U.S. patent application number 13/384916 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-10 for automatic shutter in a multiple exhaust port device.
Invention is credited to Mark Senatori.
Application Number | 20120111544 13/384916 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44307081 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120111544 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Senatori; Mark |
May 10, 2012 |
AUTOMATIC SHUTTER IN A MULTIPLE EXHAUST PORT DEVICE
Abstract
A fan circulates air inside a device. A first exhaust port vents
the circulated air out of the computing device. A second exhaust
port also vents circulated air out of the computing device. A
shutter automatically blocks one of the exhaust ports based on the
physical orientation of the computing device.
Inventors: |
Senatori; Mark; (The
Woodlands, TX) |
Family ID: |
44307081 |
Appl. No.: |
13/384916 |
Filed: |
January 25, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
January 25, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US09/68663 |
371 Date: |
January 19, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/121 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/203 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/121 |
International
Class: |
F28F 13/00 20060101
F28F013/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for venting air from a computing device, the
apparatus comprising: a fan to circulate air inside the computing
device; a first exhaust port to vent the circulated air out of the
computing device; a second exhaust port to vent the circulated air
out of the computing device; and a shutter to automatically block
one of the exhaust ports based on a physical orientation of the
computing device.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fan is rotatable around an
axis and the shutter is independently rotatable around the
axis.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the shutter is rotatable in a
first direction around the axis by a gravitational force.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: a spring mechanism
having a spring force to rotate the shutter in a second direction
around the axis, wherein the spring force is less than the
gravitational force.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an accelerometer
to detect a change in orientation of the computing device; and a
switch to move the shutter to block one of the exhaust ports in
response to a notification from the accelerometer of the change in
orientation of the computing device.
6. A method, comprising: automatically closing one of multiple heat
exhaust outlets on a computing device based at least on an
orientation of the computing device; and ventilating heat out of
the computing device through an open heat exhaust outlet.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the automatic closing further
comprises: detecting, by a sensor, a first change in orientation of
the computing device; and driving a switch to close one of the
multiple heat exhaust outlets in response to detecting the change
in orientation.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: driving the switch to
open a closed heat exhaust outlet in response to detecting a second
change in orientation of the computing device.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Heated generated within a computing device is typically
extracted via a heat exchanger and then vented out of a device
exhaust port via a fan. A cool computing device typically runs more
reliably and lasts longer than one that runs hot. Overheating of
the internal components in a computing device can lead to data loss
or even damage to the computing device itself.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0002] The following description includes discussion of figures
having illustrations given by way of example of implementations of
embodiments of the invention.
[0003] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a computing device
according to various embodiments.
[0004] FIG. 2 is a sectional diagram illustrating an apparatus
according to various embodiments.
[0005] FIG. 3 is a sectional diagram illustrating an apparatus
according to various embodiments.
[0006] FIG. 4 is a sectional diagram illustrating an apparatus
device according to various embodiments.
[0007] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of operation in a system according
to various embodiments.
[0008] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of operation in a system according
to various embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] When a user holds a portable computing device (e.g., a
tablet or slate style notebook), the user can position the device
in many different physical orientations (e.g., landscape mode,
portrait mode, etc.). Frequently, one side of the computing device
rests against or is facing the user's body. Depending on the
orientation of the device, the thermal exhaust port on the device
may become blocked or it may direct exhaust directly towards the
user. As mentioned above, overheating of the internal components in
a computing device can lead to data loss or even damage to
computing device itself.
[0010] In various embodiments described herein, a portable
computing device is endowed with multiple thermal exhaust ports. A
shutter included in the fan housing of the computing device
automatically rotates to block one of the thermal exhaust ports
based on the physical orientation of the device. The shutter is
designed to automatically block an exhaust port that is orientated
downward (i.e., towards the ground). Indeed, an exhaust port on the
downward-facing side of a computing device is prone to becoming
blocked inasmuch as this side frequently rests against something
(e.g., a user, furniture, etc.).
[0011] Coinciding with the blocking of one thermal exhaust port,
the shutter opens a different thermal exhaust port (e.g., one that
faces away from the user or object in contact with the computing
device). Thus, for example, when the orientation of the computing
device is changed (e.g., from portrait mode to landscape mode), the
shutter automatically blocks the exhaust port facing the user while
opening the exhaust port facing away from the user.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a computing device
according to various embodiments. Device 100 can be any type of
computing device that is susceptible to changes in orientation and
has components to vent heat out of the device. In various
embodiments, device 100 could be a tablet or slate-style computer,
a notebook computer, a handheld device, or other portable computing
device. While it is readily understood that portable computing
devices are susceptible to changes in orientation, other computing
devices (e.g., desktops, workstations, etc.) could also be
subjected to changes in orientation. For example, a desktop box
might be configurable to sit upright or lay on its side. Thus, in
certain embodiments, device 100 could be a desktop computer, a
workstation or the like.
[0013] From the perspective of a user facing (e.g., while holding)
the display screen 102 of device 100, FIG. 1 shows exhaust port 110
facing downward (i.e., towards the ground) while exhaust port 120
is facing sideways (i.e., to the right from the perspective of the
user facing device 100). Thus, any heat vented out of exhaust port
120 would be directed substantially away from the user facing
device 100. When device 100, as shown in a portrait orientation, is
rotated to a landscape orientation (e.g., rotated 90 degrees
clockwise), exhaust port 120 would then be facing downward (i.e.,
towards the ground) while exhaust port 110 is facing sideways
(i.e., to the left from the perspective of the user facing device
100).
