Patent Description:
The invention is defined by a device in accordance with claim <NUM>.

The accompanying drawings illustrate implementations of the concepts conveyed in the present document. Features of the illustrated implementations can be more readily understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Like reference numbers in the various drawings are used wherever feasible to indicate like elements. Further, the left-most numeral of each reference number conveys the FIG. and associated discussion where the reference number is first introduced.

The present concepts relate to devices, such as computing devices. For many form factors, such as tablets, notebooks, and/or wearable devices, consumer preferences are toward smaller form factors, especially thinner (e.g., z-dimension constraints) and/or lighter form factors. At the same time, consumers want high performance from computing resources (e.g., heat generating components), such as processing resources, memory resources, battery resources, etc. The high performance tends to result in unwanted heat generation from the heat generating components. This heat can be dispersed via thermal modules that can be positioned proximate to the heat generating components. The heat generating components are also shielded from ambient radio frequency energy (RF shielding) that can degrade their performance. Further, RF emissions (e.g., RF noise) from the heat generating components can be blocked so that they do not interfere with other device components, such as various antennas. Stated another way, the present concepts can relate to RF shielding in both directions (e.g., from and towards the heat generating components).

The present concepts can employ components in the devices that both contribute to positioning the thermal modules and the heat generating components as well as contributing to the RF shielding of the heat generating components. These components can conserve space in thin form factor devices in the z-dimension, among other advantages. These components can also offer reduced z-dimensions by eliminating additional components that contribute to z-height. Traditionally, a lid is placed over the thermal module to bias the thermal module against the heat generating component. The present implementations can eliminate the lid and thereby reduce thickness, cost, and/or complexity. In some cases, the components also contribute to repairability of the device (e.g., easier assembly and disassembly). These and other aspects are described below.

<FIG> shows a partial cut-away view of an example device <NUM> manifest as a tablet type computing device. In this manifestation, device <NUM> can include a dimensionally constrained shielded and cooled circuit board assembly <NUM> (hereinafter, "circuit board assembly") that in this example is contained within a housing <NUM> and a display <NUM>. The circuit board assembly <NUM> can be employed in other device scenarios.

<FIG> collectively show features of circuit board assembly <NUM>. <FIG> show exploded views of circuit board assembly <NUM>. <FIG> shows a partially assembled view of circuit board assembly <NUM>. <FIG> are views of a portion of the circuit board assembly <NUM>.

The circuit board assembly <NUM> can include a circuit board <NUM>, a heat generating component <NUM>, a thermal module <NUM>, a frame <NUM>, a fence <NUM>, and a gasket <NUM>. The circuit board <NUM> can be manifest as a printed circuit board (PCB) or a flexible printed circuit (FPC), among others. The heat generating component <NUM> can be positioned on the circuit board <NUM>. The heat generating component can be manifest as a processor <NUM>, such as a central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU), and storage/memory, a battery, and/or a transformer, among others. As will be explained in more detail below, circuit board <NUM>, thermal module <NUM>, frame <NUM>, fence <NUM>, and/or gasket <NUM> can form a Faraday cage <NUM> (e.g., RF shielding) around heat generating component <NUM>.

The circuit board <NUM> can include fence <NUM> that extends upwardly toward thermal module <NUM>. From one perspective, the fence <NUM> can define a first perimeter <NUM> and the heat generating component <NUM> can be located within the first perimeter <NUM>.

The thermal module <NUM> can be manifest as a vapor chamber, a heat pipe, a heat spreader, a heat sink, and/or sheets of conductive material, such as copper or graphite, among other configurations. The thermal module <NUM> can include frame <NUM> which extends downwardly toward the circuit board <NUM>. The frame <NUM> can be an integral part of the thermal module. For instance, the thermal module <NUM> with the frame <NUM> can be formed by additive manufacturing processes, such as 3D printing or can be formed by subtractive processing, such as machining. Alternatively, the frame <NUM> can be a separate component that is secured to the thermal module <NUM>. For instance, the frame can be soldered, welded, and/or otherwise fused (e.g., secured) to the thermal module.

From one perspective, the frame <NUM> can define a second perimeter <NUM>. The first perimeter <NUM> and the second perimeter <NUM> can be different so that the frame <NUM> can be contained within the fence <NUM>, or vice versa (e.g., they bypass one another rather than abutting one another). Stated another way, the first and second perimeters (<NUM> and <NUM>) can be offset from one another and the frame <NUM> and the fence <NUM> can be partially overlapping in the z-dimension.

