Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a computing device enclosure including a first compartment to house the computing device and a liquid cooling device, and a second compartment to house a heat exchanger to remove heat transferred to the liquid cooling device.

Reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:.

Some features of the claimed invention are shown in <FIG>, which are therefore useful for understanding the invention. An embodiment of the claimed invention is shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

Personal computers for gaming, and other types of heavy duty processing applications, include powerful processors, and/or graphics boards that can get very hot during heavy usage. As such, liquid cooling has been used to cool components that get hot, but such liquid cooling systems can be challenging to integrate. For example, a liquid cooling system may be inside a housing of a computing device, in a same compartment as the internal components of the computing device that are being cooled, and/or other heat generating components; such a location may cause pre-heating of air used by cooling components (such as heat exchangers) of the liquid cooling system which may reduce cooling to the internal components of the computing device, and/or reduce liquid cooling efficiency of the liquid cooling system. While the cooling components of the liquid cooling system may be located outside the housing of the computing device, such an approach requires that tubing of the cooling system be routed outside the housing to the cooling components.

Hence, provided herein is a computing device with integrated and isolated liquid cooling. The computing device comprises a housing that includes a first compartment that contains processing components, and a second compartment that contains cooling components of a liquid cooling system. The two compartments are separated by an airgap, and/or an aperture in the housing, that physically separates and thermally isolates the first compartment and the second compartment, the airgap, and/or the aperture, defined by external surfaces of the housing. The two compartments are joined, at opposing sides, of the airgap and/or aperture by conduits that provide an internal path within the housing for tubes and electrical wires of the liquid cooling system that convey liquid carrying heat from the processing components in the first compartment to the cooling components in the second compartment. Hence, the liquid cooling system, and/or the cooling components of the liquid cooling system, are integrated into the computing device, but isolated from the processing components that emit heat.

Referring to <FIG>, a side external view of an example computing device <NUM> with integrated and isolated liquid cooling is depicted, with internal components depicted in outline. The computing device <NUM> is interchangeably referred to hereafter as the device <NUM>. The device <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM> and a liquid cooling system <NUM>. The device <NUM> further comprises a first compartment <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and a second compartment <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The first compartment <NUM> of the housing <NUM> contains processing components <NUM>. The second compartment <NUM> of the housing <NUM> contains cooling components <NUM>, <NUM> of the liquid cooling system <NUM> described in more detail below.

The device <NUM> further comprises an airgap <NUM> in the housing <NUM> that physically separates and thermally isolates the first compartment <NUM> and the second compartment <NUM>, the airgap <NUM> defined by external surfaces of the housing <NUM>.

The device <NUM> further comprises a conduit <NUM> of the housing <NUM> that joins the first compartment <NUM> and the second compartment <NUM> at a side <NUM> of the airgap <NUM>. The side <NUM> further corresponds to an airgap-facing side of the conduit <NUM>.

The conduit <NUM> routes, internal to the housing <NUM>, tubing <NUM> of the liquid cooling system <NUM> from the first compartment <NUM> to the second compartment <NUM>, the tubing <NUM> conveying liquid that carries heat from the processing components <NUM> to the cooling components <NUM>, <NUM> for dissipation.

Hence, for example, the cooling components <NUM>, <NUM>, such as a heat exchanger and/or a fan, are physically and thermally isolated from the processing components <NUM>, as the cooling components <NUM>, 117are located in the second compartment <NUM>, and the processing components <NUM> are located in the first compartment <NUM> and separated by the airgap <NUM>. The tubing <NUM> is routed through the conduit <NUM> which further restricts air flow, and/or heat flow, between the first compartment <NUM> and the second compartment <NUM>. Hence, the first compartment <NUM> and the second compartment <NUM> are further physically and thermally isolated from each other via the conduit <NUM> while the conduit <NUM> further physically connects the first compartment <NUM> and the second compartment <NUM> (e.g., at a distance from each other), while providing a path for the tubing <NUM> and/or the liquid contained therein and/or the heat.

