PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10034411-B2
Application Number: US-201615199460-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Thermal flow assembly including integrated fan

Abstract:
An electronic device includes an outer housing having an upper enclosure and a foot coupled thereto, a heat generating component, and a fan assembly integrated into the foot and situated proximate a bottom surface of the heat generating component. The foot can include inlet and outlet vents. The fan assembly can include an inlet, outlet, impeller with blades, shroud and fin stack. The electronic device can also include a heat pipe, a heat transfer stage, a PCB, and a bottom shield. Airflow through the electronic device can be directed across the fin stack, heat pipe, heat transfer stage, and bottom shield. Airflow can occur over a substantially level path through the electronic device from the inlet to outlet vents.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device, comprising:
 an outer housing arranged to enclose and support a plurality of internal components, the outer housing including an upper enclosure and a foot coupled thereto, wherein the foot includes a plurality of inlet vents and outlet vents formed therein; 
 a heat generating component located within the outer housing on a printed circuit board, the heat generating component including a bottom surface; 
 a fan assembly integrated within the foot of the outer housing; 
 a heat pipe in thermal contact with the fan assembly; 
 a heat transfer stage disposed between the heat pipe and the bottom surface of the heat generating component; and 
 a bottom shield disposed between and separating the fan assembly and the printed circuit board, wherein the bottom shield is configured to direct heat away from the heat generating component. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the fan assembly includes a shroud, and wherein the shroud is coupled to the foot and operates therewith to define the fan assembly inlet. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the shroud directs airflow from one or more of the plurality of inlet vents to an inlet of the fan assembly. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the fan assembly includes a fin stack, an outlet, and an impeller, and wherein the fin stack directs airflow from the impeller to the fan assembly outlet. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein the fin stack is configured to direct heat away from the heat generating component. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein the foot, the impeller, and a shroud of the fan assembly are concentrically arranged with respect to each other. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe is configured to direct heat away from the heat generating component. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the heat transfer stage is characterized by a length and width that corresponds to a length and width of the heat generating component, wherein the heat transfer stage is configured to direct heat away from the heat generating component. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein airflow through the electronic device due to operation of the fan assembly is directed across each of the fin stack, heat pipe, heat transfer stage, and bottom shield. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein airflow through the electronic device due to operation of the fan assembly occurs over a substantially level path from the inlet vents to the outlet vents. 
     
     
       11. A thermal flow assembly configured for use in an electronic device, the thermal flow assembly comprising:
 a fan assembly including an inlet, an outlet, an impeller having a plurality of blades, and a shroud configured to direct airflow into the impeller, wherein the fan assembly is integrated within an outer housing component for the electronic device; 
 a printed circuit board; 
 a heat pipe in thermal contact with the fan assembly; 
 a heat transfer stage disposed between the heat pipe the printed circuit board; and 
 a bottom shield in thermal contact with the fan assembly and configured to separate the fan assembly from the printed circuit board. 
 
     
     
       12. The thermal flow assembly of  claim 11 , wherein a footprint for the fan assembly is the same as a footprint for the outer housing component. 
     
     
       13. The thermal flow assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the fan assembly further includes a fin stack. 
     
     
       14. The thermal flow assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the shroud is configured to direct incoming airflow over the shroud into the impeller and to direct outgoing airflow from the impeller under the shroud. 
     
     
       15. A method of cooling an electronic device, the method comprising:
 drawing ambient air into the electronic device through one or more inlet vents disposed in an outer housing of the electronic device; 
 directing the ambient air over a shroud and into an impeller within the electronic device; 
 rotating the impeller to force the ambient air outward therefrom; 
 passing the ambient air through a fin stack, wherein heat is exchanged from one or more heated electronic device components to the ambient air via the fin stack, wherein the one or more heated electronic device components includes a component disposed on a printed circuit board, wherein the fan assembly is in thermal contact with a heat pipe, wherein a heat transfer stage is positioned between the heat pipe and the component disposed on the printed circuit board, and wherein a bottom shield separates the fan assembly from the printed circuit board; and 
 forcing the heated ambient air out of the electronic device through one or more outlet vents disposed in the outer housing. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the ambient air travels over a substantially level path from the one or more inlet vents to the one or more outlet vents. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the shroud directs incoming airflow over the shroud into the impeller and directs outgoing airflow from the impeller under the shroud. 
