Abstract:
A supplementary cooling system is provided for cooling a computing system. An apparatus may comprise a computing system and a docking system. The computing system has a cooling area and a fan area which is partionable from the cooling area. The docking system has a fan and an airflow outlet which is operably connected to the fan.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to computer hardware, and more specifically, to supplementary cooling of computing systems. 
         [0002]    Heat dissipation is an important consideration in the design of modern-day computer systems, especially portable computers such as notebook-sized personal computers (hereinafter referred to as “notebook PCs”). Major sources of heat in such notebook PCs include microprocessors and hard disk drive assemblies. 
         [0003]    Cooling systems are typically stand-alone components used in computing systems to maintain the temperatures of various electronic devices within certain specified ranges. Sometimes, the heat generated by an electronic device may increase after a cooling system design is fixed or implemented. For example, in the case of a processor, the average processing level at which the processor operates may increase if the primary use of the computing system changes from a low processing level application (such as word processing) to a high processing level application (such as playing video games). The increase in average processing level may cause the processor to generate more heat. If the existing cooling system does not have the capacity to counter the increased levels of generated heat, then the operating efficiency of the computing system may be impaired. 
         [0004]    Therefore, it can be seen that there is a need for apparatus and methods for supplemental cooling of computing systems. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In one aspect, a docking system comprises a docking fan; a docking outlet operably connected to the docking fan; the docking outlet for operable connection to a computing cooling area of a computing system; and the docking outlet for restricting an airflow to the computing cooling area and not a computing fan area of the computing system. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, a computing system comprises a computing component; a computing cooling area in operable connection with the computing component; a fan; a computing fan area in which the fan is disposed; wherein the computing fan area is partionable from the computing cooling area. 
         [0007]    In a further aspect, a method for cooling a computing system comprises moving an airflow out of a docking system adjacent to the computing system; and directing the airflow from the docking system and into a computing cooling area of the computing system; wherein the computing cooling area is partionable from a computing fan area of the computing system. 
         [0008]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a docking system; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a side, cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a computing system docked into the docking system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the computing system of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a partial, exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a computing system fan before a computing system is docked on a docking system; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a partial, exploded view of the computing system fan shown in  FIG. 4  after the computing system is docked on the docking system; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a side schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a partition member before a computing system is docked on a docking system; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a side schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the partition member shown in  FIG. 6  after the computing system is docked on the docking system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles, since the scope of the embodiments is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0017]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0018]    Broadly, exemplary embodiments provide methods and systems for cooling a computing system. More specifically, exemplary embodiments enable airflow from a docking system to the computing system, thereby reducing internal heat of the computing system when docked to the docking system. 
         [0019]    According to exemplary embodiments, the docking system provides airflow to a cooling area of the computing system, wherein the cooling area is partitionable from a fan area of the computing system. In exemplary embodiments, a partition between the fan area and the cooling area is provided by a partition member that is a part of the docking system or a part of the computing system. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a docking system  101 . The docking system  101  may include a front surface or base  112  on which a computing system  102  ( FIG. 2 ) may sit while docked in the docking system  101 . The docking system  101  may also include a back surface  113  that is opposite the base  112 . A docking fan  151  may be disposed within the docking system  101 . The docking fan  151  may operate to draw air from outside the docking system  101  via a plurality of airflow slits  140  ( FIG. 2 ). At least a portion of the air may be forced by the docking fan  151  to flow out through a docking outlet  160  located at the front surface  112 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a side, cross-sectional view the docking system  101  to which a computing system  102  is docked. In the docking system  101 , an air duct  120  may be operably connected to the docking fan  151 . The air duct  120  may serve as an air ventilation path for air flowing from the docking fan  151  to the docking outlet  160 . The docking outlet  160  may operably interface a computing inlet  109  of the computing system  102 , as described below. More specifically, when the computing system  102  is docked on the docking system  101 , the docking outlet  160  may adjoin with the computing inlet  109 . 
         [0022]    A cooling module  170 , such as a Peltier module, may be disposed inside the duct  120  between the docking fan  151  and the docking outlet  160 . The cooling module  170  may be used to cool an airflow  130  coming from the docking fan  151 . 
         [0023]    Still in  FIG. 2 , the docking system  101  may further include a partition member  190 . The partition member  190  may be inserted into the computing system  102  when the computing system  102  is docked into the docking system  101 . Furthermore, the docking system  101  may include an airflow inlet  150 , an airflow outlet  155 , and an air duct  153  therebetween. The airflow inlet  150  may receive the airflow  130 , as discussed below, as it exits the computing system  102 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the computing system  102  may include a computing cooling area  105  and a computing fan area  110 . The cooling area  105  can function to provide an air path for cool air from the docking system  101  to flow through the computing system  102 . The fan area  110  can function to provide an area to hold the computing fan  104 . 