Note that this implementation includes a port <NUM> (<FIG>) through the frame <NUM>, gasket <NUM>, and fence <NUM> to allow a second thermal module <NUM>(<NUM>) (<FIG>) to be thermally coupled to thermal module <NUM>. The second thermal module <NUM>(<NUM>) can be used to dissipate thermal energy to areas of the device not covered by thermal module <NUM>. <FIG> shows another implementation that does not include the port <NUM>.

The frame <NUM> can provide structural integrity to the thermal module <NUM>. For instance, the thermal module <NUM> may have generally opposing major planar surfaces <NUM> (<FIG>) and <NUM> (<FIG>) in the xy-dimensions. The frame <NUM> may provide structural integrity that contributes to the thermal module <NUM> maintaining the planarity of the major planar surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>. This can allow thinner (in the z-reference direction) thermal modules to be employed without them being subject to deformation during assembly and/or deformation when assembled. For instance, fasteners <NUM> can be utilized to bias the thermal module <NUM> against the heat generating component without deforming the planar nature of the thermal module <NUM>. Thus, the frame <NUM> can contribute to overall thinner devices in the z-dimension.

Further, the present implementations are more serviceable than traditional designs. In traditional designs, the thermal module tends to be damaged if the device is disassembled. In the illustrated configuration, the fasteners <NUM> can be removed and the thermal module <NUM> can be removed undamaged, thanks in part to the structural support provided by the frame <NUM>. Likely, no parts will be damaged and repairs can be made and the circuit board assembly <NUM> can be re-assembled. In the unlikely event there is damage, it will tend to occur to the gasket <NUM>. The gasket <NUM> is a relatively simple and inexpensive element that tends to cost at least an order of magnitude less than the thermal module. A replacement gasket <NUM> can be installed on the fence <NUM> and re-assembly of the circuit board assembly <NUM> can be completed.

In such a configuration, the thermal module <NUM> can be positioned against the heat generating component <NUM> (directly contacting or via an intervening thermal interface material). The thermal module <NUM> may also approach fence <NUM>. In this implementation, the gasket <NUM> can be positioned between the fence <NUM> and the thermal module <NUM>. However, this implementation does not rely on the gasket <NUM> to seal (e.g., complete the Faraday cage <NUM>) between the fence <NUM> and the thermal module <NUM>. Instead, the gasket <NUM> can seal the Faraday cage <NUM> (e.g., eliminate RF leakage) between the frame <NUM> and the fence <NUM>. For instance, the gasket <NUM> can bias the frame <NUM> and the fence <NUM> away from one another in the x and y-dimensions. For example, the gasket <NUM> may be compressed between the frame <NUM> and the fence <NUM> in the x and y-dimensions and exert a bias against the frame and the fence in the x and y-dimensions. Stated another way, the bias generated by the gasket <NUM> can be parallel to the major planar surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>. The bias created by the gasket <NUM> with the frame <NUM> and the fence <NUM> can ensure adequate contact to avoid RF leakage between the gasket <NUM> and the frame <NUM> and/or between the gasket <NUM> and the fence <NUM>.

Because the seal of the Faraday cage <NUM> is created by the gasket <NUM> against the frame <NUM> and the fence <NUM>, dimensional variations in the z-dimension can be accommodated. For instance, the fasteners <NUM> can be tightened until the thermal module <NUM> contacts the heat generating component <NUM>. Recall that the fence <NUM> and the frame <NUM> bypass one another so variations from specified dimensions (e.g. design tolerances) of the heat generating component <NUM> and the thermal module <NUM> can be accommodated. This accommodation can be achieved because the present concepts do not rely on z-dimension contact between the frame <NUM>, fence <NUM>, and gasket <NUM> to seal the Faraday cage <NUM>. Instead, the xy-dimension contact between the frame <NUM>, gasket <NUM>, and fence <NUM> seals the Faraday cage <NUM> independent of z-dimension variation.

In some implementations, the gasket <NUM> may include biasing features <NUM> that create the bias between the frame <NUM> and the fence <NUM>. In this case, the biasing features <NUM> are manifest as angled teeth <NUM> (<FIG>). Gaps <NUM> (<FIG>) between adjacent teeth <NUM> affect what wavelengths of RF signals are blocked by the Faraday cage <NUM>. The biasing features can include other configurations. For instance, the biasing features could be a sinusoidal shape (e.g., extending in the y-reference direction and alternating in the + and - x-reference direction for the enlarged portion). In some configurations, the gasket <NUM> may include alignment features <NUM> that facilitate maintaining the gasket <NUM> relative to the fence <NUM> and/or the frame <NUM> during assembly.