     
     
       18. The thermal flow assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the outer housing component includes a foot positioned below the fan assembly, and wherein the foot defines inlet and outlet vents for the electronic device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/233,261, filed on Sep. 25, 2015, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The described embodiments relate generally to electronic devices, and more particularly to thermal management features for electronic devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic devices contain components that produce heat during normal operation. Fans, heat sinks, and other heat diversion components are thus well-known and common features in many electronic devices. As might be expected though, increasingly faster and more powerful chips and integrated circuitry can generate more heat than previous generations of devices. Coupled with the desire to put these components into smaller overall volumes, this can create new challenges. Existing thermal management features and techniques can sometimes fall behind in the face of increasing demands to account for more heat using less volume than before. Even where minimal thermal requirements are met for a given electronic device, the overall performance of the device can be enhanced where its generated heat is well dispersed beyond the minimums that are required. 
     While current thermal management features and techniques for electronic devices have worked well in the past, there is often room for improvement. Accordingly, there is a need for improved heat dissipation features and techniques in electronic devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     Representative embodiments set forth herein disclose various features and techniques for managing heat dissipation in an electronic device. In particular, the disclosed embodiments set forth electronic devices having low profile thermal flow assemblies including integrated fans, as well as the thermal flow assemblies, and also methods for cooling an electronic device. 
     According to various embodiments, an electronic device includes an outer housing having an upper enclosure and a foot coupled thereto, a heat generating component, and a fan assembly integrated into the foot. The fan can be situated proximate a bottom surface of the heat generating component. The foot can include inlet and outlet vents. The fan assembly can include an inlet, outlet, impeller with blades, shroud and fin stack. The electronic device can also include a heat pipe, a heat transfer stage, a PCB, and a bottom shield. Airflow through the electronic device can be directed across the fin stack, heat pipe, heat transfer stage, and bottom shield, and the airflow can occur over a substantially level path from the inlet to outlet vents. 
     This Summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some example embodiments so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above-described features are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described will become apparent from the following Detailed Description, Figures, and Claims. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the embodiments described herein will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the described embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The included drawings are for illustrative purposes and serve only to provide examples of possible structures and arrangements for the disclosed features and techniques for managing heat dissipation in an electronic device. These drawings in no way limit any changes in form and detail that may be made to the embodiments by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. The embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates in top perspective view an exemplary electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates in exploded perspective view an exemplary electronic device having a low profile thermal flow assembly according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates in top perspective view an exemplary low profile thermal flow assembly for the electronic device of  FIG. 2  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates in partially exploded top perspective view the low profile thermal flow assembly of  FIG. 2  having an outer housing foot with integrated fan assembly according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates in side elevation view the exemplary low profile thermal flow assembly of  FIG. 3A  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 5A-5C  illustrate in top plan views various stages of a partially assembled exemplary outer housing foot with integrated fan assembly according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates in side cross-sectional view an exemplary electronic device having a low profile thermal flow assembly according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates in top perspective view an exemplary impeller and fin stack arrangement for an integrated fan assembly according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate in bottom plan views exemplary foot and scroll geometries for an integrated fan assembly according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary method of cooling an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates in block diagram format an exemplary computing device that can be used to implement the various components and techniques described herein according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Representative applications of apparatuses and methods according to the presently described embodiments are provided in this section. These examples are being provided solely to add context and aid in the understanding of the described embodiments. It will thus be apparent to one skilled in the art that the presently described embodiments can be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps have not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presently described embodiments. Other applications are possible, such that the following examples should not be taken as limiting. 
     Electronic devices contain components that produce heat during normal operation. As such, fans, heat sinks, and other heat diversion components are a well-known and common part of the electronics landscape. Increasingly faster and more powerful circuitry can generate increased levels of heat, while space constraints are often shrinking, both of which can create new challenges. Accordingly, there is a need for improved heat dissipation features and techniques in electronic devices. 
     According to various embodiments, an electronic device includes an outer housing having an upper enclosure and a foot, a heat generating component, and a fan assembly integrated into the foot and situated proximate the heat generating component bottom surface. The foot can include inlet and outlet vents, while the fan assembly can include an inlet, outlet, impeller with blades, shroud and fin stack. The electronic device can also include a heat pipe, a heat transfer stage, a PCB, and a bottom shield. Airflow through the electronic device can be directed across the fin stack, heat pipe, heat transfer stage, and bottom shield, and the airflow can occur over a substantially level path from the inlet to outlet vents. 
