Patent ID: 12200899

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the present disclosure. Ordinal terms such as “first”, “second”, etc., used in the description and claims do not by themselves connote any priority, precedence, or order of one element over another, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one element from another element having the same name. Therefore, a first element in the description may be referred to as a second element in claims. In addition, in different examples of this disclosure, similar and/or corresponding symbols or alphabets may be used repeatedly. These similar and/or corresponding symbols or alphabets are used for the sake of clear description of some embodiments of the present application, and they do not dictate any relationship between different embodiments and/or structures.

The present disclosure may be understood from the following description in accompany with the drawings. In should be noted that, for simplification, in the drawings, it's possible that only part of the electronic device is illustrated. In addition, the number and the dimensions of the elements merely serve as examples, and they are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It should be noted that, the elements and devices may exist in various forms. In this specification, relative expressions may be used. For example, “above” and “below” may be used to describe the position of one element relative to another. It should be noted that, if a device of the drawings is flipped upside down, an element that is “above” will become an element that is “below”.

In this specification, the words “including”, “comprising”, “having”, and the like are open words, so they should be interpreted as meaning “including but not limited to . . . ”. Therefore, when the words “including”, “comprising”, “having”, and the like are used in the description of this disclosure, the presence of corresponding features, regions, steps, operations and/or components is specified, and without excluding the presence of one or more other features, regions, steps, operations and/or components. In addition, deviation between any two numerical values or directions may exist. For example, if the first direction is described as perpendicular to the second direction, the angle between the first direction and the second direction may be between 80 degrees to 100 degrees. If the first direction is described as parallel with the second direction, the angle between the first direction and the second direction may be between 0 degrees to 10 degrees.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art. It should be appreciated that, the terms, which are defined in a commonly used dictionary, should be interpreted as having a meaning that conforms to the relative skills of the present disclosure and the background or the context of the present disclosure, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal manner unless so defined in the present disclosure.

Please refer toFIG.1andFIG.2.FIG.1is a side view of an electronic device100, in accordance with some embodiments.FIG.2is a perspective view of the electronic device100illustrated inFIG.1. From the top view, the electronic device100is quadrilateral, but it is not limited thereto. For ease of illustration, the direction in which the long side of the electronic device100extends is defined as a first direction D1, and the direction in which the short side of the electronic device100extends is defined as a second direction D2. The first direction D1is different from the second direction D2. For example, in some embodiments, the first direction D1is substantially perpendicular to the second direction D2, but the positional relationship between the first direction D1and the second direction D2is not limited thereto.

The electronic device100includes a casing110and a protective cover120. The casing110and the protective cover120may include a metal material, such as iron, steel, aluminum, copper, and the like, but the material is not limited thereto. The protective cover120is disposed above the casing110. The protective cover120may be connected to the casing110. The protective cover120has at least one opening121. In this embodiment, the protective cover120has two openings121arranged in the second direction D2, but the number and the arrangement of the openings121are not limited thereto. In some embodiments, there may be only one opening121. The opening121may be used as an exit where heat dissipates, so that heat inside the electronic device100exits the electronic device100via the opening121.

Next, please refer toFIG.3andFIG.4to further understand the electronic device100.FIG.3is a perspective view of the electronic device100illustrated inFIG.1, with the protective cover120omitted.FIG.4is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A inFIG.3. It should be noted that, for ease of illustration, the protective cover120is not illustrated inFIG.3, but the position of the protective cover120is illustrated in dotted lines inFIG.4. The electronic device100further includes an electronic module130, a heat exchanger140, at least one first heat transfer element150, at least one second heat transfer element160, at least one circuit assembly170, and at least one electronic element180. In detail, the electronic module130, the heat exchanger140, the first heat transfer element150, the second heat transfer element160, and the circuit assembly170may be disposed inside the internal space between the protective cover120and the casing110, so that these elements are protected by the protective cover120and the casing110. For ease of illustration, some elements may be omitted.

The electronic module130is disposed below the protective cover120. In detail, the electronic module130is disposed between the heat exchanger140and the casing110. Since the electronic module130may be different types of modules or combinations of modules, the electronic module130is schematically illustrated inFIG.4. The electronic module130may include a display module, an antenna module, a sensing module, or a tiled module, but it is not limited thereto. The electronic module130may include a bendable, a curved or flexible electronic module. The display module may not be a self-emissive display module, or the display module may be a self-emitting display module, but it is not limited thereto. The antenna module may be a liquid crystal type antenna module or a non liquid crystal type antenna module, but it is not limited thereto. The sensing module may be a sensing module that is capable of sensing capacitance, light, thermal energy, or ultrasonic sounds, but it is not limited thereto. The tiled module may be a display tiled module or antenna tiled module, but it is not limited thereto. In the following description, a display module is taken as an example of the electronic module130, but it is not limited thereto. Also, the electronic module130may include a display unit and a backlight unit.

