PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-7746631-B2
Application Number: US-24101208-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Methods and apparatus for cooling electronic devices using thermally conductive hinge assemblies

Abstract:
An electronic device can be provided with a first housing at least partially containing a first electronic component, a second housing, and a hinge assembly coupled to the first housing and the second housing. The hinge assembly may be configured to dissipate heat generated by the first electronic component away from the first housing. In some embodiments, the hinge assembly may be configured to dissipate heat generated by the first electronic component away from the first housing and on to the second housing. The second housing may include a heat spreader for dissipating the heat from the hinge assembly throughout the second housing.

Claims:
1. An electronic device comprising:
 a first housing that includes a first electronic component; 
 a second housing; 
 a hinge assembly coupled to the first housing and the second housing, wherein the hinge assembly is configured to dissipate heat generated by the first electronic component away from the first housing, wherein the hinge assembly comprises:
 a first hinge block coupled to the first housing; and 
 a first hinge shaft coupled to the second housing and the first hinge block; and 
 
 a heat spreader, wherein a first portion of the heat spreader is wrapped at least partially about the first hinge shaft, and wherein a second portion of the heat spreader extends away from the first portion of the heat spreader and into the second housing. 
 
   
   
     2. The electronic device of  claim 1  further comprising a first heat pipe, wherein the first heat pipe is configured to receive the heat from the first electronic component and to pass the heat to the first hinge block, and wherein the first hinge block is configured to receive the heat from the first heat pipe and to pass at least a portion of the heat to the first hinge shaft. 
   
   
     3. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first hinge shaft includes a first hinge pipe, wherein the first hinge pipe extends from the first hinge block, and wherein the first hinge pipe is coupled to a first portion of the second housing. 
   
   
     4. The electronic device of  claim 3 , wherein the first hinge pipe is configured to rotate with respect to the first hinge block. 
   
   
     5. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge assembly is configured to pass at least a portion of the heat from the first housing to the second housing. 
   
   
     6. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first hinge shaft is configured to rotate with respect to the first hinge block. 
   
   
     7. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first hinge block is configured to receive the heat from the first electronic component and to pass at least a portion of the heat to the first hinge shaft. 
   
   
     8. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first hinge shaft is configured to receive the at least a portion of the heat from the first hinge block and to pass at least some of the at least a portion of the heat to the heat spreader. 
   
   
     9. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing includes a processor, and wherein the second housing includes a display. 
   
   
     10. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the second housing includes a display, and wherein the hinge assembly is configured to pass at least a portion of the heat from the first housing to the second housing for increasing the efficiency of the display. 
   
   
     11. The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the display is a light emitting diode display. 
   
   
     12. The electronic device of  claim 3 , wherein the hinge assembly further comprises:
 a second hinge block coupled to the first housing; and 
 a second hinge shaft coupled to the second housing and the second hinge block. 
 
   
   
     13. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the first hinge pipe extends from the first hinge block to the second hinge block. 
   
   
     14. The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein a first end of the first hinge pipe is coupled to the first hinge block, and wherein a second end of the first hinge pipe is coupled to the second hinge block. 
   
   
     15. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the second housing includes a display, wherein a portion of the second portion of the heat spreader extends along the display between the display and the second housing, and wherein the portion of the second portion of the heat spreader is configured to pass at least a portion of the heat from the first housing to the second housing for increasing the efficiency of the display. 
   
   
     16. An electronic device comprising:
 a first housing that includes a first electronic component; 
 a second housing; and 
 a hinge assembly coupled to the first housing and the second housing, wherein the hinge assembly is configured to dissipate heat generated by the first electronic component away from the first housing, and wherein the hinge assembly comprises:
 a first hinge block coupled to the first housing; and 
 a first hinge shaft coupled to the second housing and the first hinge block, wherein the first hinge shaft includes a first hinge pipe, wherein the first hinge pipe extends from the first hinge block, wherein the first hinge pipe is coupled to a first portion of the second housing, wherein the first hinge shaft also includes a first heat pipe, wherein the first heat pipe extends from the first hinge block, and wherein the first heat pipe is coupled to a second portion of the second housing. 
 
 
   
   
     17. The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the second housing includes a heat spreader coupled to the hinge assembly. 
   
   
     18. The electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein the hinge assembly is configured to pass at least a portion of the heat from the first housing to the heat spreader. 
   
   
     19. The electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein the heat spreader is at least partially made of graphite. 
   
