Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20010027132?dq=6650327
Timestamp: 2014-03-17 07:41:40
Document Index: 396377065

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 42', 'art 63', 'art 63', 'art 63', 'art 63', 'art 63']

Patent US20010027132 - Electronic equipment and television game machine having heat radiation structure - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA television game machine includes a housing. The housing has an air intake and air exit in side surfaces, and forms an air flow passage in a space of air flow on a line connecting between the air intake and the air exit. A heat-radiating member formed with heat-radiating fins is attached in a state...http://www.google.com/patents/US20010027132?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20010027132 - Electronic equipment and television game machine having heat radiation structureAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20010027132 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 09/769,724Publication dateOct 4, 2001Filing dateJan 26, 2001Priority dateJan 28, 2000Also published asCA2332200A1, CA2332200C, CN1205525C, CN1316682A, EP1122631A2, EP1122631A3, US6565444Publication number09769724, 769724, US 2001/0027132 A1, US 2001/027132 A1, US 20010027132 A1, US 20010027132A1, US 2001027132 A1, US 2001027132A1, US-A1-20010027132, US-A1-2001027132, US2001/0027132A1, US2001/027132A1, US20010027132 A1, US20010027132A1, US2001027132 A1, US2001027132A1InventorsHideo Nagata, Junji Takamoto, Yuji HoriOriginal AssigneeHideo Nagata, Junji Takamoto, Yuji HoriExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManReferenced by (2), Classifications (8), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetElectronic equipment and television game machine having heat radiation structureUS 20010027132 A1Abstract A television game machine includes a housing. The housing has an air intake and air exit in side surfaces, and forms an air flow passage in a space of air flow on a line connecting between the air intake and the air exit. A heat-radiating member formed with heat-radiating fins is attached in a state electrically insulated from a semiconductor device mounted on the printed board in order to transfer heat generated from the semiconductor device. The heat-radiating member is arranged related to the semiconductor device and printed board such that the heat-radiating fins are along the air flow passage. A heat-radiating fan is arranged between at least one of the air intake and the air exit and one end of the heat-radiating member. The heat-radiating fan, when ambient air is taken through the air intake and caused to flow through the grooves between the heat-radiating fins of the heat-radiating member to be released outside through the air exit, releases the heat dissipated from the heat-radiating fins together with flowing air to an outside. Thus, the heat generated by the semiconductor device is released to the outside of the housing. Images(5) Claims(14)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0031] In the embodiments explained below, explanation will be made on a case that an electronic equipment having a heat-radiating structure is applied as an example to a home-use video game machine (television game machine). However, it is pointed out, in advance, that the equipment to which the technical idea of the invention is applicable is not limited to television game machines, but is also applicable to various electronic equipment, such as personal computers, DVD reproducing devices and the like incorporating CPU and image processing unit. [0032]FIG. 1 is a perspective view, as viewed from an upper front, of a television game machine as one example of an electronic equipment having a heat-radiating structure according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the television game machine as viewed from the front and right side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the television game machine as viewed from the rear and back. Next, referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, explanation is made on an schematic structure of a television game machine 10 of this embodiment. [0033] The television game machine (or television game machine main body) 10 includes a housing 11 generally in a cubic form, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. The housing 11 is structured by an upper housing 11 a and a lower housing 11 b. The upper housing 11 a in its front surface is formed with an aperture 111. In the aperture 111 (see FIG. 6 hereinafter referred), a controller-connection panel 12, hereinafter referred to, is attached. An air intake 112 is formed in one side surface (right side surface as viewed from the front) of the upper housing 11 a. An air exit 113 is formed in the other side surface (left side surface as viewed from the front) opposite to the air intake 112. These air intake 112 and air exit 113 (note that the air exit 113 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is hidden and not seen) may be structured by forming a plurality