Method and device for cooling a heat generating component

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling arrangement comprising a heat spreader ( 2 ) comprising a first surface ( 5 ), a second surface ( 8 ), at least one heat absorption chamber ( 9 ) and at least one heat dissipation chamber ( 10 ), the at least one heat absorption chamber ( 9 ) being in thermal contact with the first surface ( 5 ) and the at least one heat dissipation chamber ( 10 ) being in thermal contact with the second surface ( 8 ) and hydraulically coupled to the at least one heat absorption chamber ( 9 ). A cooling fluid ( 13 ) can be driven from the heat absorption chamber ( 9 ) to the heat dissipation chamber ( 10 ) using a plurality of flow patterns for cooling the first surface ( 5 ).

1 . A cooling arrangement, comprising:
 a heat spreader comprising a first surface, a second surface, at least one heat absorption chamber and at least one heat dissipation chamber, the at least one heat absorption chamber being in thermal contact with the first surface and the at least one heat dissipation chamber being in thermal contact with the second surface and hydraulically coupled to the at least one heat absorption chamber;   at least one heat generating component arranged in thermal contact with the first surface of the heat spreader;   a cooling fluid, filling at least part of the heat absorption chamber and the heat dissipation chamber;   at least one actuator for driving the cooling fluid; and   a controller for generating at least one control signal for the at least one actuator, such that the cooling fluid can be driven through the at least one heat absorption chamber using a plurality of flow patterns.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling fluid oscillates between the at least one heat absorption chamber and the at least one heat dissipation chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein the heat spreader comprises two heat dissipation chambers and at least two actuators, and the controller is adapted to drive the cooling fluid using two different flow patterns, wherein, in a first flow pattern, a flow from the first heat dissipation chamber through the at least one heat absorption chamber to the second heat dissipation chamber is created, and, in a second flow pattern, a flow from the second heat dissipation chamber through the at least one heat absorption chamber to the first heat dissipation chamber is created. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein the heat spreader comprises four heat dissipation chambers and at least two actuators and the controller is adapted to drive the cooling fluid using four different flow patterns, wherein, in a first flow pattern, a flow from the first heat dissipation chamber through the at least one heat absorption chamber to the third heat dissipation chamber is created, in a second flow pattern, a flow from the second heat dissipation chamber through the at least one heat absorption chamber to the fourth heat dissipation chamber is created, in a third flow pattern, a flow from the third heat dissipation chamber through the at least one heat absorption chamber to the first heat dissipation chamber is created, and, in a fourth flow pattern, a flow from the fourth heat dissipation chamber through the at least one heat absorption chamber to the second heat dissipation chamber is created. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein the heat spreader comprises a multiplicity of heat dissipation chambers having a multiplicity of actuators arranged around the at least one heat absorption chamber in a substantially radial arrangement and the controller is adapted for driving the cooling fluid using a multiplicity of different flow patterns, creating a substantially radial oscillation of a flow of the cooling fluid through the at least one heat absorption chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat spreader comprises a network of hydraulically interconnected chambers, comprising the at least one heat absorption chamber and at least two heat dissipation chambers, the network comprising multiple flow paths, each flow path connected to at least one actuator, and the controller is adapted to drive the cooling fluid using at least two different flow paths of the network using the plurality of flow patterns. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat dissipation chamber comprises at least one membrane coupled to the at least one actuator for actuating the at least one membrane in order to drive to cooling fluid from or to the at least one heat dissipation chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling arrangement comprises at least one first temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the heat generating component, the at least one first temperature sensor is coupled to the controller, and the controller is adapted to generate the at least one control signal based on the sensed temperature of the heat generating component. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling arrangement according to  claim 8 , wherein the cooling arrangement further comprises at least one second temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the at least one heat dissipation chamber, the at least one second temperature sensor is coupled to the controller, and the controller is adapted to generate the at least one control signal based on the sensed temperature of the at least one heat dissipation chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The cooling arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat generating component comprises a plurality of areas and associated temperature sensors, the plurality of temperature sensors are coupled to the controller, and the controller is adapted to identify at least one hot spot corresponding to at least one area of the plurality of areas, the at least one hot spot being characterized in that it has a temperature above an average temperature of the plurality of areas, and the controller is further adapted to generate the at least one control signal based on the least one identified hot spot, such that the flow of cooling fluid is directed to the at least one hot spot in at least one flow pattern. 
     
     
         11 . The cooling arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat spreader comprises a plurality of regions and associated temperature sensors, the plurality of temperature sensors are coupled to the controller, and the controller is adapted to identify at least one cold region of the heat spreader, the at least one cold region being characterized in that it has a temperature below an average temperature of the plurality of regions, and the controller is further adapted to generate at least one control signal based on the at least one identified cold region, such that the flow of cooling fluid is sourced from the at least one cold region in at least one flow pattern. 
     
     
         12 . The cooling arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat spreader comprises at least two physically separated flow paths for the cooling fluid and, in a first flow pattern, cooling fluid is driven through the heat absorption chamber using the first flow path and, in a second flow pattern, cooling fluid is driven through the heat absorption chamber using the second flow path. 
     
     
         13 . An integrated heat spreader, comprising:
 at least one heat absorption chamber having a first surface for interfacing with a heat generating component;   at least one heat dissipation chamber having a second surface for interfacing with an external coolant, the second surface being larger than the first surface;   a cooling fluid filling, at least partially, the at least one heat absorption chamber and the at least one heat dissipation chamber;   at least one fluid interconnection between the at least one heat absorption chamber and the at least one heat dissipation chamber; and   at least one pump element for creating a plurality of flow patterns between the at least one heat absorption chamber and the at least one heat dissipation chamber using a forced movement of the cooling fluid.   
     
     
         14 . The integrated heat spreader according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one pump element comprises at least one membrane arranged in the at least one heat dissipation chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The integrated heat spreader according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one heat absorption chamber or heat dissipation chamber comprises at least one chamber wall having a surface enhancement feature for an increased heat exchange between the chamber wall and the cooling fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The integrated heat spreader according to  claim 13 , wherein the heat absorption chamber comprises at least two physically separated flow paths for the cooling fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The integrated heat spreader according to  claim 16 , wherein the heat absorption chamber comprises at least four ports for at least four fluid interconnections, each port hydraulically connected to one further port of the at least four ports of the heat absorption chamber. 
     
     
         18 . A method for cooling a heat generating component, the heat generating component being in thermal contact with a first surface of a heat spreader having a plurality of chambers comprising a cooling fluid, comprising:
 determining an average temperature of the first surface or of the heat generating component;   determining a position of at least one hot spot of the heat generating component, the at least one hot spot having a temperature above the determined average temperature;   mapping the determined position of the at least one hot spot to a location on the first surface of the heat spreader;   generating at least one first control signal for generating a first flow pattern of the cooling fluid through the plurality of chambers passing the mapped location; and   generating at least one second control signal in alternating turns with the at least one first control signal, for generating a second flow pattern of the cooling fluid through the plurality of chambers, returning the cooling fluid back to its initial location.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein in the second flow pattern the cooling fluid passes the mapped location of the hot spot in alternating turns with the first flow pattern. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising determining at least one chamber of the plurality of chambers having a temperature below the determined average temperature, wherein, in the step of generating the at least one first control signal, the first flow pattern of the cooling fluid is sourced from the at least one chamber determined to have an below average temperature.