   
     20. The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the second housing contains a heat spreader coupled to the first hinge shaft. 
   
   
     21. The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the second portion of the housing is a heat spreader. 
   
   
     22. The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the heat spreader is at least partially made of graphite. 
   
   
     23. The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the first heat pipe extends through the first hinge pipe. 
   
   
     24. The electronic device of  claim 23 , wherein the first heat pipe is configured to rotate with respect to the first hinge block.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/093,113, filed Aug. 29, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This can relate to systems and methods for cooling an electronic device, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for cooling an electronic device using a thermally conductive hinge assembly. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
   As electronic components of various electronic devices (e.g., laptop computers) evolve into faster and more dynamic machines, their power requirements often consequently increase. With this increase in power consumption, an increase in power dissipation in the form of heat results. For example, in a laptop computer, chipsets and microprocessors, such as central processing units (“CPUs”) and graphics processing units (“GPUs”), are major sources of heat. Heat dissipation is an important consideration in the design of such electronic devices. If this heat is not adequately dissipated, the electronic components may fail and/or cause damage to the electronic device. 
   Accordingly, what is needed are systems and methods for cooling an electronic device. 
   SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
   Systems and methods for cooling an electronic device are provided. 
   According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided an electronic device that may include a first housing and a second housing. The first housing may include a first electronic component. The electronic device may also include a hinge assembly coupled to the first housing and the second housing. The hinge assembly may be configured to dissipate heat generated by the first electronic component away from the first housing. The hinge assembly may also be configured to pass at least a portion of the heat from the first housing to the second housing. 
   According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided an electronic device that may include a first housing, a second housing, and a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly may thermally couple the first housing to the second housing. 
   According to yet another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method for cooling an electronic device. The electronic device may include a first housing and a second housing coupled by a hinge assembly. The method may include transferring heat from the first housing to the hinge assembly. The method may also include dissipating at least a portion of the heat from the hinge assembly into the second housing. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows a simplified schematic diagram of an electronic device, according to some embodiments of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  shows a top, front, right perspective view of the electronic device of  FIG. 1  in an open position, according to some embodiments of the invention; 
       FIG. 3  shows a bottom, back, left perspective view of the electronic device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in a closed position, according to some embodiments of the invention; 
       FIG. 4A  shows a back elevational view of a lower housing component and hinge assembly of the electronic device of  FIGS. 1-3 , taken from line IV-IV of  FIG. 2 , according to some embodiments of the invention; 
       FIG. 4B  shows a back elevational view of a lower housing component and hinge assembly of the electronic device of  FIGS. 1-3 , taken from line IV-IV of  FIG. 2 , according to some other embodiments of the invention; 
       FIG. 4C  shows a back elevational view of a lower housing component and hinge assembly of the electronic device of  FIGS. 1-3 , taken from line IV-IV of  FIG. 2 , according to yet some other embodiments of the invention; 
       FIG. 5  shows a top elevational view of the lower housing component and hinge assembly of the electronic device of  FIGS. 1-4A , taken from line V-V of  FIG. 4A , according to some other embodiments of the invention; 
       FIG. 6A  shows a cross-sectional view of the electronic device of  FIGS. 2-4A  and  5 , including an upper housing component, taken from line VIA-VIA of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 6B  shows a cross-sectional view of the electronic device of  FIGS. 2-4A ,  5 , and  6 A, including an upper housing component, taken from line VIB-VIB of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 6C  shows a cross-sectional view of the electronic device of  FIGS. 2-4A  and  5 - 6 B, including an upper housing component, taken from line VIC-VIC of  FIG. 5 ; and 
       FIG. 6D  shows a cross-sectional view of the electronic device of  FIGS. 2-4A  and  5 - 6 C, including an upper housing component, taken from line VID-VID of  FIG. 5 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
   Systems and methods for cooling an electronic device using a thermally conductive hinge assembly are provided and described with reference to  FIGS. 1-6D . 
     FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic diagram of an electronic device  100  in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. The term “electronic device” can include, but is not limited to, music players, video players, still image players, game players, other media players, music recorders, video recorders, cameras, other media recorders, radios, medical equipment, domestic appliances, transportation vehicle instruments, musical instruments, calculators, cellular telephones, other wireless communication devices, personal digital assistants, remote controls, pagers, computers (e.g., laptops, servers, etc.), monitors, televisions, stereo equipment, set up boxes, set-top boxes, boom boxes, modems, routers, keyboards, mice, speakers, printers, and combinations thereof. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , electronic device  100  may include housing  101 , processor  102 , memory  104 , power supply  106 , communications circuitry  108 - 1 , bus  109 , input component  110 , output component  112 , and cooling component  118 . Bus  109  may include one or more wired or wireless links that provide paths for transmitting data and/or power, to, from, or between various components of electronic device  100  including, for example, processor  102 , memory  104 , power supply  106 , communications circuitry  108 - 1 , input component  110 , output component  112 , and cooling component  118 . 
   Memory  104  may include one or more storage mediums, including, but not limited to, a hard-drive, flash memory, permanent memory such as read-only memory (“ROM”), semi-permanent memory such as random access memory (“RAM”), any other suitable type of storage component, and any combinations thereof. Memory  104  may include cache memory, which may be one or more different types of memory used for temporarily storing data for electronic device applications. 
   Power supply  106  may provide power to the electronic components of electronic device  100 . In some embodiments, power supply  106  can be coupled to a power grid (e.g., when device  100  is not a portable device, such as a desktop computer). In some embodiments, power supply  106  can include one or more batteries for providing power (e.g., when device  100  is a portable device, such as a cellular telephone or a laptop computer). As another example, power supply  106  can be configured to generate power from a natural source (e.g., solar power using solar cells). 
   Communications circuitry  108 - 1  may be provided to allow device  100  to communicate with one or more other electronic devices using any suitable communications protocol. For example, communications circuitry  108  may support Wi-Fi™ (e.g., an 802.11 protocol), Ethernet, Bluetooth™, high frequency systems (e.g., 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.6 GHz communication systems), infrared, transmission control protocol/internet protocol (“TCP/IP”) (e.g., any of the protocols used in each of the TCP/IP layers), hypertext transfer protocol (“HTTP”), BitTorrent™, file transfer protocol (“FTP”), real-time transport protocol (“RTP”), real-time streaming protocol (“RTSP”), secure shell protocol (“SSH”), any other communications protocol, and any combinations thereof. Communications circuitry  108 - 1  can also include circuitry that enables device  100  to be electrically coupled to another device (e.g., a computer or an accessory device) and communicate with that other device. 
   One or more input components  110  may be provided to permit a user to interact or interface with device  100 . For example, input component  110  can take a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, an electronic device pad, dial, click wheel, scroll wheel, touch screen, one or more buttons (e.g., a keyboard), mouse, joy stick, track ball, microphone, camera, video recorder, and any combinations thereof. Each input component  110  may be configured to provide one or more dedicated control functions for making selections or issuing commands associated with operating device  100 . 
   One or more output components  112  can be provided to present information (e.g., textual, graphical, audible, and/or tactile information) to a user of device  100 . Output component  112  can take a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, audio speakers, headphones, signal line-outs, visual displays, antennas, infrared ports, rumblers, vibrators, and any combinations thereof. 
   It should be noted that one or more input components  110  and/or one or more output components  112  may sometimes be referred to individually or collectively herein as an input/output (“I/O”) component or I/O or user interface. It should also be noted that one or more input components  110  and one or more output components  112  may sometimes be combined to provide a single I/O component or user interface, such as a touch screen that may receive input information through a user&#39;s touch of a display screen and that may also provide visual information to a user via that same display screen. 
   One or more cooling components  118  can be provided to help dissipate heat generated by the various electronic components of electronic device  100 . Cooling components  118  may take various forms, including, but not limited to, fans, heat sinks, heat spreaders, heat pipes, vents or openings in housing  101  of electronic device  100 , and any combinations thereof. 
   Processor  102  of device  100  may control the operation of many functions and other circuitry provided by device  100 . For example, processor  102  can receive input signals from input component  110  and/or drive output signals through output component  112 . Processor  102  may load a user interface program (e.g., a program stored in memory  104  or on another device or server) to determine how instructions received via input component  110  may manipulate the way in which information (e.g., information stored in memory  104  or on another device or server) is provided to the user via output component  112 . 
