U.S. patent application number 12/151348 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-04 for portable computer power system.
Invention is credited to Ronald E. DeLuga, Paul Doczy, Earl Moore.
Application Number | 20080212278 12/151348 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35482162 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080212278 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DeLuga; Ronald E. ; et
al. |
September 4, 2008 |
Portable computer power system
Abstract
A portable computer power system comprises a battery an external
battery housing providing an airflow path therethrough into an
airflow vent of a portable computer.
Inventors: |
DeLuga; Ronald E.; (Spring,
TX) ; Moore; Earl; (Cypress, TX) ; Doczy;
Paul; (Cypress, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HEWLETT PACKARD COMPANY
P O BOX 272400, 3404 E. HARMONY ROAD, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ADMINISTRATION
FORT COLLINS
CO
80527-2400
US
|
Family ID: |
35482162 |
Appl. No.: |
12/151348 |
Filed: |
May 6, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11002688 |
Dec 2, 2004 |
7388745 |
|
|
12151348 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
361/690 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1632 20130101;
G06F 1/203 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/690 |
International
Class: |
H05K 7/20 20060101
H05K007/20 |
Claims
1-21. (canceled)
22. A portable computer battery system, comprising: a portable
computer having a bottom surface positionable facing a support
surface, the bottom surface having an airflow vent located thereon;
and a battery couplable to the bottom surface wherein at least a
portion of the battery is located between the bottom surface and
the support surface when the battery is coupled to the portable
computer, and wherein the battery comprises an airflow vent
configured to enable an airflow through a housing of the battery to
the airflow vent located on the bottom surface of the portable
computer.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein the portable computer comprises
a notebook computer.
24. The system of claim 22, wherein the airflow vent of the battery
is positioned on the housing to be aligned at least partially with
the airflow vent on the bottom surface of the portable computer
when the battery is coupled to the portable computer.
25. The system of claim 22, wherein the housing is configured
having an airflow path extending from an airflow vent located on a
side surface of the housing to the airflow vent of the battery
facing the airflow vent on the bottom surface of the portable
computer.
26. A portable computer battery system, comprising: a portable
computer having an intake airflow vent located on a bottom surface
thereof and an exhaust airflow vent located on a side surface
thereof; and a battery couplable to the bottom surface, the battery
having an airflow vent aligned with the intake airflow vent when
the battery is coupled to the portable computer, the battery having
another airflow vent located on a side thereof corresponding to the
side of the portable computer having the exhaust airflow vent.
27. The system of claim 26, wherein the portable computer comprises
a notebook computer.
28. The system of claim 26, wherein the side surface of the
portable computer having the exhaust airflow vent comprises a
lateral side surface of the portable computer.
29. A portable computer battery system, comprising: a portable
computer having an airflow vent located on a side surface thereof;
and a battery couplable to a bottom surface of the portable
computer, the battery having an airflow vent in airflow
communication with the airflow vent of the portable computer when
the battery is coupled to the portable computer, the airflow vent
of the battery located on a side of the battery corresponding to
the side surface of the portable computer having the airflow
vent.
30. The system of claim 29, wherein the portable computer comprises
a notebook computer.
31. The system of claim 29, wherein the battery, when coupled to
the portable computer, is located at least partially between the
bottom surface of the portable computer and a support surface.
32. The system of claim 29, wherein the airflow vent located on the
side surface of the portable computer comprises an exhaust airflow
vent.
33. The system of claim 29, wherein the airflow vent located on the
side of the battery comprises an intake airflow vent.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] As the performance capabilities of portable computing
devices increases, the power requirements of the portable computing
device also generally increases. As a result, dissipation of the
thermal energy generated by electronic components of the portable
computing device is generally necessary to maintain proper and
continued operation of the computing device. For example, portable
computing devices generally include vents to enable thermal energy
dissipation associated with processors and other types of
electronic components. However, because the surface area on
portable computing devices is limited, placement and/or attachment
of batteries and/or other types of devices relative to the portable
computing device may impede or otherwise interfere with cooling of
the portable computing device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] For a more complete understanding of the present invention
and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following
descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0003] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a portable
computer power system in accordance with the present invention;
[0004] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an isometric view of a side
and bottom portion of portable computer in which an embodiment of a
portable computer power system has been employed to advantage;
and
[0005] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a battery
of a portable computer power system in accordance with the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The preferred embodiments of the present invention and the
advantages thereof are best understood by referring to FIGS. 1-3 of
the drawings, like numerals being used for like and corresponding
parts of the various drawings.
