Abstract:
A computer system is disclosed having an enclosure having a plurality of components. The computer system further includes a first chamber including a first set of cooling devices; and a second chamber including solely a set of components and a second set of cooling devices. The second chamber is located adjacent to the first chamber, and the set of components includes components not included in the first chamber. The set of components includes solely a plurality of storage components selected from the group consisting of a CD-ROM and a hard drive. Air flow is unidirectional from a front side of the enclosure to a rear side of the enclosure. Further, air flow is prevented from flowing between the first chamber and the second chamber by a solid separation mechanism there between. The first chamber has an air flow path independent of the air flow path of the second chamber.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This patent application is a continuation application of a patent application filed on Oct. 31, 2007 titled “COMPUTER APPARATUS AND METHOD HAVING DUAL CHAMBERS” and assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/931,277 which claims priority to a provisional patent application filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Aug. 27, 2007 titled “COMPUTER CASE HAVING DUAL AIR CHAMBERS” and assigned U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/966,322. The entire contents of both documents are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to computer cases and, more specifically, to a computer case having dual air chambers for providing efficient air flow through the computer case. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In general, conventional personal computer (PC) cases include the same electronic contents. These electronic contents include components such as one or more hard drives, CD-ROMs, a motherboard, peripheral cards, power supply, etc. All of these electronic components or computer parts reside in the same enclosure and utilize the same air space to cool off. In other words, in this scenario, all the electronic components are enclosed within a single air chamber, in different case formats, styles and sizes. 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  illustrates an interior elevational view of components of a conventional computer system  10 . The components of the computer system  10  include a side panel  12 , a CD-ROM  14 , a front fan  16 , a hard drive  18 , a motherboard  20 , a central processing unit (CPU)  22 , a rear fan  24 , and a power supply  26 . In most conventional computer systems, the CD-ROM  14  and the hard drive  18  are located in the front portion of the case, whereas the motherboard  22  and the power supply  26  are located in the rear portion of the case. 
         [0005]    The air flow can vary from PC case to PC case because of the size and style of the PC case itself. Air can be forced in by the front fan  16  or the air can be pulled in through the case, via the rear fan  24 . Regardless which way the air moves through the case, it is still hot or heated before it gets to the CPU  22  and electronics on the motherboard  20 . This is because the hard drive  18  is in front of the motherboard  20 , directional-wise from front to rear of the case. Therefore the hard drive  18  exhausts its heat directly on the motherboard  20 . 
         [0006]      FIG. 2  illustrates the air flow in the elevational view of components of the conventional computer system  10  of  FIG. 1 . Similar elements of  FIG. 1  are omitted with reference to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  illustrates the air flow through the case. Specifically, four air flows are mentioned; an inlet air flow  3 , a hard drive air flow  5 , a CPU air flow  7 , and an outlet air flow  9 . The inlet air flow  3  moves through the front fan  16 , through the hard drive  18  as hard drive air flow  5 , through the CPU  22  as CPU air flow  7 , and out the rear fan  24  as outlet air flow  9 . Therefore, the cool air passes through and around the interior components of the computer system  10 , and as the cool air passes around it becomes hot air by absorbing the heat from the interior components. A CPU fan (not shown) takes the hot air and re-circulates it by trying to cool off the CPU  22  and peripheral motherboard electronic components (not shown). Finally, the rear fan  24  removes the re-circulated hot air from the PC case of the computer system  10 . 
         [0007]    In general, motherboard manufacturers&#39; have installed various temperature sensors (not shown) on the motherboard  20  and the CPU  22 . These sensors aid in alerting the build-in hardware safeguard management about the temperature of the CPU  22  and the ambient air temperature around the motherboard  20 . Once the temperature is read and collected from the sensors, then the build-in hardware safeguard management sends various commands to the cooling fans  16 ,  24 , plugged onto the motherboard  20 , and managed by the motherboard hardware management in order to act accordingly by spinning faster or slower, depending on the temperature sensor reading. 