The display unit may include two substrates and one or more layers disposed therebetween, such as a display layer, a driving circuit layer, and the like. The substrates may include a flexible substrate or a hard substrate. For example, the material of the substrates may include glass, quartz, polymers, metals, and the like. The polymers may include polycarbonate (PC), polyimide (PI), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), other suitable materials, and combinations thereof, but it is not limited thereto. The display layer may include liquid crystal (LC) and/or light-emitting element such as a light-emitting diode (LED). For example, the type of liquid crystal may include twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystal, supertwisted nematic (STN) liquid crystal, vertical alignment (VA) liquid crystal, in-plane switching (IPS) liquid crystal, cholesteric liquid crystal, fringe field switching (FFS) liquid crystal, another suitable liquid crystal, or a combination thereof, but it is not limited thereto. The driving circuit layer may include a transistor, a data line, a scan line, a dielectric layer, or another line or layer, but it is not limited thereto.

The backlight unit may include one or more light-emitting elements to provide light to the display unit. The light-emitting element may include a light-emitting diode, such as mini LED, micro LED, organic light-emitting diode (OLED), or another suitable light-emitting element, but it is not limited thereto. In some embodiment, the light-emitting element may include a light transformation material. The light transformation material may include quantum dot (QD), fluorescence, phosphor, or another suitable material, but it is not limited thereto. The light-emitting element may have high brightness and high power consumption, but it is not limited thereto.

The heat exchanger140is disposed between the protective cover120and the electronic module130. The heat exchanger140and the opening121of the protective cover120communicate. In some embodiments, the width of the area where the heat exchanger140is disposed is close to or substantially the same as the width of the opening121. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger140may be connected to the upper surface of the electronic module130via thermal conductive paste, thermal conductive tape, or methods such as taping, welding, screw fastening, and the like, but the connection method is not limited thereto.

A sub-space S is defined between the heat exchanger140and the protective cover120. The sub-space S and the opening121of the protective cover120do not communicate. In this embodiment, two sub-spaces S arranged in the first direction D1are between the heat exchanger140and the protective cover120, but the number and the arrangement of the sub-spaces S are not limited thereto. For example, in some other embodiments, the opening121and the heat exchanger140may be disposed at the edge area of the electronic device100, so that one single sub-space S is defined between the heat exchanger140and the protective cover120.

The heat exchanger140may be a plate fin heat exchanger, but it is not limited thereto. As shown inFIG.3andFIG.4, the heat exchanger140includes at least one first flow path141, at least one second flow path142, at least one base143, a plurality of first heat dissipation fins1411, and a plurality of second heat dissipation fins1421. The first heat dissipation fins1411are disposed above the base143, and the second heat dissipation fins1421are disposed below the base143. The first heat dissipation fins1411and the second heat dissipation fins1421are connected to the base143, respectively. The first flow path141is formed between the protective cover120, the base143, and at least two of the first heat dissipation fins1411. In addition, the second flow path142is formed between the base143, the upper surface of the electronic module130, and at least two of the second heat dissipation fins1421. In other words, the first flow path141is disposed above the second flow path142, and the first flow path141is isolated from the second flow path142by the base142, but the arrangement of the first flow path141and the second flow path142is not limited thereto. For example, in some embodiments, the first flow path141may be disposed below the second flow path142. The first flow path141may be isolated from the second flow path142by other methods.

The first flow path141extends in the first direction D1. The first flow path141and the sub-spaces S communicate. For example, the two sub-spaces S communicate via the first flow path141. The second flow path142extends in the second direction D2. The first direction D1may be different from the second direction D2. The second flow path142and the opening121communicate. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the two first heat dissipation fins1411that are closest to the two openings121may be connected to the protective cover120to serve as the barrier between the first flow path141and the outside of the electronic device100, so that the first flow path141is isolated from the outside of the electronic device100, and the first flow path141is provided so that the two sub-spaces S communicate. In addition, the two second heat dissipation fins1421that are closest to the two sub-spaces S (for example, the leftmost and the rightmost of the second heat dissipation fins1421inFIG.4) may serve as the barrier between the second flow path142and the two sub-spaces S, so that the second flow path142is isolated from the two sub-spaces S.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the heat exchanger140is a single plate fin heat exchanger, the first heat dissipation fins1411are disposed on the upper surface of the base143, and the second heat dissipation fins1421are disposed on the lower surface of the base143. However, in some embodiments, the heat exchanger140may include two staggered plate fin heat exchangers, with each of the them having heat dissipation fins on only one surface of the base.