of penetration holes as shown in the figure, or otherwise by arranging a mesh-form filter in a single, large penetration hole. A lid member 13 is attached for open and close on a top surface of the upper housing 11 a (planer surface as viewed in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2). The lid member 13 is opened and closed, for example, when an optical information recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD is inserted. Also, a power switch 14 is provided on the top surface of the upper housing 11 a. A grip 15 for carrying the television game machine 10 and an aperture 114 are formed in the back surface of the housing 11. The lower housing 11 b in its bottom surface is formed with a recess (or aperture recess) to receive therein a memory unit 31 and a recess (or aperture recess) 116 to receive a communication modem unit 32, as will be concretely shown in FIG. 4 hereinafter referred to. Removably received in the recess 115A is a memory unit 31 used for the purpose of extension for RAM 44 as will be hereinafter described. Received in the recess 116A is a modem unit 32 for extending communication functions. The recess 115 and memory unit 31, the recess 117 and communication modem unit 32 are respectively formed with lock mechanisms (not shown) comprising engaging pawls and engaging recesses, in order to provide a structure for engagement and disengagement. [0034] The controller-connection panel 12 has connectors 22 a-22 d to removably connect controllers (or game controllers; not shown) of the television game machine 10, and connectors 23 a, 23 b to removably connect memory cartridges (not shown) for storing backup data. [0035]FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 1, while FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are exploded perspective views concretely showing an interior structure of the television game machine 10. Next, with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, explanations will be made in detail on a heat-radiating structure of the television game machine 10. [0036] The lower housing 11 b is generally square in plan, and has side walls 117 in a manner encompassing a planer portion thereof. A plurality of spacers 118 are formed in the lower housing 11 b and surrounded by the side walls 117, to hold a printed board 41 and a hereinafter-described optical information reading unit 60 in a predetermined relationship of position. Connector-insertion holes are formed in the recess 115 and recess 116 formed in a bottom of the lower housing 11 b. [0037] The printed board 41 (see FIG. 4 to FIG. 6) is accommodated in the housing 11. The printed board 41 is formed with a predetermined circuit pattern. On the board, semiconductor devices or semiconductor parts 42-44 are mounted along an air flow passage, hereinafter described. The semiconductor devices include, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) 42 to execute game programs, an image processing unit (or image processor IC) 43 and writable memory (RAM) 44. This RAM 44 is used as a graphic memory to store image data to be image-processed in a bit-map form and/or a working memory to temporarily store a variety of data under processing. These semiconductor devices 42-44 are arranged and mounted in a sideway direction (i.e. in a direction of air flow for heat dissipation) in a position of an almost center with respect to a depth direction of the printed board 41. Among the semiconductor devices 42-44, the image processing unit 43 is the greatest in heat generation and the CPU 42 is the second greatest. [0038] Meanwhile, the printed board 41 has connectors 33, 34 fitted in positions on the bottom surface corresponding to the mount positions of a memory unit 31 and a communication modem unit 32 to be electrically connected to a predetermined circuit pattern on the printed board 41. These connectors 33, 34 are exposed through the connector-insertion holes in the recess 115 and recess 116. Furthermore, the printed board 41 has connectors 35, 36 attached in a front end thereof, for electrical connection to the connectors 21 a-21 d and 22 a, 22 b of the controller-connection panel 20. The printed board 41 has connectors 37, 38 attached in a rear end thereof, for connection to a power supply and AV cable. [0039] The semiconductor device 42-44 has electrically-insulating and thermally-conductive sheet (not shown) adhered at a top surface of a package thereof. On the heat conductive sheet, a heat-radiating member 45 is bonded along an direction of air flow, hereinafter described. The heat-radiating member 45 is structured, as shown for example in FIG. 5, in a comb form in section having a plurality of heat-radiating fins and grooves formed integral on a plate portion thereof. As concerned with a plan form of the heat-radiating member 45, where the air flow passage connecting between the air intake 112 and the air exit 113 is in a linear form, i.e. where the air intake 112 and air exit 113 are formed symmetric in side surfaces, the heat-radiating member 45 in plan is formed in an