[0007] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a portable
computer power system 10 in accordance with the present invention.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, system 10 comprises an
external battery 12 coupled to a portable computer 14. In the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, portable computer 14 comprises a
laptop or notebook computer 16. However, it should be understood
that portable computer 14 may comprise other types of portable
computing devices.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an isometric view of a side
and bottom portion of portable computer 14 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment illustrated
in FIG. 2, portable computer 14 comprises airflow vents 20 and 22
for providing an airflow path through a base member 26 of portable
computer 14, indicated generally by 28, to enable dissipation of
thermal energy generated by portable computer 14 within base member
26 via active and/or passive methods (e.g., via convection and/or a
fan-generated airflow). For example, in the embodiment illustrated
in FIG. 2, airflow vent 20 is disposed on a bottom surface 30 of
portable computer 14 (e.g., a surface of portable computer 14
generally disposed against or toward a support surface such as a
desk or table) and airflow vent 22 is disposed on a side or lateral
surface 32 of base member 26. However, it should be understood that
airflow vent 22 may be located elsewhere on base member 26 (e.g.,
on a back or rear surface of base member 26). As used herein, a
"lateral" location or side relative to portable computer 14 refers
to a location or side indicated generally by 36 and/or 38 in FIG.
1. Referring to FIG. 2, airflow vents 20 and 22 each comprise a
plurality of spaced-apart elongated openings or apertures 40 and
42, respectively. However, it should be understood that airflow
vents 20 and/or 22 may be otherwise configured. Additionally, in
the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, airflow vent 20 comprises an
intake vent and airflow vent 22 comprises an exhaust vent such that
the airflow path through base member 26 enters base member 26
through airflow vent 20 and is exhausted from base member 26
through airflow vent 22, as illustrated by 28. However, it should
be understood that the direction of airflow through base member 26
may be otherwise configured.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a portion of battery 12 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, battery 12 comprises a battery
housing 44 having an airflow vent 50 disposed therein for forming
an airflow path through at least a portion of battery housing 44 as
generally illustrated by 52. For example, in the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 3, airflow vent 50 comprises a plurality of
spaced-apart elongated openings or apertures 54 to enable an
airflow to pass through at least a portion of battery housing 44.
However, it should be understood that airflow vent 50 may be
otherwise configured.
[0010] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, in operation, battery 12 is
configured to enable an airflow through portable computer 14 via
airflow vents 20 and 22 when battery 12 is attached to portable
computer 14. For example, in operation, airflow vent 50 is
configured and/or located on battery housing 44 to coincide or
correspond at least partially to a location and/or configuration of
airflow vent 20 disposed on portable computer 14 such that, upon
installation or attachment of battery 12 to portable computer 14,
airflow vent 50 is at least partially aligned with airflow vent 20
to enable an airflow path through base member 26 via airflow vent
20 (e.g., by way of airflow vent 50) which may otherwise be covered
or otherwise impeded by the attachment of battery 12 to portable
computer 14. For example, as best illustrated in FIG. 3, at least a
portion 60 of airflow vent 50 is disposed on a top surface 62 of
battery housing 44 adapted to be disposed at least partially
facing, adjacent or against surface 30 of portable computer 14 when
battery 12 is attached or otherwise secured to portable computer 14
(e.g., coupled at least partially to surface 30 of portable
computer 14). Additionally, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG.
3, at least a portion 64 of airflow vent 50 is disposed on or
otherwise extends to a side or lateral surface 66 of battery
housing 44 when battery 12 is attached or otherwise secured to
portable computer 14.
[0011] Thus, referring to FIGS. 1-3, in operation, when battery 12
is attached or otherwise coupled to portable computer 14, airflow
vent 50 of battery 12 is configured to be at least partially
aligned with airflow vent 20 of portable computer 14 to enable an
airflow path through portable computer 14 via battery housing 44.
For example, in operation, when battery 12 is attached or otherwise
coupled to portable computer 14, portion 60 of apertures 54 of
airflow vent 50 are at least partially disposed in alignment with
apertures 40 of airflow vent 20. Additionally, because airflow vent
50 extends at least partially onto side or lateral surface 66 of
battery housing 44, airflow vent 50 provides an airflow path from a
side or lateral area relative to portable computer 14 to airflow
vent 20. In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in
FIG. 3, airflow vent 50 is configured having apertures 54 extending
from surface 62 to surface 66 of battery housing 44. However, it
should be understood that airflow vent 50 may be otherwise
configured. For example, in other embodiments of the present
invention, airflow vent 50 may be configured using two or more
discrete or separated vents (e.g., an airflow vent disposed on
surface 62 separate and apart from an airflow vent disposed on
surface 66 such that portions 60 and 64 are not formed or otherwise
connected by continuous apertures 54). Additionally, in the
embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 3, airflow
vent 50 is illustrated as extending to a side or lateral area of
portable computer 14 when battery 12 is attached or otherwise
coupled to portable computer 14. However, it should be understood
that airflow vent 50 may be configured to extend to different
locations or areas relative to portable computer 14 (e.g., a back
or rearward surface of battery housing 44). Additionally, in the
embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 3, an
airflow path direction as indicated by 52 in FIG. 3 corresponds to
the airflow path direction indicated by 28 in FIG. 2. However, it
should be understood that the airflow path direction through
battery 12 may be otherwise configured to correspond to the airflow
path direction through portable computer 14.
[0012] Thus, embodiments of the present invention enable thermal
energy dissipation from base member 26 of portable computer 14
while battery 12 is attached or otherwise coupled to portable
computer 14 by forming an airflow path through battery housing 44
corresponding to airflow vents disposed on portable computer
14.
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