Method and apparatus for cooling multi-chip modules using integral heatpipe technology

摘要

A method and apparatus for cooling a multi-chip module with an integrated heatpipe (38). Multiple semiconductor chips (10) are embedded in a packaging substrate (12) with electrical interconnects disposed on one side while a heat sink (14) incorporated into the substrate on the other side and abutting the semiconductor chips on their underside. A heatpipe (38) is directly mounted to the heat sink. Inside the heatpipe is a chamber containing a coolant (18) and a wick (16). Heat travels from the semiconductor through the heat sink and finally into the heatpipe, wherein the region immediately adjacent to the heat sink heats up and evaporates the coolant. The vaporized coolant then travels to the opposite side of the heatpipe where it cools and condenses back to liquid form. A wick draws the condensate back to the evaporator portion by capillary action. In the preferred embodiment, when the multi-chip module is mounted to the motherboard, it is inverted such that the semiconductor chips and their electrical interconnects are directly connected to the motherboard and the heatpipe consequently becomes situated at the top. In this inverted orientation, heat rises naturally upward through the heat sink and heatpipe and out into the ambient environment.