The fluid in the first flow path141and the fluid in the second flow path142may be air, but they are not limited thereto. As described above, the fluid in the first flow path141flows inside the electronic device100and substantially does not flow out of the electronic device100. The fluid in the second flow path142may flows into the electronic device100from the outside or flows out of the electronic device100. In detail, heat exchange may be accomplished by the first flow path141(internal heat exchange) and the second flow path142(external heat exchange). In addition, the fluid in the first flow path141is substantially isolated from the second flow path142, the fluid in the second flow path142is substantially isolated from the first flow path141, so heat exchange efficiency is enhanced. For ease of illustration, in the drawings, the arrows in solid lines represents hotter fluid, and the arrows in dotted lines represents cooler fluid. Therefore, the flow direction of the fluid is clearly illustrated.

In addition, the sub-spaces S of the electronic device100are substantially isolated from the outside of the electronic device100during internal heat exchange due to the arrangement of the first flow path141and the second flow path142, thereby reducing the possibility that moisture and dust can enter the sub-spaces S. Since the entirety of the protective cover120except for the opening121(i.e., the part that encloses the sub-spaces S) may be connected to the casing110or the electronic module130in a relatively firm way, and since the heat exchanger140is configured to isolate the sub-spaces S, the first flow path141and the two sub-spaces S collectively form a space that is isolated from the outside of the electronic device100, further reducing the possibility of moisture and dust entering the sub-spaces S.

The first heat transfer element150is disposed in at least one of the sub-spaces S. In detail, the first heat transfer element150may be disposed between the second heat transfer element160and the electronic module130. In some embodiments, the first heat transfer element150may transfer heat between the heat exchanger140and the electronic module130by at least partially in contact with the heat exchanger140or other methods. For example, in some embodiments, one end of the first heat transfer element150is in contact with the heat exchanger140, and in some embodiments, there is a heat transfer medium between one end of the first heat transfer element150and the heat exchanger140. The first heat transfer element150may be a heat pipe, but it is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the first heat transfer element150may be connected to the upper surface of the electronic module130via thermal conductive paste, thermal conductive tape, or methods such as taping, welding, screw fastening, and the like, but the connection method is not limited thereto.

The second heat transfer element160is disposed in at least one of the sub-spaces S. The second heat transfer element160may be disposed between the circuit assembly170and the first heat transfer element150. In some embodiments, the second heat transfer element160may transfer heat to the heat exchanger140. For example, inFIG.4, heat may be transferred between one end of the second heat transfer element160and the heat exchanger140via the first heat transfer element150. In some embodiments, the second heat transfer element160may be at least partially in contact with the heat exchanger140. In some embodiments, the second heat transfer element160may include metals or other materials with high conductivity. In some embodiments, the second heat transfer element160may be connected to the upper surface of the first heat transfer element150via thermal conductive paste, thermal conductive tape, or methods such as taping, welding, screw fastening, and the like, but the connection method is not limited thereto.

The circuit assembly170is disposed in at least one of the sub-spaces S. In detail, the circuit assembly170may be disposed above the second conductive element160. The circuit assembly170may be a printed circuit board (PCB), a flexible printed circuit (FPC), a rigid-flex board, and the like. There may be electronic element180disposed on the circuit assembly170. The electronic element180may include a passive element and an active element, such as a capacitor, a resistor, an inductance, a diode, a transistor, but it is not limited thereto.

When the electronic device100is in operation, the interior of the electronic device100may generate heat (including but not limited to the electronic module130and/or the electronic element180), and the heat generated by the electronic device100may be dissipated by the heat exchanger140, the first heat transfer element150, the second heat transfer element160, and the circuit assembly170. For example, in some embodiments, the heat generated by the electronic module130may be transferred to the heat exchanger140by the first heat transfer element150and/or the second heat transfer element160, so that heat in the sub-spaces S is absorbed and moved out.

Please still refer toFIG.3andFIG.4. In some embodiments, to enhance heat dissipation efficiency, the electronic device100may further include a collecting element190. The collecting element190is disposed in at least one of the sub-spaces S. In detail, the collecting element190may be disposed between the protective cover120and the circuit assembly170. In some embodiments, the collecting element190may be claw-shaped, but it is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the collecting element190may be formed by insert molding, but it is not limited thereto. For ease of illustration, only one collecting element190is illustrated inFIG.3, but the number of collecting element190is not limited thereto. For example, for each circuit assembly170, there may be one collecting element190disposed thereon.

