Patent Publication Number: US-2003223189-A1

Title: Notebook computer with low surface temperature

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The invention relates to a notebook computer; in particular, a notebook computer with a low surface temperature.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART  
       [0002] Since a notebook computer itself is only provided with limited functions, it must usually connect to other peripheral devices to expand its functions. For example, the notebook computer may be placed on a port replicator and connected with the port replicator. However, when the rear portion of the is notebook computer is placed on the port replicator, the notebook computer is inclined relative to a desk for the port replicator disposed thereon. Thus, extractable devices, such as CD ROM or DVD, cannot be positioned in the front portion of the notebook computer so as to be prevented from colliding with the desk during operation. As a result, the extractable devices can only be positioned on the sides. Furthermore, to provide sufficient area for a main board of the notebook computer, a hard drive of the notebook computer must be disposed on the main board and located under a cover.  
       [0003]FIG. 1 a , FIG. 1 b , and FIG. 1 c  are schematic views of a conventional notebook computer  100 . The conventional notebook computer  100  comprises a main portion  110  and a display portion  120 . As shown in FIG. 1 b  and FIG. 1 c , the main portion  110  includes a cover  111 , a frame  112 , a hard drive  113 , a main board  114 , and a base  115 . The hard drive  113 , the main board  114 , and the frame  112  are located between the cover  111  and the base  115 . The main board  114  is disposed on the base  115 , the frame  112  is disposed on the main board  114 , and the hard drive  113  is disposed in the frame  112 .  
       [0004] The frame  112  is of aluminum, an excellent thermally conductive material. Thus, the heat, generated by a processor (not shown) and a chipset  116  located on the main board  114 , is easily transferred to the cover  111  via the frame  112 . As a result, the temperature of the outer surface of the cover  111  increases due to heat transferred from the frame  112 , creating user discomfort.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] In order to address the disadvantages of the aforementioned notebook computer, the invention provides a notebook computer with a low surface temperature.  
       [0006] Accordingly, the invention provides a notebook computer with a low surface temperature. The notebook computer comprises a housing, a main board, a frame, and a hard drive. The housing includes a cover, and the main board is disposed in the housing. The frame, disposed on the main board, includes two supports and a connecting portion connecting the supports. A space is formed between the supports. The hard drive is disposed in the frame.  
       [0007] In another preferred embodiment, the frame is of thermally insulative material, such as plastic.  
       [0008] In another preferred embodiment, the frame defines a plurality of through holes on the supports and the connecting portion.  
       [0009] In another preferred embodiment, a gap is formed between the top of the frame and the cover, and ranges from 0.5 mm to 1 mm. That is, the cover is set with a predetermined distance from the top of the frame.  
       [0010] Furthermore, this invention provides another notebook computer. The notebook computer comprises a housing, a main board, a heat-isolation member, and a hard drive. The housing includes a cover, and the main board is disposed in the housing. The heat-isolation member is disposed on the main board. The hard drive is disposed on the main board via the heat-isolation member so that the heat-isolation member is located between the hard drive and the main board. A gap is formed between the hard drive and the cover. That is, the cover is set with a predetermined distance from the top of the hard drive. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0011] The invention is hereinafter described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
     [0012]FIG. 1 a  is a schematic view of a conventional notebook computer;  
     [0013]FIG. 1 b  is a partial exploded schematic view showing a main portion in FIG. 1 a;    
     [0014]FIG. 1 c  is a partial cross section showing the main portion in FIG. 1 a;    
     [0015]FIG. 2 a  is a schematic view of a notebook computer as disclosed in this invention;  
     [0016]FIG. 2 b  is a partial exploded schematic view showing a main portion of a notebook computer in a first embodiment;  
     [0017]FIG. 2 c  is a partial cross section showing the main portion in FIG. 2 b;    
     [0018]FIG. 2 d  is a schematic view of a frame in FIG. 2 b;    
     [0019]FIG. 3 a  is a partial exploded schematic view showing a main portion of a notebook computer in a second embodiment;  
     [0020]FIG. 3 b  is a partial cross section showing the main portion in FIG. 3 a.   
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     First Embodiment  
     [0021] Referring to FIG. 2 a , FIG. 2 b , and FIG. 2 c , a basic structure of a notebook computer  200  of a first embodiment as disclosed in this invention is the same as that of the conventional notebook computer  100  as shown in FIG. 1 a . The notebook computer  200  comprises a main portion  210  and a display portion  220 .  
     [0022] As shown in FIG. 2 b  and FIG. 2 c , the main portion  210  comprises a housing  211 , a main board  214 , a frame  212 , and a hard drive  213 . The housing  211  is used as a body of the main portion  210 , and includes a cover  211   a  and a base  211   b.    
