Composite Heat Spreader with Localized Thermal Conductivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Information handling systems, particularly those with OLED displays and batteries, face challenges in thermal management due to their thin and flexible nature, where heat spreaders need to efficiently dissipate heat in specific directions while maintaining structural integrity and preventing overheating that can lead to battery swelling and performance degradation.
Innovation Solution
A composite heat spreader using graphene and solid-solid phase change materials, with localized heat spreading in the XY plane and generalized heat spreading in XYZ directions, incorporating metal for rigidity and insulating resin to control heat dissipation, ensuring effective thermal management and structural support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a traditional copper heat spreader is used, then heat is conducted uniformly in all directions, but this causes overheating in specific directions and does not provide directional heat control
Solution Approach 1:
The heat spreader incorporates regions with different thermal conductivities: a first region with high thermal conductivity for efficient heat spreading, and a second region with low thermal conductivity for heat blocking. This local differentiation allows directional heat control, preventing overheating in specific directions while maintaining effective heat dissipation in others.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat spreader uses a composite structure combining materials with different thermal properties. The first region uses high thermal conductivity material (such as metal) for efficient heat spreading, while the second region uses low thermal conductivity material (such as polymer or ceramic) for heat blocking, achieving both effective heat dissipation and directional control.
2Volume of moving object
If the system is made thinner to improve portability, then device size is reduced, but heat dissipation becomes more difficult due to reduced space for thermal management
Solution Approach 1:
The heat spreader uses localized high thermal conductivity regions concentrated where heat generation occurs, maximizing heat dissipation efficiency in a thin profile. The high conductivity first region is positioned strategically to handle heat from specific components, while the overall thin design maintains portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat spreader is segmented into functional regions: a first region for active heat spreading and a second region for heat blocking. This segmentation allows optimized thermal management in different zones, enabling effective heat dissipation despite the thin overall device structure.
3Temperature
If graphene is used for heat spreading, then heat conduction in XY plane is enhanced 1000× compared to Z direction, but this creates anisotropic heat distribution that may cause localized overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The design incorporates both high thermal conductivity regions (first region) for efficient heat spreading and low thermal conductivity regions (second region) for heat blocking. This local differentiation balances the anisotropic nature of graphene by strategically placing heat blocking regions to prevent localized overheating while maintaining overall heat conduction efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat spreader combines materials with different thermal conductivities to create a composite structure that balances anisotropic heat distribution. The combination of high conductivity material in the first region and low conductivity material in the second region compensates for the directional nature of graphene, achieving more uniform heat distribution.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composite heat spreader effectively dissipates heat in specific directions, preventing overheating and battery swelling, while maintaining structural integrity and enhancing the performance and longevity of information handling system components.
Implementation Method 1
graphene based heat spreaders spread heat in X-Y plane almost 1000× higher than Z direction
Implementation Method 2
the second portion of the heat spreader comprises a solid-solid phase change material
Implementation Method 3
a metal (such as copper) is incorporated into the first portion of the heat spreader. The metal increases the rigidity of the first portion
Data Source
AI summary
A heat spreader which is configured using a composite of materials to provide localized heat spreading in certain directions across portions of the heat spreader while providing generalized heat spreading in multiple directions across other portions of the heat spreader. In certain embodiments, the localized heat spreading is across an XY plane and the generalized heat spreading is substantially continuous in XYZ directions.