oblong or square rectangular form. The number of the heat-radiating fins and/or the number of grooves between two heat-radiating fins is determined based on a quantity of heat generation by the semiconductor devices 42-44 as calculated by a predetermined calculation formula. The heat-radiating member 45, where rectangular in plan, is formed by hot extrusion of aluminum. Incidentally, the heat-radiating member 45 may be formed by aluminum die casting or cutting out (an aluminum plate having a large wall thickness is cut at a constant interval to thereby form a plurality of grooves and heat-radiating fins). [0040] A metal case 51 is accommodated in the housing 11. The metal case 51 is used to confine heat, in a state of covering the printed board 41 mounting the semiconductor devices 42-44 and the heat-radiating member 45, and at the same time for preventing electromagnetic waves from unwantedly radiating and leaking to an outside. Specifically, the metal case 51 comprises an upper case 51 and a lower case 51 b. The space defined by the upper case 51 a and the lower case 51 b is selected to accommodate the printed board 41 mounting various electronic parts. In either one of the upper case 51 a or the lower case 51 b of the metal case 51 (or both thereof, 51 a in the embodiment), penetration holes 111 and second penetration holes 512, respectively in plurality, are first formed in positions (on the side of the right air intake 112 as viewed from the front and on the side of the right air exit 113 as viewed from the front) corresponding to the side surface (or a plurality of grooves) in a direction along the heat-radiating fins (in the left and right as viewed from the front) of the heat-radiating member 45. More preferably, the first penetration holes 511 and the second penetration holes 512 are selected in position such that a predetermined number of holes are opened in a position corresponding to each groove of the heat-radiating member 45 with respect to a direction of the groove but no holes are opened in an area opposed to heat-radiating fin. By thus properly selecting the positions of the grooves of the heat-radiating member 45 and the first penetration holes 511 and second penetration holes 512, the heat-radiating effect can be enhanced furthermore. Further preferably, a plurality of penetration holes 513 are formed in the top surface of the upper case 51 a in a position close to the air exit 113, in order to increase the area of the air exit. [0041] A heat-radiating fan 52 is provided between the air exit 113 and the heat-radiating member 45. The heat-radiating fan 52 uses a vertical-type fan structured to rotate a fan by a small-sized motor. A duct 53 is formed between heat-radiating fan 52 and the upper case 51 a forming the penetration holes 512, 513, in order to discharge air with efficiency. [0042] A circular aperture 119 is formed in the top surface of upper housing 11 a. A lid 13 is attached for open and close to cover the aperture 119. An optical information reading unit 60 is accommodated below the aperture 119. The optical information reading unit 60 is to read out information optically recorded on the optical information recording medium 61, such as a CD-ROM or DVD, and includes a support mechanism to rotatably support the optical information recording medium 61, a pickup part 63, a rotary mechanism 64 and a positioning mechanism 65 for the pickup part 63. The support mechanism 62 has side-wall portion 621 formed in the lower position thereof to extend along a planar peripheral edge. The side-wall portion 621 is formed such that, even if the heat generated from the semiconductor devices 42-44 of the printed board 41 and dissipated through the heat-radiating member 45 partly leeks from the metal case 51, it can be reduced from being conveyed to the pickup part 63 in the optical information reading unit 60. This is because the pickup part 63 is thermally the least weak part among the electronic parts used in the electronic equipment 10. The pickup part 63 includes a light emitting element such as a light-emitting diode for semiconductor laser, a light-receiving element for receiving reflection light that the light emitted from the light-emitting element reflect upon the optical information recording medium 61 and then returns, a positioning mechanism for changing the position of the light-emitting element and light-receiving element. [0043] A control circuit board 65 is accommodated in a position below the optical information reading unit 60 in the housing, in order to drive and control the optical information reading unit 60. The control circuit board 65 is covered by a metal case 66 to reduce or prevent electromagnetic wave noise or unwanted radiation. In a side surface of the metal case 66, penetration holes for air intake and discharge are formed. It is noted that the heat generation by the circuit parts mounted on the control circuit board 65 is by per less as compared to that of the semiconductor devices 42-44 mounted on the printed board 41. Accordingly, the number of penetration holes (or total area of the penetration holes) formed in the metal case 65 is satisfactorily by far less as compared to the number of the penetration holes 511-513 (total area of the penetration holes) in the metal case 51. [0044] The television game machine 10 is assembled by the following process. That is, the lower housing 11 b is placed on a working table. The lower case 51 b is received and positioned in a predetermined position inside the lower housing 11 b. Stacked thereon the printed board 41 mounting semiconductor devices 42-44, a heat-radiating member 45, connectors 33, 34 and other required electronic parts. Covered thereon the upper case 51. In this case, positioning is made such that the grooves and heat-radiating fins of the heat-radiating member 45 are positioned on the air flow passage extending from the air intake 112 to the air exit 113. A heat-radiating fan 52 is arranged in a position close to the penetration holes 512, 513. The control circuit board 65 covered with a metal case 66 is placed on the metal case 51. Stacked thereon is the optical information reading unit 60. Further, the support pillars 622 formed in a bottom surface of the optical information reading unit 60 are fitted to at least two spacers 118 formed on the lower housing 11 b. [0045] The operation panel 12 is prepared in a state previously attached with connectors 21 a-21 d for connecting the controllers (not shown) of the television game machine, and the connectors 22 a, 22 b for connecting a backup memory (not shown). The operation panel 12 is engaged in an upper front part of the lower housing 51 b. Also, a power switch 14 is attached to the metal case 51 a. Then, the upper housing 11 a is covered over the optical information reading unit 60. The upper housing 11 a and the lower housing 11 b are screwed together by tightening screws (not shown) from the backside of the lower housing 11 b. Thereafter, the lid member 13 for open and close is attached to the top surface of the upper housing 11 a. [0046] By assembling as above, the lower case 51 a of the metal case 51, the printed board 41, the upper case 51 b, the control circuit board 65, the metal case 66 and the optical information reading unit 60 are stacked and accommodated in the order from the below within the housing 11. [0047] By the above structure, the heat-radiating member is provided on the air flow passage connecting between the air intake and the air exit that are formed in the side surfaces of the housing 11. The dissipation heat from the heat-radiating fins of the heat-radiating member can be forcibly released by the heat-radiating fan arranged at the end of the air flow passage. Accordingly, with comparatively inexpensive structure, the heat-radiating member and the semiconductor devices can be cooled with efficiency thus providing preferred heat-radiating effects in such a degree as to prevent the semiconductor devices from thermally broken down. Thus, a heat-radiating structure excellent in cost performance is provided. Moreover, by properly selecting a positional relationship between the air intake, air exit and the heat-radiating fan for forcible discharge and by making the heat-radiating member in a proper structure, it is possible to obtain a high heat-radiating effect on the inexpensive structure without using a heat pipe. [0048] In the preferred embodiment, the printed board and the heat-radiating member is covered by a box-formed metal case. This allows air to flow along the air flow passage including the grooves of the heat-radiating member and exit with efficiency while heat is confined within the metal case. This makes it possible to reduce the heat from being transferred to an outside of the metal case, thus suppressing adverse thermal effect upon other parts. [0049] By the above assembling, the lower case 51 a of the metal case 51, the printed board 41, the upper case 51 b, the control circuit board 65, the metal case 66 and the optical information reading unit 60 are stacked in the order from the below within the case 11. In this manner, if adopting the stack structure of the printed board 41, the optical information reading unit 60 and/or the control circuit board 65, it is satisfactory to provide a small area in plan in the housing 11. This provides advantages, i.e. easy to assemble, improving production efficiency and manufacturing at low cost. Also, the housing 51 is made generally in a cubic form by reducing the plan shape thereof but extending in a height (thickness) direction. Consequently, the television game machine 10, even if put on the floor and used there, comparatively less space is occupied and hence not obstructive, reducing the possibility of being trodden by a user. In the event of being trodden by a user, the user can readily recognize treading something before moving the body weight to the treading foot. It is possible to prevent against treading on by the total body weight. Thus, there is less possibility of damaging all the parts within the housing 11, reducing the damage of the parts to a minimum and hence reducing