The processing components <NUM> may include a central processing unit (CPU) and/or a graphics processing unit and/or a graphics card, and the like.

While the liquid cooling system <NUM> is described as including the cooling components <NUM>, <NUM> and the tubing <NUM>, the liquid cooling system <NUM> may comprise any other suitable components including, but not limited to, a pump, an external connection to a liquid source, and the like. For example, the liquid may be water and the device <NUM> may include an external connection to a water tap, and the like. However, the liquid cooling system <NUM> may be a closed-loop liquid cooling system in which heated liquid is conveyed from the processing components <NUM> to the cooling components <NUM>, <NUM> by a first tube of the tubing <NUM> and cooled liquid is conveyed from the cooling components <NUM>, <NUM> back to the processing components <NUM> by a second tube of the tubing <NUM> (e.g., as depicted).

Furthermore, the processing components <NUM> may be adapted for use with the liquid cooling system <NUM>, and hence may include a reservoir or reservoirs, and the like, to receive the liquid of the tubing <NUM>, the reservoir or reservoirs for promoting heat exchange between the processing components <NUM> and the liquid.

Referring next to <FIG>, a side view of the example device <NUM> is depicted with a side of the housing <NUM> removed to show the internal components including the interior of the first compartment <NUM>, which contains the processing components <NUM>, and the interior of the second compartment <NUM> which contains the cooling components <NUM>, <NUM>. For example as depicted the cooling components <NUM>, <NUM> include a heat exchanger <NUM> and a fan <NUM> (which respectively correspond to the cooling components <NUM>, <NUM> of <FIG>). While only one heat exchanger <NUM> and one fan <NUM> are depicted, the cooling components <NUM>, <NUM> may include more than one heat exchanger <NUM>, and/or more than one fan <NUM>.

<FIG> further shows the tubing <NUM> routed from the processing component <NUM> into the conduit <NUM> at a side <NUM> of the airgap <NUM> to the heat exchanger <NUM>. In particular, as depicted, the device <NUM> may include material <NUM> in the conduits <NUM> that restricts airflow between the first compartment <NUM> and the second compartment <NUM>. For example, as depicted, the material <NUM> comprises a panel which include holes, and the like, through which the tubing <NUM> passes. However, the material <NUM> may include thermally insulating material, and the like.

While, as depicted, the panel of the material <NUM> separates the conduit <NUM> from the first compartment <NUM>, and the conduit <NUM> is open to the second compartment <NUM>, in other examples, the conduit <NUM> may include a panel that separates the conduit <NUM> from the second compartment <NUM> (with holes and the like for the tubing <NUM>).

While not depicted, the conduit <NUM> may further route, internal to the housing <NUM>, a power cable and/or power cables to the fan <NUM> from a power supply (not depicted) contained in the first compartment <NUM> (e.g., with the material <NUM> adapted to include a hole and/or holes for a power cable for the fan <NUM>).

The side <NUM> of the airgap <NUM> ( as well as an opposing side <NUM>) generally join respective airgap-facing sides <NUM>, <NUM> of the first compartment <NUM> and the second compartment <NUM>. In general, the airgap-facing sides <NUM>, <NUM> of the first compartment <NUM> and the second compartment <NUM> oppose one another across the airgap <NUM>. As depicted, the airgap-facing sides <NUM>, <NUM> of the first compartment <NUM> and the second compartment <NUM> are about parallel to one another; however the airgap-facing sides <NUM>, <NUM> of the first compartment <NUM> and the second compartment <NUM> may be at any suitable angle and/or angles to each other to increase an area for air entry into the second compartment <NUM>.

Furthermore, while as depicted the second compartment <NUM> includes a hollow region <NUM> that extends to the first compartment <NUM> (e.g., which may be used as an alternative conduit therebetween), the hollow region <NUM>, and the first compartment <NUM>, are separated by a panel that does not include openings (e.g., which may be adapted to include openings for tubing <NUM> when the hollow region <NUM> is used as an alternative conduit). The hollow region <NUM> may also be filled, and/or partially filled, with thermally insulating material to assist with preventing heat from flowing between the compartments <NUM>, <NUM>.

