Integrated circuit chips cooling module having coolant leakage prevention device

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0001This invention relates to an integrated circuit chips cooling module having a coolant leakage prevention device. More particularly, it relates to an integrated circuit chips cooling module provided with a coolant leakage prevention device and a coolant leakage detection means in the field of water-cooled multichip modules which are required to be of high reliability for use in a high speed computer among others.

0002In the field of a computer, there is widely adopted a packaging system in which in order to achieve a high speed circuit operation, integrated circuit chips of high power consumption are densely arranged on a wiring substrate such as printed circuit board or ceramic board. The power dissipation of such a wiring substrate amounts to several hundreds watts. It is apparent, therefore, that it is an important key to the embodiment of a high speed computer to work out a powerful and compact cooling system for absorbing a large dissipated power.

0003To meet the above requirements, various cooling devices have heretofore been proposed. Examples are US Patent 4,558,395 and 4,644,385. The coolant flow systems for these integrated circuit cooling modules of the prior art are provided with, for example, pipes in bellows form. The conceivable methods for the manufacture of such bellows include electrocasting using an electroplating technique, lamination of a large number of metals using welding or similar joining techniques, and plastic working of metal pipes by press forming. In all of these joining techniques, it is necessary for the production of flexible bellows to make the final wall thickness sufficiently small. In such a case, it is anticipated that there is a possibility of coolant leakage into the cooling module caused by pin holes formed during the fabrication of bellows or by corrosion due to the flow of coolant after assembly of the cooling module. In the above patent literature, nothing has been disclosed about the coolant leakage prevention means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0004An object of this invention is to provide an integrated circuit chips cooling module provided with a coolant leakage prevention device or a coolant leakage detection means in the coolant flow system, which, when coolant leakage takes place, detects the location of leakage and transmits an alarm as well as repairs automatically the spot of leakage, thereby to permit uninterrupted operation of the integrated circuit chips cooling module until the time of scheduled maintenance inspection.

0005In one aspect of the present invention as claimed, a coated portion comprising an organic or inorganic high- molecular compound curable upon reacting with the leaked coolant to keep the latter from leaking is formed at least on a part of the coolant flow system of the integrated circuit chips cooling module, particularly on the surface of the portion where the coolant leakage may possibly take place such as the bellows-like pipes, thereby to keep automatically the coolant from leakage and preferably to actuate a display for the location of leakage or to transmit an alarm by detecting the by-product formed in said curing reaction. The formation of the coated portion can be achieved by a customary method such as coating, dipping.

0006Preferably providing the coated portion, it may as well to make double the wall of the portion where the possibility of leakage exists and fill the gap of double-wall with the high-molecular compound.

0007As the coolants used in the coolant flow system of the present integrated circuit chips cooling module, there may be mentioned water, Freon, Fluorinert (3M Co. USA), etc. The high-molecular compounds useful for the coolant leakage prevention according to this invention are organic as well as inorganic types curable upon reaction with the coolant, thereby yielding a plastic product which is relatively resilient and exhibits good adherence to the surface of coolant flow system.

0008The inorganic high-molecular compound, as herein referred to, is that having in the molecule a recurring unit <chemistry id="chem0001" num="0001"><img file="EP0246657B1_D0001.tif" /></chemistry> (where n is a relatively large number) formed by an atom M and another atom L. Such a high-molecular compound having the aforesaid function can be used. As organic high-molecular compounds, mention may be made of various polymers including those obtained from organic silane compounds having the aforesaid function.

0009With respect to the above description, the relationship to the coolant is as described below.

0010A generally employed coolant is water. In this case, a preferred high-molecular compound is a polymer formed by the reaction under anhydrous conditions between a reactive polysiloxane represented by the general formula <chemistry id="chem0002" num="0002"><img file="EP0246657B1_D0002.tif" /></chemistry> (wherein R represents an alkyl group such as methyl or ethyl group, a phenyl group, or a fluoroalkyl group) and a polyfunctional silane compound (crosslinking agent) having a hydrolyzable group such as alkoxy, acetoxy, or ketoxime group. Upon contact with water, such a polymer becomes cured by condensation reaction of the alcohol, oxime, acetic acid, amide, or amine elimination type, thereby yielding an organic silicone rubber excellent in resilience and adherence, which automatically seals the leaking spot. At the same time as the formation of organic silicon rubber, there is formed a by-product such as alcohol, oxime, acetic acid. There is provided a leakage detection means which detects the by-product such as an alcohol by a sensor and actuates a display for the location of water leakage or transmits an alarm.