         [0008]    When the temperature within the casing is cool, or within certain pre-set thresholds, the cooling fans  16 ,  24  run slow or at a fraction of their maximum speed. When the temperature sensors detect a high temperature, then the cooling fans  16 ,  24  spin faster depending on the pre-set thresholds, thus trying to cool off the interior components or bring the temperature down to acceptable levels. If the temperature reaches a certain non-operational or non-acceptable pre-set threshold, the CPU  22  steps down its operating clocking speed to protect it from burning up. 
         [0009]    Several cooling systems have been proposed by the conventional art. Specifically, the standard inexpensive cooling method to cool off electronic components within the PC case is to use variable speed fans controlled by built-in motherboard management, located in the front of the case as a front fan  16 , in the rear of the case as a rear fan  24 , and a CPU fan, which is attached to a heatsink directly connected to the CPU  22 . In addition, there may also be a power supply fan (not shown), which is enclosed in the power supply  26  with a main purpose of cooling off the power supply  26 . 
         [0010]    However, since the conventional design is air flow inefficient and heat dissipation inefficient, heat is always building in the PC case with the use of the PC. This causes the motherboard hardware management to send commands to the fans to spin up, thus moving more air and trying to cool off the equipment. To compensate for the inefficiency of the case design, the fans spin faster, and, thus consume more power and create more noise. 
         [0011]    Additional cooling options recommended by the conventional art include: (1) side panel opening, where manufacturers (PC or computer case) have created another opening on the side panel and installed a case fan forcing air in directly on the CPU fan. This has some positive effects on the CPU and electronic peripheral parts close to it, (2) a top opening, where manufacturers have installed an additional fan. This fan helps the rear fan(s) by removing additional hot ambient air and helps in the exchange of cooler air within the case, (3) installing liquid cooling for the CPU and the ambient air within the case, (4) creating additional vents on the side panels, and/or (5) creating additional ducts to funnel the airflow where it is most needed. 
         [0012]    However none of these methods has eliminated the hot air from the hard drives moving over the motherboard towards the rear of the case. Consequently, it would be highly desirable to provide a computer system that provides for efficient air flow, reduces fan noise, consumes less power, and runs motherboard electronic components cooler. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0013]    A computer system comprising: an enclosure having a plurality of components; a first chamber including a first set of components; and a second chamber including a second set of components, the second chamber located adjacent to the first chamber and the first set of components being different than the second set of components; wherein air flow is prevented from flowing between the first chamber and the second chamber; and wherein the first chamber includes a first set of cooling devices and the second chamber includes a second set of cooling devices. 
         [0014]    A method for preventing airflow between a first chamber and a second chamber, the chambers located within an enclosure, the method comprising: separating a plurality of components within the enclosure; positioning a first set of components in the first chamber; positioning a second set of components in the second chamber, the second chamber located adjacent to the first chamber and the first set of components being different than the second set of components; and providing a first set of cooling devices in the first chamber and a second set of cooling devices in the second chamber. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Further features, aspects and advantages of the apparatus and methods of the embodiments of the present disclosure will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates an interior elevational view of components of a conventional computer system; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates an interior elevational view of components of a conventional computer system depicting the air flow within the computer system; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates the logical separation of electrical components of a computer system; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  illustrates a separation mechanism for separating electrical components of a computer system, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  illustrates a first chamber of the separation mechanism of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with the first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  illustrates a second chamber of the separation mechanism of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with the first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  illustrates the air flow of the first chamber of the separation mechanism of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with the first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  illustrates the air flow of the second chamber of the separation mechanism of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with the first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  illustrates a front side view of a PC case having dual chambers and a partial ventilated case grill, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  illustrates a front side view of a PC case having dual chambers and a fully closed ventilated case door, in accordance with the second embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  illustrates a rear side view of a PC case having dual chambers and either a partial ventilated case grill or a fully closed ventilated case door, in accordance with the second embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  