Patent Description:
Conventional packaging of electronic devices for vehicle head units often houses electronic devices in a single enclosure due to cost and spacing. In some cases multiple head units may be separately located (e.g., front and rear compartments of a vehicle). In some cases, the conventional designs do not provide adequate thermal management. By way of example, some conventional designs can lead to heat transfer from a head unit to operator input interfaces above allowed temperature tolerances of a user. Similarly, the single enclosure may prevent adequate heat transfer for components within a head unit. Another drawback relates to shielding of electronic components. Electronic components can be affected by electromagnetic sources within the head unit, connections to a head unit or by vehicle components in proximity to a head unit, such as a heater motor, car computer, etc. Extraneous noise within a vehicle can negatively degrade the performance of a head unit and can require expensive redesign of a vehicle in order to remove or address sources of noise. Publication <CIT> discloses a plurality of enclosed circuit boards inserted into a heat sink. Each circuit board is enclosed between a top and a bottom shield. Publication <CIT> discloses an electronic device comprising a housing, a circuit board inserted in the housing, a shielding structure enclosing the electronic device, and a heat pipe thermally coupled to the shielding structure. Publication <CIT> comprises a terminal installment structure for a vehicle comprising a vehicle-side equipment and heat releasing units. Publication <CIT> discloses a mobile terminal comprising a first electronic device mounted on a first PCB and a second electronic device mounted on a second PCB spaced from the first PCB, wherein the first electronic device overlaps the second electronic device in one direction. The terminal further comprises a first shield configured to shield electromagnetic interference between the first electronic device and the outside, as well as s shield block configured to shield electromagnetic interference between the first electronic device and the outside and between the second electronic device and the outside. Publication <CIT> discloses enclosure or containment system for expansion cards including first and second sub-enclosures that interengage to form an enclosure assembly that substantially surrounds the major surface areas of the expansion card while providing support along some of the edges thereof to provide a protected volume that physically protects and shields the electronic and electrical components on the expansion card while providing enhanced heat transfer therefrom. Publication <CIT> discloses a passive cooled electronic chassis that includes an aluminum core member which has an electrical insulator sheet, a printed wiring board which bears against the electrical insulator sheet and which has a set of electrical components that are wired to the board, a housing which has a center wall that has recesses having potting material for receiving and embedding respective electrical components. The chassis provides a first heat flow path from such component through the printed circuit board and electrical insulator sheet and core member and center wall to exterior fins. The chassis also provides a second heat flow path from such component through the potting material and the center wall to the exterior fins. The housing has an end wall, which is integral with the end of the housing center wall, and which bears against the end of the core member, for the first heat flow path from the core member through the end wall and center wall to the exterior fins.

There is a desire for improved electronic devices and head unit configurations. There also exists a desire for improved thermal management and shielding of electromagnetic interference.

Disclosed and claimed herein are electronic devices and configurations. One embodiment is directed to an electronic device including a display, a plurality of circuit boards, a main chassis element configured to support the display, and a plurality of chassis enclosures. Each of the plurality of circuit boards is separately housed by a chassis enclosure. Each chassis enclosure includes a front housing and a back housing, the front housing and back housing configured to retain a circuit board, and at least one heat dissipation element. The plurality of chassis enclosures are mounted to provide an air gap for heat dissipation between each chassis enclosure. Each chassis enclosure electrically shields a retained circuit board. Each chassis enclosure is formed of a heat sinking material and one or more heat spreading elements of the chassis enclosure extends into the air gap between chassis enclosures. The heat spreading elements in the air gap between two chassis enclosures are separated from each other.

Other aspects, features, and techniques will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art in view of the following detailed description of the embodiments.

The features, objects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify correspondingly throughout and wherein:.

One aspect of the disclosure is directed to electronic devices, and more particularly to modular configurations for electronic devices. In one embodiment, modular configurations discussed herein provide configurations with improved thermal management and shielding of electromagnetic interference (EMI). According to another embodiment, configurations allow for use in vehicles, such as automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, boats and other electronic devices which may include multiple circuit boards or modules.

In one embodiment, a modular configuration is provided including a plurality of chassis enclosures. Modules may relate to divisions of electronic components associated with one or more functions. Modules may separate components to shield the components and to improve thermal management. Modules may be provided by chassis enclosures that house individual or multiple circuit boards. Unlike a rectangular or box metal housing which just provides a housing for elements, modules are configured to shield components, provide thermal management, allow for mounting in compressed areas and allow for mounting in close proximity to interface components without transferring heat to the interface.

One embodiment is directed to vehicle head units. A vehicle head unit may include electronic components for entertainment/media playback and to provide one or more vehicle services to an operator. A vehicle head unit often relates to dash or console mounted radio/media player of an automobile. As used herein, a vehicle head unit may relate to electronic components housed in a front console or dashboard area, non-dashboard area, or vehicle compartment in general for one or more of automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, commercial vehicles, work vehicles, etc. According to one embodiment, the electronic device described herein relates to a modular automotive infotainment head unit for providing one or more of a vehicle interface (e.g., touch screen display, controls), navigation, entertainment/multimedia, driver assistance, web browser, communications, etc..

Other embodiments are directed to electronic devices that may be employed in vehicles and non-head unit applications of electronic devices for mounting and use of components in environments where thermal management and EMI shielding is necessary or desired.

As used herein, the terms "a" or "an" shall mean one or more than one. The term "plurality" shall mean two or more than two. The term "another" is defined as a second or more. The terms "including" and/or "having" are open ended (e.g., comprising). The term "or" as used herein is to be interpreted as inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, "A, B or C" means "any of the following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C". An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.

Reference throughout this document to "one embodiment," "certain embodiments," "an embodiment," or similar term means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of such phrases in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner on one or more embodiments without limitation.

Referring now to the figures, <FIG> depict graphical representations of an electronic device according to one or more embodiments. According to one embodiment, electronic device <NUM> is configured with a modular design to provide improved thermal cooling for circuit boards of the electronic device. The modular design may also provide improved shielding of circuit boards compared to unshielded arrangements. According to one embodiment, device <NUM> relates to a vehicle head unit. According to another embodiment, device <NUM> relates to a vehicle infotainment unit configured to include components for at least one of communication, entertainment, operator interface, driver assistance, guidance and navigation. Device <NUM> may provide one or more functionalities associated with one or more functional units of a vehicle. Although device <NUM> is described as being associated with a vehicle head unit, it should be appreciated that the principles discussed herein may be applied to other devices and are not limited to vehicle head units. For example, device <NUM> is described as a head unit, which may typically be associated with a vehicle. However, configurations of device <NUM> are not limited to vehicle devices and are not limited placement in a dashboard or vehicle console. Additionally, device <NUM> may include additional or separate functions than media playback associated with head units and may include one or more circuit boards to provide at least one function. Electronic device <NUM> may be a head unit for a vehicle and circuit boards of electronic device <NUM> may be modules for at least one of a media player, navigation unit, radio, communications unit and vehicle interface unit.

According to one embodiment, device <NUM> includes a modular configuration for each circuit board and device <NUM> may include a plurality of circuit boards. By way of example, each circuit board may be separately housed in a separate module. In certain embodiments, each module includes one circuit board. In other embodiments, each module can include at least one circuit board. As shown in <FIG>, device <NUM> includes multiple modules. In addition to multiple modules, device <NUM> may include one or more additional features. A circuit board of device <NUM> may relate to one or more electrical components shared on a single structure, such as a printed circuit board (PCB) or other circuit platforms.

Referring to <FIG>, device <NUM> includes module <NUM> and module <NUM>, which may be components of the device. Module <NUM> and module <NUM> may each include at least one circuit board. In certain embodiments, module <NUM> includes one circuit board and module <NUM> includes one circuit board. Although device <NUM> is described as including module <NUM> and module <NUM>, it should be appreciated that modular configuration described herein can include one or more additional modules.

