Heatsink having one or more ozone catalyzing fins

Abstract

Ion wind fans produce ozone. In one embodiment, a heat sink used in conjunction with an ion wind fan includes at least one ozone catalyst fin coated with an ozone catalyst, to destroy at least some of the ozone produced by the ion wind fan. In one embodiment, the ozone catalyst fan protrudes from the downstream side of the heat sink towards the ion wind fan.

1 . A heat sink comprising:
 a base;   a plurality of heat sink fins projecting substantially perpendicularly from the base; and   
       an ozone catalyst fin attached to the plurality of heat sink fins, the ozone catalyst fin being substantially perpendicular to the plurality of heat sink fins, wherein the ozone catalyst fin comprises an ozone catalyst. 
     
     
         2 . Air heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of heat sink fins form a plurality of air passage channels between the plurality of heat sink fins, air moving through the air passage channels from a downstream portion toward an upstream portion, wherein the ozone catalyst fin is located in a downstream portion of the plurality of air passage channels. 
     
     
         3 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein the ends of the plurality of heat sink fins that face an ion wind fan comprise a downstream side of the heat sink, and wherein the ozone catalyst fin protrudes from the downstream side of the heat sink. 
     
     
         4 . The heat sink of  claim 3 , wherein the ozone catalyst fin is attached to the plurality of heat sink fins be being embedded a certain distance into the plurality of heat sink fins. 
     
     
         5 . The heat sink of  claim 4 , wherein the ozone catalyst fins protrudes from the downstream side of the heat sink a greater distance than the certain distance which the ozone catalyst fin is embedded into the plurality of heat sink fins. 
     
     
         6 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein the ozone catalyst fin is coated with an ozone catalyst. 
     
     
         7 . The heat sink of  claim 6 , wherein the ozone catalyst comprises manganese oxide. 
     
     
         8 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein the ozone catalyst fin is attached to the plurality of heat sink fins at a predetermined horizontal position, the predetermined horizontal position approximately matching a horizontal position of an emitter electrode of an ion wind fan. 
     
     
         9 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of heat sink fins have a slot for receiving the ozone catalyst fin, and wherein the ozone catalyst fin is attached to the plurality of by heat sink fins by being inserted into the plurality of slots. 
     
     
         10 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , further comprising a second ozone catalyst fin attached to the plurality of heat sink fins, the second ozone catalyst fin being substantially perpendicular to the plurality of heat sink fins, wherein the second ozone catalyst fin comprises an ozone catalyst. 
     
     
         11 . A system having:
 a heat source;   a heat sink thermally coupled to the heat source; and   an ion wind fan having an emitter electrode, wherein the ion wind fan is configured to generate an airflow towards the heat sink, the airflow being substantially directed towards a side of the heat sink facing the ion wind fan;   wherein the heat sink comprises an ozone catalyst fin, the ozone catalyst fin protruding from the side of the heat sink facing the ion wind fan, wherein the ozone catalyst fin is coated with an ozone catalyst.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the airflow is substantially perpendicular to the side of the heat sink facing the ion wind fan, and the airflow is substantially parallel to air passage channels of the heat sink. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the location of the heat sink with respect to the ion wind fan substantially optimizes airflow across the heat sink. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the location of the ozone catalyst fin on the heat sink optimizes catalysis of ozone generated in the vicinity of the emitter electrode. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the ozone catalyst fin protrudes from the side of the heat sink facing the ion win fan so that the ozone catalyst fin is as physically close to the emitter electrode as possible. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the ozone catalyst fin is not in physical contact with the ion wind fan. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the ozone catalyst tin protruding from the side of the heat sink facing the ion wind fan comprises the ozone catalyst fin extending past a plane formed by the side of the heat sink facing the ion wind fan. 
     
     
         18 . A method for manufacturing a heat sink, the method comprising:
 forming a heat sink having two or more heat sink fins, each heat sink fin having a slot; and   inserting an ozone catalyst fin into the slots of the two or more heat sink fins, the ozone catalyst fin being coated with an ozone catalyst material.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each slot of the two or more heat sink fins is oriented substantially parallel with airflow across the heat sink, and inserting the ozone catalyst fin into the slots orients the ozone catalyst fin lengthwise substantially perpendicular and widthwise substantially parallel with the airflow.