illustrates a front side view of a PC case having dual chambers and dual grills, in accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  illustrates a front side view of a PC case having dual chambers and one single ventilated case door, in accordance with the third embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  illustrates a rear side view of a PC case having dual chambers and either dual grills or one single ventilated case door, in accordance with the third embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  illustrates an interior elevational view of components of a computer system in a first chamber where the power supply is separated from the motherboard, in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  illustrates an interior elevational view of components of a computer system in a second chamber where the power supply is separated from the motherboard, in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]    There are certain user requirements that a PC case is requited to include. PC users desire to have a CD-ROM and one or more hot swappable hard drives in the front portion of the case for easy accessibility. PC users also expect to have the motherboard connectors and the power supply in the back portion of the case in order to hide all the connectivity cables. Users who are focused on the power capacity of their PC, desire to have all the potential expansion slots available in full size format (height and length) for expandability, they expect a full size power supply, and plenty of storage room. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  illustrates the logical separation of electrical components of a computer system  10 . The components of the computer system  10  include a side panel  12 , a CD-ROM  14 , a front fan  16 , a hard drive  18 , a motherboard  20 , a central processing unit (CPU)  22 , a rear fan  24 , and a power supply  26 . The CD-ROM  14  and the hard drive  18  are located in the front portion of the case, whereas the motherboard  22  and the power supply  26  are located in the rear portion of the case. The computer system  10  may be separated into electronics components  28  and storage components  30 . The electronic components  28  include the motherboard  20 , the CPU  22 , and the power supply  26 . The storage components  30  include the CD-ROM  14 , and the hard drive  18 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  illustrates a separation mechanism for separating electrical components of a computer system, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The case  40  is separated into a first chamber  42  and into a second chamber  44 . The first chamber  42  may be the chamber including the electronics components  28 , whereas the second chamber  44  may be the chamber including the storage components  30 . Thus, each category or group of PC components resides in its own air space or air chamber. In the first embodiment, the motherboard  20  and the power supply  26  reside in one chamber and the CD-ROM  14  and hard disk drives  18  reside in another chamber. Preferably, the two air chambers are positioned next to each other, within the same PC housing or PC case  40 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  illustrates a first chamber of the separation mechanism of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The interior elevational view of the first chamber  50  includes a first chamber side panel  52 , a side cable portal  54 , an upper front fan  56 , an upper cable portal  58 , a lower front fan  60 , a lower cable portal  62 , a power supply  64 , a first rear fan  66 , a second rear fan  68 , a CPU  70 , and a motherboard  72 . Cable portal  54  is located between the two air chambers  42 ,  44 , in a center divider (not shown), for connectivity cables  58 ,  62  to pass through in order to connect the electronic components together. The cable portal  54  self-closes around the cables  58 ,  62  that pass through, thus minimizing any leakage of air between the two air chambers  42 ,  44 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  illustrates a second chamber of the separation mechanism of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The interior elevational view of the second chamber  80  includes a first input/output device  82 , a second input/output device  84 , a third input/output device  86 , a second chamber side panel  88 , a first rear fan  90 , a second rear fan  92 , and a third rear fan  94 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 7  illustrates the air flow of the first chamber of the separation mechanism of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Similar elements of  FIG. 5  are omitted with reference to  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  illustrates the air flow through the case  40  in chamber  42 . Specifically, 4 air flows are mentioned; an inlet air flow  53 , a motherboard air flow  55 , a CPU air flow  77 , and an outlet air flow  59 . The inlet air flow  53  moves through the upper front fan  56  and lower front fan  58 , through the motherboard  72  as motherboard air flow  55 , through the CPU  70  as CPU air flow  57  and out the first rear fan  66  and the second rear fan  68  as outlet air flow  59 . Therefore, the cool air passes through and around the interior components of the first chamber  50 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 8  illustrates the air flow of the second chamber of the separation mechanism of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Similar elements of  FIG. 6  are omitted with reference to  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  illustrates the air flow through the case  40  in chamber  44 . Specifically, 2 air flows are mentioned; an inlet air flow  83  and an outlet air flow  85 . The inlet air flow  83  moves through the first input/output device  82 , the second input/output device  84 , and the third input/output device  86  toward the first rear fan  90 , the second rear fan  92 , and the third rear fan  94  as an output air flow  85 . 