0011These and other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0012Fig. 1 is a rough drawing illustrating the general structre of the integrated circuit chips cooling module of this invention.

0013Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the internal structure of a cooling member in the cooling module of Fig. 1.

0014Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a principal part (coolant flow system employing a bellows-like pipe) of the integrated circuit chips cooling module in one embodiment of this invention.

0015Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the principal part of the integrated circuit chips cooling module in another embodiment of the invention.

0016Fig. 5 is a schematic drawing illustrating the integrated circuit chips cooling module in stile another embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

0017In the integrated circuit chips cooling module of this invention, when the leakage of coolant occurs in the defective coolant flow system through a pin hole for example, the high-molecular compound disposed around the pin hole reacts with the coolant and the curing reaction takes place. Contrary to the case of covering with a film-like material, the pin hole is covered with a cured composition to keep the coolant from further leaking and, as a consequence, the normal operation of the cooling module can be continued without interruption. Further, in this case, a detection sensor disposed inside the integrated circuit chips cooling module detects the by-product formed in the curing reaction of the high-molecular compound and an alarm is transmitted by the leakage detection indicator. The alarm allows the operator of the cooling module to confirm the location of leakage on the cooling module and, if necessary, to replace the module.

0018According to the integrated circuit chips cooling module of this invention, when the coolant used in the coolant flow system is water and the high-molecular compound curable by reacting with water is a polymer having several alkoxyl end groups which is obtained by the reaction under anhydrous conditions between a reactive polysiloxane having a hydroxyl group at both ends and a crosslinking agent methyltrimethoxysilane, the polymer becomes cured by the condensation reaction of the alcohol elimination type as shown below, yielding an organic silicone rubber which tightly closes the spot where leakage occurs, such as, for example, a pin hole in a bellows-like pipe. The by-product of said curing reaction is methanol. <chemistry id="chem0003" num="0003"><img file="EP0246657B1_D0003.tif" /></chemistry>

0019The methanol formed by the above reaction is detected by means of an alcohol detection sensor provided in the integrated circuit chips cooling module and a leak detection indicator transmits an alarm and indicates the location of leak position.

0020The invention is illustrated below with reference to accompanying drawings.

0021Fig. 1 is a rough drawing illustrating the general structure of the integrated circuit chips cooling module of this invention. The integrated circuit chips cooling module 100 is made by enclosing a large number of integrated circuit chips 2 mounted on a wiring substrate 3 with solder terminals 4 within a space encompassed with said wiring substrate 3 and a sealing hut 5 and affords a cooling means. The sealing is done by joining with solder 6 the edges of said sealing hut 5 to said wiring substrate 3. On the wiring substrate 3, a large number of integrated circuit chips 2 are electrically interconnected by way of solder terminals 4. On the backside of wiring substrate 3, there are provided a large number of in- and out-put pins 9 to connect the wiring circuit to the external circuit cards or circuit boards. The heat generated by the integrated circuit chips 2 is transmitted to cooling members 1 mounted on each integrated circuit chips 2 and is removed by a coolant flowing through the cooling members 1. The coolant is fed through a coolant inlet nozzle 8a provided on the sealing hut 5 to a coolant channel 7, then flows via a bellows-like pipe 10 through each cooling member 1 and discharged from a coolant outlet nozzle 8b to the outside of integrated circuit chips cooling module 100.

0022Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the internal structure of a cooling member 1 in the cooling module of Fig. 1. The cooling member 1 is constructed from an integrally molded bottom plate 12 and cooling fins 13, peripheral portions of the bottom plate 12, and a cap 11 soldered to the bottom plate at edges. Bellows-like pipes 10 are fixed to the top surface of cooling member 1, and serves to connect to coolant channels 7 provided in the sealing hut 5, as shown in Fig. 2. Owing to the spring action of bellows-like pipes 2, the cooling member 1 is pressed against or fixed to the top surface of integrated circuit chips 2. The heat generated in the integrated circuit chips 2 is transmitted, through the contact surface against or to which the cooling member 1 is pressed or fixed, successively to bottom plate 12, cooling fins 13, and the coolant.

0023The integrated circuit chips cooling module described above is disclosed in US Patent 4,644,385. This invention relates to the improvement of such cooling modules and, more particularly, to the coolant leakage prevention in the coolant flow system.

