VARIABLE GAP THERMAL INTERFACE DEVICE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermal interface device ensuring a high thermal conductivity when the interval of nonparallel planes or the interval between a heat source and a heat sink is not uniform, and to provide a method for transmitting heat. SOLUTION: The variable gap thermal interface device comprises a multi-axis rotational spherical joint having a spherical concave surface having a first curvature radius and a spherical convex surface having a curvature radius identical to the first curvature radius where the convex surface and the concave surface touch each other slidably. The variable gap thermal interface device also comprises a block having a proximal end being coupled rotatably with a heat sink through the rotational spherical joint and a distal end on the opposite side. The variable gap thermal interface device further comprises a shim of substantially uniform thickness separating a first surface and a second surface on the opposite side wherein the first surface communicates thermally with the distal end of the block and the second surface communicates thermally with the heat source. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI