초록

A heat spreader with multiple stacked printed circuit boards (PCBS) includes top and side sections within which a first PCB is contained and bottom edges that extend to a second PCB. The heat spreader and second PCB substantially enclose the first PCB therein.

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We claim: 1. A multiple stacked printed circuit board (PCB) module comprising: a first PCB having a variety of different-height components; a second PCB connected in a stacked configuration with the first PCB; and a heat spreader comprising: a top section having an interior side with a variety of p

We claim: 1. A multiple stacked printed circuit board (PCB) module comprising: a first PCB having a variety of different-height components; a second PCB connected in a stacked configuration with the first PCB; and a heat spreader comprising: a top section having an interior side with a variety of projections and recesses; and side sections extending from the top section to bottom edges, the side sections and the interior side of the top section defining an interior of the heat spreader; and wherein: the interior of the heat spreader contains the first PCB therein with at least some of the projections and recesses of the top section conforming to and in thermal contact with at least some of the different-height components of the first PCB; the bottom edges of the side sections extend to the second PCB; and the heat spreader and second PCB substantially enclose the first PCB therein. 2. A multiple stacked PCB module as defined in claim 1 wherein: the heat spreader, upon operation of the first and second PCBs, suppresses electromagnetic interference generated by the first and second PCBs. 3. A multiple stacked PCB module as defined in claim 1 wherein: the second PCB comprises a board and at least one component mounted thereon; and the heat spreader is in thermally conductive relationship with the component on the board of the second PCB. 4. A multiple stacked PCB module as defined in claim 1 wherein: the first PCB comprises a board with the different-height components mounted thereon: the second PCB comprises a board and at least one component mounted thereon; the board of the first PCB comprises a hole through which the component mounted on the board of the second PCB is exposed to the interior side of the top section of the heat spreader; and at least one of the projections of the interior side of the top section of the heat spreader extends through the hole of the board of the first PCB to be in thermal contact with the component on the board of the second PCB. 5. A multiple stacked PCB module as defined in claim 1 wherein: the second PCB comprises at least one component mounted thereon; the first PCB comprises a hole therein; and the heat spreader is in thermally conductive relationship with the component on the second PCB through the hole in the first PCB. 6. A multiple stacked PCB module as defined in claim 1 wherein: the heat spreader further comprises heat dissipation fins projecting from a top side of the top section. 7. A multiple stacked PCB module as defined in claim 1 wherein: the heat spreader further comprises openings in a top side of the top section to expose at least one of the different-height components of the first PCB. 8. A multiple stacked PCB module as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a third PCB connected in a stacked configuration with the first and second PCBs; and wherein: the interior of the heat spreader contains the first and third PCBs therein; and the heat spreader and second PCB substantially enclose the first and third PCBs therein. 9. A heat spreader for use with multiple stacked printed circuit boards (PCBs) comprising: a top section having an interior side with a variety of projections and recesses; and side sections extending from the top section to bottom edges, the side sections and the interior side of the top section defining an interior of the heat spreader; and wherein: the interior substantially conforms to a first one of the PCBs to contain the first PCB substantially within the interior, the first PCB having a variety of different-height components; at least some of the projections and recesses of the top section conforming to and in thermal contact with at least some of the different-height components of the first PCB; the bottom edges of the side sections substantially conform to edges of a second one of the PCBs stacked with the first PCB; and the heat spreader and second PCB, when connected together with the first PCB, substantially enclose the first PCB therein. 10. A heat spreader as defined in claim 9 wherein, when the heat spreader is connected together with the first and second PCBs, at least one of the projections of the interior side of the top section the interior projection passes through a hole in the first PCB to extend to a component on the second PCB. 11. A heat spreader as defined in claim 9 wherein: the heat spreader, when connected together with the first and second PCBs and upon operation of the first and second PCBs, suppresses electromagnetic interference generated by the first and second PCBs. 12. A heat spreader as defined in claim 9 wherein: the heat spreader is in thermally conductive relationship with a component of the second PCB. 13. A heat spreader as defined in claim 9 wherein: at least one of the projections of the interior side of the top section of the heat spreader extends through a hole in the board of the first PCB to be in thermally conductive relationship with a component on a board of the second PCB when the heat spreader is connected together with the first and second PCBs. 14. A heat spreader as defined in claim 9 wherein: the heat spreader is in thermally conductive relationship with a component on the second PCB through a hole in the first PCB. 15. A heat spreader as defined in claim 9 further comprising: heat dissipation fins projecting from a top side of the top section. 16. A heat spreader as defined in claim 9 further comprising: openings in a top side of the top section to expose at least one of different-height components of the first PCB when the heat spreader is connected to the first PCB. 17. A heat spreader as defined in claim 9 wherein: the interior substantially conforms to the first one of the PCBs and to a third one of the PCBs, stacked with the first and second PCBs, to contain the first and third PCBs substantially within the interior; and the heat spreader and second PCB, when connected together with the first and third PCBs, substantially enclose the first and third PCBs therein. 18. A multiple stacked printed circuit board (PCB) module comprising: three or more PCBs connected together in a stacked configuration; and a heat spreader comprising: a top section having an interior side with a variety of projections and recesses; and side sections extending from the top section to bottom edges, the side sections and the interior side of the top section defining an interior of the heat spreader; and wherein: the interior of the heat spreader contains a plurality of the PCBs therein, one of which has a variety of different-height components, and at least some of the projections and recesses of the top section conform to and are in thermal contact with at least some of the different-height components; the bottom edges of the side sections extend to at least one of the PCBs; and the heat spreader and the at least one of the PCBs substantially enclose the plurality of the PCBs therein.