In particular, as described above, the cooling components <NUM>, <NUM> of the second compartment <NUM> include a fan <NUM>, positioned at the airgap-facing side <NUM> of the second compartment <NUM> to draw unheated external air from the airgap <NUM> into the second compartment <NUM> to assist with dissipating the heat conveyed to cooling components by the tubing <NUM>. For example, as depicted, the airgap-facing side <NUM> of the second compartment <NUM> includes openings <NUM> and/or vents to draw air into the second compartment <NUM>, for example via the fan <NUM>. While the openings <NUM> are depicted in particular positions in <FIG>, the openings <NUM> may be in any suitable location in the airgap-facing side <NUM>.

Furthermore, as described above, the cooling components <NUM>, <NUM> of the second compartment <NUM> include a heat exchanger <NUM> connected to the tubing <NUM>. with the fan <NUM> positioned at the airgap-facing side <NUM> of the second compartment <NUM> to draw air from the airgap <NUM> across the heat exchanger <NUM> (e.g., through the openings <NUM>). Furthermore, an opposing side <NUM> of the second compartment <NUM>, opposing the airgap-facing side <NUM>, include openings <NUM> or vents through which the air exits the second compartment <NUM>. While the openings <NUM> are depicted in particular positions in <FIG>, the openings <NUM> may be in any suitable location in the airgap-facing side <NUM>.

Hence, for example air is drawn into the second compartment <NUM> from the airgap <NUM> through the openings <NUM> via the fan <NUM>; the air flows across the heat exchanger <NUM>. Liquid from a first tube of the tubing <NUM> generally flows into the heat exchanger <NUM> carrying the heat from the processing components <NUM>, and the air that flows across the heat exchanger <NUM> dissipates the heat from the liquid in the heat exchanger <NUM> through the openings <NUM>. As such, the heat exchanger <NUM> may include heat fins, and the like, positioned to radiate heat through the openings <NUM>. The liquid then flows out of the heat exchanger <NUM> through a second tube of the tubing <NUM> back to the processing components <NUM> to again carry heat to the heat exchanger <NUM>.

While the heat exchanger <NUM> is described with respect to heat fins, and the like, the heat exchanger <NUM> may have any suitable configuration, and/or be any suitable type of the heat exchanger.

Attention is next directed to <FIG> which depicts a perspective top view of the example device <NUM> of <FIG>.

<FIG> showing the airgap-facing side <NUM> of the first compartment <NUM> and the opposing side <NUM> of the second compartment <NUM>. In the view of <FIG>, the airgap <NUM> is shown as being through the housing <NUM>. For example, the airgap <NUM> extends from a first external surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM> through to a second external surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, the external surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> opposing one another. The external surface <NUM> is depicted in outline to indicate that the external surface <NUM> is located behind the external surface <NUM>, and/or is otherwise hidden in <FIG>. The external surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> are joined by side and bottom external surfaces of the housing <NUM>, as well as by sides <NUM>, <NUM> of the airgap <NUM>, and the airgap-facing sides <NUM>, <NUM> of the compartments <NUM>, <NUM> (which also correspond to surfaces of the airgap <NUM> which join the sides <NUM>, <NUM>).

Furthermore, the opposing external surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> of the housing <NUM> each include respective external surfaces of the first compartment <NUM>, the second compartment <NUM> and the conduit <NUM>, such that, for example, the surfaces of the housing <NUM> which coincide with the first compartment <NUM>, the second compartment <NUM> and the conduit <NUM> form respective surfaces of the first compartment <NUM>, the second compartment <NUM> and the conduit <NUM>. However, the housing <NUM> and/or the first compartment <NUM> and/or the second compartment <NUM> and/or the conduit <NUM> may be fabricated from any suitable number of panels, and the like using, for example, sheet metal.

