|Publication number||US6972953 B1|
|Application number||US 10/825,784|
|Publication date||Dec 6, 2005|
|Filing date||Apr 16, 2004|
|Priority date||Oct 4, 1999|
|Publication number||10825784, 825784, US 6972953 B1, US 6972953B1, US-B1-6972953, US6972953 B1, US6972953B1|
|Inventors||Douglas L. Heirich, David A. Lundgren, Robert N. Olson, Girish Upadhya, Larry Forsblad, Daniel J. Riccio|
|Original Assignee||Apple Computer, Inc.|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (35), Non-Patent Citations (1), Referenced by (4), Classifications (11), Legal Events (5)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application No. 10/462,864, filed Jun. 16, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,757,162, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application No. 09/996,862, filed Nov. 27, 2001 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,594,147), which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application No. 09/411,062, filed Oct. 4, 1999 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,362,956).
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to heat removal devices, and more specifically to heat removal devices for electronic components.
2. Background Information
Electronic components are capable of generating undesirable levels of heat during normal use. For example, in some personal computers, the microprocessor can generate enough heat to damage the microprocessor if at least some of the heat is not removed from the microprocessor. Furthermore, personal computers and other electronic systems often have a number of heat producing components which are located in an enclosed area and are in close proximity to one another. The total heat generated by such situated heat producing components can reach high enough levels to damage the entire system if the heat is not dissipated within the enclosed area or removed from the components.
Many existing heat removal devices attempt to remove heat from electronic components using forced convection. A common example of a forced convection device is a fan. Some electronic systems use one large fan to cool all of the heat producing components within the system. Other electronic systems have individual fans for each heat producing component. Still other electronic systems have both one main fan and individual component fans. However, fans can be problematic because they often generate unacceptable levels of noise and require their own power to run. In addition, because fans incorporate moving parts, they are susceptible to mechanical failure. By the time a defective fan is detected, the previously cooled component could have already overheated and been damaged.
Other existing heat removal systems attempt to remove heat from electronic components using natural convection. Conventionally, this is effected by directly attaching the sources of heat generation to heat sinks. However, these heat sinks are of necessity large relative to the heat sources, and their size places undesirable constraints upon the design of a product with high heat generation density.
Thus, to help ensure the continuing safe performance of heat generating electronic components, it is desirable to remove heat from such components in a quiet, efficient and reliable manner. Particularly, it is desirable to effect high density and efficient heat removal through multi-purpose components incorporated into a unified thermal management system.
The present invention provides a thermal management system for distributing and removing heat from heat generating elements. The system also provides functionality for structural support and EMI suppression, thereby providing a more efficient, compact and cost effective design.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the thermal management system has a thermal distribution assembly which is in conductive and/or radiative communication with heat generating elements. The thermal distribution assembly has thermal zones, each of which is associated with at least one heat generating element.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the thermal distribution assembly includes a heat spreading frame and a heat conducting frame in conductive contact with the heat spreading frame. The heat conducting frame removes heat from heat generating elements via conduction and/or radiation, and the heat passes to the heat spreading frame. Natural convection then removes the heat from the heat spreading frame.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the thermal management system also includes a main body which houses the heat generating elements. The main body has an inlet and an outlet to facilitate the convective flow of air through the main body such that the heat generating elements are sufficiently cooled.
Additional features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following description.
Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements. The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying figures.
The following description provides embodiments of the present invention. However, it will be appreciated that other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of this description. Thus, the present description and accompanying drawings are for purposes of illustration and are not to be used to construe the invention in a restrictive manner.
In one embodiment of the present invention, not all of the components are in physical contact with heat conducting frame 106; such components can radiate heat to heat conducting frame 106. The heat producing components on circuit boards 102 and 104 that are in physical contact with heat conducting frame 106 conduct heat to heat conducting frame 106; such components can also radiate heat to heat conducting frame 106. It is appreciated that heat conducting frame 106 can be any suitable conductive material, such as metal. Furthermore, although two circuit boards are shown, it is appreciated that the present invention is also applicable to electronic systems with only one circuit board.
The following discussion is made with reference to
In one embodiment of the present invention, frame 112 is in conductive communication with frame 106 to help remove the heat generated by power supply 113. Some of the heat generated by microprocessor 110 is removed via conduction by a heat sink 114, which is in direct physical contact with microprocessor 110 when circuit board 104 is coupled to frame 106. Heat sink 114 is typically coupled to frame 106. Alternatively, heat sink 114 is integrally formed with frame 106. Heat sink 114 may be formed of a composite of materials to offer a desirable mixture of thermal conductivity and mechanical compliance. In any case, heat sink 114 helps to spread the heat generated by microprocessor 110 to frame 106.
A local heat conducting frame 312 is thermally isolated from conductive divider 306 by insulative material 316. In one embodiment, local heat conducting frame 312 houses and is in conductive communication with a heat generating component such as a DVD drive, CD drive, hard drive or other storage media. Thus, frame 312 can act as a heat distributor and heat sink to facilitate convective heat transfer. In one embodiment of the present invention, heat generating components on boards 302 and 304 radiate heat to conductive divider 306 as shown in area 318 on board 302.
A concavity 412 is formed in housing 400 to allow a person to place his or her fingers around handle 402 and comfortably grasp handle 402. Concavity 412 also serves to deflect air flow from within housing 400 toward outlet vent 404. An inlet vent 408 is formed in bottom portion 401 b of housing 400. A plurality of holes 410 is formed in inlet vent 408 to facilitate a convective air path from inlet vent 408 through the inside of housing 400 to outlet vent 404. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, natural convection provides the flow of air from inlet vent 408 through the inside of housing 400 to outlet vent 404. However, it is appreciated that the present invention can be used in conjunction with a fan or other cooling device that provides forced convection.
A power supply 514 is coupled to board 504. A local heat conducting frame 516 is disposed around and in conductive communication with power supply 514. An EMI shield 520 further encloses power supply 514 and frame 516. In one embodiment, frame 516 is coupled to board 504 and in conductive communication with divider 506. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, divider 506 in combination with frame 516 and frame 510 provide structural support for the system. A convective air flow 518 from inlet vents (not shown) in the bottom of a lower housing 512 help remove heat from heat generating components, such as power supply 514, frames 502, 504, 506 and 510, and heat sinks 508 a and 508 b. It should be noted that heat sinks 508 a and 508 b and heat producing elements such as power supply 514 are located near the periphery of the housing to facilitate heat removal by being closer to air flow 518 flowing up, around and through frame 510. It should be further noted that air flow 518 follows a generally upward path because air flow 518 gradually acquires heat from the heat sources located within the housing.
In the foregoing detailed description, the apparatus and method of the present invention have been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments. However, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the broader scope and spirit of the present invention. The present specification and figures are accordingly to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.
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|U.S. Classification||361/679.46, 361/799, 165/80.2, 361/708|
|International Classification||G06F1/18, G06F1/20, H05K7/20|
|Cooperative Classification||G06F1/181, G06F1/20|
|European Classification||G06F1/18E, G06F1/20|
|Oct 1, 2007||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: APPLE INC., CALIFORNIA
Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:APPLE COMPUTER, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:019920/0526
Effective date: 20070109
|Jun 15, 2009||REMI||Maintenance fee reminder mailed|
|Jun 17, 2009||SULP||Surcharge for late payment|
|Jun 17, 2009||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4
|Mar 8, 2013||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 8