Patent Publication Number: US-10331184-B2

Title: Cooling adapter for mobile device

Description:
PRIORITY REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a non-provisional of US Provisional Application No. 62/449,039, entitled COOLING ADAPTER FOR MOBILE DEVICE, and filed on Jan. 22, 2017 by inventor Lev Yitzhak Lavy, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to cooling of handheld electronic devices such as smartphones to prevent excessive heat generation. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Because of their high density and small size, modern electronic circuits generate a substantial amount of heat. Complex integrated circuits, especially microprocessors, generate so much heat that they are often unable to operate without a cooling system. Excess heat degrades an integrated circuit&#39;s performance and adversely affects its reliability over time. Inadequate cooling causes malfunction in central processing units of personal computers, and may result in system crashes, lockups, unexpected reboots, and other anomalies. 
     Personal computers have built-in cooling fans. However, smartphones and other handheld electronic devices do not have built-in fans. Moreover, the risk of malfunction is especially severe for the tight confines found inside smartphones and other handheld electronic devices. Heat management is critical as technology advances and newer devices become smaller and more complex, and run at higher power levels and power densities. 
     There are many use cases in which smartphones get overheated, including gaming, navigation and video conversations. It is common in these use cases for a smartphone to be connected to a charger, in order to avoid battery drainage, and the charging adds additional heat to the device. A smartphone that is not properly cooled reaches a temperature of 70° C.-90° C., which may cause the smartphone to shut down. 
     The danger of overheating is especially acute when a smartphone is used extensively outdoors or mounted on a dashboard of a car for use as a navigational tool, as a radio or as a video camera, on a hot and sunny day. Conventional approaches suggest use of an external cooling fan or a solar insulator. However, in the situations described above, it is not feasible to mount an external cooling fan near the smartphone since the fan would have to be transported with the smartphone outdoors, or would block a driver&#39;s vision if mounted on the dashboard of the car. A solar insulator would prevent only the sun&#39;s portion of the heating, but would fail to prevent internal heating. 
     As such, there is a need to attenuate heat generation for handheld electronic devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus and methods for cooling smartphones and other handheld electronic devices. Embodiments of the present invention provide cooling adaptors that plug into smartphones or other handheld electronic devices, and provide adequate cooling to prevent overheating. 
     Generally, the adaptor of the present invention includes a fan and an air socket that directs air flow to a handheld electronic device. One end of the adaptor connects to the handheld electronic device, and the other end of the adaptor includes a cable that connects to a source of power. 
     The adaptor comes in many variations that include different types of connectors, different types of cables, and different types of fans. The adaptor may include a vibration absorber, to absorb vibrations that would otherwise be transmitted from the fan to the handheld electronic device. The adaptor may include a sun reflector to block sunlight from penetrating the handheld electronic device. The adaptor may include one or more processing units, to offload some processing from the handheld electronic device. The adaptor may include a camera to capture image and/or video data. The adaptor may include a global positioning sensor. The adaptor may include an inertial measurement unit. The adaptor may include a temperature sensor. The adaptor may include an ammeter. 
     The adaptor may be packaged together with a cable, as an adaptor kit. The kit includes (i) a printed circuit board including a power chip, an air socket, and one or more connectors, (ii) a fan, (iii) a fan motor, and optionally (iv) other components. 
     There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention an adaptor for cooling a handheld electronic device, including a fan, an air socket, a first connector connecting the adaptor to a mobile device, a second connector connecting the adaptor to a power source, and a cable connecting the fan to the connector. 
     There is additionally provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention an adaptor for cooling a handheld electronic device, including a fan, an air socket, a charger, a connector connecting the adaptor to the mobile device, and a cable connecting the fan to the charger. 
     There is further provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention an adaptor for cooling a handheld electronic device, including a fan, an air socket, a first connector connecting the adaptor to a mobile device, and a second connector connecting the adaptor to a USB cable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a simplified diagram of an adaptor for cooling a handheld electronic device, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a simplified diagram of an adaptor for cooling a handheld electronic device, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a simplified diagram of an adaptor for cooling a handheld electronic device, in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a simplified diagram of air flow from the adaptor of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  or  FIG. 3 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a simplified diagram of an adaptor for cooling a handheld electronic device, in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a simplified diagram of an adaptor for cooling a handheld electronic device, in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     For reference to the figures, TABLE I provides an index of elements and their numerals. Similarly numbered elements represent elements of the same type, but they need not be identical elements. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE I 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Table of elements in the figures 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Element 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 100 
                 handheld electronic device 
               
               
                   
                 200A, 200B, 200C 
                 adaptors 
               
               
                   
                 210 
                 first connector 
               
               
                   
                 220 
                 air socket 
               
               
                   
                 230 
                 fan 
               
               
                   
                 235 
                 flat fan 
               
               
                   
                 240 
                 fan motor 
               
               
                   
                 250 
                 cable 
               
               
                   
                 251 
                 tube 
               
               
                   
                 252 
                 clip 
               
               
                   
                 260 
                 second connector 
               
               
                   
                 270 
                 charger base 
               
               
                   
                 280 
                 second connector 
               
               
                   
                 290 
                 air flow 
               
               
                   
                 300 
                 charger 
               
               
                   
                 310 
                 optional camera 
               
               
                   
                 320 
                 optional temperature sensor 
               
               
                   
                 330 
                 optional rubber vibration absorber 
               
               
                   
                 340 
                 optional GPS 
               
               
                   
                 350 
                 air conditioner 
               
               
                   
