Abstract:
A thermal buffering element applied to an electronic device is provided. The thermal buffering element includes a heat absorbing material and a plurality of metal particles. The heat absorbing material is disposed corresponding to a heat source of the electronic device. The metal particles are distributed in the heat absorbing material. The invention solves the problem of uneven heat dissipation of an electronic product, which makes a user feel more comfortable.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/682,318, filed on Aug. 13, 2012, and Chinese application serial No. 201310270709.9 filed on Jul. 1, 2013. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of specification. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a thermal buffering element. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Nowadays, a heat dissipating element applied to an electronic product is usually a fan, a heat dissipating fin, a heat pipe or a liquid cooling device. As science technologies develop, a notebook computer, a tablet computer and a mobile phone become thinner and thinner, but the size of the heat dissipating elements is difficult to be reduced. Consequently, the thickness of the electronic product cannot be reduced much, which brings inconvenience to users. 
         [0006]    Moreover, a thin heat conducting sheet or a heat dissipating fin may be attached to a heat source of the electronic product, but the conventional heat conducting sheet or the heat dissipating fin can only transfer heat and provide a heat transferring path, and it cannot store heat, which makes it difficult to maintain the temperature of the electronic product. That means, the conventional heat conducting sheet or the heat dissipating fin have limit contribution to make the heat distribution of the electronic product uniform, and it cannot help the users feel comfortable. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A thermal buffering element applied to an electronic device is provided. A thermal buffering element includes a heat absorbing material and a plurality of metal particles. The heat absorbing material is disposed corresponding to a heat source of the electronic device. The metal particles are distributed in the heat absorbing material. 
         [0008]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    FIG  1  is a top view showing a thermal buffering element in a first embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a sectional diagram showing the thermal buffering element in  FIG. 1  along a line  2 - 2 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a sectional diagram showing the thermal buffering element in  FIG. 2  disposed at a back surface of a circuit board of an electronic device; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a sectional diagram showing a thermal buffering element in a second embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a sectional diagram showing the thermal buffering element in  FIG. 4  disposed at a back surface of a circuit board of an electronic device; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a sectional diagram showing the thermal buffering element in  FIG. 4  disposed at a front surface of a circuit board of an electronic device; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a top view showing a thermal buffering element in a third embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a sectional diagram showing the thermal buffering element in  FIG. 7  along a line  8 - 8 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a sectional diagram showing the thermal buffering element in  FIG. 8  disposed at a back surface of a circuit board of an electronic device; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a sectional diagram showing the thermal buffering element in  FIG. 8  disposed at a front surface of a circuit board of an electronic device; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a sectional diagram showing a thermal buffering element disposed at a casing of an electronic device in a fourth embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    A thermal buffering element is illustrated with relating figures, and the same symbols denote the same components. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a top view showing a thermal buffering element  100  in a first embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a sectional diagram showing the thermal buffering element  100  in  FIG. 1  along a line  2 - 2 . Please refer to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the thermal buffering element  100  includes a heat absorbing material  110  and a plurality of metal particles  120 . The metal particles  120  are distributed in the heat absorbing material  110 . 
         [0022]    The heat absorbing material  110  can store heat, and the metal particles  120  can transfer heat. In the embodiment, the heat absorbing material  110  may be paraffin, which is not limited herein. The metal particles  120  may be copper particles or aluminum particles with a high heat conducting coefficient, which are not limited. 
         [0023]    The thermal buffering element  100  further includes a first thermal diffusion material  130 . The first thermal diffusion material  130  covers a surface  112  of the heat absorbing material  110 . The first thermal diffusion material  130  may include one or a combination of copper, aluminum and graphite. The first thermal diffusion material  130  may be fixed at the heat absorbing material  110  via gluing or hot pressing. The first thermal diffusion material  130  can improve the heat transferring speed of the thermal buffering element  100 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a sectional diagram showing the thermal buffering element  100  in  FIG. 2  disposed at a back surface of a circuit board  210  of an electronic device  200 . A heat source  220  of the electronic device  200  is disposed at a front surface of the circuit board  210 , and the heat dissipating fins  230  are fixed at the heat source  220 . The heat source  220  may be a central processing unit (CPU) or a video chip, and the circuit board  210  may be a computer motherboard, which is not limited herein. In the embodiment, the heat absorbing material  110  and the heat source  220  are disposed at two opposite surfaces (one surface back to the heat source  220  and the other surface facing the heat source  220 ) of the circuit board  210 , respectively, and at least a part of the thermal buffering element  100  is extended to a position below the heat source  220  to make the heat absorbing material  110  disposed corresponding to the heat source  220 . 