According to one embodiment, each module of device <NUM> may include a chassis enclosure. According to another embodiment, each chassis enclosure includes a front housing and a back housing to retain a circuit board. By way of example, device <NUM> includes module <NUM> including front housing <NUM> and back housing <NUM> forming a chassis enclosure for circuit board <NUM>. Similarly, module <NUM> includes front housing <NUM> and back housing <NUM> forming a chassis enclosure for circuit board <NUM>. Chassis enclosures of device <NUM> may include one or more elements that enclose circuit elements and allow for mounting and securing the enclosure to one or more other enclosures or housing elements. According to one embodiment, each chassis enclosure is structurally connected to another chassis enclosure by fastening elements, such as screws, bolts, threaded connectors, connection pins, etc..

According to one embodiment, device <NUM> is configured with a structure that allows for modules <NUM> and <NUM> to be connected with one or more air gaps between chassis enclosures to allow for heat dissipation. According to another embodiment, each module of device <NUM> may include one or more heat dissipation elements. In an exemplary embodiment, device <NUM> and modules <NUM> and <NUM> may include one or more heat displacement elements, such as heat spreaders <NUM> within an air gap, such as air gap <NUM>. Air gaps provided by electronic device <NUM> may provide space between modules for thermal convection (e.g., natural or forced) and increase surface area of the modules to transfer heat in an integrated automotive infotainment head unit.

According to one embodiment, modules <NUM> and <NUM> of device <NUM> have a similar structure, such as a substantially planar configuration, wherein module <NUM> and <NUM> are joined in an overlapping arrangement along a major face. By way of example, the back housing <NUM> of module <NUM> is positioned close to the front housing <NUM> of module <NUM>, such that one or more air gaps are provided between module <NUM> and <NUM>. According to another embodiment, modules <NUM> and <NUM> may be secured to a main housing <NUM>. Main housing <NUM> may be a structural element configured to support a plurality of modules on one side. According to another embodiment main housing <NUM> may be configured to support display <NUM>. Main housing <NUM> may be a main chassis element including a first side structurally connected to the plurality of chassis enclosures and a second side structurally supporting display <NUM>. Main housing <NUM> may provides shielding of at least one of heat and electromagnetic interference. As will be discussed herein, device configurations may employ a front housing a lead chassis module, such as front housing <NUM> to support a module on one side and support a display on the other side. Main housing <NUM> may allow for mounting device <NUM> to a supporting structure, such as a vehicle component (e.g., frame, console, dashboard, etc.). The configuration and principles of electronic device <NUM> does not require coupling to a display.

According to embodiment, electronic device <NUM> includes a plurality of plurality of chassis enclosures that are each mounted to provide an air gap for heat dissipation. Air gap <NUM> is provided between display <NUM> and main housing <NUM>. Similarly, air gap <NUM> is provided between module <NUM> and module <NUM>, and in particular between back housing <NUM> and front housing <NUM>. Air gaps between chassis enclosures and housings can provide air flow for heat dissipation. Display <NUM> may be mounted to one of the chassis enclosures with an air gap between the display and a chassis enclosure.

According to another embodiment, one or more elements of electronic device <NUM> provide electrical shielding of circuit elements, such as circuit boards <NUM> and <NUM>. According to one embodiment, each chassis enclosure is configured to shield a circuit board. According to another embodiment, one or more housing elements may shield circuit boards.