   Housing  101  may at least partially enclose one or more of the various electronic components associated with operating electronic device  100  for protecting them from debris and other degrading forces external to device  100 . In some embodiments, housing  101  may include one or more walls  120  that define a cavity  103  within which one or more of the various electronic components of device  100  can be disposed. In some embodiments, housing  101  can support various electronic components of device  100 , such as I/O component  110  and/or I/O component  112 , at the surfaces or within one or more housing openings  151  through the surfaces of walls  120  of housing  101 . Housing openings  151  may also allow certain fluids (e.g., air) to be drawn into and discharged from cavity  103  of electronic device  100  for helping to manage the internal temperature of device  100 . Housing  101  can be formed from a wide variety of materials including, but not limited to, metals (e.g., steel, copper, titanium, aluminum, and various metal alloys), ceramics, plastics, and any combinations thereof. Housing  101  may also help to define the shape or form of electronic device  100 . That is, the contour of housing  101  may embody the outward physical appearance of electronic device  100 . 
   In some embodiments, rather than being provided as a single enclosure, housing  101  may be provided as two or more housing components, and one or more of the electronic components of electronic device  100  may be provided within its own housing component (e.g., input component  110  may be an independent keyboard or mouse within its own housing component that may wirelessly or through a wire communicate with processor  102 , which may similarly be provided within its own housing component). As shown in  FIG. 1 , processor  102 , memory  104 , power supply  106 , communications circuitry  108 - 1 , input component  110 , and cooling component  118  may be at least partially contained within a first housing component  101   a , while output component  112  may be at least partially contained within a second housing component  101   b.    
   Each one of housing components  101   a  and  101   b  may include one or more walls  120  that define a cavity  103  within which one or more of the various electronic components of device  100  can be disposed. In some embodiments, housing component  101   a  can support various electronic components of device  100 , such as input component  110 , at the surfaces or within one or more housing openings  151   a  through the surfaces of walls  120   a  defining cavity  103   a  of housing component  101   a . Similarly, in some embodiments, housing component  101   b  can support various electronic components of device  100 , such as output component  112 , at the surfaces or within one or more housing openings  151   b  through the surfaces of walls  120   b  defining cavity  103   b  of housing component  101   b.    
   Each one of first housing component  101   a  and second housing component  101   b  may be coupled to a single housing component connector assembly  101   c . Housing component connector assembly  101   c  can be configured in any suitable way to maintain each of housing components  101   a  and  101   b  in one or more various positions with respect to the other housing component. Housing connector assembly  101   c  may take various forms, including, but not limited to, a hinge or clutch assembly that can allow one housing component to pivot about a hinge axis relative to the other housing component, and any combinations thereof. 
   Housing connector assembly  101   c  may also provide a path for bus  109  to extend through connector assembly  101   c  and between first housing component  101   a  and second housing component  101   b  for transmitting data and/or power, to, from, or between various components of the two housing components. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, housing component  101   a  may include first communications circuitry  108 - 1  and second housing component  101   b  may include second communications circuitry  108 - 2 , and each housing component may also include its own bus (not shown). Therefore, in such embodiments, the communications circuitry of each housing component  101   a  and  101   b  can communicate information with each other, and a bus of each housing component  101   a  and  101   b  can transmit that information to, from, or between the various components of that housing component. 
   Each one of housing components  101   a - 101   c  can be formed from a wide variety of materials including, but not limited to, metals (e.g., steel, copper, titanium, aluminum, and various metal alloys), ceramics, plastics, and any combinations thereof. Each one of housing components  101   a - 101   c  of housing  101  may also help to define the shape or form of electronic device  100 . That is, the contour of each one of housing components  101   a - 101   c  of housing  101  may embody the outward physical appearance of at least a portion of electronic device  100 . 
   Electronic components of electronic device  100  may generate heat that can adversely affect the operation of device  100 . For example, in a laptop computer, chipsets and microprocessors, such as central processing units (“CPUs”) and graphics processing units (“GPUs”), are major sources of heat. Heat dissipation is an important consideration in the design of such electronic devices. If this heat is not adequately dissipated, the electronic components may fail and/or cause damage to the electronic device. Therefore, in some embodiments, first housing component  101   a  may be thermally coupled to housing connector assembly  101   c  for conducting, convecting, passing, or otherwise transferring heat generated by one or more electronic components (e.g., processor  102 ) of first housing component  101   a  away from first housing component  101   a  to housing connector assembly  101   c . By removing heat from first housing component  101   a , housing connector assembly  101   c  may cool first housing component  101   a  considerably, thereby potentially increasing the amount of power that the electronic components of first housing component  101   a  may sustain. This may also obviate the need for other thermal cooling techniques or components, such as the need to activate a cooling component  118  configured as a fan, for example. 
