Thermal module mounted on carrier by using magnetic force

Abstract

A thermal module includes a thermal conductor and at least one first magnetic element. The thermal conductor is disposed above a carrier. In addition, the thermal module may further include at least one second magnetic element or at least one magnetically susceptible element. Either the second magnetic element or the magnetically susceptible element and the first magnetic element can produce magnetic attractive force or magnetic repulsion force therebetween. By such magnetic force, the thermal conductor can be retained with respect to the carrier, thus making contact with a heat generating component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermal module comprising:
 a thermal conductor located at a first side of a carrier, and having at least one receiving portion;   a bracket located at a second side of the carrier opposite to the first side;   at least one magnetic element disposed in the receiving portion; and   at least one magnetically susceptible element fixedly mounted to the bracket, and extending through a through hole of the carrier to contact with the magnetic element,   wherein a magnetic attractive force produced between the magnetic element and the magnetically susceptible element retains the thermal conductor and the bracket with respect to the carrier.   
     
     
         2 . A thermal module in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the receiving portion has an opening defined in a bottom thereof, and the magnetically susceptible element extends through the through hole and the opening to contact with the magnetic element. 
     
     
         3 . A thermal module in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic element is adhered to the thermal conductor. 
     
     
         4 . A thermal module in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic element is a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         5 . A thermal module suitable for being detachably mounted between a carrier and a cover, a position of the carrier being fixed with respect to the cover, the thermal module comprising:
 a thermal conductor located at a side of the carrier, and having at least one receiving portion;   at least one first magnetic element disposed in the receiving portion; and   at least one second magnetic element fixedly mounted to the cover,   wherein the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element comprise same magnetic poles confronting with each other, and a magnetic repulsion force produced between the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element retains the thermal conductor with respect to the carrier.   
     
     
         6 . A thermal module in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the first magnetic element is adhered to the thermal conductor. 
     
     
         7 . A thermal module in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element are permanent magnets. 
     
     
         8 . A thermal module comprising:
 a thermal conductor located at a first side of a carrier;   a pressing member located at the first side of the carrier, and having a first opening and a second opening, the first opening and the second opening collectively forming a through opening, the pressing member connected with the thermal conductor;   a bracket located at a second side of the carrier opposite to the first side;   at least one magnetic element disposed in the through opening; and   at least one magnetically susceptible element fixedly mounted to the bracket, the magnetically susceptible element extending through a through hole of the carrier to contact with the magnetic element;   wherein a magnetic attractive force produced between the magnetic element and the magnetically susceptible element enables the pressing member to retain the thermal conductor with respect to the carrier.   
     
     
         9 . A thermal module in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the pressing member comprises at least one resilient arm, and the magnetic element is connected to the resilient arm. 
     
     
         10 . A thermal module in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the magnetic element comprises a head portion and a shank portion connected with the head portion, the first opening fits the shank portion in a non-interference manner, the shank portion of the magnetic element contacts with the magnetically susceptible element, and the head portion of the magnetic element retains the resilient arm with respect to the magnetically susceptible element in a substantially vertical direction. 
     
     
         11 . A thermal module in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the magnetically susceptible element is columnar in shape, the second opening fits the magnetically susceptible element in a non-interference manner, and the magnetically susceptible element retains the resilient arm with respect to the magnetically susceptible element in a substantially horizontal direction. 
     
     
         12 . A thermal module in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the magnetic element is a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         13 . A thermal module comprising:
 a thermal conductor located at a first side of a carrier;   a pressing member located at the first side of the carrier, and having a first opening and a second opening, the first opening and the second opening collectively forming a through opening, the pressing member connected with the thermal conductor;   a bracket located at a second side of the carrier opposite to the first side;   at least one first magnetic element disposed in the through opening; and   at least one second magnetic element fixedly disposed on the carrier at a position vertically aligned with the through opening, the second magnetic element and the bracket producing therebetween a magnetic attractive force to secure the bracket on the second side of the carrier,   wherein another magnetic attractive force produced between the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element enables the pressing member to retain the thermal conductor with respect to the carrier.   
     
     
         14 . A thermal module in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the second magnetic element and the first magnetic element are made in contact with each other by the magnetic attractive force produced therebetween. 
     
     
         15 . A thermal module in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the pressing member comprises at least one resilient arm, and the first magnetic element is connected to the resilient arm. 
     
     
         16 . A thermal module in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the first magnetic element comprises a head portion and a shank portion connected with the head portion, the first opening fits the shank portion in a non-interference manner, the shank portion of the first magnetic element contacts with the second magnetic element, and the head portion of the first magnetic element retains the resilient arm with respect to the second magnetic element in a substantially vertical direction. 
     
     
         17 . A thermal module in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the second magnetic element is columnar in shape, the second opening fits the second element in a non-interference manner, and the second magnetic element retains the resilient arm with respect to the second magnetic element in a substantially horizontal direction. 
     
     
         18 . A thermal module in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the first magnetic element is a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         19 . A thermal module in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the second magnetic element is a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         20 . A thermal module comprising:
 a thermal conductor located at a first side of a carrier;   a pressing member located at the first side of the carrier, and having a first opening and a second opening, the first opening and the second opening collectively forming a through opening, the pressing member connected with the thermal conductor;   at least one first magnetic element disposed in the through opening; and   at least one second magnetic element fixedly disposed on the carrier at a position vertically aligned with the through opening,   wherein a magnetic attractive force produced between the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element enables the pressing member to retain the thermal conductor with respect to the carrier.   
     
     
         21 . A thermal module in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the pressing member comprises at least one resilient arm, and the first magnetic element is connected to the resilient arm. 
     
     
         22 . A thermal module in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the first magnetic element comprises a head portion and a shank portion connected with the head portion, the first opening fits the shank portion in a non-interference manner, the shank portion of the first magnetic element contacts with the first side of the carrier, and the head portion of the first magnetic element retains the resilient arm with respect to the second magnetic element in a substantially vertical direction. 
     
     
         23 . A thermal module in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the position is on one of the first side of the carrier and a second side of the carrier opposite to the first side. 
     
     
         24 . A thermal module in accordance with  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a limit element fixedly mounted to the carrier for horizontally retaining the second magnetic element with respect to the first magnetic element.   
     
     
         25 . A thermal module in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the first magnetic element is a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         26 . A thermal module in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the second magnetic element is a permanent magnet.