Air jet active heat sink apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus comprising a heat sink and a plenum. The heat sink includes a base and a plurality of heat exchange elements, connected to and raised above, a surface of the base. The plenum is located above the heat exchange elements. The plenum includes a housing configured to hold a positive air-pressure therein, and openings in a surface of the housing. The opening are positioned such that air exiting the plenum through the openings is directed to the heat sink.

1 . 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; and 
   a plenum located above said heat exchange elements, wherein said plenum includes:
 a housing configured to hold a positive air-pressure therein, and 
 openings in a surface of said housing, said opening positioned such that air exiting said plenum through said openings is directed to said heat sink. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including one or more an air flow devices coupled to said plenum so as to provide said positive air-pressure to said housing. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said airflow device is a net-positive mass flux airflow device. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said airflow device is a net-zero mass flux airflow device. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said net-zero mass flux airflow device includes a piezo-electric element and a membrane coupled to a driver, such that when said membrane is oscillated, air is transferred into said housing. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said air flow device is configured to deliver an oscillating flow of air to said plenum. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plenum further includes one or more flow valves situated over one or more of said openings, said values configured to cover or uncover said openings when actuated, so as to provide an oscillatory flow of air out of said openings. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said housing is divided into two or more chambers such that, when one of said chambers is provided with said positive air-pressure, air is selectively directed through one or more of said openings that are within said one chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further including air-flow devices that are individually coupled to each one of said chambers so as to selectively provide said positive air-pressure to said chambers. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further including conduits that direct air-flow from one of said air-flow devices to one of said chambers of said housing. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein flow valves are coupled to one or more of said conduits, said values configured to open and close said conduits so as to provide a selected flow of air to one or more of said chambers. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plenum is separated from tops of said heat exchange elements by a gap. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of said heat exchange elements further includes one or more air flow diverters on walls of said one or more heat exchange elements, or, on said housing in a vicinity of one or more of the openings, said air flow diverters configured to alter the direction of air flow from said plenum to said channel. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a diameter of said openings ranges from one-half of a thickness of said heat exchange element to one-half of a width of a channel located between said heat exchange elements. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said openings are substantially aligned with one side of one of said heat exchanger elements. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said openings are centered directly over one of said heat exchanger elements. 
     
     
         17 . A system, comprising:
 an apparatus, including:
 a heat sink including:
 a base, and 
 a plurality of heat exchange elements, connected to and raised above, a surface of said base; and 
 
 a plenum located above said heat exchange elements, wherein said plenum includes:
 a housing configured to hold a positive air-pressure therein, and 
 openings in a surface of said housing, said opening positioned such that air exiting said plenum through said openings is directed to said heat sink; and 
 
   a structure configured to produce heat, wherein said heat sink is thermally coupled to said structure.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , further including an air flow device coupled to said plenum so as to provide said positive air-pressure to said housing. 
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing an apparatus, comprising:
 providing a heat sink, said heat sink including:
 a base, and 
 a plurality of heat exchange elements, connected to and raised above, a surface of said base; and 
   providing a plenum, said plenum including:
 a housing configured to hold a positive air-pressure therein, and 
 openings in a surface of said housing; and 
   
       positioning said plenum above said heat exchange elements, such that air exiting said plenum through said openings is directed to said heat sink. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further including coupling an air flow device to said plenum so as to provide said positive air-pressure to said housing.