Grid heat sink

Abstract

A grid heat sink includes primary fins extending from a base and cross fins which intersect the primary fins and form a number of channels. A fan moves cooling air through the channels to remove heat from the primary and cross fins. In one illustrative embodiment, the grid heat sink includes a base, a plurality of intersecting fins, and a plurality of channels formed by the intersecting fins. Each of the channels accept cooling air at an input side of the grid heat sink and direct the cooling air to exit an output side of the grid heat sink.

1 . A grid heat sink comprises:
 a plurality of primary fins extending from a base;   a plurality of cross fins configured to intersect said primary fins to form a grid, said grid having a plurality of channels being configured to extend from a first side to a second side of said grid heat sink; and   a fan, said fan being configured to move cooling air through said plurality of channels, said cooling air removing heat from said plurality of primary fins and said plurality of cross fins.   
     
     
         2 . The grid heat sink of  claim 1 , in which said primary fins comprise a tapered cross-section. 
     
     
         3 . The grid heat sink of  claim 1 , further comprising a formed sheet of conductive material configured to be placed between said primary fins to said plurality of channels. 
     
     
         4 . The grid heat sink of  claim 1 , further comprising a top plate, said top plate being configured to be attached between said distal ends of said primary fins. 
     
     
         5 . The grid heat sink of  claim 1 , in which said fan is a blower fan, said blower fan being configured to pressurize said cooling air and direct said pressurized cooling air into said channels. 
     
     
         6 . The grid heat sink of  claim 1 , in which said primary fins and cross fins are constructed from a continuous sheet of thermally conductive material. 
     
     
         7 . The grid heat sink of  claim 6 , further comprising welded joints, said welded joints joining a first section of said continuous sheet of thermally conductive material to a second section of said continuous sheet of thermally conductive material. 
     
     
         8 . The grid heat sink of  claim 1 , in which said grid heat sink comprises:
 an extruded base and primary fins; and   a sheet metal cross fins.   
     
     
         9 . The grid heat sink of  claim 1 , in which said grid heat sink comprises at least one of: a cast metal, a composite material, and a metal injection molded material. 
     
     
         10 . The grid heat sink of  claim 1 , in which cooling air entering a first channel does not mix with cooling air entering a second channel until said cooling air exits said grid heat sink. 
     
     
         11 . The grid heat sink of  claim 10 , in which said fan is configured to create cooling air with a positive pressure, said positive pressure varying substantially over an inlet side of said grid heat sink. 
     
     
         12 . The grid heat sink of  claim 1 , in which said channels have varying cross-sectional geometries. 
     
     
         13 . A grid heat sink comprises:
 a base;   a plurality of intersecting fins;   a plurality of channels formed by said intersecting fins, each of said channels being configured to accept cooling air at an input side of said grid heat sink and direct said cooling air to exit an output side of said grid heat sink.   
     
     
         14 . The grid heat sink of  claim 13 , further comprising a chip, said chip being in thermal contact with said base and generating thermal heat, said thermal heat being conducted through said base to said plurality of intersecting fins, said cooling air being configured pass through said plurality of channels and to remove said thermal heat from said intersecting fins. 
     
     
         15 . The grid heat sink of  claim 13 , in which each of said plurality of channels is enclosed on four sides by said intersecting fins, each of said channels being mutually parallel to each other and being parallel to said base.