     The foregoing approaches provide features and techniques for managing heat dissipation in an electronic device, such as by using a low profile thermal flow assembly. A more detailed discussion of these features and techniques is set forth below and described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-10 , which illustrate detailed diagrams of devices and components that can be used to implement these features and techniques. 
     Turning first to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated in top perspective view. Electronic device  100  of  FIG. 1  may be a computer, a set-top box, a wireless access point, a portable electronic device, or any other suitable electronic device or piece of equipment. In various embodiments, electronic device can be a digital media extender (e.g., an Apple TV®), for example. Electronic device  100  may have an outer housing  102 , which may be formed from materials such as plastic, glass, ceramic, metal, carbon fiber, fiberglass, and other fiber composites, other materials, or combinations of these materials, for example. Housing  102  may have one or more parts, such as, for example, mating upper and lower parts formed from plastic or other housing materials. If desired, housing  102  may have more than two parts. 
     In the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , housing  102  of electronic device  100  has a rectangular box shape with planar upper and lower surfaces and four perpendicular (vertical) planar sidewalls, and the corners of housing  102  may be rounded. It will be readily appreciated that the example of  FIG. 1  is merely illustrative, such that other shapes may be used for housing  102  if desired (e.g., shapes with curved sides, shapes with circular footprints, shapes with combinations of curved and straight edges and surfaces, etc.). To accommodate connectors for displays, device peripherals, power cables, and other accessories, housing  102  may have openings (e.g., port openings) such as openings  104 . Electronic device  100  may also contain internal electronic components, such as integrated circuits and other components that may generate heat. Thermal management features may thus be incorporated into the internal structures of electronic device  100 , and even within various components of housing  102 , such as set forth in greater detail below. 
     In  FIG. 2 , an exemplary electronic device having a low profile thermal flow assembly is illustrated in exploded perspective view. Electronic device  200  can include an upper enclosure  210  and a foot  220  coupled thereto to form an overall outer housing. A power supply unit  212  and an internal antenna  214  can reside within an upper region of the overall outer housing, while a multi-level board  230  can reside in the overall outer housing beneath the power supply unit  212 . Multi-level board  230  can include one or more heat generating components (not shown), such as a CPU and various other processing components and circuitry, as well as top and bottom shields or heat spreaders coupled thereto, among other possible items. A heat transfer stage  240  can be disposed beneath the multi-level board  230 , such as directly beneath the CPU or other significant heat generating component on multi-level board  230 . This can result in heat transfer stage  240  being in thermal contact with the CPU and/or other heat generating component(s), as will be readily appreciated. 
     An air cylinder  250  can be disposed beneath heat transfer stage  240 , and can serve to limit or direct airflow within electronic device  200 . In various embodiments, air cylinder  250  can form a shell or enclosure that effectively isolates or at least separates various portions of an overall low profile thermal flow assembly from other components within the overall electronic device  200 . For example, a heat pipe  260  and fin stack  270  can be disposed within a volume defined by air cylinder  250 , while a fan assembly  280  can be disposed beneath these components and integrated within the foot  220 . In various embodiments, the heat transfer stage  240  might be considered part of an overall low profile thermal flow assembly, and the heat pipe  260  and/or fin stack  270  might be considered part of an overall fan assembly. 
     Moving next to  FIG. 3A , an exemplary low profile thermal flow assembly for the electronic device of  FIG. 2  is shown in top perspective view. Again, a low profile thermal flow assembly  300  can include a heat transfer stage  240  disposed outside of an air cylinder  250  that contains various other assembly components disposed therein. In alternative embodiments, heat transfer stage  240  might be disposed within air cylinder  250  or another similar airflow restricting device. In either arrangement, heat transfer stage  240  can be in thermal contact with one or more components inside of the enclosure formed by air cylinder  250 . These items can all be integrated with or otherwise contained within a foot  220 , which again can form a part of an overall external housing for the electronic device  200 . 
       FIG. 3B  illustrates in partially exploded top perspective view the low profile thermal flow assembly of  FIG. 2  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in partially exploded view  390 , heat pipe  260  can be disposed directly beneath and in thermal contact with heat transfer stage  240  (with air cylinder  250  potentially therebetween), such that heat pipe  260  is configured to direct heat away from a CPU or other heat generating component(s) within the multi-level board  230  disposed thereabove. Heat pipe  260  can extend from beneath heat transfer stage  240  into fin stack  270 , where heat can then be exchanged with cooling air forced therethrough by an impeller  281  disposed within a fan assembly  280 . 