         [0025]    The computing fan area  104  and the cooling area  105  may be partitionable by the partition member  190 . In one exemplary embodiment, the fan area  104  is partitioned from the cooling area  105  when the partition member  190  is a part of the docking system  101  and is inserted into the computing system  102 . In another exemplary embodiment, the partition member  190  may be a part of the computing system  102 . In either embodiment, the partition member  190  may be disposed to operably interface the computing cooling area  105  and the computing fan area  110 . Consequently, the partition member  190  may block an airflow  188  generated by the computing fan  104  flowing from air slits  103 , through the fan area  110 , and to the cooling area  105 . 
         [0026]    The computing system  102  may further include a heat radiation fin  118  installed in the cooling area  105  of the computing system  102 . The heat radiation fin  118  may function to dissipate heat collected from the computing system  102 . For example, if one part of the cooling area  105  was warmer than another part, the heat radiation fin  118  may help evenly dissipate heat from the computing system  102  evenly across the cooling area  105 , resulting in an increased efficiency of cooling. In addition, a heat pipe  106  may also be operably connected to the cooling area  105 , for example. The heat pipe  106  may be interconnected to a CPU plate (not shown) of the computing system  102  to help dissipate heat generated from a CPU. In an exemplary embodiment, a temperature sensor (not shown) may be installed in the computing system  102  to measure the temperature of the computing system  102 . If the temperature inside the computing system is higher than a set limit, the CPU unit of the computing system  102  may send a signal to a controller (not shown) in the docking system  101 . In turn, the controller in the docking system  101  may increase the speed of the docking fan  151 . 
         [0027]    The computing system  102  may additionally include a computing outlet  108  operably affixed to the heat radiation fin. The outlet  108  is operably adjacent to the docking inlet  150  of the docking system  101  when the computing system  102  is docked to the docking system  101 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  shows a plan view of the computing system  102  that may be used with the docking system  101 . The computing system  102  may include a back side  240  at which the computing inlet  109  is located. The computing inlet  109  may align with the docking outlet  160  of the docking system  101  when the computing system  102  is docked into the docking system  101 . 
         [0029]    In operation, the docking fan  151  may drive the airflow  130  from the airflow slits  140  of the docking system  101  through the docking fan  151 , the duct  120 , the docking outlet  160 , and the computing inlet  109 . The airflow  130  may continue to flow to the cooling area  105  of the computing system  102 , through the air outlet  108 , through the inlet  150 , through the duct  153 , and then vent out through airflow outlet  155 . 
         [0030]    The docking outlet  160  may restrict the airflow  130  from the docking system  101  to the computing cooling area  105 . Moreover, the airflow  130  in the computing cooling area  105  may absorb heat from the heat pipe  106  and/or the heat radiation fin  118 . In addition, the airflow  130  from the docking system  101  may further cool the airflow  188  via heat exchange across the partition member  190 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a partial, exploded view of the computing fan  104  with two heat sinks  402  and  404 . When the computing system  102  is not docked on the docking system  101 , and the docking system  101  includes the partition member  190 , the computing fan  104  may force a first airflow  430  past the heat sink  402 , and force a second airflow  188  past the second heat sink  404 . In an exemplary embodiment, a partition receiving member  420  may be attached to an outside surface  424  of the computing duct  620  (see  FIG. 6 ) and may lay at least partially in front of a partition member receiving opening  422 . 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the computing system  102  is docked on the docking system  101 , the airflow  430  may flow from the computing fan  104  through the heat sink  402  and vent out. As the partition member  190  is inserted into the partition member receiving opening  422 , the partition receiving member  420  may move away from the partition member receiving opening  422  but remains in contact with the partition member  190 . In one embodiment, the partition receiving member  420  may be a flexible member that may flex against the partition member  190  as it is inserted into the partition member receiving opening  422 . The partition member  190  and the partition receiving member  420  may facilitate blocking the airflow  188  while the airflow  430  is not interrupted. 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a side schematic view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the partition member  190  prior to insertion into the partition receiving opening  422  and the computing duct  620  during the docking of the computing system  102  on the docking system  101 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 7  shows an exemplary embodiment of the partition member  190  after insertion into the computing duct  620 . The partition receiving member  420  may be pushed into the computing duct  620  after the computing system  102  is docked on the docking system  101 . Airflow  188  may be blocked by the partition member  190  and the partition receiving member  420 . Furthermore, the partition member  190  and the partition receiving member  420  may fit together snugly so that the airflow  130  from the docking system  101  may not enter into the computing system through the computing duct  620 , thus preventing water vapor in airflow  130  from condensating on the computing electronics inside the computing system  102 . Water condensation on the electronics may cause electrical shorts. Instead, the airflow  130 , after being cooled by the cooling module  170 , may be restricted to the cooling area  105 . 
         [0035]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relate to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.