According to one embodiment, at least one chassis enclosure of device <NUM> is configured to provide electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding to components within the enclosure. The chassis enclosures may provide a Faraday cage for circuit boards. The chassis enclosures of device <NUM> may be formed of metallic or other materials to prevent EMI interference between other electrical components of a vehicle and the enclosed circuit board. The EMI shielding of device <NUM> can shielding circuit boards from interference from automotive elements such as motors, vehicle actuator, etc. Each chassis enclosure may electrically shield elements in retained circuit board and allow for external connections. Plug elements of a circuit board, such as connection interface <NUM> out of back housing <NUM> of module <NUM> may extend beyond the chassis enclosure to allow for connection to one or more other devices or components. According to one embodiment, chassis enclosures of device <NUM> may be formed of one or more materials to provide EMI shielding, including but not limited to aluminum (e.g., die-cast, extruded, forged, etc.), magnesium (e.g., die-cast, extruded, forged, etc.), and steel (e.g., cold-rolled sheet metal, etc.). Chassis enclosures of device <NUM> may be formed with or without gasket materials.

According to one embodiment, chassis enclosures of device <NUM> are formed of a heat sinking material, to provide thermal management. Chassis enclosures may retain a circuit board and transfer heat from the enclosure to one or more air gaps between modules. Chassis enclosures of device <NUM> may include heat spreaders, such as heat spreaders <NUM> and heat spreaders <NUM>, which extend form either a front housing or back housing of the chassis enclosure for heat dissipation.

As will be discussed in more detail below, one or more of the chassis enclosures and circuit boards may be connected to ground contacts integrated within each chassis enclosure.

<FIG> represents a top down representation of electronic device with modules arranged in parallel with display <NUM>. Each chassis enclosure is mounted in a vertical arrangement (e.g., in parallel with display <NUM>). In other embodiments, each chassis enclosure is mounted in a horizontal arrangement (e.g., perpendicular to display <NUM>).

In <FIG>, an alternate view is shown of electronic device <NUM>. The presentation of device <NUM> in <FIG> may be a side profile representation. <FIG> depicts display <NUM> mounted to lead side of main housing <NUM> and a plurality of modules (module <NUM> and module <NUM>) mounted to a trailing side of main housing <NUM>. In use, electronic device <NUM> may be coupled to a support or vehicle structure such as a console or dash with display <NUM> facing vehicle passengers. Modules <NUM> and <NUM> may be within the vehicle structure which may be a compartment within limited airflow. One or more air gaps in electronic device <NUM>, such as air gap <NUM> between module <NUM> and <NUM> may allow for improved air flow and heat convection to occur. Electronic device <NUM> may include one or more air gaps not shown in <FIG>.

Electronic device <NUM> includes one or more features described herein, such as a modular design which can provide improved thermal cooling and EMI shielding for electrical components such as circuit boards of the device. It should also be appreciated that the modular design described herein allows for a compact design and use of material to meet weight requirements for use in a vehicle. Further to being compact, the structure provided allows for thermal cooling while still meeting the requirements for use in a vehicle, such as automobile.

In <FIG>, a disassembled view is shown for electronic device <NUM> according to one or more embodiments. As described above, electronic device <NUM> includes module <NUM> having circuit board <NUM> and module <NUM> having circuit board <NUM>. Module <NUM> includes a chassis enclosure provided by front housing <NUM> and back housing <NUM> for circuit board <NUM>. Similarly, module <NUM> includes a chassis enclosure provided by front housing <NUM> and back housing <NUM> for circuit board <NUM>. According to one embodiment, modules <NUM> and <NUM> may be fastened trailing side <NUM> of main housing <NUM> by one or more fasteners, such as fastener <NUM>. According to another embodiment, leading side <NUM> of main housing <NUM> may supply display <NUM>. Main housing <NUM> supports display <NUM>, display cover <NUM> and cover plate <NUM>.

According to one embodiment, chassis enclosures of modules <NUM> and <NUM> provide EMI shielding for circuit boards and also provide surface areas configured for heat dissipation to air gaps. According to another embodiment, chassis enclosures may include openings for shielded terminals, such as terminal <NUM> of circuit board <NUM> and terminal <NUM> of circuit board <NUM> that allow for coupling of electronic components.