As is further depicted in <FIG>, the airgap-facing side <NUM> of the first compartment <NUM> is closed to prevent heat from the first compartment <NUM> from flowing into the airgap <NUM>, for example via convection.

As is further depicted in <FIG>, the opposing side <NUM> of the second compartment <NUM> includes the openings <NUM>, for example in a venting pattern, for heat from the heat exchanger <NUM> to vent therethrough.

Attention is next directed to <FIG> which depicts a perspective bottom view of the example device of <FIG> showing the airgap-facing side <NUM> of the second compartment <NUM>, as well as the external surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, and the side <NUM> of the airgap <NUM>. As in <FIG>, airgap <NUM> is shown as being through the housing <NUM> and extending between the external surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, with the external surface <NUM> understood to be hidden in <FIG>.

<FIG> further shows the openings <NUM> in the airgap-facing side <NUM> of the second compartment <NUM> through which air from the airgap <NUM> flows into the second compartment <NUM>, the openings <NUM> arranged in a venting pattern.

<FIG> further shows that the airgap-facing side <NUM> of the second compartment <NUM> extends from the first external surface <NUM> to the second external surface <NUM>.

Hence, as depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, the airgap <NUM> is through the housing <NUM> from the first external surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM> to the second external surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, the airgap <NUM> defined by opposing airgap-facing sides <NUM>, <NUM> of the first compartment <NUM> and the second compartment <NUM>, and an airgap-facing side of the conduit <NUM> (e.g., which coincides with the side <NUM> of the airgap <NUM>).

Hence, from <FIG> and <FIG>, the airgap <NUM> is understood to comprise an aperture through the housing <NUM> and/or a hole through the housing <NUM>, and the like. However, the airgap <NUM> may have other configurations.

For example, attention is next directed to <FIG> which depicts a perspective bottom view of an example computing device <NUM> similar to the device <NUM>. Hence, like the device <NUM>, the computing device <NUM> includes a housing <NUM>, a first compartment <NUM>, that contains processing components (not depicted), and a second compartment <NUM>, that contains cooling components not depicted) of a liquid cooling system. While internal components of the computing device <NUM> are not depicted, internal components corresponding to the internal components of the device <NUM> are nonetheless understood to be present.

The computing device <NUM> further includes an airgap <NUM> in the housing <NUM> that physically separates and thermally isolates the first compartment <NUM> and the second compartment <NUM>, the airgap <NUM> defined by external surfaces of the housing <NUM>. The computing device <NUM> further includes a conduit <NUM> of the housing <NUM> that joins the first compartment <NUM> and the second compartment at a side <NUM> of the airgap <NUM>. The conduit <NUM> generally routes tubing between the compartments <NUM>, <NUM>. In <FIG>, the internal positions of the first compartment <NUM>, the second compartment <NUM> and the conduit <NUM> are depicted in outline.

However, in contrast to the airgap <NUM>, which comprises an aperture and/or hole, the airgap <NUM> comprises a bight in the housing and/or an absence of material in the housing <NUM> and/or a slot in the housing <NUM> that extends from the conduit <NUM> through to an opposite side <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. For example, as depicted, the second compartment <NUM> forms a shelf that is cantilevered and/or hanging, and the like, relative to the airgap <NUM> and supported by the conduit <NUM>.

In yet further examples, computing devices with integrated and isolated liquid cooling according to the present specification may have other configurations, and/or be adapted for a plurality of processing components.

<FIG> depicts a computing device <NUM> with integrated and isolated liquid cooling as covered by the claimed invention. The computing device <NUM> (interchangeably referred to hereafter as the device <NUM>), which is similar to the device <NUM>, with like components having like numbers, however in a "<NUM>" series rather than a "<NUM>" series. However, as will be described below, in contrast to the device <NUM>, the device <NUM> includes two conduits, two processing components, and two heat exchangers, for example one heat exchanger for each the two processing components. In particular, the device <NUM> is depicted with a side removed to show internal components thereof, similar to the view of the device <NUM> in <FIG>.

