Heat sink with heat pipes and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

A heat sink including a base portion and a fin portion thermally contacted with the base portion. The inside of the base portion has at least one heat pipe, and a space (e.g., an air passage) formed around part of the peripheral portion of the heat pipe. The base portion is constructed of a first plate member that is contacted with a heat source, and a second plate thermally contacted with the fin portion. The heat pipe is placed between the first plate member and the second plate and is thermally contacted with them.

1 . A heat sink comprising: 
 a base portion having inside thereof at least one heat pipe, and a space formed around part of a peripheral portion of said heat pipe; and    a fin portion thermally connected to said base portion.    
   
   
       2 . The heat sink as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said base portion comprises a first plate member thermally connected to a heat source, and a second plate member thermally connected to said fin portion; and said at least one heat pipe is placed between said first plate member and said second plate member and is thermally connected to said first plate member and said second plate member.  
   
   
       3 . The heat sink as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said first plate member comprises a U-shaped plate member including side wall portions and a bottom surface portion; said second plate member comprises a flat plate member being a top surface portion; and said base portion comprises said top surface portion, said side wall portions and said bottom surface portion.  
   
   
       4 . The heat sink as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said first plate member comprises a flat plate member being a bottom surface portion; said second plate member comprises a U-shaped plate member including side wall portions and a top surface portion; and said base portion comprises said top surface portion, said side wall portions and said bottom surface portion.  
   
   
       5 . The heat sink as claimed in  claim 3  or  4 , wherein said at least one heat pipe comprises a flattened heat pipe, a top surface portion of said flattened heat pipe being thermally connected to said second plate member, and a bottom surface portion of said flattened heat pipe being thermally connected to said first plate member.  
   
   
       6 . The heat sink as claimed in  claim 3  or  4 , wherein said space comprises spaces defined by side surfaces of said heat pipe, said side walls portions, said top surface portion and said bottom surface portion of said base portion.  
   
   
       7 . The heat sink as claimed in  claim 3  or  4 , wherein said space comprises spaces between adjacent heat pipes and spaces defined by side surfaces of said heat pipe, said side wall portions, said top surface portion, and said bottom surface portion of said base portion.  
   
   
       8 . The heat sink as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said heat pipe is arranged so as to extend along a longitudinal direction of said fin portion.  
   
   
       9 . A heat sink comprising: 
 a base portion having inside thereof at least one heat pipe, a space formed around part of a peripheral portion of said heat pipe, and a metal block; and    a fin portion thermally connected to said base portion.    
   
   
       10 . The heat sink as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said base portion comprises a first plate member thermally connected to a heat source, and a second plate member thermally connected to said fin portion; and said at least one heat pipe and said metal block are placed between said first plate member and said second plate member, and are thermally connected to said first plate member and said second plate member.  
   
   
       11 . The heat sink as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said first plate member comprises a U-shaped plate member including side wall portions and a bottom surface portion; said second plate comprises a flat plate member being a top surface portion; and said base portion comprises said top surface portion, said side wall portions, and said bottom surface portion.  
   
   
       12 . The heat sink as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said first plate member comprises a flat plate member being a bottom surface portion; said second plate member comprises a U-shaped plate member including side wall portions and a top surface portion; and said base portion comprises said top surface portion, said side wall portions and said bottom surface portion.  
   
   
       13 . The heat sink as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said metal block is formed integrally with said first plate member.  
   
   
       14 . The heat sink as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said metal block is arranged to extend across the entire length of said base portion.  
   
   
       15 . The heat sink as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said metal block is arranged only in a portion of said first plate member which is connected to said heat source.  
   
   
       16 . The heat sink as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said metal block is arranged between said heat pipes and is connected to part of each heat pipe.  
   
   
       17 . A method for manufacturing a heat sink, which comprising the steps of: 
 preparing a first plate member comprising a U-shaped plate member including side wall portions and a bottom surface portion, which is connected to a heat source, and joining at least one heat pipe to the bottom surface portion of said U-shaped plate member;    preparing a second plate member comprising a flat plate member, and joining a fin portion to one surface of said flat plate member; and    joining said first plate member with said heat pipe and said second plate member with fin portion to fabricate a heat sink comprising a base portion having inside thereof said at least one heat pipe and a space formed around part of a peripheral portion of said heat pipe, and said fin portion thermally connected to said base portion.    
   
   
       18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein a metal block is further joined to said bottom surface portion of said U-shaped plate member.  
   
   
       19 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said base portion and said heat pipe, as well as said base portion and said fin portion, are simultaneously joined with solder.