     [0023] The main board  214  is disposed on the base  211   b  of the housing  211  and located in the housing  211 , and includes a plurality of chipsets  216  disposed thereon. It is noted that only one chipset  216  is shown in FIG. 2 b.    
     [0024] Referring to FIG. 2 d , the frame  212  includes two supports  2122  and a connecting portion  2121  connecting the supports  2122 . The supports  2122  support the hard drive  213 , and define a space S between them. The frame  212  defines a plurality of through holes  2123  on its connecting portion  2121  and supports  2122 . The through holes  2123  may be circular or rectangular so as to retard or delay heat conduction through the frame. When the number of the through holes  2123  is increased, the heat conduction through the frame of the frame  212  is retarded more as long as the structural strength of the frame  212  is not affected. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2 c , the frame  212  is disposed on the main board  214  in a manner such that a gap g 1  is formed between the top of the frame  212  and the cover  211   a  of the housing  211 . That is, the cover  211   a  is set with a predetermined distance g 1  from the top of the frame  212 . Thus, the heat, generated by the chipset  216  and a processor (not shown) on the main board  214 , can be prevented from transferring to the cover  211   a  of the housing  211  via the frame  212 .  
     [0025] Furthermore, since there is a space S formed between the supports  2122 , heat conduction through the frame  212  can be retarded.  
     [0026] In addition, the gap g 1  can prevent more heat conduction, and the distance g 1  is at least 0.5 mm.  
     [0027] It is understood that the frame  212  may be of thermally insulative material such as plastic so as to actually prevent the heat, generated by the chipset  216  and others on the main board  214 , from transferring to the cover  211   a  of the housing  211  via the frame  212 . It is also understood that the thermally insulative material is a material with a low heat transfer coefficient.  
     [0028] However, for structural strength, the frame  212  may be of stainless steel. Thus, the hard drive  213 , disposed in the frame  212 , is prevented from vibrating with external shock.  
     [0029] Furthermore, when the frame  212  is of stainless steel, it does not only prevent vibrating, but also assists in dissipating ESD or EMI.  
     [0030] During operation, the temperature of the outer surface of the cover  211   a  of the notebook computer  200  is higher than the ambient temperature of about 15° C. Similarly, the temperature of the outer surface of the cover  111  of the conventional notebook computer  100  is higher than the ambient temperature of about 20° C. during operation. Thus, user discomfort with the notebook computer  200  as disclosed in this invention is reduced.  
     [0031] Since the frame is of thermally insulative material, the frame can retard the heat transfer, and the temperature of the outer surface of the cover remains at an acceptable level.  
     [0032] In addition, since there is a gap/distance between the frame and the housing, a fan in the notebook computer can easily generate air flow to carry heat from the frame.  
     Second Embodiment  
     [0033] A basic structure of a notebook computer of a second embodiment as disclosed in this invention is the same as that of the notebook computer of the first embodiment as disclosed in this invention. Referring to FIG. 3 a , and FIG. 3 b , a main portion  210  of the notebook computer of the second embodiment comprises a housing  211 , a main board  214 , two heat-isolation members  215 , and a hard drive  213 . The main board  214  is disposed in the housing  211 .  
     [0034] The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the heat-isolation members  215  in the second embodiment replace the frame  212  in the first embodiment. The heat-isolation members  215  are disposed on the main board  214 , and are located under the hard drive  213 . The heat-isolation members  215  may be disposed on the bottom portion of the hard drive  213  near both sides. Thus, the hard drive  213  is disposed on the main board  214  via the heat-isolation members  215 . It is noted that a gap g2 is formed between the hard drive  213  and the cover  211   a  of the housing  211  as shown in FIG. 3 b  . That is, the cover  211   a  is set with a predetermined distance g2 from the top of the hard drive  213 .  
     [0035] It is understood that the heat-isolation members  215  may be of thermally insulative material, such as plastic.  
     [0036] Furthermore, since there is a gap/distance g 2  formed between the hard drive  213  and the cover  211   a , the heat, generated by the chipset  216  and others on the main board  214 , can be prevented from directly transferring to the cover  211   a  of the housing  211 . Since the gap/distance g2 can prevent the heat conduction through the frame more as it becomes larger it is made at least 0.5 mm, and may range from 0.5 mm to 1 mm.  
     [0037] During operation, the temperature of the outer surface of the cover  211   a  of this embodiment is higher than the ambient temperature of about 14.9° C. Similarly, the temperature of the outer surface of the cover  111  of the conventional notebook computer  100  is higher than the ambient temperature of about 20° C. during operation, again reducing user discomfort.  
     [0038] Since the heat-isolation members are disposed between the hard drive and the main board, the heat-isolation members can retard the heat transfer, and the temperature of the outer surface of the cover remains at an acceptable level.  
     [0039] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover the disclosed embodiment, those alternatives which have been discussed above, and all equivalents thereto.