Patent Description:
Fans are commonly employed in various electronic devices to facilitate cooling. For example, power supply devices often utilize fans to dissipate heat to ensure that the internal components of the power supply device operate within a suitable temperature range for normal functionality. A typical method of fan connection involves extending a wire directly from inside the fan and attaching a connector to its conductive end. This connector is then used to establish electrical connection with the control board of the power supply device to control the operation of fan and supply necessary power.

Additionally, because power supply devices have varying internal designs, fans need to be designed with wire lengths and exit positions corresponding to the location of the circuit board. Therefore, even fans of the same size may not be interchangeable among different power supply devices due to differences in wire length and exit position. For example, if the fan wire is too long or the exit location is not optimal, it may interfere with other electronic components and result in wiring and assembly difficulties. If the fan wire is too short, the fan may fail to establish electrical connection with the control board and may not function. A power supply device according to the prior art can be found in document <CIT>.

In view of the above drawbacks, the inventor proposes this disclosure based on his expert knowledge and elaborate researches in order to solve the problems of related art.

This disclosure provides a power supply device for simplifying the connection structure of the fan modules and increasing the convenience of use.

This disclosure is a power supply device including a chassis, a control board, an input connector, an output connector, a fan module, a flexible printed circuit board and a light-guiding handle. The control board is disposed within the chassis. The input connector and the output connector are disposed within the chassis and electrically connected to the control board. The fan module is mounted within the chassis. The fan module includes a fan frame and a fan connector disposed on an outer surface of the fan frame. The flexible printed circuit board includes a conducting section, a fan connecting section and a lighting connecting section. One end of the conducting section is electrically connected to the control board, and another end of the conducting section is electrically connected to the fan connecting section and the lighting connecting section. The fan connecting section is electrically connected to the fan connector. The light-guiding handle is coupled to the chassis. The lighting component is disposed on the lighting connecting section and faces the light-guiding handle.

In one embodiment, a hollow slot is defined on the fan frame, and the fan connector is exposed from the hollow slot.

In one embodiment, the power supply device further includes a fan circuit board, wherein an insertion slot communicating with the hollow slot is defined on the fan frame, and the fan circuit board is inserted in the insertion slot.

In one embodiment, one end of the conducting section is pressed (sandwiched) between the control board and the chassis.

In one embodiment, the light-guiding handle and the lighting component are mounted on the fan frame.

In one embodiment, the fan module and the input connector are mounted on the front end of the chassis away from the output connector, and the fan connector is disposed between the fan frame and the input connector.

In comparison with the related art, the control board and fan module in this disclosure are installed within the chassis, and the fan connector is disposed on the outer surface of the fan frame of the fan module. Moreover, the fan module is electrically connected to the control board through one end of the connecting component inserting to the fan connector and another end of the connecting component inserting to the control board, thereby simplifying the connection structure between the electronic device and the fan. Additionally, the connecting component may include a flexible printed circuit board that may be pressed between the control board and the chassis to prevent interference with other electronic components within the chassis, thereby enhancing practicality and convenience of use.

The features of the disclosure believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, may be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of the disclosure, which describes a number of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:.

The technical contents of this disclosure will become apparent with the detailed description of embodiments accompanied with the illustration of related drawings as follows. It is intended that the embodiments and drawings disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

Please refer to <FIG> and <FIG>, which depict perspective schematic views of the power supply device from two sides thereof in this disclosure. A power supply device <NUM> includes a chassis <NUM>, a control board <NUM>, an adapter board <NUM>, an input connector <NUM>, an output connector <NUM>, a fan module <NUM>, a connecting component <NUM> and a light-guiding handle <NUM>. The control board <NUM> and the adapter board <NUM> are arranged in the chassis <NUM>. The input connector <NUM> and the output connector <NUM> are disposed within the chassis <NUM>. In this embodiment, the input connector <NUM> and the output connector <NUM> are respectively located on the front and rear sides of the chassis <NUM> and electrically connected to the control board <NUM>. The fan module <NUM> is mounted within the chassis <NUM> and electrically connected to the control board <NUM> via the connecting component <NUM>.