   Moreover, in some embodiments, housing connector assembly  101   c  may also be thermally coupled to second housing component  101   b  for conducting, convecting, passing, or otherwise transferring the heat received by housing connector assembly  101   c  from first housing component  101   a  to second housing component  101   b . Second housing component  101   b  may include less heat generating electronic components than first housing component  101   a , and may therefore be more able to dissipate the heat generated by the electronic components of first housing component  101   a . In some embodiments, second housing component  101   b  may even include components that can benefit from additional heat being transferred from housing connector assembly  101   c  to second housing component  101   b . Therefore, by exploiting the heat dissipation characteristics of housing connector assembly  101   c  independently or in conjunction with the heat dissipation characteristics of second housing component  101   b , the heat generating electronic components of first housing component  101   a  may be cooled efficiently and effectively. 
   Electronic device  100  is illustrated in  FIGS. 2-6D  to be a laptop computer, although it is to be understood that electronic device  100  may be any type of electronic device as described herein in accordance with the invention. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , for example, housing  101  of electronic device  100  may be configured to provide two housing components coupled together by a housing connector assembly. Particularly, housing  101  may include first or “lower” housing component  101   a  and second or “upper” housing component  101   b  coupled to one another by housing connector or “hinge” assembly  101   c , also known as clutch assembly  101   c . Housing components  101   a ,  101   b , and  101   c  may be configured such that electronic device  100  may be “opened” for use (see, e.g.,  FIG. 2 ) by rotating upper housing component  101   b  away from lower housing component  101   a  in the direction of arrow O about hinge axis H of hinge assembly  101   c , and such that electronic device  100  may be “closed” (see, e.g.,  FIG. 3 ) by rotating upper housing component  101   b  towards lower housing component  101   a  in the direction of arrow C about hinge axis H. However, it should be noted that housing  101  of device  100  is only exemplary and need not include two substantially hexahedral portions coupled by a hinge. For example, in certain embodiments, the housing of device  100  could generally be formed in any other suitable shape, including, but not limited to, two or more housing components or portions that are substantially spherical, ellipsoidal, conoidal, octahedral, and any combinations thereof, coupled by any other suitable housing connector assembly. 
   Lower housing component  101   a  may include a top wall  121 , various side walls, such as front wall  122 , back wall  123 , right wall  124 , and left wall  125 , and a bottom wall  126  opposite top wall  121 . In some embodiments, one or more openings may be provided through one or more of the walls of lower housing component  101   a  to at least partially expose one or more components of electronic device  100 . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6C , an opening  131  may be provided through top wall  121  of lower housing component  101   a  to at least partially expose an input component  110   a  of electronic device  100 . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  6 B, and  6 D, for example, openings  141   a  and  141   b  may be provided through top wall  121  of lower housing component  101   a  to at least partially expose respective output components  112   a  and  112   b  of electronic device  100 . 
   Likewise, upper housing component  101   b  may include a top wall  161 , various side walls, such as front wall  162 , back wall  163 , right wall  164 , and left wall  165 , and a bottom wall  166  opposite top wall  161 . In some embodiments, one or more openings may be provided through one or more of the walls of upper housing component  101   b  to at least partially expose one or more components of electronic device  100 . For example, as shown in FIGS.  2  and  6 B- 6 D, an opening  181  may be provided through top wall  161  of upper housing component  101   b  to at least partially expose an output component  112   c  of electronic device  100 . 
   Input component  110   a  is illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 6C  to be a keyboard assembly, although it is to be understood that input component  110   a  exposed by opening  131  through top wall  121  of lower housing component  101   a  may be any type of input component or other electronic component as described herein in accordance with the invention. Moreover, although output components  112   a  and  112   b  are illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  6 B, and  6 D to be audio speakers, it is to be understood that each one of output components  112   a  and  112   b  exposed by respective openings  141   a  and  141   b  through top wall  121  of lower housing component  101   a  may be any type of output component or other electronic component as described herein in accordance with the invention. Similarly, although output component  112   c  is illustrated in FIGS.  2  and  6 B- 6 D to be a visual display, it is to be understood that output component  112   c  exposed by opening  181  through top wall  161  of upper housing component  101   b  also may be any type of output component or other electronic component as described herein in accordance with the invention. 