                 360 
                 optional sun reflector 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Elements numbered in the 1000&#39;s are operations of flow charts. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate to adaptors for handheld electronic devices that provide adequate cooling and prevent overheating of the devices. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 1 , which is a simplified diagram of an adaptor  200 A for cooling a handheld electronic device  100 , in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Handheld electronic device  100  may be inter alia a smartphone, a media player, a gaming device, a navigational device, and an Internet of Things (IoT) device. 
     Adaptor  200 A includes a first connector  210  connecting adaptor  200 A to handheld electronic device  100 , an air socket  220 , a fan  230 , a fan motor  240  that preferably runs on DC power, and a power cable  250  connecting fan motor  240  to a second connector  260 . Cable  250  may include a USB cable, for charging from a car cigarette lighter. 
     First connector  210  may be a single connector that connects with a specific socket type of handheld electronic device  100 . Alternatively, first connector  210  may include a connector bridge, such that multiple socket types may be connected thereto. In some embodiments of the present invention, first connector  210  may include a temperature sensor and/or an ammeter (not shown), and/or other sensors. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, adaptor  200 A may include a global positioning sensor and/or inertial measurement sensors  340 . In other embodiments of the present invention, adaptor  200 A may include a camera  310 , to offload power and heat generating components from handheld electronic device  100 . Data captured by camera  310  is processed and stored on handheld electronic device  100 . Alternatively, data captured by camera  310  may be processed by a processing unit (not shown) that is part of adaptor  200 A, and subsequently transmitted to handheld electronic device  100 . 
     Second connector  260  connects adaptor  200 A to a USB port for charging. Alternatively, second connector  260  may connect adaptor  200 A to one or more solar panels for charging. 
     Since fan  230  is part of adaptor  200 A, it is not necessary to adjust the direction of handheld electronic device  100  in order to cool it. 
     The side of adaptor  200 A connected to cable  250  may split internally, and thereby charge handheld electronic device  100  and also supply power to fan motor  240 . Generally, fan  230  consumes up to 20% of the incoming power. 
     Adaptor  200 A and cable  250  may be packaged together, as an adaptor kit. In one configuration, the kit includes (i) a printed circuit board containing first and second connectors  210  and  260 , respectively, air socket  220 , and a power chip, (ii) cable  250 , (iii) fan  230 , and (iv) fan motor  240 . 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 2 , which is a simplified diagram of an adaptor  200 B for cooling handheld electronic device  100 , in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Adaptor  200 B differs from adaptor  200 A in that second connector  260  is absent, and cable  250  connects fan motor  240  to a charger base  270 . Charger base  270  may connect to a car cigarette lighter, to an on-board diagnostics connector, or to a wall charger. 
     Adaptor  200 B and cable  250  may be packaged together, as an adaptor kit. In one configuration, the kit includes (i) a printed circuit board containing first connector  210 , air socket  220 , and a power chip, (ii) cable  250 , (iii) fan  230 , (iv) fan motor  240 , and (v) charger base  270 . 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 3 , which is a simplified diagram of an adaptor  200 C for cooling handheld electronic device  100 , in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. Adaptor  200 C differs from adaptor  200 B in that power cable  250  is absent, and a different second connector  280  is present. Second connector  280  is compatible with the power connector of handheld electronic device  100 , and connects adaptor  200 C to a handheld device charger  300 . 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, second connector  260  or  280  is integrated with a temperature sensor  320 , to sense the internal temperature of handheld electronic device  100 . The speed of fan  230  is adjusted based on the output of temperature sensor  320 , and may be controlled by the temperature sensor itself. 
     Adaptor  200 C may be packaged as an adaptor kit. In one configuration, the kit includes (i) a printed circuit board containing first and second connections  210  and  260 , respectively, air socket  220 , and a power chip, (ii) charger  300 , (iii) fan  230 , and (iv) fan motor  240 . 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 4 , which is a simplified diagram of air flow  290  from adaptor  200 A,  200 B or  200 C, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  shows an embodiment where an air flow model redirects air on both sides of fan  230  so as to enter handheld electronic device  100  at an angle. In an alternative embodiment, the air flow arrives parallel to the surface of handheld electronic device  100 , so as to provide a high temperature gradient between handheld electronic device  100  and the air, for efficient heat flow. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, a vibration absorber  330 , made of a soft rubber or other material, is mounted between connector  210  and fan  230 . Vibration absorber  330  stabilizes handheld electronic device  100  to provide camera stability, and to reduce the effect of fan  230  vibrations on inertial measurement unit sensors in handheld electronic device  100 . 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, adaptor  200 A,  200 B and  200 C may include a sun reflector  360  connected to fan  230 , to provide full or partial heat protection from sunlight. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, adaptor  200 A,  200 B and  200 C may include multiple fans for additional air flow control. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 5 , which is a simplified diagram of an adaptor  200 D for cooling handheld electronic device  100 , in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Adaptor  200 D uses a flat fan  235 , and is of particular advantage for handheld electronic devices  100  that have a flat surface with a display. Fan  235  is directed in front of or in back of the flat surface with the display. Fan  235  sucks air and pushes the air to air socket  220 . 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 6 , which is a simplified diagram of an adaptor  200 E for cooling handheld electronic device  100 , in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 6  shows a partially rigid tube  251  surrounding cable  250 , and a clip/magnet  252  that attaches tube  251  to a vehicle air conditioner  350 . Fan  230  pushes cool air from air conditioner  350  directly to handheld electronic device  200 . 
     Although the discussion hereinabove relates to a handheld electronic device  100 , it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the subject invention also applies to mobile devices that are not handheld. 
     The various embodiments of the adaptor described above may be combined in different ways. Thus flat fan  235  of  FIG. 5  and/or the tube  251  and clip/magnet  252  of  FIG. 6  may be used with one another, and with any of adaptors  200 A,  200 B and  200 C of  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , respectively. 
     In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to the specific exemplary embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.