The heat generating component <NUM> can be located within a volume <NUM> (<FIG> and <FIG>) defined within the first and second perimeters <NUM> and <NUM> and between the circuit board <NUM> and the thermal module <NUM>. The volume <NUM> provided by employing the present concepts can be greater than the volume of traditional designs for a given z-dimension height. For instance, the frame <NUM> and fence <NUM> can be viewed as having 'picture frame' configurations (e.g., a border or perimeter with no center). The picture frame configuration can allow heat generating components <NUM> to extend from the circuit board <NUM> to the thermal module <NUM> at a height H (<FIG>) for a majority of the volume <NUM> defined by width W (<FIG>) defined by the inward most portions of the frame <NUM> and/or fence <NUM>. The increased volume <NUM> can allow more and/or larger heat generating components <NUM> to be positioned in contact with the thermal module <NUM> within the Faraday cage <NUM> despite the decreased overall dimensions in the z-dimension offered by elimination of the lid employed in traditional designs to force the thermal module against the heat generating component.

In this case, as mentioned above, the heat generating component <NUM> is manifest as a processor <NUM>, such as a central processing unit (CPU) and/or graphics processing unit (GPU). Alternatively or additionally, heat generating components can include various communication circuitry, such as USB circuitry, Bluetooth circuitry, Wi-Fi circuitry, <NUM> circuitry, <NUM> circuitry, various electronic circuitry, storage, and/or batteries, among others. Some implementations can utilize fences, frames, and gaskets to isolate individual heat generating components from one another as well as from external RF energy. One such implementation is described below relative to <FIG>.

<FIG> show portions of the circuit board assembly <NUM>. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view and <FIG> is a similar perspective view with the thermal module <NUM> removed. <FIG> shows the gasket's alignment feature <NUM>(<NUM>) interacting with fence <NUM>. The interaction can maintain alignment of the gasket <NUM> to the fence <NUM> and/or can keep the gasket and the fence assembled together (e.g., keep the gasket from popping off of the fence during the assembly process). <FIG> are sectional views of the circuit board assembly <NUM> as indicated in <FIG>. <FIG> is similar to <FIG>, but shows an enlarged view of a portion of the circuit board assembly.

As mentioned above, the circuit board <NUM> can contribute to the Faraday cage <NUM> (e.g., the bottom of the Faraday cage <NUM>). This aspect is visible in <FIG>. In this case, the circuit board <NUM> can include an electrically conductive structure <NUM>. The electrically conductive structure <NUM> can be positioned under the heat generating component <NUM>. In this example, the electrically conductive structure <NUM> is on the underside (e.g., opposite side from the thermal module <NUM>) of the circuit board <NUM>. The electrically conductive structure <NUM> can be electrically coupled to the fence <NUM> by one or more conductors <NUM> that pass through the circuit board <NUM>. The electrically conductive structure <NUM> can also be electrically connected to device ground <NUM> (<FIG>). Thus, the electrically conductive structure <NUM> and the conductors <NUM> contribute to the Faraday cage <NUM> as part of the circuit board <NUM>. In this case, the electrically conductive structure <NUM> is an additive layer on the underside of the circuit board <NUM>. In other cases, the electrically conductive structure can be incorporated within the circuit board, such as a layer of conductive particles mixed into a layer of the circuit board material.

The implementations illustrated relative to <FIG> can be thinner in the z-dimension than existing designs, can employ fewer components, allow more lateral room in the x and/or y dimensions for heat generating components within the Faraday cage, and/or can be readily assembled and dis-assembled.

<FIG> show alternative circuit board assemblies 102A and 102B, respectively. (The suffixes 'A' and 'B' indicate that some aspects of these circuit board assemblies are different from those of circuit board assembly <NUM> described above and/or from one another. Elements introduced above relative to <FIG> are not re-introduced here for sake of brevity).

<FIG> shows circuit board assembly 102A where the gasket <NUM> can be friction fit onto the fence <NUM>. The frame <NUM> (previously secured to the thermal module <NUM>) can be forced over the gasket and fence to 'load' the gasket <NUM>. For instance, the gasket <NUM> can be formed from a resilient or springy material, such as spring steel or other conductive material. Forcing the frame over the gasket can compress the gasket in the x-dimension in this view (and similarly in the y-dimension). The resiliency of the gasket <NUM> can then create an outward bias in the x-dimension against the frame <NUM> and the fence <NUM>. This bias can ensure consistent contact between the gasket <NUM>, the frame <NUM> and the fence <NUM> to seal the Faraday cage <NUM>.