0024Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a principal part of the integrated circuit chips cooling module in an embodiment of this invention and shows a collant flow system employing bellows-like pipes. In this coolant flow system, a cooling member 1 with cooling fins formed therein and coolant channels 7 provided in the wall of a sealing hut 5 are interconnected by employing bellows-like pipes 10 to feed a coolant to the cooling member 1. The cooling member 1 is joined by pressure welding or anchoring to each of a plurality of integrated circuit chips which are signal-connected via solder terminals 4 to a wiring substrate (multilayer wiring substrate). The heat generated in each of the integrated circuit chips 2 is transmitted through the pressure welded or anchored interface from cooling fins to the coolant, then through the coolant channels 7 to the outside of the cooling module. In this embodiment, an organic or inorganic high-molecular compound 14 (shown by hatching), which undergoes curing reaction upon contact with the leaked coolant, is coated on the surface of bellows-like pipes 10 where the possibility of coolant leakage is highest throughout the coolant flow system. If a pin hole appears in the bellows-like pipe 10, the coolant leakage is automatically stopped by the curing of high-molecular compound 14 and it becomes unnecessary to interrupt the operation of cooling module for repair.

0025When water is used coolant, it is desirable to use a high-molecular compound a polymer formed by the reaction under anhydrous conditions between a reactive polysiloxane and a polyfunctional silane compound. Upon reaction with leak water, such a polymer becomes cured to yield a rubber-like elastomer which does not impair the flexibility of bellows-like pipe 10. Since this polymer exhibits excellent adherence to various plastics and metals, the material of bellows-like pipe is not limited to any special one. Depending upon the type of polyfunctional silane compound (a crosslinking agent), used in its preparation, such a polymer, upon reaction with water, gives an alcohol, oxime, acetic acid, amide, or acetone as by-product. In view of the possible corrosion of integrated circuit chips 2 in the cooling module, it is preferable to use a polymer which undergoes condensation reaction of the alcohol elimination type, thereby yielding an alcohol as by-product. A typical example of such high-molecular compounds is a polymer having several alkoxyl end groups which is formed by the reaction under anhydrous conditions between a reactive polysiloxane having a hydroxyl group at both ends and a crosslinking agent methyltrimethoxysilane.

0026Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a principal part of the integrated circuit chips cooling module in another embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment, instead of coating a high-molecular compound 14 on the surface of bellows-like pipe 10, the latter is constructed to have a double-wall, the gap between the outer wall 17 and inner wall being filled with a high-molecular compound 14. Such a structure is effective in case the high-molecular compound 14 has a high fluidity so that it is difficult to retain a uniform thickness of the layer of high-molecular compound if applied by coating. Moreover, the outer wall 17 serves as an additional barrier against the leak coolant and, as a consequence, it has an advantage over the structure shown in Fig. 3 in confronting an emergency of large leakage.

0027Fig. 5 is a schematic drawing illustrating an integrated circuit chips cooling module provided with a leak detection means in still another embodiment of this invention. In a manner similar to that in Fig. 3 or 4, coolant flow system is constructed using bellows-like pipes coated with a high-molecular compound (not shown in Fig. 5 to avoid complication) curable upon contact with a coolant. In this embodiment, the integrated circuit chips cooling module 100 contains a built-in sensor 15 for detecting the by-product formed in the curing reaction of the high-molecular compound 14. The output of the sensor 15 is connected to a leak detection indicator 16 disposed outside the cooling module 100. By use of such an arrangement, the operator can be informed of the occurrence of coolant leakage and the completion of automated repair of the leak.

0028For instance, when water is used as the coolant and a polymer curable with elimination of an alcohol as the high-molecular compound 14, it is possible to use an alcohol detection sensor employing an oxide semiconductor as the detection sensor 15. The detection sensor 15 employing an oxide semiconductor shows a change in resistance by adsorption of alcohol molecules to its surface. The change in resistance can be detected by means of a bridge circuit.

0029In Fig. 5, the output signal from the detection sensor 15 is fetched by the line passing through the wall of a sealing hut 5. It is also possible to fetch the signal via in- and out-put pins 9. It is further possible to transmit only the leak detection signal to the leak detection indicator 16 by integrating the detection sensor 15 and the bridge circuit (not shown).

0030According to the present embodiment, it is possible to detect the coolant leakage as well as to repair automatically the coolant leak spot.

0031As described in the foregoing, according to this invention, it becomes possible to detect the coolant leakage inside an integrated circuit chips cooling module and to automatically repair the spot of coolant leakage. As a result, the interruption of operation of the cooling module for the purpose of maintenance or replacement is unnecessary and, hence, the cooling module is improved in reliability. It is a general practice to provide a back-up unit in the case wherein the continuous operation of cooling modules cannot be interrupted for the reason of safety or other reasons. According to this invention, such a back-up unit becomes unnecessary.