   Hinge assembly  101   c  may include one or more hinge blocks (e.g., hinge blocks  172   a  and  172   b ) coupled to lower housing component  101   a  and one or more shaft portions  174  coupled to upper housing portion  101   b . In some embodiments, upper housing portion  101   b  may include one or more leg portions (e.g., leg portions  182   a  and  182   b ) coupled to one or more shaft portions  174  of hinge assembly  101   c . Each shaft portion  174  may be coupled to and may rotate with respect to one or more hinge blocks (e.g., in the directions of arrows C and  0  about hinge axis H). For example, as shown in  FIGS. 2-4A  and  5 - 6 D, hinge assembly  101   c  may include a first hinge block  172   a  and a second hinge block  172   b  extending from opposite ends of top wall  121  of lower housing component  101   a . One or more shaft portions  174  may extend from and between hinge blocks  172   a  and  172   b  of hinge assembly  101   c  for coupling with one or more portions of upper housing component  101   b . 
   In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 4A , electronic device  100   a  may include a hinge assembly  101   c  having two independent hinge blocks  172   a  and  172   b  extending upwardly away from top wall  121  of lower housing component  101   a , and each hinge block may be coupled to its own respective independent shaft portion  174 . For example, first hinge block  172   a  may be coupled to a first shaft portion  174   a  including a first hinge shaft  176   a  that may extend away from first hinge block  172   a  and towards second hinge block  172   b  along hinge axis H. Similarly, second hinge block  172   b  may be coupled to a second shaft portion  174   b  including a second hinge shaft  176   b  that may extend away from second hinge block  172   b  and towards first hinge block  172   a  along hinge axis H. 
   Each shaft portion  174  may also include a mounting component coupled to its hinge shaft (see, e.g., mounting components  175   a  and  175   b  coupled to respective hinge shafts  176   a  and  176   b  of  FIGS. 4A-5 ). Each mounting component may be coupled to a respective leg portion of upper housing component  101   b  (not shown in  FIG. 4A , but see, e.g., leg portions  182   a  and  182   b  of respective  FIGS. 6B and 6D ), for example, by an adhesive or other connecting elements, such as one or more screws. Alternatively, each leg portion of upper housing component  101   b  may be directly coupled to a respective hinge shaft. Each hinge shaft  176   a / 176   b  and its mounting component  175   a / 175   b  may rotate about hinge axis H with respect to its hinge block  172   a / 172   b  (i.e., in the direction of arrows C and/or  0  of  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). It is to be understood that when a single upper housing component  101   b  is coupled to both mounting component  175   a  of first shaft portion  174   a  and mounting component  175   b  of second shaft portion  174   b , each mounting component  175   a / 175   b  may rotate with respect to its hinge block  172   a / 172   b  about axis H in tandem with the other mounting component  175   a / 175   b.    
   Hinge assembly  101   c  may be configured to dissipate heat generated by or within lower housing component  101   a  away from lower housing component  101   a . For example, lower housing component  101   a  may be thermally coupled to hinge assembly  101   c  for conducting, convecting, passing, or otherwise transferring heat generated by one or more electronic components of lower housing component  101   a  away from lower housing component  101   a  to hinge assembly  101   c . Moreover, in some embodiments, hinge assembly  101   c  may be configured to transfer heat away from lower housing component  101   a  and to dissipate the heat from lower housing component  101   a  into upper housing component  101   b . For example, hinge assembly  101   c  may also be thermally coupled to upper housing component  101   b  for conducting, convecting, passing, or otherwise transferring the heat received from lower housing component  101   a  to upper housing component  101   b.    
   One or more heat generating components of lower housing component  101   a  may be thermally coupled to at least one hinge block of hinge assembly  101   c . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6C , processor  102  of lower housing component  101   a  may be thermally coupled to first hinge block  172   a  of hinge assembly  101   c  by one or more thermal connectors  171 . Each thermal connector  171  may be any component or components capable of transferring heat generated by processor  102  from processor  102  to hinge block  172   a . For example, each thermal connector  171  may be a heat pipe, and any combinations thereof. In some embodiments, each thermal connector  171  may thermally couple hinge block  172   a  to two or more heat generating components, such as processor  102  and power supply  106  of lower housing component  101   a , for example. Additionally or alternatively, a second thermal connector  171 ′ may be provided to thermally couple hinge block  172   a  to a heat generating component (e.g., memory  104 ) that is not thermally coupled to hinge block  172   a  via thermal connector  171 . 
