Pluggable Connector Heat Sink Assembly With Spring-Loaded Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat sink designs require additional frames and single-point engagement, leading to reduced heat dissipation area, skewing issues, and increased space occupation, making it difficult to achieve a thin profile.
Innovation Solution
A connector assembly comprising a cage, a heat sink module, and a pluggable module, where the heat sink module includes a movable plate, pressure-applying spring, and supporting spring, allowing the heat sink to move between release and contact positions, reducing friction and enhancing thermal transfer efficiency while maintaining a low-profile construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a frame is added to support the lever and metal member, then the structural stability is improved, but the device complexity and space occupation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the heat sink frame with the supporting function, eliminating the need for a separate frame structure. The heat sink frame itself provides the necessary support for the lever and metal member, merging the support function into the existing thermal management structure, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining structural stability
Solution Approach 2:
The heat sink frame is designed to serve multiple functions: thermal management and structural support. By making the frame multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for additional dedicated support frames, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the required structural stability
2Reliability
If a groove is opened in the heat sink to mount the metal member, then the metal member can be securely mounted, but the heat dissipating area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of removing material from the heat sink surface (creating a groove), the patent uses a vertical engagement approach where the metal member engages with the heat sink from above through a pressing mechanism. This dimensional change allows secure mounting without compromising the horizontal heat dissipating surface area
3Device complexity
If a single point engagement is used to mount the metal member, then the device complexity is reduced, but the heat sink becomes easily skewed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements differential engagement: a single-point pressing mechanism for simplicity combined with distributed support through the lever's contact area with the heat sink. This creates local quality variations in the engagement system, providing both simplicity and stability
Solution Approach 2:
The lever is designed as a dynamic element that can rotate and adjust its position. This dynamic capability allows the system to self-align and distribute forces evenly during operation, preventing skewing while maintaining a relatively simple single-point engagement structure at the pressing interface
4Reliability
If space is provided for the metal member to elastically deform and move, then the thermal contact reliability is improved, but the heat sink thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thin flexible lever instead of a bulky deformable metal member. The lever's flexibility provides the necessary elastic deformation capability for reliable thermal contact, while its thin film nature minimizes the space required, thereby maintaining a low-profile heat sink structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the pressing mechanism by using a spring-loaded system that provides controlled force. This allows the heat sink to maintain reliable thermal contact without requiring large deformation spaces, as the spring force can be optimized to achieve contact pressure within a compact volume
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 solution reduces friction and wear, promotes thermal transfer efficiency, and allows for a balanced and stable movement of the heat sink, addressing the issues of space occupation and profile thickness in existing designs.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic acting force of the pressure-applying spring makes a bottom portion of the heat sink downwardly contact a surface of the pluggable module with a pressure
Implementation Method 2
the supporting spring upwardly raises the heat sink to move to the release position
Implementation Method 3
promotes thermal transfer efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A connector assembly includes a cage having at least one inserting passageway and a heat sink frame positioned above the inserting passageway, the heat sink module is assembled to the heat sink frame, the heat sink module includes a movable plate, a heat sink, a pressure-applying spring and a supporting spring; the movable plate has a pushed portion which enters into the inserting passageway, the pressure-applying spring is provided between the movable plate and the heat sink, the supporting spring upwardly and elastically supports the heat sink; the movable plate is capable of moving relative to the heat sink frame between a first position which is in the front and a second position which is in the rear, the heat sink is capable of moving relative to the heat sink frame between a release position which is in the up and a contact position which is in the down. A pluggable module is capable of inserting into the inserting passageway of the cage along an inserting direction which is from front to rear so as to push the pushed portion of the movable plate and make the movable plate rearwardly move from the first position to the second position, in turn the movable plate brings the pressure-applying spring to move to actuate the heat sink from the release position which is in the up to move to the contact position which is in the down to contact a surface of the pluggable module