Counter flow micro heat exchanger for optimal performance

Abstract

A micro heat exchanger and an integrated circuit are oriented according to a counter flow orientation. To determine this orientation, a temperature gradient of the integrated circuit is determined. The temperature gradient is used to determine a temperature vector that preferably indicates a directional orientation from a hot portion of the integrated circuit to a cold portion. The micro heat exchanger circulates a cooling fluid to receive heat transferred from the integrated circuit. A directional flow of this cooling liquid is determined. The directional flow is measured as a directional vector from an inlet of the micro heat exchanger to an outlet. The counter flow orientation is defined as the temperature vector oriented opposite that of the directional flow.

1 . A method of cooling an integrated circuit using a micro heat exchanger, the method comprising: 
 a. determining a temperature gradient associated with the integrated circuit;    b. determining a first vector beginning at a hot portion of the temperature gradient and ending at a cold portion of the temperature gradient;    c. determining a directional flow of a fluid within the micro heat exchanger;    d. orienting the micro heat exchanger to the integrated circuit such that the first vector of the integrated circuit is aligned counter with the directional flow of the micro heat exchanger, thereby forming a counter flow alignment; and    e. coupling the micro heat exchanger to the integrated circuit according to the counter flow alignment.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the directional flow corresponds to the flow of the fluid from an input port of the micro heat exchanger to an output port of the micro heat exchanger.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the directional flow corresponds to a second vector beginning at the input port and ending at the output port of the micro heat exchanger.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein an input temperature of the fluid at the input port is less than an output temperature of the fluid at the output port.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the input port is positioned at the cold portion of the integrated circuit, and the output port is positioned at the hot portion of the integrated circuit  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein an actual flow direction of the fluid at a given point in the micro heat exchanger is different than the directional flow.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hot portion corresponds to a highest temperature on the temperature gradient.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the cold portion corresponds to a coldest temperature on the temperature gradient.  
   
   
       9 . A method of cooling an integrated circuit using a micro heat exchanger, the method comprising: 
 a. determining a temperature gradient from hot to cold across the integrated circuit;    b. determining a first vector beginning at a hot portion of the temperature gradient and ending at a cold portion of the temperature gradient;    c. determining a second vector corresponding to a directional flow of a fluid from an inlet to an outlet within the micro heat exchanger; and    d. coupling the micro heat exchanger to the integrated circuit such that the first vector of the integrated circuit is aligned perpendicular to the second vector of the micro heat exchanger.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 10  wherein an input temperature of the fluid at the inlet is less than an output temperature of the fluid at the outlet.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein an actual flow direction of the fluid at a given point in the micro heat exchanger is different than the second vector.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the hot portion corresponds to a highest temperature on the temperature gradient.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the cold portion corresponds to a coldest temperature on the temperature gradient.  
   
   
       14 . A micro heat exchanger and integrated chip assembly comprising: 
 a. an integrated chip, wherein the integrated circuit includes an associated temperature gradient, and a first vector begins at a hot portion of the temperature gradient and ends at a cold portion of the temperature gradient; and    b. a micro heat exchanger coupled to the integrated circuit, the micro heat exchanger including an input port to receive a fluid and an output port for outputting the fluid, wherein a second vector begins at the input port and ends at the output port,    wherein the micro heat exchanger and the integrated circuit are oriented such that the first vector of the integrated circuit is aligned counter with the second vector of the micro heat exchanger.    
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein the second vector defines a directional flow of the fluid.  
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein an input temperature of the fluid at the input port is less than an output temperature of the fluid at the output port.  
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 16  wherein the input port is positioned at the cold portion of the integrated circuit, and the output port is positioned at the hot portion of the integrated circuit  
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein an actual flow direction of the fluid at a given point in the micro heat exchanger is different than the second vector.  
   
   
       19 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein the hot portion corresponds to a highest temperature on the temperature gradient.  
   
   
       20 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein the cold portion corresponds to a coldest temperature on the temperature gradient.  
   
   
       21 . A method of cooling an integrated circuit using a micro heat exchanger, the method comprising: 
 a. determining a temperature gradient from hot to cold across the integrated circuit;    b. determining a first vector beginning at a hot portion of the temperature gradient and ending at a cold portion of the temperature gradient;    c. determining a second vector corresponding to a directional flow of a fluid from an inlet to an outlet within the micro heat exchanger; and    d. coupling the micro heat exchanger to the integrated circuit such that the first vector of the integrated circuit is aligned with the second vector of the micro heat exchanger.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein an input temperature of the fluid at the inlet is less than an output temperature of the fluid at the outlet.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the inlet is positioned at the hot portion of the integrated circuit, and the outlet is positioned at the cold portion of the integrated circuit  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein an actual flow direction of the fluid at a given point in the micro heat exchanger is different than the second vector.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the hot portion corresponds to a highest temperature on the temperature gradient.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the cold portion corresponds to a coldest temperature on the temperature gradient.