Although device <NUM> is shown and described as including the elements described above, it should be appreciated that other elements may be included or added according to one or more other embodiments. By way of example, electronic device may include fasteners in addition to fastener <NUM>. In addition, one or more cables to connections may be made to electronic device <NUM>. According to another embodiment, principles of the disclosure may be provided to other structures with different shapes and features. By way of example, features described herein may be applied to electronic head units that do not include a main housing <NUM>. Alternatively, features and elements described herein could be employed on an electronic device that is not mounted in proximity to the display, such as an infotainment unit with a flip out display or remotely located display.

According to yet another embodiment, electronic device configurations may not require main housing <NUM> and front housing <NUM>. In certain embodiments, modules <NUM> may utilize main housing <NUM> as a front housing for circuit board <NUM>, such that main housing <NUM> and back housing <NUM> form a chassis enclosure for circuit board <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts a simplified diagram of an electronic device according to one or more embodiments. According to one embodiment, configurations and features are provided for a plurality of modules to improve thermal cooling and shielding of circuit board components associated with each module. <FIG> depicts a simplified representation of an electronic device and device features according to one or more embodiments. <FIG> depicts both disassembled and assembled representations of an electronic device <NUM>. Electronic device <NUM> may relate to electronic components for a vehicle, such as a vehicle head unit, vehicle infotainment unit, etc..

According to one embodiment, device <NUM> includes a series of modules <NUM><NUM>-n. Modules <NUM><NUM>-n may each include a circuit board, shown as circuit boards <NUM><NUM>-n. According to one embodiment, each of the circuit boards <NUM><NUM>-n may be enclosed within a chassis enclosure formed by a front housing and a back housing, such as front housings <NUM><NUM>-n and back housings <NUM><NUM>-n. Device <NUM> may optionally include main housing <NUM> configured to support a display <NUM> and modules <NUM><NUM>-n. According to one embodiment, circuit boards <NUM><NUM>-n may be sized smaller than front housings <NUM><NUM>-n and back housings <NUM><NUM>-n to allow for enclosing the circuit boards. Each of the front housings <NUM><NUM>-n may be paired with one of the back housings <NUM><NUM>-n, to form a chassis enclosure configured to operate as a Faraday cage to provide EMI shielding for a circuit board retained within the front and back housing. The front housings <NUM><NUM>-n and back housings <NUM><NUM>-n can include a ground connection along an outer periphery of the housings.

According to one embodiment, front housings <NUM><NUM>-n and back housings <NUM><NUM>-n may be substantially planar elements to provide a surface area for exchange of heat within air gaps so that heat may be radiated out from electronic device as shown by directions <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. According to one embodiment, radiation of heat may be provided by air gaps between modules <NUM><NUM>-n. One benefit of a substantially planar chassis enclosure may be providing an increased surface area to allow for thermal convection in air gaps in comparison to non-modular configurations. According to another embodiment, front housings <NUM><NUM>-n and back housings <NUM><NUM>-n may also include one or more features, such as raised fins or heat spreaders to radiate heat.

When in use, electronic device <NUM> may couple modules <NUM><NUM>-n to main housing <NUM> and display <NUM> as shown by configuration <NUM>. Each chassis enclosure is structurally connected to another chassis enclosure by fastening elements. According to one embodiment, electronic device <NUM> when assembled in configuration <NUM> includes air gaps between modules <NUM><NUM>-n. Air gaps may also be provided between main housing <NUM> and module <NUM><NUM>. Similarly, air gaps may be provided between display <NUM> and main housing <NUM>. According to one embodiment, air gaps may be on lateral portions, such as left side <NUM> and/or top and bottom portions, such as top interface <NUM>, of configuration <NUM>. According to one embodiment, each module of electronic device <NUM> may be separated from each other, with the exception of mounting or coupling points, such that an air gap is provided between each successive pairing of modules <NUM><NUM>-n. The air gap between modules <NUM><NUM>-n may range and vary between each set of modules.