         [0025]    When the heat source  220  generates heat, the heat absorbing material  110  can store heat of the heat source  220 , and the metal particles  120  can improve the heat transferring speed of the thermal buffering element  100 . When the thermal buffering element  100  is disposed at a surface of the circuit board  210  back to the heat source  220 , the thermal buffering element  100  stores the heat from the heat source  220  and spreads it evenly, and it makes the temperature of the electronic device  200  be distributed evenly. In the embodiment, both of the metal particles  120  and the first thermal diffusion material  130  can improve the heat conducting speed of the thermal buffering element  100 . 
         [0026]    Furthermore, when the temperature of the heat source  220  changes sharply (for example, when the heat source  220  overclocks or the electronic device  200  is power off), the thermal buffering element  100  can reduce the temperature changing speed of the electronic device  200  via the heat absorbing material  110 , and it manages the whole temperature of the electronic device  200  to make the temperature increase or decrease slowly. Thus, the service life of components in the electronic device  200  is extended, and when the user uses the electronic device  200 , he or she would not feel a large temperature difference, and the users would not get scalded. 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a sectional diagram showing a thermal buffering element  100   a  in a second embodiment  FIG. 5  is a sectional diagram showing the thermal buffering element  100   a  in  FIG. 4  disposed at a back surface of the circuit board  210  of the electronic device  200 . Please refer to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the thermal buffering element  100   a  includes the heat absorbing material  110 , a plurality of the metal particles  120  and the first thermal diffusion material  130 . The difference between the embodiments in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  is that the thermal buffering element  100   a  further includes a second thermal diffusion material  140 . The second thermal diffusion material  140  covers another surface  114  of the heat absorbing material  110  opposite to the first thermal diffusion material  130 , and thus the heat absorbing material  110  is between the first thermal diffusion material  130  and the second thermal diffusion material  140 . 
         [0028]    When the thermal buffering element  100   a  is in use, the second thermal diffusion material  140  contacts with the back surface of the circuit board  210 , and the second thermal diffusion material  140  and the heat source  220  are disposed at two opposite surfaces of the circuit board  210 . The thermal buffering element  100   a  can store the heat from the heat source  220  and spread it evenly, which makes the temperature of the electronic device  200  distributed evenly. 
         [0029]    In the embodiment, the second thermal diffusion material  140  may include one or a combination of copper, aluminum and graphite, and the second thermal diffusion material  140  may be the same as or different from the first thermal diffusion material  130 , which is not limited herein. Since the two surfaces  112  and  114  of the heat absorbing material  110  are covered by the first thermal diffusion material  130  and the second thermal diffusion material  140 , respectively, the heat conducting speed of the thermal buffering element  100   a  is higher than that of the thermal buffering element  100  in  FIG. 2 . Moreover, the first thermal diffusion material  130  may be connected to the second thermal diffusion material  140  via a connecting material  135 . The connecting material  135  may be glue or a diffusion material similar with the first thermal diffusion material  130  and the second thermal diffusion material  140 , which is not limited herein. 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a sectional diagram showing the thermal buffering element  100   a  in  FIG. 4  disposed at a front surface of the circuit board  210  of the electronic device  200 . The difference between this embodiment and the embodiment in  FIG. 5  is that the second thermal diffusion material  140  of the thermal buffering element  100   a  covers the heat source  220  and the circuit board  210 . That means, the thermal buffering element  100   a  and the heat source  220  are disposed at the same side of the circuit board  210 . At least a part of the thermal buffering element  100   a  is above the heat source  220 , and it contacts with the heat source  220  via the second thermal diffusion material  140 . The thermal buffering element  100   a  can store the heat from the heat source  220  and spread it evenly, which makes the temperature of the electronic device  200  distributed evenly. In the embodiment, the heat dissipating fins  230  at the heat source  220  in  FIG. 5  can be omitted. 
