Patent Publication Number: US-2022229476-A1

Title: Electronic system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial No. 110101671, filed on Jan. 15, 2021. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of the specification. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to an electronic system, and in particular, to an electronic system including a cooling device. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     With the advancement of electronic technologies, functions of smartphones have been greatly improved. With the changes of people&#39;s life styles, mobile games are increasingly popular. To developing such a new business field, more diversified games are launched with more elaborate pictures, to attract users in the market. 
     However, to process such complex games, the processors inside the smartphones need to process an increasingly large amount of information at each instant, resulting in increasingly high loads on the processors. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an aspect of the disclosure, an electronic system including an electronic device and a cooling device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing, a heat source, a heat-conducting seat, and a heat-conducting block. The housing includes a space and at least one opening in communication with each other. The heat source is disposed in the space. The heat-conducting seat is disposed in the space and is in contact with the heat source. The heat-conducting seat at least partially faces the opening. The heat-conducting block is located at the opening and is elastically connected to the housing. The cooling device includes at least one pressing portion and a cooling portion. The pressing portion is configured to press against the heat-conducting block, to move the heat-conducting block into the space and abut against the heat-conducting seat, so that heat is transferred to the pressing portion through the heat-conducting seat and the heat-conducting block. The cooling portion is connected to the pressing portion, and is configured to dissipate the heat transferred to the pressing portion. 
     In summary, in the disclosure, the cooling device is mounted on the electronic device, to enable the cooling device to effectively dissipate heat of the heat source of the electronic device. Moreover, a protruding portion of the cooling portion is inserted into a through hole of the housing, and a second joint portion of the cooling portion is snap fitted to a fourth joint portion of the housing to assemble the cooling device and the electronic device without hand tools, and the convenience is thus increased. 
     In addition, at least a part of a bearing portion abuts against the heat-conducting block when a first end of a holder is not pushed by the protruding portion of the cooling portion. Therefore, the bearing portion prevents the heat-conducting block from contacting with the heat-conducting seat in a case that the cooling device does not abut against the electronic device. Meanwhile, the heat from the heat source does not transfer to the heat-conducting block by the heat-conducting seat, and a user would not touch a hot heat-conducting block. Therefore, the safety while using the electronic device is effectively improved. 
     Furthermore, in actual applications, when a user considers that the heat generated by the heat source of the electronic device during operation is not high, the user alternatively chooses not to assemble the cooling device on the electronic device. Therefore, the electronic system provides considerable use flexibility. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic three-dimensional diagram of an electronic system according to an embodiment of the disclosure, where a cooling device is not fixed to an electronic device; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial perspective top view of the electronic device shown in  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 2  along a line A-A; 
         FIG. 4  is a three-dimensional bottom view of the cooling device in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial perspective top view of the electronic device in  FIG. 1 , where a bearing portion is away from a path along which a heat-conducting block moves toward a heat-conducting seat; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic three-dimensional diagram of the electronic system in  FIG. 1 , where the cooling device is fixed to the electronic device; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 6  along a line B-B; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a cooling device according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIG. 9  is a partial cross-sectional view of a cooling device according to still another embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , an electronic system  100  includes an electronic device  110  and a cooling device  120 . In an embodiment, the electronic device  110  is a smartphone or a tablet computer, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. Specifically, the electronic device  110  includes a housing  111 , a heat source  112 , a heat-conducting seat  113 , and a heat-conducting block  114 . The housing  111  includes a space SP and at least one opening OP in communication with each other. The heat source  112  is disposed in the space SP. In an embodiment, the heat source  112  is a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or the like. During operation of the electronic device  110 , the heat source  112  generates considerable amount of heat. The heat-conducting seat  113  is disposed in the space SP and is in contact with the heat source  112 . The heat-conducting seat  113  at least partially faces the opening OP. The heat-conducting block  114  is located at the opening OP and is elastically connected to the housing  111 . In an embodiment, the heat-conducting block  114  is made of a metal material, and a contour of the heat-conducting block  114  matches a contour of the opening OP. Therefore, the electronic device  110  has a desirable appearance. 
       FIG. 4  is a three-dimensional bottom view of the cooling device  120  in  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 , the cooling device  120  includes at least one pressing portion  121  and a cooling portion  122 . The cooling portion  122  is connected to the pressing portion  121 , and the pressing portion  121  is configured to press against the heat-conducting block  114  of the electronic device  110 , to move the heat-conducting block  114  toward the heat-conducting seat  113  and engage with the heat-conducting seat  113 . In actual applications, the pressing portion  121  of the cooling device  120  is made of a metal material, to improve the efficiency of heat conduction. 
     Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the cooling portion  122  of the cooling device  120  includes a first joint portion  1221  and a second joint portion  1222  opposite to each other. In addition, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the housing  111  of the electronic device  110  includes a third joint portion  1111  and a fourth joint portion  1112  opposite to each other. The first joint portion  1221  of the cooling portion  122  is configured to be combined with the third joint portion  1111  of the electronic device  110 , and the second joint portion  1222  of the cooling portion  122  is configured to be combined with the fourth joint portion  1112  of the electronic device  110 . In an embodiment, the third joint portion  1111  and the fourth joint portion  1112  are two opposite sides of the electronic device  110 , but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In an embodiment, the first joint portion  1221  and the second joint portion  1222  are a snap-fit structure, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. 
     More specifically, in actual applications, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the first joint portion  1221  of the cooling portion  122  includes at least one protruding portion  1221   a . Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the third joint portion  1111  of the housing  111  includes at least one through hole HT, and the protruding portion  1221   a  of the cooling portion  122  is configured to be inserted into the through hole HT of the housing  111 . In addition, the fourth joint portion  1112  of the housing  111  is actually a side of the housing  111 , and the second joint portion  1222  of the cooling portion  122  is configured to be snap fitted to the fourth joint portion  1112  of the housing  111 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the electronic device  110  further includes a holder  130 . The holder  130  is movably located in the space SP. The holder  130  includes a transmission portion  131 , at least one bearing portion  132 , and a connecting portion  133 . The transmission portion  131  includes a first end  1311  and a second end  1312  opposite to each other, where the first end  1311  is located between the second end  1312  and the through hole HT, and is configured to be pushed by the protruding portion  1221   a . When the cooling device  120  is not combined with the electronic device  110 , at least a part of the bearing portion  132  abuts against the heat-conducting block  114 , to prevent the heat-conducting block  114  from coming into contact with the heat-conducting seat  113 . In this way, the heat-conducting seat  113  does not transfer the heat of the heat source  112  to the heat-conducting block  114 , and the user does not feel that the heat-conducting block  114  is hot. Based on this, the use safety of the electronic system  100  is effectively improved. 
     In an embodiment, the housing  111  includes an edge  1113 . The edge  1113  surrounds and defines the opening OP. A vertical projection of the edge  1113  on the holder  130  is located between the connecting portion  133  and the first end  1311 . The connecting portion  133  is connected to the second end  1312 , and the bearing portion  132  is connected to the connecting portion  133 . Actually, the transmission portion  131 , the bearing portion  132 , and the connecting portion  133  are an integrally-formed structure. 
       FIG. 5  is a partial perspective top view of the electronic device  110  in  FIG. 1 . The bearing portion  132  is away from the heat-conducting block  114  (the heat-conducting block  114  and an internal structure of the electronic device  110  are shown in  FIG. 5 ). Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 5 , when the protruding portion  1221   a  (only a part of the protruding portion  1221   a  is shown in  FIG. 5 ) of the cooling portion  122  is inserted into the through hole HT of the housing  111 , the protruding portion  1221   a  pushes the first end  1311  of the holder  130 , to cause the transmission portion  131  of the holder  130  to move away from the through hole HT of the housing  111 , and the bearing portion  132  moves with the transmission portion  131  away from the heat-conducting block  114  due to the connecting portion  133 . In this case, the bearing portion  132  no longer abuts against the heat-conducting block  114 . Therefore, the heat-conducting block  114  moves toward the heat-conducting seat  113  due to gravity. 
     In other words, when the first end  1311  of the holder  130  is not pushed by the protruding portion  1221   a  of the cooling portion  122 , at least a part of the bearing portion  132  abuts against the heat-conducting block  114 , thus to prevent the heat-conducting block  114  contacting with the heat-conducting seat  113 . 
     In an embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5 , the electronic system  100  further includes at least one first elastic component  140 . The first elastic component  140  is located in the space SP, and is elastically connected between the holder  130  and the housing  111 . When the first elastic component  140  is in a natural state, at least a part of the bearing portion  132  of the holder  130  abuts against the heat-conducting block  114 . When the protruding portion  1221   a  of the cooling portion  122  is inserted into the through hole HT of the housing  111  to push the first end  1311  of the holder  130 , the bearing portion  132  of the holder  130  is away from the heat-conducting block  114 , so that the first elastic component  140  is elongated to store a specific amount of elastic potential energy. When the protruding portion  1221   a  of the cooling portion  122  leaves the through hole HT of the housing  111  and no longer pushes the first end  1311  of the holder  130 , the first elastic component  140  releases the stored elastic potential energy to restore the natural state, so that at least a part of the bearing portion  132  of the holder  130  returns again and abuts against the heat-conducting block  114 , thereby preventing the heat-conducting block  114  to contact with the heat-conducting seat  113  again. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic three-dimensional diagram of the electronic system  100  in  FIG. 1 , where the cooling device  120  is fixed to the electronic device  110 .  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 6  along a line B-B. In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , the cooling portion  122  of the cooling device  120  abuts against the housing  111  of the electronic device  110 . In this case, the protruding portion  1221   a  of the cooling portion  122  is inserted into the through hole HT of the housing  111 , and the second joint portion  1222  of the cooling portion  122  is snap fitted to the fourth joint portion  1112  of the housing  111 , to fix relative positions of the cooling device  120  and the electronic device  110 . Specifically, in this embodiment, when the second joint portion  1222  of the cooling portion  122  is snap fitted to the fourth joint portion  1112  of the housing  111 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , the second joint portion  1222  covers and is snap fitted to a side of the housing  111 . 