As shown in <FIG>, each module and chassis enclosure is mounted in a vertical arrangement (e.g., in parallel with display <NUM>). In other embodiments, each chassis enclosure is mounted in a horizontal arrangement (e.g., perpendicular to display <NUM>). Each chassis enclosure may be formed of a heat sinking material and include one or more heat spreading elements of the extending into an air gap between modules.

<FIG> depicts a graphical representation of an electronic device according to one or more embodiments. In <FIG>, a disassembled view is shown for electronic device <NUM> according to one or more embodiments. Electronic device <NUM> includes module <NUM> having circuit board <NUM> and module <NUM> having circuit board <NUM>. Module <NUM> includes a chassis enclosure provided by front housing <NUM> and back housing <NUM> for circuit board <NUM>. Similarly, module <NUM> includes a chassis enclosure provided by front housing <NUM> and back housing <NUM> for circuit board <NUM>. According to one embodiment, components of modules <NUM> and <NUM> may be fastened together to trailing side <NUM> of front housing <NUM> by one or more fasteners, such as fastener <NUM>. According to another embodiment, a leading side housing <NUM> may support optional components <NUM>.

Optional components <NUM> may relate to circuit board <NUM> and front cover <NUM> which may be mounted to front housing <NUM> to support a display, such as a touch screen display or other components.

According to one embodiment, one or more portions of electronic device <NUM> may be cooled and/or regulated by liquid cooling elements. Accordingly, electronic device <NUM> may include one or more liquid cooling features. In one embodiment, embedded channels may be built into circuit boards (e.g., circuit boards <NUM> and <NUM>) and housings (e.g., front housing <NUM> and <NUM> and back housings <NUM> and <NUM>). In another embodiment, liquid cooling elements of electronic device <NUM> may be provided by fluid exchange with components such as within the heat spreaders of the housing elements. Electronic device <NUM> may interface with an ambient exchange element to provide liquid cooling according to one or more embodiments. According to one embodiment, liquid cooling elements of electronic device <NUM> may include at least one of a passive configuration (e.g., use of a heat pipe, etc.), and active configuration (e.g., use of a pumps and heat exchangers, etc.). Liquid cooling elements may be included within and external to enclosures. For example, one or more of a heat pipe, cold plate, passive system, and active system may additionally circulate heat associated with a module.

Claim 1:
An electronic device (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) comprising:
a display (<NUM>; <NUM>);
a plurality of circuit boards (<NUM>, <NUM>; <NUM><NUM>-n; <NUM>, <NUM>);
a main chassis element (<NUM>) configured to support the display (<NUM>; <NUM>); and
a plurality of chassis enclosures, wherein each of the plurality of circuit boards (<NUM>, <NUM>; <NUM><NUM>-n; <NUM>, <NUM>) is separately housed by a chassis enclosure, and wherein each chassis enclosure includes
a front housing (<NUM>, <NUM>; <NUM>, <NUM>) and a back housing (<NUM>, <NUM>; <NUM>, <NUM>), the front housing (<NUM>, <NUM>; <NUM>, <NUM>) and back housing (<NUM>, <NUM>; <NUM>, <NUM>) configured to retain a circuit board (<NUM>, <NUM>; <NUM><NUM>-n; <NUM>, <NUM>), and
at least one heat dissipation element,
wherein the plurality of chassis enclosures are mounted to provide an air gap (<NUM>) for heat dissipation between each chassis enclosure, wherein each chassis enclosure is formed of a heat sinking material and wherein one or more heat spreading elements of the chassis enclosure extends into the air gap (<NUM>) between chassis enclosures,
wherein each chassis enclosure electrically shields a retained circuit board (<NUM>, <NUM>; <NUM><NUM>-n; <NUM>, <NUM>), and
wherein the heat spreading elements in the air gap (<NUM>) between two chassis enclosures are separated from each other.