Memory module assembly including a clip for mounting a heat sink thereon

The present invention relates generally to a memory module assembly, and more particularly to a memory module assembly including a clip and a heat sink, where the heat sink is mounted to an electronic component attached on a surface of a printed circuit board of the memory module assembly via the clip.

The memory module assemblies that are currently in the use generally do not require cooling devices to dissipate heat as they are operated on or below 66 MHz and do not generate enough heat to require a cooling device. However, as the industry progresses, memory module assemblies, such SDRAM DIMM memory module assemblies may be required to operate at 100 MHz or above. For these up-to-date memory module assemblies, heat sinks will be required to remove heat generated thereby. However, since the memory module assemblies have small board areas and are usually mounted on an already crowded motherboard of a computer, the mounting of such a heat sink on the memory module assembly becomes an issue.

A memory module assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a printed circuit board having a heat-generating electronic component thereon, and first and second heat-dissipation plates attached on opposite sides of the printed circuit board. The first heat-dissipation plate includes a first hook extending from a side thereof and the first hook includes a resisting portion extending from an end of the first heat-dissipation plate and a first engaging portion extending from a free end of the resisting portion for resisting the printed circuit board and the second heat-dissipation plate. The second heat-dissipation plate defines a depressed portion in a side thereof for engaging with the first hook. The other sides of the first and second heat-dissipation plates engage with each other to clamp the printed circuit board between the first and second heat-dissipation plates.

Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Many aspects of the present apparatus and method can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present apparatus and method. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric, exploded view of a memory module assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is an isometric, exploded view of a memory module assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of FIG. 3 .

Referring to FIGS.1 -2 , a memory module assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a printed circuit board 10 with a heat-generating electronic component 14 mounted on a front surface thereof, and first and second heat-dissipation plates 20 , 30 attached on opposite sides of the printed circuit board 10 . The heat-generating electronic component 14 intimately contacts with the second heat-dissipation plate 30 whereby heat generated by the heat-generating electronic component 14 is absorbed and dissipated by the second heat-dissipation plate 30 . The printed circuit board 10 has a substantially rectangular shape and defines a pair of through holes 12 .

The first heat-dissipation plate 20 comprises a rectangular-shaped first body 22 . The first body 22 is shorter than the printed circuit board 10 . The first body 22 has a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides. Three spaced grooves 224 are defined in a front face of the first body 22 and are recessed in a direction along the long sides of the first body 22 to form ribs (not shown) on a rear face of the first body 22 in a manner so as to strengthen the first body 22 . A pair of protruding portions 220 are located in upper and lower ends of the front face of the first body 22 and a through hole 222 is defined in each protruding portion 220 for a fastener, for example a rivet 40 , to extend through to connect the first heat-dissipation plate 20 , the printed circuit board 10 and the second heat-dissipation plate 30 together. First and second hooks 24 , 26 inwardly extend from edges of the short sides of the first body 22 . The first hook 24 comprises a spreading portion 240 extending from the edge of one of the short sides of the first body 22 . A resisting portion 242 extends from an edge of the spreading portion 240 and perpendicular to the first body 22 . A first engaging portion 244 extends from a free end of the resisting portion 242 and parallel to the first body 22 , for facilitating an engagement of the first hook 24 with the second heat-dissipation plate 30 . The first engaging portion 244 has a T shape allowing it to engage with the second heat-dissipation plate 30 . The second hook 26 is an elastic piece attached on an end portion of the first body 22 and has a section 260 attached on the end portion of the rear face of the first body 22 . A pair of locking portions 262 clamp on upper and lower ends of the first body 22 . A blocking portion 264 inwardly extends from an edge of the other short side of the first body 22 and perpendicular to the first body 22 and a second engaging portion 266 extends from a free end of the blocking portion 264 and inclined to the first body 22 , for facilitating an engagement of the second hook 26 with the second heat-dissipation plate 30 .

The second heat-dissipation plate 30 comprises a rectangular-shaped second body 32 . The second body 22 has a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides. A pair of protruding portions 320 are located in upper and lower ends of the rear surface of the second body 32 and a through hole 322 is defined in each protruding portion 320 . Two groups of ribs 324 each having three ribs 324 formed spaced from each other on the second body 32 are arranged on opposite sides of a front surface of the second the body 32 and extending in a direction along the long sides of the second body 32 . A T-shaped depressed portion 34 is defined in an edge of one of the short sides of the second the body 32 to accept the first engaging portion 244 of the first hook therein and an ear 36 is formed on an edge of the other short side of the second the body 32 to accept the second engaging portion 266 of the second hook 26 therein. The ear 36 is curved to define a notch 360 for facilitating an engagement of the second engaging portion 266 of the second hook 26 with the ear 36 .

Referring to FIG. 2 , in attachment of the printed circuit board 10 to the first heat-dissipation plate 20 , an end of the printed circuit board 10 is inserted toward the first hook 24 of the first heat-dissipation plate 20 and is resisted by the resisting portion 242 of the first hook 24 . The other end of the printed circuit board 10 is pressed against the blocking portion 264 of the second hook 26 to make the second hook 26 expand outwardly. Opposite ends of the printed circuit board 10 are tightly blocked between the resisting portion 242 of the first hook 24 and the blocking portion 264 of the second hook 26 of the first heat-dissipation plate 20 . The end with the depressed portion 34 of the second heat-dissipation plate 30 is inserted towards the first hook 24 and is resisted by the resisting portion 242 of the first hook 24 . The first engaging portion 244 of the first hook 24 is dropped into the depressed portion 34 . The other end of the second heat-dissipation plate 30 is pressed toward the second hook 26 and the ear 36 resists the blocking portion 264 of the second hook 26 to make the second hook 26 expand outwardly. The second engaging portion 266 of the second hook 26 is clipped in the notch 360 of the ear 36 and opposite ends of the second heat-dissipation plate 30 are tightly held between the first and second hooks 24 , 26 of the first heat-dissipation plate 20 . The rivets 40 extend through their respective through holes 322 , 12 , and 222 to connect the first and second heat-dissipation plates 20 , 30 and the printed circuit board 10 together.

Referring to FIGS. 3-4 , a memory module assembly is shown in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The memory module assembly in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention comprises first and second heat-dissipation plates 50 , 60 and a clamp 80 clamping the ends of the first and second heat-dissipation plates 50 , 60 on the printed circuit board 10 . The second hook 26 of the first heat-dissipation plate 20 in the first embodiment is replaced by the clamp 80 and a positioning pole 62 formed on an end of the second heat-dissipation plate 60 . The clamp 80 comprises a connecting portion 82 and a pair of elastic pressing portions 84 extending from two free ends of the connecting portion 82 . One of the pressing portions 84 defines an opening 840 for engaging with the positioning pole 62 . When the end with the depressed portion 34 of the second heat-dissipation plate 60 and an end of the printed circuit board 10 resist the first hook 24 of the first heat-dissipation plate 50 , the clamp 80 is pushed towards the other ends of the first and second heat-dissipation plates 50 , 60 until the positioning pole 62 extends through the opening 840 and the pressing portion 84 is blocked by the positioning pole 62 . The pressing portions 84 of the clamp 80 resiliently press the first and second heat-dissipation plates 50 , 60 to be attached on front and rear surfaces of the printed circuit board 10 .

It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.