the burden for repair imposed on the user. Moreover, the generally cubic form of the housing 11 increases the strength of the housing 11 itself higher than that of a flat-formed housing structure alike the notebook personal computer, further reducing the possibility of damage or breakage due to mistakenly treading on by the user. [0050] Incidentally, the memory unit 31 and/or the communication modem unit 32 are marketed separate from the television game machine 10. The user can purchase same as required and attached it to the lower housing 11 b of the television game machine into electrical connection to the printed board 41, using extension functions. In place of the memory unit 31, a hard disk may be connected to the connector 34. [0051] Incidentally, in the above embodiment, the inventors confirmed by experiments that the temperature inside the housing 11 was below a permissible upper temperature for the semiconductor devices 42-44 in a region close to or around the semiconductor devices 42-44. [0052] Next, another embodiment or modification of this invention will be explained. The heat-radiating structure of this invention is usable, as applications of the electronic equipment in this invention, for equipment such as personal computers, CD players and DVD players. In such cases, in place of the connectors attached on the operation panel 21, the connectors and operation switches, etc. in used will be different depending upon the kind/application of electronic equipment to which this invention is applied. For example, where the electronic equipment is a DVD player, provisions will be made with various switches for operating the DVD player, indicators for indicating operating state and so on. [0053] Also, in the above embodiments, explanation was on the case that the heat-radiating member and the air flow passage were arranged in linear form. However, in another example, an air intake 62 and the air exit 113 are formed in the adjacent side surfaces (or in orthogonal side surfaces; for example, the air intake 112 is in a back surface and the air exit 113 in a left side surface, an air flow passage connecting between the air intake 112 and the air exit 113 is in an arcuate form (or in an L-letter form having a small arc in the comer), and a heat-radiating member 45 in plan is in an arcuate form (or an L-letter form) extending along the air flow passage. Also, in an electronic equipment having no need of providing an operating panel 12 in the front surface, the air intake 112 and air exit 113 may be formed in the front and back surfaces of the housing 11. In such a case, the arrangement position of semiconductor devices 42-44 on the printed board 41 and the direction of the grooves in a heat-radiating member 45 will be modified matched to the positions of the air intake 112 and air exit 113. [0054] Also, in the above embodiment, explanation was on the case that the air intake 112 was in the right side surface. However, if the optical information recording medium 61 onto the optical information reading unit 60 is attached by the front loading scheme for withdrawing to the front of a front panel instead of the scheme of opening and closing the top lid 13 and the printed board 41 is structurally stacked in the uppermost level, then an air intake 112 may be formed in the top surface of the housing 11. In such a case, a penetration hole 511 of the air intake will be formed in the top surface of the metal case 61. [0055] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, explanations were on the case that the heat-radiating fan 52 is used as an air-discharging fan. However, as another method, it may be used as a fan for air intake by arranging it between the air intake 112 and the heat-radiating member 45. In order to further enhance the heat-radiating effect, the heat-radiating fan 52 may be provided both on the air intake 112 and on the air exit 113. [0056] Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims. Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7474536 *Jul 8, 2005Jan 6, 2009Ridley Ray BAudio sound quality enhancement apparatus and methodUS8115115 *Oct 29, 2007Feb 14, 2012Wms Gaming Inc.Methodology of co-interference reduction through cable separation and shielding within a gaming machine* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification463/46International ClassificationA63F9/24, H05K7/20, G06F1/20Cooperative ClassificationA63F2300/20, A63F9/24, G06F1/20European ClassificationG06F1/20Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionOct 25, 2010FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Oct 23, 2006FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Apr 26, 2001ASAssignmentOwner name: NINTENDO CO., LTD., JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:NAGATA, HIDEO;TAKAMOTO, JUNJI;HORI, YUJI;REEL/FRAME:011729/0232Effective date: 20010202Owner name: NINTENDO CO., LTD. 11-1, HOKOTATE-CHO, KAMITOBA, MFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:NAGATA, HIDEO /AR;REEL/FRAME:011729/0232RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google