanced LTE project, ultra mobile broadband (UMB) project (also referred to as “3GPP2”), etc.). IEEE 802.16 compatible BWA networks are generally referred to as WiMAX networks, an acronym that stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, which is a certification mark for products that pass conformity and interoperability tests for the IEEE 802.16 standards. The communication chip 806 may operate in accordance with a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Evolved HSPA (E-HSPA), or LTE network. The communication chip 806 may operate in accordance with Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE), GSM EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN), Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), or Evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN). The communication chip 806 may operate in accordance with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), derivatives thereof, as well as any other wireless protocols that are designated as 3G, 4G, 5G, and beyond. The communication chip 806 may operate in accordance with other wireless protocols in other embodiments.
The computing device 800 may include a plurality of communication chips 806. For instance, a first communication chip 800 may be dedicated to shorter range wireless communications such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and a second communication chip 806 may be dedicated to longer range wireless communications such as GPS, EDGE, GPRS, CDMA, WiMAX, LTE, Ev-DO, and others.
The processor 804 of the computing device 800 may include a semiconductor die in an IC package assembly. The term “processor” may refer to any device or portion of a device that processes electronic data from registers and/or memory to transform that electronic data into other electronic data that may be stored in registers and/or memory.
The communication chip 806 may also include a die in an IC package assembly. In further implementations, another component (e.g., memory device or other integrated circuit device) housed within the computing device 800 may contain a die in an IC package assembly.
In various implementations, the computing device 800 may be a laptop, a netbook, a notebook, an ultrabook, a smartphone, a tablet, a personal digital assistant (PDA), an ultra mobile PC, a mobile phone, a desktop computer, a server, a printer, a scanner, a monitor, a set-top box, an entertainment control unit, a digital camera, a portable music player, or a digital video recorder. In further implementations, the computing device 800 may be any other electronic device that processes data, for example an all-in-one device such as an all-in-one fax or printing device.
Embodiments may include methods, assemblies, and devices including an LGA socket. In one embodiment, an assembly may comprise an LGA socket configured to couple with a board of a mobile device. The LGA socket may be further configured to couple with a first side of a component of the mobile device. The embodiment may further comprise an ILM configured to overlap the component and the LGA socket on a second side of the component opposite the first side, and the mobile ILM may be further configured to couple with the board via one or more fasteners. In some embodiments, the mobile ILM may be configured to apply pressure to the second side of the component.
In embodiments, the mobile device assembly may further comprise a backplate configured to couple with the board at a location opposite from a location at which the LGA socket is configured to couple with the board. The mobile ILM may be configured to couple with the component on a first side of the mobile ILM, and the mobile ILM may be further configured to couple with a thermal mounting on a second side of the mobile ILM opposite the first side, the thermal mounting configured to receive one or more thermal components. The mobile ILM may be further configured to couple with the thermal mounting via the one or more fasteners discussed above.
In some embodiments, the component may be a CPU. In some embodiments, the one or more fasteners may be configured to pass through one or more openings in the mobile ILM and couple with the board. In some embodiments, the board may be a board of a PDA, a smartphone, a computing tablet, an e-reader, an ultrabook, or a laptop computer. In some embodiments, the mobile device assembly may occupy a lateral space of less than 2000 square millimeters (mm2). In some embodiments, the mobile ILM may be further configured to removably couple with the board via the one or more fasteners.
Other embodiments may include a mobile device comprising a board, an LGA socket coupled with the board, and a component coupled with the LGA socket such that a first side of the component is in direct contact with the LGA socket. Further, a mobile ILM may be coupled with the board via one or more fasteners wherein the component is positioned between the ILM and the LGA socket, and the mobile ILM is in direct contact with a second side of the component and applying pressure to the second side of the component.
The mobile device may further comprise a backplate coupled with the board where the backplate is positioned on a first side of the board and the LGA socket is positioned on a second side of the board opposite the first side. In some embodiments, the mobile device may further comprise thermal components coupled with a thermal mounting, wherein the thermal mounting is coupled with the mobile ILM. In some embodiments, the mobile ILM may be coupled with the thermal mounting via the one or more fasteners.
In some embodiments, the component may include a semiconductor die. In certain embodiments, the one or more fasteners are configured to pass through one or more openings in the mobile ILM and couple with the board. In embodiments, the mobile device may be a PDA, a smartphone, a computing tablet, an e-reader, an ultrabook, or a laptop computer. Further, the LGA socket, when coupled with the board, may occupy a lateral space of less than 2000 mm2. Further, the mobile ILM may be removably coupled with the board via the one or more fasteners.
Other embodiments may include a method for mounting a component on a board of a mobile device. The method may comprise coupling an LGA socket with the board, coupling the LGA socket with a first side of the component, and coupling a second side of the component, which is opposite the first side, with a mobile ILM configured to overlap the component and the LGA socket and apply pressure to the second side of the component. The method may further comprise coupling the mobile ILM with the board via one or more fasteners.
The method may further comprise coupling a thermal backplate with the board. In embodiments, the mobile ILM may be configured to couple with the component on a first side of the mobile ILM, and the method may further comprise coupling the mobile ILM with one or more thermal components on a second side of the mobile ILM, the second side being opposite the first side, via a thermal mounting coupled with the second side of the mobile ILM and configured to receive the one or more thermal components.
In embodiments, the method may further comprise coupling the mobile ILM with the thermal mounting via the one or more fasteners. In embodiments, the component may include a semiconductor die. In other embodiments, the component may be a semiconductor die. In some embodiments, coupling the mobile ILM with the board via the one or more fasteners may comprise passing the one or more fasteners through one or more openings in the mobile ILM so that the one or more fasteners are in contact with the board.
In some embodiments, the mobile device may be a PDA, a smartphone, a computing tablet, an e-reader, an ultrabook, or a laptop computer. In some embodiments, the LGA socket, subsequent to coupling the mobile ILM with the board, may occupy a lateral space of less than 2000 mm2 of a surface of the board. In other embodiments, coupling the mobile ILM with the board may comprise removably coupling the ILM with the board via the one or more fasteners.
The above description of illustrated implementations of the invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. While specific implementations of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.
These modifications may be made to the invention in light of the above detailed description. The terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific implementations disclosed in the specification and the claims. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined entirely by the following claims, which are to be construed in accordance with established doctrines of claim interpretation.
