Vapor chamber structure and method of manufacturing same

Abstract

A vapor chamber structure includes a main body formed from a first plate and a second plate, which are correspondingly closed to each other to define at least one open area on the main body and a chamber in the main body. The chamber is internally provided with at least one wick structure, a supporting structure, and a working fluid. The open area correspondingly extends through the first plate, the second plate and the chamber. When the main body is positioned on a substrate to contact with a heat source, the at least one open area allows other electronic elements higher than the heat source to extend therethrough without interfering with the direct contact of the main body with the heat source. A method of manufacturing the above-described vapor chamber structure is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vapor chamber structure comprising a main body formed from a first plate and a second plate; the first plate and the second plate being correspondingly closed to each other to thereby together define at least one open area on the main body and a chamber in the main body; the chamber being internally provided with at least one wick structure, a support structure, and a working fluid; and the open area correspondingly extending through the first plate, the second plate, and the chamber. 
     
     
         2 . The vapor chamber structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is an independent and sealed space spreading between the first plate, the second plate and the at least one open area. 
     
     
         3 . The vapor chamber structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first plate has a first opening formed thereon to extend through the first plate in a thickness direction thereof, and the first opening having an axially inward perpendicularly bent first extension wall extended along a border thereof; and wherein the second plate has a second opening formed thereon to extend through the second plate in a thickness direction thereof, and the second opening having an axially inward perpendicularly bent second extension wall extended along a border thereof; whereby when the first and the second plate are correspondingly closed to each other, the first extension wall has a free end abutted on a free end of the second extension wall, so that the open area is enclosed in the first and second extension walls. 
     
     
         4 . The vapor chamber structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first plate has a first opening formed thereon to extend through the first plate in a thickness direction thereof, and the first opening having an axially inward perpendicularly bent first extension wall extended along a border thereof; and wherein the second plate has a second opening formed thereon to extend through the second plate in a thickness direction thereof; whereby when the first and the second plate are correspondingly closed to each other, the first extension wall has a free end abutted on a border of the second opening, so that the open area is enclosed in the first extension wall and the border of the second opening. 
     
     
         5 . The vapor chamber structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the wick structure is provided on inner wall surfaces of the chamber and is selected from the group consisting of a sintered powder structure, a netlike structure, and a plurality of grooves. 
     
     
         6 . The vapor chamber structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the supporting structure is selected from the group consisting of copper posts, sintered powder posts, and round hollow posts. 
     
     
         7 . A method of manufacturing vapor chamber structure, comprising following steps:
 (a) providing a first plate and a second plate;   (b) mechanically processing the first and the second plate, so that the first and the second plate are correspondingly formed at predetermined positions with at least one opening;   (c) providing at least one wick structure and a supporting structure on surfaces of the first and second plates that are to be faced toward each other when the first and second plates are correspondingly closed later; and   (d) correspondingly closing the first and the second plate to each other to define a chamber therebetween, fixedly connecting and sealing joints between the first and the second plate as well as between the first and the second opening, evacuating the chamber, and filling a working fluid into the chamber.   
     
     
         8 . The vapor chamber structure manufacturing method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein in the step (d) the joints between the first and the second plate as well as between the first and second opening are fixedly connected and sealed by a manner selected from the group consisting of soldering, diffusion bonding, and ultrasonic welding. 
     
     
         9 . The vapor chamber structure manufacturing method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein in the step (c) the wick structure is selected from the group consisting of a sintered powder structure, a netlike structure, and a plurality of grooves. 
     
     
         10 . The vapor chamber structure manufacturing method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein in the step (c) the wick structure is a sintered powder structure being molded on the facing surfaces of the first and second plates by sintering. 
     
     
         11 . The vapor chamber structure manufacturing method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein in the step (b) the first and the second plate are mechanically processed in a manner selected from the group consisting of punching, drawing, and cutting.