An assembled circuit board has a topology that defines positions, dimensions and power dissipation of components mounted to the circuit board, including a high power component and one or more low power components. A cold plate makes thermal contact to the high power component through a thermal interface material. A thermally conductive sheet overlays the circuit board and is formed to match the topology of the low power component or components. The sheet has a first portion that makes thermal contact with the cold plate and a second portion that overlays the low power component or components. The cold plate removes heat directly from the high power component and indirectly through the thermally conductive sheet from the low power component or components. The thermally conductive sheet conforms to the topology of the low power components either by preforming or by flexibility.

An apparatus incorporating a multi-surface heat sink may comprise an integrated circuit die, a heat spreader, a plate element, and a heat sink. The heat spreader may be positioned above the IC die. The plate element may be positioned above the heat spreader. A bottom surface of the heat sink may have a first region positioned above the plate element. One or more spring elements may be positioned between the plate element and the first region of the bottom surface of the heat sink. The one or more spring elements may be under a compressive load between the plate element and the heat sink. One or more thermal conduit elements may be secured to both the plate element and the heat sink. The one or more thermal conduit elements may apply at least a part of the compressive load between the plate element and the heat sink.

An apparatus incorporating a multi-surface heat sink may comprise an integrated circuit die, a heat spreader, a plate element, and a heat sink. The heat spreader may be positioned above the IC die. The plate element may be positioned above the heat spreader. A bottom surface of the heat sink may have a first region positioned above the plate element. One or more spring elements may be positioned between the plate element and the first region of the bottom surface of the heat sink. The one or more spring elements may be under a compressive load between the plate element and the heat sink. One or more thermal conduit elements may be secured to both the plate element and the heat sink. The one or more thermal conduit elements may apply at least a part of the compressive load between the plate element and the heat sink.

An electronic device includes a heat-generating electronic component, a heat spreader and a heat sink. The heat spreader has an area at least about 4 times greater than the heat-generating component. A first surface of the heat spreader is in thermal contact with the first surface of the heat-generating component along a first, non-dielectric interface. The heat sink has greater mass than the heat spreader and comprises one or more layers of thermally conductive material. A first surface of the heat sink is in thermal contact with the second surface of the heat spreader along a second interface having greater area than the first interface. Dielectric thermal interface material is provided at the second interface in direct contact with the heat spreader and the heat sink, such that the second interface is dielectric.

An electronic device includes a heat-generating electronic component, a heat spreader and a heat sink. The heat spreader has an area at least about 4 times greater than the heat-generating component. A first surface of the heat spreader is in thermal contact with the first surface of the heat-generating component along a first, non-dielectric interface. The heat sink has greater mass than the heat spreader and comprises one or more layers of thermally conductive material. A first surface of the heat sink is in thermal contact with the second surface of the heat spreader along a second interface having greater area than the first interface. Dielectric thermal interface material is provided at the second interface in direct contact with the heat spreader and the heat sink, such that the second interface is dielectric.

Thermal management for modular electronic devices is provided. In one embodiment, a modular electronic device comprises: a primary electronics assembly comprising a least one module bay configured to receive a pluggable electronics module, wherein the pluggable electronics module comprises at least one heat conduction riser that protrudes from the pluggable electronics module; a heat management mechanism coupled to the primary electronics assembly, wherein the heat management mechanism includes at least one floating heat sink thermally coupled to the heat conduction riser of the pluggable electronic module by a heat pipe that defines a direct thermal conductive heat path between the pluggable electronics module and the floating heat sink. The heat pipe is mounted to the primary electronics assembly by a spring loaded floating heat pipe interface that applies a clamping force against the heat pipe, and maintains contact between the interface and the heat conduction riser.

A mounting structure for a heater element includes a heater element having a surface to be cooled, a board on which the heater element is mounted, a cooling member that cools the surface to be cooled of the heater element mounted on the board, and a supporting member temporarily fixed to the board, the supporting member temporarily fixing the heater element.

A semiconductor device assembly and associated methods are disclosed herein. The semiconductor device assembly includes (1) a substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; (2) a first set of stacked semiconductor devices at the first side of the substrate; (3) a second set of stacked semiconductor devices adjacent to one side of the first set of stacked semiconductor devices; (4) a third set of stacked semiconductor devices adjacent to an opposite side of the first set of stacked semiconductor devices; and (5) a temperature adjusting component at the second side and aligned with the second set of stacked semiconductor devices. The temperature adjusting component is positioned to absorb the thermal energy and thereby thermally isolate the second set of stacked semiconductor devices from the first set of stacked semiconductor devices.

Disclosed embodiments include multiple thermal-interface material at the interface between an integrated heat spreader and a heat sink. A primary thermal-interface material has flow qualities and a secondary thermal-interface material has containment and adhesive qualities. The integrated heat spreader has a basin form factor that contains the primary thermal-interface material.

Disclosed embodiments include multiple thermal-interface material at the interface between an integrated heat spreader and a heat sink. A primary thermal-interface material has flow qualities and a secondary thermal-interface material has containment and adhesive qualities. The integrated heat spreader has a basin form factor that contains the primary thermal-interface material.