     Impeller  281  can have a hub  282  and blades  283 , and can rotate such that incoming cool air is pulled into and forced out of the impeller  281 . A shroud  284  can force or direct airflow from one or more fan assembly inlets  285  over the top of impeller  281  and toward a central region thereof where hub  282  is located. Shroud  284  then ends as shown, such that incoming cool air is pulled into the central region of impeller  281 , where rotation of blades  283  forces the air outward and into fin stack  270 . Air is then heated as it is forced or directed through fin stack  270 , after which the heated air is exhausted through one or more fan assembly outlets  286 . One or more seals  287  can compress during the installation of fin stack  270  to fan assembly  280 , and such seals  287  can limit or further direct airflow in a desirable manner. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates in side elevation view the exemplary low profile thermal flow assembly of  FIG. 3A  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Low profile thermal flow assembly  400  can be identical or similar to assembly  300  above, and thus can include a heat transfer stage  240  disposed outside of an air cylinder  250  that contains various other assembly components disposed therein. Foot  220  can be part of an overall outer housing for electronic device  200 , and can include various thermal flow assembly items or features integrated therein. For example, one or more inlet vents  222  formed within foot  220  can allow ambient air outside of electronic device  200  to enter the device for cooling airflow purposes. Similarly, one or more outlet vents  224  formed within foot  220  can allow heated air to be exhausted from the electronic device  200 . 
     Air coming into, through, and out of low profile thermal flow assembly  400  is generally designated as airflow  405 . Air entering the device through inlet vent(s)  222  can all or mostly be directed to fan assembly inlet(s)  285 , after which the air flows through the fan assembly as noted above and reaches the fan assembly outlet(s)  286 . Air reaching the fan assembly outlet(s)  286  has typically been heated by this point, whereby the heated air is then generally directed toward outlet vents  224  where it is exhausted from electronic device  200 . Airflow  405  through low profile thermal flow assembly  400  can exchange heat with various device components, such that the air is heated and the various device components are cooled, as will be readily appreciated. Airflow  405  can thus serve to cool, for example, a bottom shield  231  of multi-level board  230 , a heat transfer stage  240 , a heat pipe  260 , and a fin stack  270 , among other device components. Such cooling or heat exchanges can take place by way of direct or indirect contact with airflow  405 . 
       FIGS. 5A-5C  illustrate in top plan views various stages of a partially assembled exemplary outer housing foot with integrated fan assembly according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Arrangement  500  in  FIG. 5A  depicts an outer housing foot  220  having a fan scroll geometry integrated therein. Such fan scroll geometry items can include one or more fan assembly inlets  285 , one or more fan assembly outlets  286 , and an internal cavity shaped to house and facilitate the functionality of various other fan assembly items. Such other fan assembly items can include, for example, a rotatable impeller  281  having a hub  282  and blades  283  that can rotate in fan direction  288 . 
     Arrangement  501  in  FIG. 5B  depicts a shroud  284  installed on top of the arrangement  500  of  FIG. 5A . As shown, shroud  284  can serve to restrict airflow, effectively turning various vents and openings into inlets and outlets. Shroud  284  covers part of the top of impeller  281 , such that air is forced over the top of the impeller in some locations but not others. This results in various openings within the assembly becoming fan assembly inlets  285  and other openings becoming fan assembly outlets  286 . Incoming or inlet airflow(s)  506  then enter the assembly through one or more fan assembly inlets  285 , and flows over the top of shroud  284  before entering the impeller near its center or hub  282 . The air is then forced out of the impeller during rotation, as shown by outgoing or exhaust airflow(s)  507  exiting the side of the impeller and proceeding through one or more fan assembly outlets  286 . 
