Fixed Cold Plate Cooling for Light Transmission Modules

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic equipment with liquid cooling structures face complexity and inefficiency in ensuring uniform cooling of light transmission modules due to moving cold plates and separate cooling liquid supply systems, leading to potential liquid leakage and uneven cooling effects.

Innovation Solution

An electronic equipment design featuring a fixed, high-thermal-conductivity cold plate with integrated cooling liquid flow paths and elastic members that push cages toward the cold plate, ensuring consistent contact and cooling of light transmission modules without the need for additional converting mechanisms or complex piping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a moving cold plate structure is used to cool light transmission modules, then the cooling coverage can be adjusted, but the structure becomes complex and liquid leakage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling coverage adjustmentVSAvoidcold plate structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making the cold plate movable to adjust cooling coverage, the patent inverts the approach by making the cage movable relative to the fixed cold plate. The elastic member pushes the cage to move between first and second positions, allowing the light transmission module to contact different portions of the cold plate surface, thereby achieving adjustable cooling coverage without moving the cold plate itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate cooling liquid supply systems are used for each cold plate, then each module can be cooled independently, but the system size and piping complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent cooling controlVSAvoidpiping system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple cooling liquid supply systems into a single shared cooling liquid supply system. The cooling liquid flows through the cold plate and is distributed to multiple cages through the shared system, eliminating the need for separate piping for each cold plate while maintaining the ability to cool multiple modules simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If a fixed cold plate is used, then the structure is simplified, but uniform cooling of multiple modules becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecold plate structure simplicityVSAvoidcooling uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic movement of the cage relative to the fixed cold plate. The elastic member enables the cage to move between first and second positions, allowing the light transmission module to contact different portions of the cold plate surface. This dynamic adjustment ensures uniform cooling distribution across multiple modules while maintaining a simple fixed cold plate structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If additional converting mechanisms are added to adjust cooling contact, then cooling adaptability improves, but device complexity and failure risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling contact adjustmentVSAvoidsystem reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic member provides self-service functionality by automatically pushing the cage to move between positions based on thermal expansion or pre-set mechanical properties. This eliminates the need for external converting mechanisms or complex control systems, thereby improving reliability while maintaining cooling adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

This design simplifies the cooling structure, reduces the risk of liquid leakage, and achieves uniform cooling of multiple light transmission modules by using a shared cold plate and meandering cooling liquid flow paths, enhancing cooling efficiency and reducing system size.

Implementation Method 1

a cold plate 14, through whose interior a cooling liquid flows, fixed to the housing 12... the cold plate has a contact that is provided at a position of contacting the object of cooling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a cooling liquid flowing at an interior of the cold plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

an elastic member that pushes the cage toward a cold plate side

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12022637B2Electronic equipment and light transmission device with cold plate for cooling

Publication Date: 2024.06.25 FUJITSU LTD

AI summary

An electronic equipment includes: a housing; a cold plate fixed to the housing, a cooling liquid flowing at an interior of the cold plate; a cage that is supported at the housing so as to be movable toward and away from the cold plate, an object of cooling being inserted into the cage; and an elastic member that pushes the cage toward a cold plate side, wherein the cold plate has a contact that is provided at a position of contacting the object of cooling in a state in which the object of cooling is inserted in the cage.