In this embodiment, both the control board <NUM> and adapter board <NUM> are equipped with appropriate circuit components to fulfill the required functions. In some embodiments, the adapter board <NUM> may be omitted. The adapter board <NUM> is positioned vertically and electrically connected to the control board <NUM>. The control board <NUM> is positioned horizontally on the bottom surface of the chassis <NUM>. The input connector <NUM> may be an IEC <NUM> C14 or another suitable connector, while the output connector <NUM> may also adopt suitable specifications. For example, the power supply device <NUM> is connected to the power grid to receive electrical power through the input connector <NUM>. After conversion to the appropriate voltage by the control board <NUM>, the power is supplied to one or more external electronic devices via the output connector <NUM>.

Please also refer to <FIG> and <FIG>, which illustrate a schematic view of the connection between the flexible printed circuit board and the fan module in this disclosure, and a schematic view depicting the combination of the fan circuit board and the fan frame in this disclosure. The fan module <NUM> includes a fan frame <NUM> and a fan connector <NUM> disposed on the outer surface of the fan frame <NUM>. The fan frame <NUM> is used to accommodate components such as fan blades and motors. The fan connector <NUM> includes a wire-to-board connector or other suitable connectors. Additionally, the fan module <NUM> further includes a fan circuit board <NUM> fixed on the fan frame <NUM>. The fan connector <NUM> is positioned and electrically connected to the fan circuit board <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the fan module <NUM> and the input connector <NUM> are mounted at the front end of the chassis <NUM> away from the output connector <NUM>. In this embodiment, the fan connector <NUM> is disposed on the outer surface of the fan frame 61which is not adjacent to the chassis <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>, disposed between the fan frame <NUM> and the input connector <NUM>) to facilitate the assembly between the connecting component <NUM> and the fan connector <NUM>. In another embodiment, the fan connector <NUM> is disposed on the outer surface of the fan frame <NUM> adjacent to the chassis <NUM> (for example, between the fan frame <NUM> and the bottom surface of the chassis <NUM>) to simplify the routing of the connecting components <NUM>. In other embodiments, the fan connector <NUM> may be disposed at a suitable position on the outer surface of the fan frame <NUM> based on different design considerations.

In this embodiment, the connecting component <NUM> is implemented in the form of a flexible printed circuit board, and includes a conducting section <NUM>, a fan connecting section <NUM> and a lighting connecting section <NUM>. One end of the conducting section <NUM> is electrically connected to the control board <NUM>, and another end of the conducting section <NUM> is electrically connected to the fan connecting section <NUM> and the lighting connecting section <NUM>. Additionally, one end of the fan connecting section <NUM> is electrically connected to the fan connector <NUM>. The fan module <NUM> is electrically connected to the control board <NUM> through the fan connecting section <NUM> and the conducting section <NUM>.

Accordingly, the control board <NUM> supplies the requisite power and/or other control functions essential for the operation of the fan module <NUM>. In this embodiment, the lighting connecting section <NUM> is disposed corresponding to the light-guiding handle <NUM> and is adjacent to the chassis <NUM>. The lighting component <NUM> is disposed on the lighting connecting section <NUM> and faces the light-guiding handle <NUM>. The lighting component <NUM> is electrically connected to the control board <NUM> through the lighting connecting section <NUM> and the conducting section <NUM>. Thus, the control board <NUM> provides the necessary power and/or other control functions required for illuminating the lighting component <NUM> and makes the lighting element <NUM> to emit light.

The light-guiding handle <NUM> is coupled to the chassis <NUM> for users to move the power supply device1. In this embodiment, the light-guiding handle <NUM> may be made of a translucent material to transmit light emitted from the lighting component <NUM>, and the light-guiding handle <NUM> is configured in a U shape.