     Arrangement  502  in  FIG. 5C  depicts a heat pipe  260  and a fin stack  270  installed onto the arrangement  502  of  FIG. 5B . As shown, heat pipe  260  can extend from above hub  282  down into the fin stack  270 , such that heat is transferred from above the hub  282  (e.g., from heat transfer stage  240 ) down into the fin stack  270 . Outgoing or exhaust airflow can then be forced through the fin stack  270  before it is exhausted from the fan assembly and device entirely, with such an interaction between the outgoing airflow and the fin stack  270  resulting in a significant exchange of heat that heats the air before it is exhausted. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates in side cross-sectional view an exemplary electronic device having a low profile thermal flow assembly according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Electronic device  600  can be identical or substantially similar to electronic device  200  above, only in fully assembled form. Electronic device  600  can thus have many or all of the same components of electronic device  200 , such as, for example, upper enclosure  210 , foot  220 , power supply unit  212 , multi-level board  230 , heat transfer stage  240 , fin stack  270 , and impeller  281 , among other items. Airflow  605  through the electronic device  600  can begin at inlet vent(s)  222  at an outer surface of foot  220 , where it can proceed to fan assembly inlet(s)  285 . In various embodiments, fan assembly inlet(s)  285  can be formed at interior surface(s) of foot  220 . As noted above, airflow  605  can then proceed through the fan assembly, including impeller  281 , and into fin stack  270 , where the airflow  605  is heated through contact with heated fins. The airflow  605  can then exit the fan assembly at fan assembly outlet(s)  286 , after which it can exit the entire electronic device at outlet vent(s)  224 . Again, fan assembly outlet(s) can be formed at an interior surface of foot  220 , while outlet vent(s)  224  can be formed at an outer surface of foot  220 . 
     In general, much or all of airflow  605  is caused due to rotation of the fan, such as at impeller  281 . This rotational fan operation pulls air into the top of the fan, pushes air out of the other side of the fan, and creates the rest of airflow  605  by extension, due to operation of the fan assembly. When considered with respect to the height and size of overall electronic device  600 , the full path for airflow  605  through the electronic device occurs over a substantially level path from the inlet vents  222  to the outlet vents  224 . That is to say, the airflow  605  only varies slightly up or down in a vertical or “z” direction during its entire passage through the electronic device  600 . More particularly, airflow  605  is mostly or completely limited to the volume created for fan assembly  280 . Accordingly, little to no airflow passes through the upper regions of electronic device  600 , such as at multi-level board  230  or above. In some embodiments, designs can be implemented to allow for a small amount of air to leak into and traverse through these upper regions, whereby the small amount of air can then also be exhausted at outlet vents  224 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates in top perspective view an exemplary impeller and fin stack arrangement for an integrated fan assembly according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Impeller and fin stack arrangement  700  can be set within a foot  220  of an outer device housing, which can include fan assembly inlets  285  and fan assembly outlets  286 , as well as an impeller hub  282  and blades  283 , which can define a specific blade circumference or diameter  289 . A scroll profile  226  can be a contour that is integrally formed with or situated proximate to an internal portion of foot  220 . This scroll profile  226  can define how air will flow and be controlled as it enters and proceeds through the impeller  281 . 
     Airflow  705  proceeding through the impeller is then forced out of the impeller at the other side, where it passes between fins  272  of the fin stack  270 . Distance  274  between the outer edge of impeller  281  and the fin stack  270  can determine various airflow properties, such as speed, direction and acoustic effects. In various embodiments, distance  274  can be adjusted or tuned so as to minimize acoustic effects of airflow  705  passing through the fan assembly. This can be done, for example, by increasing or decreasing the lengths of individual fins  272 . Other items that can be adjusted to minimize or eliminate acoustic effects can include the impeller diameter  289 , as well as the count and angles of impeller blades  283 , and also the dimensions of scroll profile  226 , among other items and features. In various embodiments, airflow  705  can exit impeller blades  283  tangentially, with the arrangement and angles of fins  272  set to account for such flow directions. Appropriate design of the arrangement and angles of fins  272  can then result in minimal changes in directional changes and turbulence as airflow  705  moves from impeller  281  to fin stack  270 . This can also result in minimized acoustic effects, as well as streamlined and more efficient airflow  705  and heat exchanging. 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate in bottom plan views exemplary foot and scroll geometries for an integrated fan assembly according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG. 8A  depicts a scroll geometry  800  similar to that which is set forth above, with an impeller  281  being disposed within a fan assembly integrated within a foot  220 . Foot  220  can have various fan assembly inlets  285  and fan assembly outlets  286  that are integrally formed as part of the foot  220 . As shown, impeller  281  can be concentrically located at the center of foot  220 , such that the impeller is centered within all of the fan assembly inlets  285  and fan assembly outlets  286 . As noted above with respect to  FIG. 7 , such a concentric arrangement may result in a need for a scroll profile  226  at or near the location where airflow enters the impeller  281 , such as to create a throat or otherwise create a desirable pressure build up along the length of scroll profile  226 . Such a feature can be preferable for the operation of an impeller and fan assembly in many instances. 
