Thermal module and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

A thermal module and a manufacturing method thereof. The thermal module includes a retainer member and at least one heat conduction member. The retainer has a first clamping arm and a second clamping arm opposite to the first clamping arm. The heat conduction member is disposed and fixedly clamped between the first and second clamping arms. The retainer member is formed by means of punching and integrally connected with the heat conduction member also by means of punching so that the manufacturing cost of the thermal module is lowered and the heat dissipation efficiency of the thermal module is enhanced.

1 . A thermal module comprising:
 a retainer member having a first clamping arm and a second clamping arm opposite to the first clamping arm; and   at least one heat conduction member disposed and fixedly clamped between the first and second clamping arms.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal module as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heat conduction member is selected from a group consisting of heat pipe, heat spreader, flat-plate heat pipe and heat conduction metal. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal module as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first clamping arm has a first free side, a second free side, a third free side and a first connection side connected with the retainer member, while the second clamping arm has a fourth free side, a fifth free side, a sixth free side and a second connection side connected with the retainer member. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal module as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the retainer member further has a first extension section, a second extension section, a third extension section and a fourth extension section, which extend from the retainer member in different directions, the first, second, third and fourth extension sections respectively having a first through hole, a second through hole, a third through hole and a fourth through hole. 
     
     
         5 . The thermal module as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first clamping arm and the retainer member contain therebetween a first angle, while the second clamping arm and the retainer member contain therebetween a second angle. 
     
     
         6 . A manufacturing method of a thermal module, comprising steps of:
 providing a metal board and at least one heat conduction member;   primarily punching the metal board to form a first clamping arm and a second clamping arm;   secondarily punching the metal board to form a retainer member with a predetermined profile; and   placing the heat conduction member on one face of the formed retainer member and applying a force to the first and second clamping arms to bend the first and second clamping arms toward the heat conduction member to tightly hold the heat conduction member and connect the heat conduction member with the retainer member.   
     
     
         7 . The manufacturing method of the thermal module as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein in the step of primarily punching the metal board, the metal board is primarily punched by means of slot punch process. 
     
     
         8 . The manufacturing method of the thermal module as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein in the step of secondarily punching the metal board, the metal board is secondarily punched by means of laying-off process. 
     
     
         9 . The manufacturing method of the thermal module as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein in the step of placing the heat conduction member on one face of the formed retainer member and applying a force to the first and second clamping arms, the heat conduction member is attached to the formed retainer member and then the first and second clamping arms are forcedly bent toward the heat conduction member by means of punching to securely hold the heat conduction member. 
     
     
         10 . The manufacturing method of the thermal module as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the heat conduction member is selected from a group consisting of heat pipe, heat spreader, flat-plate heat pipe and heat conduction metal.