         [0039]    As a result, the design of  FIGS. 7 and 8  is shorter depth-wise and the air is exchanged very quickly and efficiently, within the PC case  40 . This is equally correct for both the electronics air chamber  42  and the storage air chamber  44 . Since there are no hard disk drives  18  before the motherboard  20 , there is no additional heat flowing over the motherboard  20 . The air coming into contact with the motherboard  20  is cool air (e.g., room temperature). Therefore, the all electronic components within the case  40  stay cool and the fans run slower since they don&#39;t have to move as much air to cool off the all the internal electronic equipment. 
         [0040]    Because of the fact that there is no hot or pre-heated air flowing over the motherboard  20 , and the motherboard components stay cool, there is no need for the CPU fan to blow towards the motherboard  20 . In addition, it is recommended that the CPU fan blow toward the rear of the case  40 . The rear fans  66 ,  68  assist the CPU fan in quickly removing the heat from the heatsink. The front fans  56 ,  60  supply the motherboard components with enough cool air to keep them at cool operating temperatures. 
         [0041]      FIG. 9  illustrates a front side view of a PC case having dual chambers and a partial ventilated case grill, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The dual air chambers system with partial ventilated case grill  100  includes a top panel  102 , input/output devices  104 , a first set of expansion slots  106 , a second set of expansion slots  108 , a ventilated case grill  110 , a removable side panel  112 , and a power panel  114 . At least a portion of one side of the enclosure is a ventilated grill  110 . The ventilated case grill  110  may be positioned only on the first chamber side of the case  40 . The ventilated case grill  110  may be positioned only on the second chamber side of the case  40 .  FIG. 9  depicts the ventilated case grill  110  positioned on the front side of the first chamber  42  only. 
         [0042]      FIG. 10  illustrates a front side view of a PC case having dual chambers and a fully closed ventilated case door, in accordance with the second embodiment of the present disclosure. The dual air chambers system with full ventilated case door  120  includes a top panel  102 , a removable side panel  112 , and a ventilated case door  122 . Therefore, the ventilated case door  122  may be positioned on any side of the case  40 . The ventilated case door  122  may allow air to flow to both the first chamber  42  and the second chamber  44  or only to one of those chambers, by positioning the ventilated case door  122  on a side, other than the front side or rear side of the case  40 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 11  illustrates a rear side view of a PC case having dual chambers and either a partial ventilated case grill or a fully closed ventilated case door, in accordance with the second embodiment of the present disclosure. The rear view of the dual chambers  130  includes a power supply  132 , motherboard inputs  134 , a first electronics rear fan  136 , a second electronics rear fan  138 , a ventilation grill  140 , expansion slots  142 , a first storage rear fan  144 , a second storage rear fan  146 , and a third storage rear fan  148 . In addition, rear view dual chambers  130  include a top panel  102  and a removable side panel  112 . Thus, the first chamber  42  may include a first partial ventilated grill located on a first chamber side and the second chamber  44  may include a second partial ventilated grill located on a second chamber side. In addition, the first partial ventilated grill located on the first chamber side may be a different size than the second partial ventilated grill located on the second chamber side, as illustrated below with reference to  FIG. 12 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 12  illustrates a front side view of a PC case having dual chambers and dual grills, in accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure. The dual air chambers system with dual grills  150  includes a first ventilated case grill  152 , an input/output device  154 , expansion slots  156 , a top panel  158 , a power panel  160 , a removable side panel  162 , an a second ventilated case grill  164 . In addition, the at least one side of the case  40  may include a plurality of ventilated grills having one or more different shapes and sizes, the plurality of ventilated grills located on both a first chamber side and a second chamber side. 