   By removing heat from first housing component  101   a , first hinge block  172   a  of hinge assembly  101   c  may cool lower housing component  101   a , thereby potentially increasing the amount of power that the electronic components (e.g., processor  102 ) of lower housing component  101   a  may sustain, for example. This may also obviate the need for lower housing component  101   a  to use other thermal cooling techniques or components, such as the need to activate cooling component  118  of lower housing component  101   a , for example. First hinge block  172   a  may be made of any suitable material for accepting heat received from one or more thermal connectors  171 , such as aluminum. Depending on the various materials making up hinge block  172   a , various amounts of heat provided by thermal connectors  171  may actually be received by hinge block  172   a.    
   First hinge block  172   a  may also be thermally coupled to one or more components of first shaft portion  174   a  for passing at least some of the heat received by first hinge block  172   a  from each thermal connector  171  on to first shaft portion  174   a . Depending on the various materials making up hinge block  172   a,  various amounts of heat available to first hinge block  172   a  may actually be passed on to first shaft portion  174   a  by hinge block  172   a.    
   For example, first hinge block  172   a  may be thermally coupled to first hinge shaft  176   a  for passing at least some of the heat received by first hinge block  172   a  from each thermal connector  171  on to first hinge shaft  176   a . As shown in  FIG. 6B , for example, first hinge shaft  176   a  may be coupled to foot portion  182   a  of upper housing component  101   b  via mounting component  175   a.  Similarly, as shown in  FIG. 6D , for example, second hinge shaft  176   b  may be coupled to foot portion  182   b  of upper housing component  101   b  via mounting component  175   b.  However, when one or more thermal connectors  171  thermally couple first hinge block  172   a  to one or more heat generating components of lower housing component  101   a  (e.g., processor  102 ), first hinge block  172   a  may transfer any heat received from thermal connectors  171  on to first hinge shaft  176   a . In some embodiments, first hinge shaft  176   a  and mounting component  175   a  may be configured to pass the heat received by first thermal block  172   a  from one or more thermal connectors  171  on to one or more portions of upper housing component  101   b  (e.g., foot portion  182   a ). 
   Upper housing component  101   b  may include less heat generating electronic components than lower housing component  101   a , and may therefore be more able to dissipate the heat generated by the electronic components of lower housing component  101   a . In some embodiments, upper housing component  101   b  may even include components that can benefit from additional heat being transferred from hinge assembly  101   c  to upper housing component  101   b.    
   In addition to or as an alternative to first hinge block  172   a  passing heat on to first hinge shaft  176   a  of first shaft portion  174   a  (e.g., and then on to foot portion  182   a  of upper housing component  101   b  via mounting component  175   a ), first hinge block  172   a  may pass heat received from one or more thermal conductors  171  on to a hinge heat pipe of first shaft portion  174   a . For example, as shown in FIGS.  4 A and  5 - 6 D, shaft portion  174   a  may also include a first hinge heat pipe  178   a  extending from first hinge block  172   a  and towards second hinge block  172   b  along hinge axis H. First hinge block  172   a  may be thermally coupled to hinge heat pipe  178   a  for passing at least some of the heat received by first hinge block  172   a  from each thermal connector  171  on to hinge heat pipe  178   a . First hinge heat pipe  178   a  may receive some or all of the heat passed from first hinge block  172   a  to first shaft portion  174   a  depending, at least partially, on whether first hinge shaft  176   a  is configured to receive any heat from first hinge block  172   a.    
   In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 6B-6D , first hinge heat pipe  178   a  may extend from first hinge block  172   a  through a hollow portion of first hinge shaft  176   a . While first hinge shaft  176   a  may only extend away from first hinge block  172   a  to a distance suitable for providing mounting component  175   a  for aligning with respective foot portion  182   a  of upper housing component  101   b , first hinge heat pipe  178   a  may extend away even farther from first hinge block  172   a  to a distance D (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ). For example, first hinge heat pipe  178   a  may extend away from first hinge block  172   a  along hinge axis H to a distance D that may be at least half way between first hinge block  172   a  and second hinge block  172   b.    
   One or more portions of upper housing component  101   b  may be coupled to first hinge heat pipe  178   a . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 6B-6D , upper housing component  101   b  may include a heat spreader  188   a  provided throughout a portion of housing component  101   b  for coupling to first hinge heat pipe  178   a . In some embodiments, heat spreader  188   a  may wrap at least partially about hinge heat pipe  178   a  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 6C ). In some embodiments, heat spreader  188   a  may be coupled to hinge heat pipe  178   a  in any other suitable way or combination of suitable ways, such as with an adhesive. Hinge heat pipe  178   a  and heat spreader  188   a  may rotate about hinge axis H with respect to hinge block  172   a  (i.e., in the direction of arrows C and/or O of  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). Heat spreader  188   a  may be thermally coupled to hinge heat pipe  178   a  and may be at least partially made of any material suitable for receiving and dissipating heat from hinge heat pipe  178   a , such as graphite (e.g., pyrolytic graphite, orthogonal graphite, etc.). Heat spreader  188   a  may have a thickness T (see, e.g.,  FIG. 6C ), which may be about 0.1 millimeters in some embodiments. 
