Patent ID: 7035102
Filing Date: 2006-04-25
Classification: G06F,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A cooling system for a computing device, the computing device including an enclosure than defines a space in which a fan and a heat producing element is contained, the fan generating an air flow through the space and over the heat producing element so as to cool the heat producing element, the cooling system comprising: a removable panel configured to be removably secured to a portion of the computing device at a desired location relative to the computing device, the panel being easily removable so as to provide access to internal components of the enclosure located around, behind or underneath the removable panel, the removable panel having a contoured portion that protrudes into the space of the enclosure so as to help direct the air flow from the fan across the heat producing element, the contoured portion increasing the speed of the air flow by reducing the area through which the air flow can pass from the fan to the heat producing element the contoured portion including a sloped inlet portion for incoming air flow and a sloped outlet portion for exiting air flow, the air flow produced across the contoured portion facilitating the cooling of the heat producing element when the heat producing element is operated in a normal state, the heat producing element possibly overheating if the removable panel is not properly positioned in its desired location relative to the computing device; and a sensor configured to determine whether the removable panel is properly positioned in its desired location relative to the computing device, the sensor generating an error signal when the removable panel is not properly positioned in its desired location relative to the computing device so as to prevent overheating of the heat producing element.