<FIG> shows another example circuit board assembly 102B. In this implementation, the gasket <NUM> is friction fit onto a vertical portion <NUM> of the frame <NUM>. The gasket <NUM> does not extend over the fence <NUM> (e.g., between the fence and the frame in the z-reference dimension). Stated another way, the gasket <NUM> does not extend along a horizontal portion <NUM> of the frame <NUM>.

In this case, the gasket <NUM> can be manifest as a split tube (extending into and out of the drawing page in the y-reference direction in this sectional view) or other form factor. The frame <NUM> and/or the gasket <NUM> may include alignment features to facilitate maintaining an intended position of the gasket on the frame. In this case, the frame <NUM> includes alignment features <NUM> in the form of dimples into which the split tube may be positioned. The split tube can be formed of a resilient material so that the (rounded) portion of the tube positioned between the fence <NUM> and the frame <NUM> functions as biasing feature <NUM>. The biasing feature <NUM> can create a force against the fence <NUM> and the frame <NUM> in the x- and y-dimensions, which can ensure consistent contact and hence RF sealing between the fence and the frame without the gasket occupying space in the z-dimension, such as between the fence <NUM> and the frame <NUM> or between the fence <NUM> and the thermal module <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an alternative circuit board assembly 102C. (The suffix 'C' indicates that some aspects of this circuit board assembly are different from those of circuit board assemblies <NUM>, 102A, and/or 102B described above. Elements introduced above relative to <FIG>, <FIG>, and/or <FIG> are not re-introduced here for sake of brevity).

Circuit board assembly 102C is able to shield multiple heat generating components <NUM>, both from external RF energy and from RF energy from each other. In this case, the first perimeter <NUM> formed by fence <NUM> that can include multiple first perimeters (<NUM>(<NUM>), <NUM>(<NUM>), and <NUM>(<NUM>)): one around heat generating component <NUM>(<NUM>); one around heat generating component <NUM>(<NUM>), and one around heat generating component <NUM>(<NUM>). Similarly, the second perimeter <NUM> formed by frame <NUM> includes multiple second perimeters (<NUM>(<NUM>), <NUM>(<NUM>), and <NUM>(<NUM>)): one around heat generating component <NUM>(<NUM>); one around heat generating component <NUM>(<NUM>), and one around heat generating component <NUM>(<NUM>). The multiple first and second perimeters (<NUM> and <NUM>) contribute to a Faraday cage <NUM> around each of the individual heat generating components <NUM>(<NUM>)-<NUM>(<NUM>).

The individual Faraday cages <NUM>(<NUM>)-<NUM>(<NUM>) serve to provide RF shielding to individual heat generating components <NUM>(<NUM>)-<NUM>(<NUM>) from RF energy from one another as well as from external RF energy, such as may be generated by unshielded heat generating component <NUM>(<NUM>). This RF shielding can be viewed as bi-directional (e.g., protecting heat generating components within the Faraday cage from external RF energy and protecting other heat generating components and/or other external components from RF energy generated by the heat generating components within the Faraday cages). This RF shielding can be achieved while maintaining the reduced z-dimensions and/or increased internal (e.g., shielded volumes) described above relative to <FIG>.

In the described implementations, frame <NUM>, fence <NUM>, and/or gasket <NUM> can be manifest as electrically conductive materials, such as composites or various metals like copper or stainless steel, for example. In some cases, the gasket can have a resilient nature, such as may be provided by spring steel, among other materials.

The present dimensionally-constrained shielded circuit board assembly concepts can be utilized with various types of devices, such as computing devices that can include but are not limited to notebook computers, tablet type computers, smart phones, wearable smart devices, gaming devices, entertainment consoles, and/or other developing or yet to be developed types of devices. As used herein, a computing device can be any type of device that has some amount of processing and/or storage capacity and/or other heat generating components. A mobile computing device can be any computing device that is intended to be readily transported by a user.

Various examples are described above. Additional examples are described below. One example includes a device comprising a circuit board that includes an upwardly extending fence that defines a first perimeter, a heat generating component positioned within the first perimeter, a thermal module positioned over the heat generating component, the thermal module including a downwardly extending frame that defines a second perimeter that is different than the first perimeter, and a gasket that creates a bias between the fence and the frame that contributes to blocking radio frequency energy between the fence and the frame to complete a Faraday cage around the heat generating component.