As depicted, the device <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM> and a liquid cooling system <NUM>. The device <NUM> further comprises a first compartment <NUM> of the housing <NUM> that contains processing components <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>. For example the processing component <NUM>-<NUM> may comprise a central processing unit (CPU) and the processing component <NUM>-<NUM> may comprise a graphics processing unit (GPU) and/or a graphics board. The processing components <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> are interchangeably referred to hereafter, collectively, as the processing components <NUM> and, generically, as a processing component <NUM>.

The device <NUM> further comprises a second compartment <NUM> of the housing <NUM> that contains cooling components of the liquid cooling system, the cooling components including a heat exchanger and/or heat exchangers <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> and a fan <NUM> and/or fans <NUM>. The heat exchangers <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> are interchangeably referred to hereafter, collectively, as heat exchangers <NUM> and, generically, as a heat exchanger <NUM>.

The device <NUM> further comprises an aperture <NUM> through the housing <NUM> that separates the first compartment <NUM> from the second compartment <NUM>. The aperture <NUM> is similar to the airgap <NUM> of the device <NUM>.

The device <NUM> further comprises two conduits <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> of the housing <NUM> that join the first compartment <NUM> and the second compartment <NUM> on opposite sides of the aperture <NUM>, the two conduits <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> routing, internal to the housing <NUM>, tubing <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> of the liquid cooling system <NUM> from the first compartment <NUM> to the second compartment <NUM>, the tubing <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> conveying liquid that carries heat from the processing components <NUM> to the cooling components for dissipation, and in particular the heat exchangers <NUM>.

The conduits <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> are interchangeably referred to hereafter, collectively, as the conduits <NUM> and, generically, as a conduit <NUM>. The tubing <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> is interchangeably referred to hereafter, collectively, as tubing <NUM> and, generically, as the tubing <NUM>.

While not depicted, one conduit <NUM> or both conduits <NUM> further route, internal to the housing <NUM>, a power cable and/or power cables to the fan and/or fans <NUM> from a power supply <NUM> contained in the first compartment <NUM>.

As with the device <NUM>, the two conduits <NUM> restrict airflow between the first compartment <NUM> and the second compartment <NUM> and may include material in the two conduits <NUM> that restrict airflow between the first compartment <NUM> and the second compartment <NUM>. The material may include, as depicted, respective panels <NUM> between the two conduits <NUM> and the first compartment <NUM> with holes and/or apertures for the tubing <NUM>. The material may further include thermally insulating material.

While as depicted, the conduits <NUM> are joined with and/or open to the second compartment <NUM>, in other examples the conduits <NUM> may include respective panels therebetween, similar to the panels <NUM>, with holes for the tubing <NUM> (and/or power cables).

While in <FIG> the device <NUM> is depicted with a side removed to show in internal components, it is understood that, like the device <NUM>, the device <NUM> includes opposing external surfaces of the housing <NUM> (e.g., similar to the external surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>) which include respective external surfaces of the first compartment <NUM>, the second compartment <NUM> and the two conduits <NUM>.

As further depicted in <FIG>, the first compartment <NUM> and the second compartment <NUM> each include respective aperture-facing sides <NUM>, <NUM>, described in more detail below.

Furthermore, a fan and/or fans <NUM> of the second compartment <NUM> are at the aperture-facing side <NUM> of the second compartment <NUM> to draw in air from the aperture <NUM> (for example through openings <NUM> at the aperture-facing side <NUM>) and across the heat exchanger and/or heat exchangers <NUM>. Furthermore, as will be shown in <FIG> described below, an opposing side <NUM> of the second compartment <NUM>, opposing the aperture-facing side <NUM>, included openings through which the air exits the second compartment <NUM> after flowing across the heat exchanger and/or heat exchangers <NUM>.

As depicted in <FIG>, the cooling components in the second compartment <NUM> includes a first heat exchanger <NUM>-<NUM> to which first tubing <NUM>-<NUM> from first processing components <NUM>-<NUM> are routed, by the conduit <NUM>-<NUM>, to cool the first processing components <NUM>-<NUM>.

