Abstract:
An exemplary self-cleaning computer includes an enclosure defining an air inlet therein, a control processing unit (CPU) received in the enclosure, a vibration element mounted on the enclosure, and a control device electrically connected between the CPU and the vibration element. The control device is configured to direct the vibration element to vibrate when the computer is in a particular predefined state, and thereby the enclosure is agitated and clogged dust dislodges therefrom.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to computers, and particularly to a self-cleaning computer with a vibration element. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Generally, a computer includes an enclosure and a plurality of electronic components received in the enclosure. The electronic components generate heat during operation, and the heat is required to be immediately dissipated from the enclosure to the exterior. Commonly, the enclosure defines an air inlet and an air outlet at two sides for achieving such heat dissipation. A cooling fan is provided at the air outlet to drive hot air from inside the enclosure to the exterior. Simultaneously, cool air from the exterior is drawn into the enclosure via the air inlet, thereby cooling the electronic components in the enclosure. However, dust often accumulates at the air inlet, obstructing inbound airflow, such that the heat dissipation of the electronic components is impaired. 
         [0005]    Thus, it is desired to overcome the described limitations. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a computer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, with a cover of an enclosure of the computer omitted. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of certain parts of the computer of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a computer  100  according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The computer  100  includes an enclosure  10 , a circuit board  20  received in the enclosure  10 , a power supply  60 , and a vibration element  30  mounted on the enclosure  10 . In this embodiment, the vibration element  30  is a vibration motor  30 . 
         [0009]    The enclosure  10  includes a rectangular bottom panel  12 , and a sidewall  14  extending upwardly from a circumference of the bottom panel  12 . The enclosure  10  further includes a top cover (not shown) covering the top edges of the sidewall  14 . The bottom panel  12 , the sidewall  14  and the top cover cooperatively define a receiving space (not shown) in the enclosure  10 . The sidewall  14  defines an air inlet  17  at one side and an air outlet  18  at an opposite side thereof. The receiving space communicates with the exterior via each of the air inlet  17  and the air outlet  18 . A cooling fan  19  is mounted on the sidewall  14  and aligned with the air outlet  18  to drive air from the receiving space to the exterior via the air outlet  18 . 
         [0010]    The air inlet  17  includes a plurality of small holes  170  extending through the sidewall  14 . The vibration motor  30  is located at an inner side of the sidewall  14  corresponding to the air inlet  17 . The vibration motor  30  forms a pair of hooks  32  at one side thereof. Each hook  32  is L-shaped, and extends outwardly from an outer surface of the vibration motor  30 . The hooks  32  of the vibration motor  30  extend through two of the holes  170  of the air inlet  17 , respectively, with the distal end of each hook  32  abutting an outer surface of the enclosure  10  adjacent to an outer periphery of a corresponding hole  170 . Thereby, the vibration motor  30  is fixed on the sidewall  14  of the enclosure  10 . The hooks  32  of the vibration motor  30  are made of material with high strength and elasticity, such as metal. 
         [0011]    The circuit board  20  is mounted on a top surface of the bottom panel  12 . The circuit board  20  is electrically connected with the power supply  60  to receive power from the power supply  60 . A central processing unit (CPU)  40  of the computer  100  and a control device  50  of the vibration motor  30  are mounted on the circuit board  20 . The control device  50  is electrically connected between the CPU  40  and the vibration motor  30  to control the operation of the vibration motor  30 . 
         [0012]    The control device  50  includes a signal generating unit  52 , a power source  53 , a switch unit  54 , and a timing unit  56 . The power source  53  is electrically connected with the circuit board  20  to receive power from the circuit board  20 . Alternatively, the power source  53  can be electrically connected with the power supply  60  of the computer  100  directly, to receive power from the power supply  60 . The switch unit  54  is electrically connected between the power source  53  and the vibration motor  30 , to turn the vibration motor  30  on or off. When the switch unit  54  is turned on, the vibration motor  30  receives power from the power source  53 , and accordingly the vibration motor  30  begins operation. When the switch unit  54  is turned off, the supply of power to the vibration motor  30  is cut off, and the operation of the vibration motor  30  ceases. The power source  53  is electrically connected to the signal generating unit  52  to provide power to the signal generating unit  52 . 
         [0013]    The signal generating unit  52 , electrically connected between the CPU  40  and the switch unit  54 , is set to detect a state of the computer  100  from the CPU  40 . The signal generating unit  52  generates a drive signal and sends it to the switch unit  54  to turn on the switch unit  54  when the computer  100  is in a particular state. Examples of particular states are given below. 
         [0014]    The timing unit  56  is electrically connected with the switch unit  54 . When the switch unit  54  is turned on, the timing unit  56  starts to measure the operating duration of the vibration motor  30 , outputting a clock signal to the switch unit  54  after a predetermined time to cause the switch unit  54  to turn off the vibration motor  30 . 
         [0015]    During operation, the signal generating unit  52  generates a drive signal and sends the drive signal to the switch unit  54  to turn on the vibration motor  30  during the particular state of the computer  100 , and the vibration motor  30  vibrates immediately after the switch unit  54  is turned on. The enclosure  10 , agitated in turn by the vibration motor  30 , dislodges clogged dust from the air inlet  17 . Simultaneously, the timing unit  56  begins measurement of the operating duration of the vibration motor  30  immediately after the switch unit  54  is turned on. The timing unit  56  then outputs a clock signal to the switch unit  54  after a predetermined time to cause the switch unit  54  to turn off, such that the vibration motor  30  stops working immediately after the switch unit  54  is turned off. In practice, the signal generating unit  52  may generate the drive signal when the computer  100  is powering off. Alternatively, the signal generating unit  52  may generate the drive signal at the moment immediately after the computer  100  has been powered off. The operating duration of the vibration motor  30  can be set according to a practical need of the computer  100 , such as five seconds. 
         [0016]    The action of the vibration motor  30  allows the computer  100  to remove clogged dust from the air inlet  17  if not also from other parts of the computer  100 . In addition, the vibration motor  30  is set to operate when the computer  100  is powered off or immediately thereafter. Each such set operation occurs after the normal working time of the computer  100 , such that ordinary use or operation of the computer  100  is undisturbed by any possible adverse effects of the vibration motor  30 . 
         [0017]    In an alternative embodiment, the control device  50  can instead include a micro-programmed control unit (MCU), which includes a preset program therein for simultaneously functioning as the signal generating unit  52 , the switch unit  54  and the timing unit  56  described above. 
         [0018]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the exemplary embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.