Patent Publication Number: US-2004057368-A1

Title: Optical storage apparatus and housing

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001] This application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application Serial No. 091214786 filed on Sep. 19, 2002.  
       FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention relates to an optical storage apparatus using a housing with a heat dissipation structure.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] As the rotation speed of present optical storage apparatus is developed to be higher and higher, more and more heat is produced during operation. The optical storage apparatus may have a shorter lifespan or a breakdown if the heat is not effectively dissipated. Accordingly, heat dissipation has been an important issue for optical storage apparatus design.  
       [0004] Conventionally, heat dissipation may be achieved by disposing a fan on and/or a hole through the cover of the optical storage apparatus. However, small fans have limited effect, and large fans are not suitable for external optical storage apparatus. Therefore, more or larger holes may be the resolution of heat dissipation.  
       [0005] Nevertheless, there are more issues over designing an external optical storage apparatus than designing a built-in apparatus. For example, dust may enter the external optical storage apparatus through the holes and cause breakdown. Hence a heat dissipation structure designed for the external optical storage apparatus is needed to effectively dissipate heat and prevent dust from entering.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] One aspect of the present invention provides an optical storage apparatus using a housing with a heat dissipation structure, which dissipates heat more effectively.  
       [0007] A housing of an external optical storage apparatus is disclosed. The housing includes a base, a cover and a panel. The cover has a hole for the panel to be selectively inserted within. There is a gap between the panel and the cover. The panel includes an opening communicating with the gap.  
       [0008] The emission of the optical pick-up head, the running of the motor and the operation of the electronic devices all generate heat. The rotation of a disk drives the air to produce an air flow. The air flow may go out of the housing through the opening and the gap, so that the heat dissipation efficiency is improved.  
       [0009] In addition, the panel further includes a guiding plate fixed on one side of the opening. The guiding plate is for guiding the air flow through the opening and out of the housing, to enhance dissipation.  
       [0010] The advantages and spirit of the present invention may be further comprehended through the following detailed description and drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0011]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a housing according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0012]FIG. 2(A) is an inside view of a cover and a panel according to the first exemplary embodiment;  
     [0013]FIG. 2(B) is an explosive view of the cover and the panel according to the first exemplary embodiment;  
     [0014]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the front of the panel according to the first exemplary embodiment;  
     [0015]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional diagram along the line I-I′ in FIG. 2(A);  
     [0016]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a housing according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0017]FIG. 6(A) is an inside view of a cover and a panel according to the second exemplary embodiment;  
     [0018]FIG. 6(B) is an explosive view of the cover and the panel according to the second exemplary embodiment;  
     [0019]FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the front of the panel according to the second exemplary embodiment; and  
     [0020]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional diagram along the line II-II′ in FIG. 6(A). 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0021] The present invention discloses an optical storage apparatus using a housing with a heat dissipation structure, which dissipates heat more effectively.  
     [0022]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a housing  100  according to a first exemplary embodiment. The housing  100  includes a cover  110 , a panel  120  and a base  130 . FIGS.  2 (A) and  2 (B) are the inside view and the explosive view of the cover  110  and the panel  120  according to the first exemplary embodiment. The cover  110  has a hole  112  for the panel  120  to be selectively inserted within. A protrusion  122  provides a gap between the panel  120  and the cover  110  when the panel  120  is inserted within the hole  112 . The protrusion  122  may be provided on the panel  120  or the cover  110 . In this exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a number of protrusions  122  are provided on the panel  120 .  
     [0023] To improve the heat dissipation, the housing  100  further includes a guiding plate  128  fixed on one side of the gap. As shown in FIGS.  2 (A) and  2 (B), the guiding plate  128  is disposed on the lower surface of the cover  110 . The shape of guiding plate  128  matches the direction of air flow  40  to guide the air flow  40  through the gap and out of the housing  100 , to enhance dissipation.  
     [0024]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional diagram along the line I-I′ in FIG. 2(A). The operation of the optical storage apparatus gives out heat. The rotation of disk drives the air to produce an air flow  40 . The air flow  40  may go out of the housing  100  through the gap so that the heat dissipation efficiency is improved.  
     [0025] Besides, to prevent dust from entering the optical storage apparatus through the gap, the edge of hole  112  may be an incline  116 , as shown in FIG. 4. Similarly, the corresponding portion of the panel  120  may also be an incline  126 . Therefore, the gap is essentially located between the incline  116  and the incline  126 , and the dust may be prevented from entering.  
     [0026]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a housing  200  according to a second exemplary embodiment. The housing  200  includes a cover  210 , a panel  220  and a base  230 . FIGS.  6 (A) and  6 (B) are the inside view and the explosive view of the cover  210  and the panel  220  according to the second exemplary embodiment. The cover  210  has a hole  212  for the panel  220  to be selectively inserted within. A gap is formed at the connection of the panel  220  and the cover  210  when the panel  220  is inserted within the hole  212 . The panel  220  includes an opening  224 . The opening  224  communicates with the gap and allows the air flow to pass. In this exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a number of openings  224  are disposed on the panel  220  to allow the air flow to pass and the heat to be dissipated.  
     [0027]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional diagram along the line II-II′ in FIG. 6(A). The air flow  40  resulting from operation of the optical storage apparatus goes out of the housing  200  through the opening  224  and the gap. To improve heat dissipation, the panel  220  further includes a guiding plate  228  fixed on one side of the opening  224  to guide the air flow  40  through the opening  224 . As shown in FIGS.  6 (A) and  6 (B), the guiding plates  228  are disposed beside each of a number of openings  224  to guide the air flow  40 .  
     [0028] Besides, to enhance the appearance and to prevent dust from entering the optical storage apparatus through the gap, the edge of hole  212  may be an incline  216 . Similarly, the corresponding portion of the panel  220  may also be an incline  226 . Therefore, the optical storage apparatus may not be seen through, and the dust may be prevented from entering.  
     [0029] While this invention has been described with reference to the illustrative embodiments, these descriptions should not be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the illustrative embodiment, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent upon reference to these descriptions. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as falling within the true scope of the invention and its legal equivalents.