Another example can include any of the above and/or below examples where the circuit board further comprises an electrically conductive structure positioned below the first perimeter and electrically coupled to the fence.

Another example can include any of the above and/or below examples where the electrically conductive structure is incorporated into the circuit board or wherein the electrically conductive structure is external to the circuit board.

Another example can include any of the above and/or below examples where the electrically conductive structure, the fence, the frame, the gasket, and the thermal module form the Faraday cage around the heat generating component.

Another example can include any of the above and/or below examples where the heat generating component comprises a processor and/or memory.

Another example can include any of the above and/or below examples where the thermal module comprises a vapor chamber, a heat pipe, a heat spreader, or a heat sink.

Another example can include any of the above and/or below examples where the thermal module includes a planar surface and wherein the bias is generally parallel (e.g., +/-<NUM> degrees) to the planar surface.

Another example can include any of the above and/or below examples where the gasket extends between the fence and the thermal module, or wherein the gasket does not extend between the fence and the thermal module.

Another example can include any of the above and/or below examples where the gasket is formed at least in part from a metal.

Another example can include any of the above and/or below examples where the gasket is formed from spring steel.

Another example can include any of the above and/or below examples where the heat generating component comprises multiple heat generating components and wherein the first perimeter defined by the fence comprises multiple first perimeters, and wherein individual heat generating components are positioned in individual first perimeters.

Another example can include any of the above and/or below examples where the frame defines multiple second perimeters and wherein the multiple first perimeters, the multiple second perimeters, and the gasket form multiple Faraday cages around the multiple heat generating components such that the individual heat generating components are shielded from one another.

Another example includes a device comprising a circuit board that includes an upwardly extending fence, a heat generating component positioned within the fence, a thermal module defining a major planar surface positioned over the heat generating component, the thermal module including a downwardly extending frame that overlaps with the fence, and a gasket compressed between the fence and the frame in a direction parallel to the major planar surface.

Another example can include any of the above and/or below examples where the circuit board, the thermal module, the fence, the frame, and the gasket form a Faraday cage around the heat generating component.

Another example can include any of the above and/or below examples where the gasket is sinusoidal in shape between the frame and the fence, or wherein the gasket comprises multiple teeth extending between the frame and the fence.

Another example can include any of the above and/or below examples where the gasket extends between the fence and the thermal module, or wherein the fence contacts the thermal module.

Another example can include any of the above and/or below examples where the gasket includes alignment features to maintain alignment of the gasket with the fence and/or wherein the gasket includes alignment features to maintain alignment of the gasket aligned with the fence and the frame.

Another example can include any of the above and/or below examples where the frame provides structural integrity to the thermal module to maintain planarity of the major planar surface.

Another example includes a device comprising a circuit board that includes an upwardly extending fence, a heat generating component positioned within the fence, a thermal module positioned over the heat generating component, the thermal module including a downwardly extending frame that is offset from the fence, and a gasket extending between the fence and the frame but not over the heat generating component.

Claim 1:
A device (<NUM>), comprising:
a circuit board (<NUM>) extending along a plane (X-Y), the circuit board including a fence (<NUM>) that extends upwardly from the plane and that defines a first perimeter (<NUM>);
a heat generating component (<NUM>, <NUM>) positioned within the first perimeter;
a thermal module (<NUM>) positioned over the heat generating component (<NUM>, <NUM>), the thermal module including a frame (<NUM>) that extends downwardly toward the plane (X-Y) and that defines a second perimeter (<NUM>) that is different from the first perimeter (<NUM>), wherein the first perimeter (<NUM>) and the second perimeter (<NUM>) are offset from each other and the frame (<NUM>) and the fence (<NUM>) overlap in a direction (Z) perpendicular to the plane (X-Y),
characterized in that the device (<NUM>) further comprises:
a gasket (<NUM>) that is not part of either the fence (<NUM>) or the frame (<NUM>), wherein the gasket (<NUM>) is compressed between the fence (<NUM>) and the frame (<NUM>) in a direction parallel to the plane (X-Y) and is configured to exert a bias against the fence (<NUM>) and the frame (<NUM>) in the direction parallel to the plane (X-Y), in order to ensure contact to block radio frequency energy between the fence (<NUM>) and the frame (<NUM>) to thereby complete a Faraday cage (<NUM>; <NUM>(<NUM>-<NUM>)) around the heat generating component (<NUM>, <NUM>).