   Upper housing component  101   b  may include one or more heat spreaders  188   a , and each heat spreader  188   a  may be of any suitable shape and may be positioned in any suitable way with respect to other components of upper housing portion  101   b . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 6B-6D , heat spreader  188   a  may be a sheet of graphite provided within upper housing component  101   b  across substantially the entire area of upper housing component  101   b , such as along the entire area of upper housing component  101   b  between output component  112   c  and bottom wall  166  of upper housing component  101   b . Output component  112   c  may be a display output component including one or more light emitting diodes (“LEDs”). By receiving and dissipating heat, heat spreader  188   a  may increase the temperature internal to upper housing component  101   b . The temperature of display output component  112   c  may therefore increase, which may thereby increase the efficiency of the one or more LEDs of the display (e.g., increase the pixel resolution of the display). 
   Moreover, when positioned proximally to bottom wall  166  of upper housing component  101   b , heat spreader  188   a  may also transfer heat to bottom wall  166 , such that the conductive and convective characteristics of the housing walls may help to dissipate the heat provided by heat spreader  188   a . Therefore, by exploiting the heat dissipation characteristics of hinge block  172   a , shaft portion  174   a  (i.e., hinge shaft  176   a  and/or hinge heat pipe  178   a ), and heat spreader  188   a , which may be provided along substantially the entire area of upper housing component  101   b , the heat generating electronic components of lower housing component  101   a  may be cooled efficiently and effectively. 
   Although hinge assembly  101   c  of  FIGS. 2-4A  and  5 - 6 D has been described to include only one hinge block (i.e., first hinge block  172   a ) that is coupled to one or more heat generating components of lower housing component  101   a , a hinge assembly may include two or more hinge blocks thermally coupled to heat generating electronic components. For example, although not shown, first hinge block  172   a  and second hinge block  172   b  may each be coupled to one or more heat generating electronic components of lower housing component  101   a . First hinge block  172   a  and second hinge block  172   b  may each be coupled to the same heat generating component, or first hinge block  172   a  and second hinge block  172   b  may each be coupled to different heat generating components of lower housing component  101   a.    
   Therefore, in some embodiments, second hinge block  172   b  may be coupled to a shaft portion  174   b - 1  (see, e.g., hinge assembly  101   c - 1  of  FIG. 4B ) that may include a second hinge heat pipe  178   b - 1  extending from second hinge block  172   b  along hinge axis H for transferring heat to a heat spreader or other portion of upper housing component  101   b  (e.g., heat spreader  188   a ). Moreover, in some embodiments, second hinge block  172   b  may be coupled to a shaft portion  174   b - 2  (see, e.g., hinge assembly  101   c - 2  of  FIG. 4C ) that may share a single hinge heat pipe  178 - 2  with shaft portion  174   a - 2  coupled to first hinge block  172   a . Single hinge heat pipe  178 - 2  may extend between first hinge block  172   a  and second hinge block  172   b  along hinge axis H for transferring heat from each of the two hinge blocks  172   a  and  172   b  to a heat spreader or other portion of upper housing component  101   b  (e.g., heat spreader  188   a ). In other embodiments, single hinge heat pipe  178 - 2  of  FIG. 4C  may extend between first hinge block  172   a  and second hinge block  172   b  even when one of the two hinge blocks  172   a / 172   b  is not coupled to a heat generating component of lower housing component  101   a . 
   While there have been described systems and methods for cooling an electronic device using a thermally conductive hinge assembly, it is to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is also to be understood that various directional and orientational terms such as “front” and “back” and “rear,” “left” and “right,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like are used herein only for convenience, and that no fixed or absolute directional or orientational limitations are intended by the use of these words. For example, the devices of this invention can have any desired orientation. If reoriented, different directional or orientational terms may need to be used in their description, but that will not alter their fundamental nature as within the scope and spirit of this invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration rather than of limitation, and the invention is limited only by the claims which follow.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20080929
Publication Date: 20100629
Grant Date: 20100629
Priority Date: 20080829
Inventors: ALI IHAB A.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F1/1616", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/203", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1681", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2200/203", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1681", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1616", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/203", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 41725157