     Alternatively,  FIG. 8B  depicts a scroll geometry  801  that also includes an impeller  881  being disposed within a fan assembly integrated within a foot  220 , which has various fan assembly inlets  285  and fan assembly outlets  286 . Impeller  881  is located at an off-center position within foot  220 , which can then result in an effective scroll profile at or near the location where airflow enters the impeller  881  without having to form such a scroll profile in the foot  220  or as another separate feature. This then results, however, in a loss of concentric design for the overall fan assembly, which may require design adjustments at other locations. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary method of cooling an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Method  900  can be carried out at least in part by an associated processor or other controller that may be located on the electronic device for which cooling is to be provided, for example. Method  900  starts at process step  902 , where ambient air can be drawn into the electronic device through one or more inlet vents in the housing. This can be done through vents in a housing foot, for example, such as that which is set forth above. At a following process step  904 , the ambient air can be directed over a shroud and into an impeller. Again, this can be involve a shroud, impeller, and/or other related components such as those set forth above. 
     At a process step  906 , the impeller can be rotated to force the ambient air outward therefrom. Such an impeller rotation can be controlled by an associated processor or other controller, such as one that might be located on the subject computing or electronic device. Rotating the impeller can also facilitate the performance of other process steps  902  through  910 , such as through the creation of a continuous airflow and the contributions of component designs and arrangements, as will be readily appreciated. At a subsequent process step  908 , the ambient air can be passed through a fin stack in order to exchange heat with one or more other electronic device components. The heated air can then be forced out of the electronic device through one or more outlet vents in the housing. Again, this can be done through vents in a housing foot, such as that which is set forth in greater detail above. 
     For the foregoing flowchart, it will be readily appreciated that not every step provided is always necessary, and that further steps not set forth herein may also be included. For example, added steps that involve sensing when cooling is needed may be added. Also, steps that provide more detail with respect to the design or assembly of the electronic device in a particular conducive manner may also be added. Furthermore, the exact order of steps may be altered as desired, and some steps may be performed simultaneously. In some embodiments, all of steps  902  through  910  may be performed at the same time for different portions of ambient and then heated air. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates in block diagram format an exemplary computing device  1000  that can be used to implement the various components and techniques described herein according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In particular, the detailed view illustrates various components that can be included in the computing or electronic device  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , among other possible computing or electronic devices. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the computing device  1000  can include a processor  1002  that represents a microprocessor or controller for controlling the overall operation of computing device  1000 . The computing device  1000  can also include a user input device  1008  that allows a user of the computing device to interact with the computing device  1000 . For example, the user input device  1008  can take a variety of forms, such as a button, keypad, dial, touch screen, audio input interface, visual/image capture input interface, input in the form of sensor data, etc. Still further, the computing device  1000  can include a display  1010  (screen display) that can be controlled by the processor  1002  to display information to the user (for example, a movie or other AV or media content). A data bus  1016  can facilitate data transfer between at least a storage device  1040 , the processor  1002 , and a controller  1013 . The controller  1013  can be used to interface with and control different equipment through and equipment control bus  1014 . The computing device  1000  can also include a network/bus interface  1011  that couples to a data link  1012 . In the case of a wireless connection, the network/bus interface  1011  can include a wireless transceiver. 
     The computing device  1000  can also include a storage device  1040 , which can comprise a single disk or a plurality of disks (e.g., hard drives), and can include a storage management module that manages one or more partitions within the storage device  1040 . In some embodiments, storage device  1040  can include flash memory, semiconductor (solid state) memory or the like. The computing device  1000  can also include a Random Access Memory (RAM)  1020  and a Read-Only Memory (ROM)  1022 . The ROM  1022  can store programs, utilities or processes to be executed in a non-volatile manner. The RAM  1020  can provide volatile data storage, and stores instructions related to the operation of computing device  1000 . 
     The various aspects, embodiments, implementations or features of the described embodiments can be used separately or in any combination. The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the described embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20160630
Publication Date: 20180724
Grant Date: 20180724
Priority Date: 20150925
Inventors: PRATHER, ERIC R.
WATERFALL, CLARK E.
WILLIAMS, REUBEN J.
DIEP, VINH H.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01L23/467", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F28F1/12", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F28D15/0233", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K7/20154", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K7/20154", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/427", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F28D15/0233", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F28F2250/08", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F28F1/12", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/467", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/427", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F28F2250/08", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F28F2250/08", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K7/20154", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F28F1/12", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/427", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/467", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F28D15/0233", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 58407722