         [0045]      FIG. 13  illustrates a front side view of a PC case having dual chambers and one single ventilated case door, in accordance with the third embodiment of the present disclosure. The dual air chambers with a ventilated case door  170  include a top panel  158 , a removable side panel  162 , and a ventilated case door  172 . In  FIG. 13 , the front portion of the case  40  is replaced with a ventilated case door  170 . However, it is envisioned that any side of the case  40  may be replaced with a ventilated case door  170 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 14  illustrates a rear side view of a PC case having dual chambers and either dual grills or one single ventilated case door, in accordance with the third embodiment of the present disclosure. The rear view of the dual chambers  180  includes motherboard outputs  182 , a first electronics rear fan  184 , a second electronics rear fan  186 , a ventilation grill  188 , expansion slots  190 , a power supply  192 , and a storage rear fan  194 . In addition, the rear view of the dual chambers  180  includes a top panel  158  and a removable side panel  162 .  FIG. 14  illustrates that at least one side of the case  40  may include a plurality of ventilated grills having one or more different shapes and sizes, the plurality of ventilated grills located on both a first chamber side and a second chamber side. 
         [0047]      FIG. 15  illustrates an interior elevational view of components of a computer system in a first chamber where the power supply is separated from the motherboard, in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. The interior elevation view of the first chamber  200  includes a first input/output device  202 , a second input/output device  204 , a power supply  206 , and a rear fan  208 . In  FIG. 15 , the power supply is positioned in a separate chamber than the motherboard/CPU. In other words, each electronic component may be positioned in a separate chamber, each separate chamber having its own cooling mechanism designed specifically for that electronic component. 
         [0048]      FIG. 16  illustrates an interior elevational view of components of a computer system in a second chamber where the power supply is separated from the motherboard, in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. The interior elevation view of the second chamber  210  includes a first front fan  212 , a first cable portal  214 , a second front fan  216 , a second cable portal  218 , a first rear fan  220 , a second rear fan  222 , a CPU  224 , and motherboard  226 . In  FIG. 16 , the motherboard/CPU is positioned in a separate chamber than the power supply. In other words, each electronic component may be positioned in a separate chamber, each separate chamber having its own cooling mechanism designed specifically for that electronic component. 
         [0049]    Consequently, there are no additional requirements in the embodiments of the present disclosure, other than the minimal standard air cooling devices for the electronics chamber  42 . The storage chamber  44  requires its own ventilation cooling devices (fans) to cool off the storage devices. There is no additional space or power requirements, other than what the standard included components require. After continuous observations and comparisons between a present PC case design (fully functional) and a new PC case design according to the present disclosure, the following benefits are credited to the new PC case design. 
         [0050]    Benefits of the embodiments of the present disclosure include: minimal standard cooling products are needed to provide efficient cooling air flow within the case, no additional fans are needed, no side fans are needed, no side ventilation is needed, no liquid cooling devices is necessary, no continuous power consumption for unnecessary additional devices is necessary, no higher continuous power consumption for harder working devices such as fans, savings in power consumption are realized, savings in overall original price of the PC case or whole computer are realized by not having to add all the extra cooling devices to provide enough cooling capacity, reduction in overall noise from the fans is realized, no additional ducts are required, reliability and longevity of the electronics is realized because they run cooler, and maximizing the full potential of the CPU power is enabled by running it at constant higher speeds and for longer periods of time. 
         [0051]    Concerning noise reduction options, the additional fans and equipment that the manufacturers chose to add, in the conventional art, to the case to reduce some of the heat around the CPU and motherboard, have created additional noise, on top of adding to the cost of producing computers and on top of creating further power consumption. Concerning the cooling options, the additional fans and equipment that the manufacturers chose to add, in the conventional art, to the case have resulted in fans spinning faster, in adding additional fans, in liquid cooling that created more noise, in combining various materials making PCs&#39; heavier, and in adding additional vents. By adding all these items, in the conventional art, in the PC case to cool off, additional PC case requirements have been raised. More powerful power supplies were necessary, the added materials added further to the cost of producing computers, which cost was passed on to the consumers, thus adding to the cost of ownership of a PC. 
         [0052]    Consequently, with the PC case design of the present disclosure, there is no hot air flowing over the motherboard. The CPU fan does not re-circulate hot air. All the motherboard components stay cooler by not having any added heat to dissipate. All the fans, in general don&#39;t have to spin at maximum or close to maximum speed to circulate or move or exchange the air to cool off the electronic components within the PC case. 
         [0053]    While the present disclosure has been particularly shown and described with respect to illustrative and preformed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure which should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.