heat sink with staggered heat exchange elements

Abstract

Heat sink comprising a base and a plurality of heat exchange elements. The elements are connected to and raised above, a surface of the base. There is a first row of the elements, with each of the elements having a long dimension that is substantially parallel to the long dimension of the other elements of the first row and to the surface. There is a second row of the elements, each of the elements having a long dimension that is substantially parallel to the long dimension of the other elements of the second row and to the surface. The first row and the second row are substantially opposed to each other such that one set of ends of the elements of the first row are staggered with respect to one set of ends of the elements of the second row.

1 . A heat sink, comprising:
 a base; and   a plurality of heat exchange elements, connected to and raised above, a surface of said base, wherein
 a first row of said heat exchange elements, with each of said heat exchange elements having a long dimension that is substantially parallel to said long dimension of said other heat exchange elements of said first row and to said surface, 
 a second row of said heat exchange elements, each of said heat exchange elements having a long dimension that is substantially parallel to said long dimension of other said heat exchange elements of said second row and to said surface, and 
 said first row and said second row are substantially opposed to each other such that one set of ends of said heat exchange elements of said first row are staggered with respect to one set of ends of said heat exchange elements of said second row. 
   
     
     
         2 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein said set of ends of said heat exchange elements of said first row are separated from said set of ends of said heat exchange elements of said second row by a gap. 
     
     
         3 . The heat sink of  claim 2 , wherein a length of said gap between said set of ends of said first row and said set of ends of said second row is up to about five times a channel width between adjacent ones of said heat exchange elements. 
     
     
         4 . The heat sink of  claim 2 , further including one or more vortex enhancers located in said gap, said vortex enhancers configured to create vortices and direct air flow from channels within said first row of heat exchange elements to channels within said second row of heat exchange elements. 
     
     
         5 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of said heat exchange elements of said first row or of said second row are configured as vortex enhancers. 
     
     
         6 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein said set of ends of said heat exchange elements of said first row partially overlap with said set of ends of said heat exchange elements of said second row. 
     
     
         7 . The heat sink of  claim 6 , wherein a length of said overlap between said set of ends of said elements of said first row with said set of ends of said elements of said second row is up to about five times a channel width between adjacent ones of said heat exchange elements. 
     
     
         8 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , further including one or more additional rows of said heat exchange elements wherein a set of ends of said heat exchange elements of said additional rows are staggered with respect to a set of ends of an opposing different additional rows, or, with respect to a second set of ends of said first row or of said second row. 
     
     
         9 . The heat sink of  claim 8 , wherein channels between said heat exchange elements of said one or more additional rows of said heat exchange elements are oriented substantially parallel with channels between said heat exchange elements of said adjacent different additional rows and with channels between said heat exchange elements of said first and said second rows. 
     
     
         10 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein second ends of said heat exchange elements substantially extend to an outer perimeter of said base. 
     
     
         11 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein lengths of said long dimensions of said heat exchange elements of said first row are substantially equal to each other. 
     
     
         12 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein lengths of said long dimensions of said heat exchange elements of said second row are substantially equal to each other and to lengths of said long dimensions of said heat exchange elements of said first row. 
     
     
         13 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger elements are continuously connected to said base. 
     
     
         14 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger elements are coupled to said base. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a heat sink, including:
 a base; and 
 a plurality of heat exchange elements, connected to and raised above, a surface of said base, including:
 a first row of said heat exchange elements, with each of said heat exchange elements having a long dimension that is substantially parallel to said long dimension of said other heat exchange elements of said first row and to said surface, 
 
 a second row of said heat exchange elements, each of said heat exchange elements having a long dimension that is substantially parallel to said long dimension of other said heat exchange elements of said second row and to said surface, and 
 said first row and said second row are substantially opposed to each other such that one set of ends of said heat exchange elements of said first row are staggered with respect to one set of ends of said heat exchange elements of said second row; and 
   a structure configured to produce heat, wherein said heat sink is coupled to said structure.   
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing a heat sink, comprising:
 forming a base; and   forming a plurality of heat exchange elements connected to and raised above, a surface of said base, including:
 a first row of said heat exchange elements, with each of said heat exchange elements having a long dimension that is substantially parallel to said long dimension of said other heat exchange elements of said first row and to said surface, 
 a second row of said heat exchange elements, each of said heat exchange elements having a long dimension that is substantially parallel to said long dimension of other said heat exchange elements of said second row and to said surface, and 
 said first row and said second row are substantially opposed to each other such that one set of ends of said heat exchange elements of said first row are staggered with respect to one set of ends of said heat exchange elements of said second row. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein forming said base includes forming flow conduits within said base. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein forming said base includes forming a heat exchange structure wherein said base is part of an outer surface of said heat exchange device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein forming said plurality of heat exchange elements connected to said base includes coupling said heat exchange elements to said surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein forming said plurality of heat exchange elements connected to said base includes shaping a same work piece that said base is formed from.