Apparatus and method for improved thermal coupling of a semiconductor package to a cooling plate and increased electrical coupling of package leads on more than one side of the package to a circuit board

摘要

A heat sink and method for heat sinking a package containing electronic components is described. The heat sinking is accomplished by use of a cooling plate located beneath a circuit board. The package having leads extending from more than one side of the package is positioned on the cooling plate so that the leads from the sides of the package can be electrically coupled to conductors on the circuit board wherein the circuit board is disposed about at least two and preferably three sides of the package. The package is secured to the cooling plate by a spring clip. The spring clip permits flexible positioning of the package relative to the cooling plate including positioning the package in close proximity of the edge of the cooling plate. Thermal conduction between the package and the cooling plate can be enhanced by the presence of a compressible thermally-conducting material. The circuit board preferably has an opening therein so as to permit the board to be in close proximity to the three sides of the package for increased connectibility.