Please refer to <FIG> and <FIG>, which illustrate a schematic view of the connection between the flexible printed circuit board and the fan module in this disclosure and a schematic view of the combination of the fan circuit board and the fan frame in this disclosure. In this embodiment, a hollow slot <NUM> and an insertion slot <NUM> communicating with the hollow slot <NUM> are defined on the fan frame <NUM>. Moreover, the fan circuit board <NUM> is inserted in the insertion slot <NUM>, and that makes the fan connector <NUM> be exposed from the hollow slot <NUM>.

Please further refer to <FIG>, which illustrates another embodiment of the light-guiding handle in this disclosure. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the light-guiding handle <NUM> is disposed on the right side in front of the chassis <NUM> and is not adjacent to the fan frame <NUM>. However, in <FIG>, the light-guiding handle <NUM> is mounted on the fan frame <NUM>. In this embodiment, the light-guiding handle <NUM> may be made of a translucent material to transmit the light emitted from the lighting component <NUM>. The light-guiding handle <NUM> is configured in a U shape and includes a gripping section <NUM> and a pair of supporting sections <NUM> connected to the gripping section <NUM>. Two ends of the pair of supporting sections <NUM> are used to be fixed on the fan frame <NUM> (and/or the chassis <NUM>).

Specifically, the light-guiding handle <NUM> is affixed to the lighting component <NUM>. Light emitted from the lighting component <NUM> may pass through the light-guiding handle <NUM>. As a result, users may easily discern the position of the light-guiding handle <NUM> in areas with inadequate lighting, so as to facilitate the user to apply force on the light-guiding handle <NUM> to move the power supply device <NUM>.

Furthermore, a lighting hole <NUM> and a screw hole <NUM> are defined on the end surface of the supporting sections <NUM> of the light-guiding handle <NUM>. The lighting hole <NUM> is arranged corresponding to the position of the lighting component <NUM>. Additionally, the light-guiding handle <NUM> is secured to the fan frame <NUM> (and/or the chassis <NUM>) utilizing multiple screws inserted through the screw holes <NUM>.

Please further refer to <FIG> and <FIG>, which illustrate schematic views of the application of another embodiment of the power supply device in this disclosure. A power supply device 1a includes a chassis 10a, a control board 20a, an adapter board 30a, an input connector 40a, an output connector 50a and a fan module 60a. The fan module 60a is mounted within the chassis 10a and includes a fan frame 61a and a fan connector 62a disposed on the outer surface of the fan frame 61a. In this embodiment, the connecting component 70a is in the form of a conducting wire, and the fan connector 62a is electrically connected to the adapter board 30a via the connecting component 70a.

Claim 1:
A power supply device (<NUM>), comprising:
a chassis (<NUM>);
a control board (<NUM>), disposed in the chassis (<NUM>);
an input connector (<NUM>), disposed in the chassis (<NUM>) and electrically connected to the control board (<NUM>);
an output connector (<NUM>), disposed in the chassis (<NUM>) and electrically connected to the control board (<NUM>);
a fan module (<NUM>), disposed in the chassis (<NUM>), comprising a fan frame (<NUM>) and a fan connector (<NUM>) disposed on an outer surface thereof;
a flexible printed circuit board (<NUM>), comprising a conducting section (<NUM>), a fan connecting section (<NUM>) and a lighting connecting section (<NUM>), one end of the conducting section (<NUM>) electrically connected to the control board (<NUM>), another end of the conducting section (<NUM>) electrically connected to the fan connecting section (<NUM>) and the lighting connecting section (<NUM>), and the fan connecting section (<NUM>) electrically connected to the fan connector (<NUM>);
a light-guiding handle (<NUM>), coupled to the chassis (<NUM>); and
a lighting component (<NUM>), disposed on the lighting connecting section (<NUM>) and facing the light-guiding handle (<NUM>).