However, as also depicted in <FIG>, the cooling components in the second compartment <NUM> further include a second heat exchanger <NUM>-<NUM> to which second tubing <NUM>-<NUM> from second processing components <NUM>-<NUM> are routed, by the conduit <NUM>-<NUM>, to cool the second processing components <NUM>-<NUM>. Hence, the liquid cooling system <NUM> includes second tubing <NUM>-<NUM> that runs through the conduit <NUM>-<NUM>, internal to the housing <NUM>, from the first compartment <NUM> to the second compartment <NUM>.

In general, the first tubing <NUM>-<NUM> conveys the heat from the first processing components <NUM>-<NUM> (e.g., such as CPU) to the heat exchanger <NUM>-<NUM>, and the second tubing <NUM>-<NUM> conveys the heat from the second processing components <NUM>-<NUM> (e.g., such as GPU and/or graphics card) to the second heat exchanger <NUM>-<NUM>.

Indeed, the device <NUM> may comprise a respective heat exchanger <NUM> for each of the processing components <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>.

For example, as depicted, the processing components <NUM> include the first processing components <NUM>-<NUM> and the second processing components <NUM>-<NUM>, and the heat exchangers <NUM> comprising respective heat exchangers <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> for the first processing components <NUM>-<NUM> and the second processing components <NUM>-<NUM>, the tubing <NUM> carrying respective heat from the first processing components <NUM>-<NUM> and the second processing components <NUM>-<NUM> to the respective heat exchangers <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>.

Indeed, in other examples, the processing components <NUM> include a plurality of processing components <NUM> (e.g., more than one processing components <NUM> and/or more than two processing components <NUM>), the heat exchangers <NUM> comprising plurality of heat exchangers in a one-to-one relationship with the plurality of processing components <NUM>, the tubing <NUM> carrying respective heat from the plurality of processing components <NUM> to respective heat exchangers <NUM> of the plurality of heat exchangers <NUM>.

Hence, for example, while the device <NUM> is depicted with only CPU (e.g., processing components <NUM>-<NUM>) and one GPU and/or graphics card (e.g., processing components <NUM>-<NUM>), the device <NUM> may comprise more than one CPU and/or more than one GPU and/or graphics card with a respective heat exchanger <NUM> in the second compartment <NUM> provided for each, and respective tubing <NUM> provided for each. However, in other examples, due to space limitations, the device <NUM> may include a fewer number of heat exchangers <NUM> than processing components <NUM>.

As depicted, the device <NUM> may include other types of components including, but not limited to, fans <NUM> through a wall and/or walls of the first compartment <NUM>, hard drives <NUM>, connectors, computer boards, and/or any other suitable component that may be used with a personal computer and/or a computing device and the like. The fans <NUM> may be used to provide cooling for components in the first compartment <NUM> that aren't cooled by the liquid cooling system <NUM>; for example fans <NUM> at a first wall may draw air into the device <NUM> while other fans <NUM> at a second wall opposite the first wall may draw air out of the device <NUM>.

Indeed, as depicted, the first processing components <NUM>-<NUM> are mounted to a computer board <NUM> and the first tubing <NUM>-<NUM> is routed through respective apertures in the board to route liquid in the first tubing <NUM>-<NUM> to the first processing components <NUM>-<NUM>, for example to a reservoir of the first processing components <NUM>-<NUM> on a side of the computer board <NUM> opposite that depicted in <FIG>. The second processing components <NUM>-<NUM> may be similarly adapted for the liquid cooling system <NUM>.