     As described above, when the protruding portion  1221   a  of the cooling portion  122  is inserted into the through hole HT of the housing  111  to push the first end  1311  of the holder  130 , the bearing portion  132  of the holder  130  is away from the heat-conducting block  114 . Therefore, when the second joint portion  1222  of the cooling portion  122  is also snap fitted to the fourth joint portion  1112  of the housing  111 , the pressing portion  121  of the cooling device  120  presses against the heat-conducting block  114  of the electronic device  110 , and causes the heat-conducting block  114  to move into the space SP and further to be engaged with the heat-conducting seat  113 , so that the heat of the heat source  112  is transferred to the pressing portion  121  of the cooling device  120  through the heat-conducting seat  113  and the heat-conducting block  114 . The cooling portion  122  of the cooling device  120  is configured to dissipate the heat transferred to the pressing portion  121 . 
     In other words, the cooling device  120  is mounted on the electronic device  110 , to enable the cooling device  120  to effectively dissipate heat of the heat source  112  of the electronic device  110 . Moreover, as described above, the protruding portion  1221   a  of the cooling portion  122  is inserted into the through hole HT of the housing  111 , and the second joint portion  1222  of the cooling portion  122  is snap fitted to the fourth joint portion  1112  of the housing  111 , to assemble the cooling device  120  and the electronic device  110  without hand tools and the convenience is thus increased. 
     Furthermore, when a user considers that the heat generated by the heat source  112  of the electronic device  110  during operation is not high, the user alternatively chooses not to assemble the cooling device  120  on the electronic device  110 . Therefore, the electronic system  100  provides considerable use flexibility. 
     Moreover, in this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 7 , the electronic system  100  further includes a cooling pad  160 . Specifically, the cooling pad  160  is disposed on a side of the heat-conducting seat  113  facing the heat-conducting block  114 . Therefore, a better thermal contact effect is formed between the heat-conducting block  114  and the heat-conducting seat  113 . 
     In addition, in this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 7 , the electronic system  100  further includes at least one second elastic component  150 . The second elastic component  150  is located in the space SP, and is elastically connected between the heat-conducting block  114  and the housing  111 . When the second elastic component  150  is in a natural state, the heat-conducting block  114  is at least partially located at the opening OP. When the pressing portion  121  of the cooling device  120  presses against the heat-conducting block  114  of the electronic device  110 , and causes the heat-conducting block  114  to move into the space SP to abut against the heat-conducting seat  113 , the second elastic component  150  is compressed to store a specific amount of elastic potential energy. When the cooling device  120  leaves the electronic device  110 , and the pressing portion  121  of the cooling device  120  leaves the heat-conducting block  114  of the electronic device  110 , the second elastic component  150  releases the stored elastic potential energy to restore the natural state, and the heat-conducting block  114  is also at least partially located at the opening OP again, to maintain an appearance of the electronic device  110 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 7 , the cooling device  120  further includes a plurality of cooling fins  123 , to improve a heat dissipation effect of the cooling device  120 , but the disclosure is not limited thereto. 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of a cooling device  120  according to another embodiment of the disclosure. In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the cooling portion  122  of the cooling device  120  includes at least one fan  124 , to improve the heat dissipation effect of the cooling device  120 , but the disclosure is not limited thereto. 
       FIG. 9  is a partial cross-sectional view of a cooling device  120  according to still another embodiment of the disclosure. In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the cooling portion  122  of the cooling device  120  includes at least one flow channel CH. The flow channel CH is configured to allow a cooling fluid CF to flow therein, to improve the heat dissipation effect of the cooling device  120 , but the disclosure is not limited thereto. 
     In summary, in an electronic system of the disclosure, a cooling device is selectively assembled on an electronic device, to enable the cooling device to effectively dissipate heat of a heat source of the electronic device. Moreover, a protruding portion of the cooling portion is inserted into a through hole of the housing, and a second joint portion of the cooling portion is snap fitted to a fourth joint portion of the housing to assemble the cooling device and the electronic device without hand tools, and the convenience is thus increased. 
     In addition, at least a part of a bearing portion abuts against the heat-conducting block when a first end of a holder of the electronic system is not pushed by the protruding portion of the cooling portion. Therefore, the bearing portion continuously prevents the heat-conducting block from coming into contact with the heat-conducting seat in a case that the cooling device does not abut against the electronic device. In this way, the heat-conducting seat does not transfer the heat of the heat source to the heat-conducting block, and a user does not touch the hot heat-conducting block by mistake. Therefore, the use safety of the electronic device is effectively improved. 
     Furthermore, when a user considers that the heat generated by the heat source of the electronic device during operation is not high, the user alternatively chooses not to mount the cooling device on the electronic device. Therefore, the electronic system provides considerable use flexibility.