[0014] As described in more detail below, a shutter mechanism
inside device 100 moves to block either exhaust port 110 or exhaust
port 120 based on the orientation of device 100.
[0015] In the various embodiments described herein, the exhaust
ports and/or outlets may be configured differently than shown in
FIGS. 1-4. For example, exhaust ports and/or outlets may have more
slits, fewer slits, or other suitable openings that allow air to be
exhausted and/or vented out of a computing device.
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of computing device
according to various embodiments. In particular, FIG. 2 shows a
computing device 200 similar to device 100 of FIG. 1, but with the
front cover (including the display screen) of the device removed.
Device 200 also includes multiple exhaust ports (210, 220).
Alternate embodiments may have a different number of exhaust
ports.
[0017] In various embodiments, device 200 may include a heat
exchanger 240 to transfer heat to the fan housing area of device
200. Fan 230 circulates air inside device 200. In many cases,
including those where heat exchanger 240 is used, the air
circulated by fan 230 may be heated air. Exhaust ports 210 and 220
vent the circulated air out of device 200. Thus, the combination of
heat exchanger 240, fan 230 and exhaust ports 210 and 220 vent air
(e.g., heated air) out of device 200.
[0018] In various embodiments, a gravity shutter 250 rotates around
fan 210 using the same axis as fan 210. In alternate embodiments,
gravity shutter 250 could rotate around a different axis than fan
210. As the name implies, gravity shutter 250 moves (e.g., rotates)
based on gravity. Gravitational force pulls gravity shutter 250
downward in view of changing device orientation. For example, if
exhaust port 210 is oriented downward (i.e., towards the ground),
then gravity shutter 250 automatically rotates to block exhaust
port 210. Concurrently, the blocking of exhaust port 210 causes
exhaust port 220 to become unblocked. Thus, heat may be vented out
of device 200 through exhaust port 220 when exhaust port is
oriented downward and is blocked by shutter 250. Similarly, if a
user is holding device 200 with exhaust port 220 oriented downward
(e.g., towards the ground and/or against the user's lap), then
gravity causes shutter 250 to move such that it blocks exhaust port
220, which concurrently opens exhaust port 210, again allowing heat
to be vented in a direction away from the user.
[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view of another computer
device according to various embodiments. In particular, the
components of device 300 are similar to those of device 200 (FIG.
2) but with the addition of a spring mechanism 360. In various
embodiments, gravity shutter may move in both directions based on
gravity while spring mechanism 360 (e.g., whose force is smaller
than the force of gravity on the shutter) pushes the shutter 350 in
a particular direction when the gravity force is not being applied
(e.g., when device 300 is laid on a flat surface such as a desk or
table). In other embodiments, shutter 350 may move in a single
direction based on the force of gravity while moving in the other
direction based on the force of spring mechanism 360. While spring
mechanism 360 is shown as a coil spring, other suitable types of
springs and/or spring-like mechanism could be used in different
embodiments.
[0020] FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view of a computing device
according to various embodiments. While the venting components are
similar to those of FIGS. 2-3, device 400 includes an accelerometer
460 and a switch 470. Accelerometer 460 detects magnitude and
direction of acceleration of device 400 to sense (at least)
orientation of device 400. Accelerometer sends signals to switch
470 based on the orientation of device 400 to cause switch 470 to
move shutter 450. Thus, based on the orientation of device 400,
shutter 450 moves to block either exhaust port 410 or exhaust port
420.
[0021] In various embodiments, the shutter (e.g., shutter 450) may
move in some manner other than by rotating around an axis. For
example, a separate shutter could be placed between the fan and
each exhaust port where the shutter is a hinged panel that flips up
and down based on switch control, gravity, etc. Any other suitable
shutter mechanism (or combination of shutter mechanisms) could be
used to block exhaust ports based the orientation of the computing
device.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of operation in a system according
to various embodiments. Based on an orientation of a computing
device, the device automatically closes 510 one of multiple heat
exhaust outlets. For example, a computing device might have two
heat exhaust outlets. Thus, depending on the orientation of the
device, one of the two outlets is automatically closed. In various
embodiments, at least one outlet remains open. The exhaust outlet
may be automatically closed based on a gravitational or other force
(e.g., spring force, etc.) applied to a shutter or other
outlet-blocking mechanism. The device ventilates 520 heat through
an open exhaust outlet. Heat may be ventilated, for example, via a
fan or other suitable mechanism for moving air out of the
device.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of operation in a system according
to various embodiments. A computing device detects 610 a change in
device orientation. In certain embodiments, orientation is detected
by an accelerometer (e.g., single-axis, multi-axis, etc.) or
similar mechanism. Based on the detected change in device
orientation, the computing device drives 620 a switch to close at
least one exhaust outlet. In various embodiments, the computing
device detects 630 another (i.e., second) change in device
orientation that causes the device to drive 640 a switch to open
the exhaust outlet that was previously closed by the switch. In
certain embodiments, the closing of one exhaust outlet
simultaneously opens a different exhaust outlet and vice-versa.
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