As depicted, the aperture-facing side <NUM> of the second compartment <NUM> includes openings <NUM> and/or vents similar to the openings <NUM> in the airgap-facing side <NUM> of the device <NUM>. However, while airgap-facing sides <NUM>, <NUM> of the first compartment <NUM> and the second compartment <NUM> are about parallel to one another, as best seen in <FIG>, the aperture-facing side <NUM> of the second compartment <NUM> is in a "V" shape, with a center of the "V" extending into the aperture <NUM> centered along a longitudinal axis of the aperture <NUM>, such that the openings <NUM> are angled with respect to the fans <NUM> and/or the aperture <NUM> and/or the aperture-facing side <NUM> of the first compartment <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts a top perspective view of the device <NUM> with a side removed and the internal components removed to show an angled ("V"-shaped) plate <NUM> that forms two portions of the aperture-facing side <NUM> of the second compartment <NUM> including the openings <NUM>, each of the portions of the aperture-facing side <NUM> angled in generally opposite directions out of the opening <NUM>. Opposing sides <NUM> of the aperture <NUM> that are perpendicular to the aperture-facing side <NUM> of the first compartment <NUM> may each include a notch (e.g., a complementary "V"-shaped notch) into which the angled plate <NUM> is placed and/or attached. Furthermore, the angle of the angled plate <NUM>, and/or the angle of the portions of the aperture-facing side <NUM>, may be selected to promote flow of air into the second compartment <NUM> by the fans <NUM> from the aperture <NUM> and/or a region adjacent to the aperture <NUM>.

In particular, by angling the portions aperture facing side <NUM> (e.g., in two directions), and hence angling the openings <NUM>, the second compartment <NUM> has an increased area for air entry, for example as compared to the device <NUM>; as such, the number of openings <NUM>, and/or the area of the openings <NUM>, may be increased as compared to the device <NUM>. Any suitable angle is within the scope of the present specification; as depicted, the angle of each portion of the aperture facing side <NUM> side is about <NUM> degrees with respect to the aperture facing side <NUM>, however the angle can be as large as <NUM> degrees, though the larger the angle, the smaller the opening <NUM>. Hence, selection of the angle may be tradeoff between area of the aperture facing side <NUM> and the size of the opening <NUM>.

While the plate <NUM> and the two portions of the aperture-facing side <NUM> are depicted as a "V"-shape (e.g., along a longitudinal axis of the opening <NUM> and/or the plate <NUM> and/or the second compartment <NUM>), the aperture-facing side <NUM> may be any suitable shape which causes an increased area for air entry into the second compartment <NUM> (e.g., as compared to the device <NUM>). For example, the aperture-facing side <NUM> may be curved, and the like.

Furthermore, while present examples are described with respect to the airgap <NUM> and/or the aperture <NUM> being rectangular in shape, the airgap <NUM> and/or the aperture <NUM> may be in any suitable shape.

<FIG> further shows openings <NUM> and/or vents in the opposing side <NUM> of the second compartment <NUM>, through which air is vented from the second compartment <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A computing device comprising:
a housing (<NUM>);
a liquid cooling system (<NUM>);
a first compartment (<NUM>) of the housing (<NUM>) that contains processing components (<NUM>);
a second compartment (<NUM>) of the housing (<NUM>) that contains cooling components (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the liquid cooling system (<NUM>);
an airgap (<NUM>) in the housing (<NUM>) that physically separates and thermally isolates the first compartment (<NUM>) and the second compartment (<NUM>), the airgap (<NUM>) defined by external surfaces of the housing (<NUM>); and characterized by comprising:
two conduits (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) of the housing (<NUM>) that join the first compartment (<NUM>) and the second compartment (<NUM>) at opposite sides of the airgap (<NUM>), the two conduits (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) routing, internal to the housing (<NUM>), tubing (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) of the liquid cooling system (<NUM>) from the first compartment (<NUM>) to the second compartment (<NUM>), the tubing (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) conveying liquid that carries heat from the processing components (<NUM>) to the cooling components (<NUM>, <NUM>) for dissipation;
wherein the airgap (<NUM>) is through the housing (<NUM>) from a first external surface of the housing (<NUM>) to a second external surface of the housing (<NUM>), the airgap (<NUM>) defined by opposing airgap-facing sides (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the first compartment (<NUM>) and the second compartment (<NUM>), and opposing airgap-facing sides (<NUM>) of the two conduits (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>).