The collecting element190includes an inlet191and an outlet192. The inlet191and the first flow path141communicate. In some embodiments, the portion of the collecting element190that is close to the inlet191may have a curved shape, so that it may be easier for the fluid to flow. The position of the outlet192corresponds to the position of the electronic element180. For example, one outlet192of the collecting element190may correspond to one or more electronic elements180. The collecting element190may collect the fluid out of the first flow path141to the electronic element180. That is, the collecting element190may directly help the element that generates heat dissipate heat. In this embodiment, the collecting element190only have one inlet191to further collect the fluid from the first flow path141, but the number of inlet191of the collecting element190is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, to enhance heat dissipation efficiency, the electronic device100may further include at least one fan200that makes it easier for the fluid to flow. The fan200may be disposed at the opening121and/or in the heat exchanger140to facilitate the external heat exchange. The fan200may also be disposed corresponding to the inlet191to facilitate internal heat exchange. In some embodiments, the fan200may be omitted, and other methods are used to make it easier for the fluid to flow. Since the electronic device100may be water-proof, dust-proof and/or may dissipate heat effectively, the electronic device100may be operated under high-temperature environments, including but not limited to as outdoor devices, automotive devices, and the like.

It should be noted that, other modifications may be made to the electronic device100. For example, in some embodiments, the heat exchanger140may include multi-layered first flow path141and/or multi-layered second flow path142, and thus the area for heat dissipation is increased. In some embodiments, to facilitate the flow of the fluid and/or to increase the area for heat dissipation, the cross-section of the first flow path141and/or the cross-section of the second flow path142may be triangular, polygonal, circular, etc. In some embodiments, the first flow path141and the protective cover120may be formed integrally as a single piece and/or the second flow path141and the electronic module130may be formed integrally as a single piece, and thus the manufacture process is simplified and/or the cost is reduced. In some embodiments, the protective cover120may include different materials at the same time. For example, the part of the protective cover120that corresponds to the heat exchanger140may include material with high conductivity, while the rest of the protective cover120may include material with high strength.

In the following description, similar symbols are used to denote identical elements.FIG.5toFIG.8illustrate flow paths141A,141B,141C,141D,142A,142B,142C, and142D with different shapes. The flow paths with different shapes may have different effects, for example, the retention time of the fluid may be increased, design flexibility may be enhanced, heat exchange efficiency may be enhanced, and the like. It should be noted that, inFIG.5toFIG.8, the fluid enters into and exits the same side of the flow path, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The exit of the flow path for the fluid to flow out may be adjusted based on actual need, and the fluid may enter into the flow path on one side and leave the flow path on another side. For example, the exit of the flow path for the fluid to flow out may be determined based on the elements that generate heat. Furthermore, different combinations of the flow paths illustrated inFIG.5toFIG.8may be used arbitrarily.

As described above, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic device including a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a flow path for internal heat exchange and a flow path for external heat exchange. The flow path for internal heat exchange and the sub-space inside the electronic device communicate. The flow path for external heat exchange and the outside of the electronic device communicate. The fluid in the flow path for internal heat exchange is substantially isolated from the fluid in the flow path for external heat exchange, so heat exchange efficiency may be enhanced. In addition, during internal heat exchange, there is barely any convection between the sub-space of the electronic device and the outside of the electronic device, thereby reducing the possibility that moisture and dust can enter the sub-space. Furthermore, since the protective cover of the electronic device may be connected to the casing in a relatively firm way, the possibility that moisture and dust can enter the sub-space is reduced further.

Besides, the electronic device of the present disclosure may include some electronic elements with high power consumption, including but not limited to a light-emitting element, a capacitor, a resistor, an inductance, a diode, a transistor, etc. Also, a collecting element may be placed at the place in need, directly helping the element that generates heat dissipate heat. In addition, the electronic device may include a heat transfer element and/or a fan, which facilitates heat dissipation. Therefore, heat dissipation of the electronic device is enhanced. As described above, since the electronic device of the present disclosure is water-proof, dust-proof, and/or may dissipate heat effectively, the electronic device of the present disclosure may be operated under high-temperature environments, including but not limited to as outdoor devices, automotive devices, and the like.

The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments, so that those skilled in the art may better understand the aspects of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use this disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. In addition, the scope of this disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described in the specification, and the combination of various claims and embodiments are within the scope of the disclosure.