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is a top view showing a thermal buffering element  100   b  in a third embodiment.  FIG. 8  is a sectional diagram showing the thermal buffering element  100   b  in  FIG. 7  along a line  8 - 8 . Please refer to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , the thermal buffering element  100   b  includes the heat absorbing material  110 , a plurality of the metal particles  120 , the first thermal diffusion material  130  and the second thermal diffusion material  140 . The difference between this embodiment and the embodiment in  FIG. 4  is that the second thermal diffusion material  140  has an opening  142 , and the thermal buffering element  100   b  further includes an insulating material  150 . The insulating material  150  is disposed in the opening  142 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 9  is a sectional diagram showing the thermal buffering element  100   b  in  FIG. 8  disposed at a back surface of the circuit board  210  of the electronic device  200 . When the thermal buffering element  100   b  is used, the second thermal diffusion material  140  of the thermal buffering element  100   b  contacts with the back surface of the circuit board  210 , and the insulating material  150  and the opening  142  are disposed corresponding to a position of the circuit board  210  which is easy to have a short circuit. In the embodiment, the insulating material  150  is below the heat source  220 , which is not limited herein. The thermal buffering element  100   b  can store the heat from the heat source  220  and spread it evenly, which makes the temperature of the electronic device  200  distributed evenly. In the embodiment, the insulating material  150  may be plastic, rubber or ceramic, which is not limited herein. The insulating material  150  can prevent the second thermal diffusion material  140  from contacting a connecting point of the heat source  220  at the back surface of the circuit board  210 , and it can avoid a short circuit. 
         [0033]      FIG. 10  is a sectional diagram showing the thermal buffering element  100   b  in  FIG. 8  disposed at a front surface of the circuit board  210  of the electronic device  200 . The difference between this embodiment and the embodiment in  FIG. 9  is that the second thermal diffusion material  140  of the thermal buffering element  100   b  covers the heat source  220  and the circuit board  210 . That means, the thermal buffering element  100   b  and the heat source  220  are at the same side of the circuit board  210 . At least a part of the thermal buffering element  100   b  covers the heat source  220 , and the thermal buffering element  100   b  contacts with the heat source  220  via the second thermal diffusion material  140 . Thus, the thermal buffering element  100   b  can store the heat from the heat source  220  and spread it evenly, which makes the temperature of the electronic device  200  distributed evenly. In the embodiment, the heat dissipating fins  230  of the heat source  220  in  FIG. 9  can be omitted. 
         [0034]      FIG. 11  is a sectional diagram showing a thermal buffering element  100   c  disposed at a casing  240  of the electronic device  200  in a fourth embodiment. The thermal buffering element  100   c  includes the heat absorbing material  110 , a plurality of the metal particles  120  and a protective tape  160 . The heat absorbing material  110  is disposed at the casing  240  of the electronic device  200 , and the protective tape  160  is attached to the heat absorbing material  110  and the casing  240  to make the heat absorbing material  110  keep a distance d with the heat source  220  at the circuit board  210 . 
         [0035]    When the heat source  220  generates heat, hot air rises and the temperature of the thermal buffering element  100   c  above the heat source  220  increases. The thermal buffering element  100   c  can store the heat from the heat source  220  and spread it evenly, which makes the temperature of the electronic device  200  distributed evenly. 
         [0036]    When the thermal buffering element is in use, the heat absorbing material can store the heat from the heat source, and the metal particles can improve the heat conducting speed of the thermal buffering element. Thus, when the thermal buffering element is above the heat source, at the back surface of the circuit board which is opposite to the heat source, or at the casing which is adjacent to the heat source, the thermal buffering element can store the heat from the heat source and spread it evenly, which makes the temperature of the electronic device distributed evenly and prevents the parts around the heat source from getting too hot. 
         [0037]    When the temperature of the heat source changes sharply, since the heat absorbing material can absorb and release heat, the thermal buffering element can reduce the temperature changing speed of the electronic device, which facilitates managing the whole temperature of the electronic device. Thus, the service life of components in the electronic device is extended, and when the user uses the electronic device, he or she would not feel a big temperature difference, and they would not get scalded. 
         [0038]    Since the thermal buffering element can be selectively disposed at the back surface, the front surface of the circuit board or the inner surface of the casing, and the thermal buffering element is thin and is in a sheet shape, it can use the space in the electronic device more flexibly. 
         [0039]    Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, the disclosure is not for limiting the scope. Persons having ordinary skill in the art may make various modifications and changes without departing from the scope. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiments described above.