Desktop electronic device

• US 10,248,171 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2018
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Degner, Brett W., Kalinowski, Caitlin Elizabeth, Kosoglow, Richard D., Banko, Joshua D., Narajowski, David H., Berk, Jonathan L., Leclerc, Michael E., McBroom, Michael D., Iqbal, Asif, Michelsen, Paul S., Sin, Mark K., Baker, Paul A., Sontag, Harold L., Yuen, Wai Ching, Casebolt, Matthew P., Fetterman, Kevin S., Calkins, Alexander C., McBroom, Daniel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Hung S.
• Application Number:
  US15/965,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20180246548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• Field of Search: 361728-730, 361752
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/001 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/185 Mounting of expansion boards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/188 Mounting of power supply units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/4093 Snap-on arrangements, e.g. clips
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0203 Cooling of mounted components H05K1/0272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20009 using a gaseous coolant in electronic enclosures in cabinets of standardized dimensions H05K7/20536; in server cabinets H05K7/20709; in vehicle electronic casings H05K7/20845; in power control electronics H05K7/2089; in displays H05K7/20954
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20145 Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20154 Heat dissipaters coupled to components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20163 the components being isolated from air flow, e.g. hollow heat sinks, wind tunnels or funnels
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20172 : Fan mounting or fan specifications
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20209 : Thermal management, e.g. fan control
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/2039 : characterised by the heat transfer by conduction from the heat generating element to a dissipating body arrangements for increasing/decreasing heat-transfer, e.g. fins details, F28F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/2049 : Pressing means used to urge contact, e.g. springs

Abstract

An internal component and external interface arrangement for a cylindrical compact computing system is described that includes at least a structural heat sink having triangular shape disposed within a cylindrical volume defined by a cylindrical housing. A computing engine having a generally triangular shape is described having internal components that include a graphics processing unit (GPU) board, a central processing unit (CPU) board, an input/output (I/O) interface board, an interconnect board, and a power supply unit (PSU).

Claims

1. A desktop electronic device, comprising:

a tubular shaped enclosure that is defined, in part, by a longitudinal axis, wherein the tubular shaped enclosure defines an internal volume having an overall shape that has a generally rectangular cross section and that is symmetric about the longitudinal axis, wherein the tubular shaped enclosure includes;

a first opening that allows passage of an acoustic output, and

a second opening opposite the first opening; and

components that are accessible by way of the second opening, the components including;

a printed circuit board (PCB) that is positioned within the internal volume such that the PCB is offset from and parallel to the longitudinal axis, the PCB having an active surface on which are mounted electronic circuits such that the electronic circuits are located in proximity to the second opening and facing the first opening, wherein one of the electronic circuits has a major dimension that is larger than a minor dimension and is mounted to the active surface of the PCB such that the major dimension is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and

an air moving component in communication with the PCB and capable of moving air in a controlled manner towards the first opening, wherein the moving air provides the acoustic output.

2. The desktop electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the acoustic output of the air moving component is controlled by at least one of the electronic circuits.

3. The desktop electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein a shape of a first wall at the first opening modulates acoustic characteristics of the air moving through the first opening.

4. The desktop electronic device as recited in claim 3, wherein the modulation of the acoustic characteristics of the air moving through the first opening is discernable outside of the tubular shaped enclosure.

5. The desktop electronic device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a base portion separably coupled to the tubular shaped enclosure.

6. The desktop electronic device as recited in claim 5, wherein the base portion is capable of supporting the tubular shaped enclosure on a horizontal surface in a vertical orientation.

7. The desktop electronic device as recited in claim 5, wherein the base portion is centered at perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

8. The desktop electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first opening is located at a first wall of the tubular shaped enclosure, and wherein the second opening is located at a second wall of the tubular shaped enclosure, the second wall being opposite the first wall.

9. A desktop electronic device, comprising:

a multi-part tubular shaped enclosure having;

a first part that defines an internal volume having a generally rectangular cross section, wherein the first part comprises a first opening at a first wall that allows passage of an audible sound, and a second opening at a second wall opposite the first wall;

a second part that is separably joined to the first part, wherein the second part is centered at and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that the second part is capable of supporting the first part on a horizontal surface in a vertical orientation; and

components comprising;

a printed circuit board (PCB) that is positioned within the internal volume such that the PCB is offset from and parallel to the longitudinal axis, the PCB having an active surface on which are mounted electronic circuits such that the electronic circuits are located in proximity to the second opening and facing the first opening, and

a main logic board mounted to the active surface of the PCB and having a major dimension that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

10. The desktop electronic device as recited in claim 9, wherein the PCB carries a power supply circuit that is accessible via the second opening and is capable of receiving power from an external power supply.

11. The desktop electronic device as recited in claim 9, the components further including:

an air moving component positioned within the internal volume facing towards the first opening and away from the PCB.

12. The desktop electronic device as recited in claim 11, wherein the air moving component is capable of moving air towards the first opening.

13. The desktop electronic device as recited in claim 12, wherein the moving air generates an acoustical output that corresponds to the audible sound.

14. The desktop electronic device as recited in claim 13, wherein a shape of the tubular enclosure at the first opening modulates characteristics of the audible sound.

15. A desktop electronic device, comprising:

a tubular shaped enclosure characterized as having (i) a longitudinal axis, (ii) an overall shape having a generally rectangular cross section that is perpendicular to and symmetric about the longitudinal axis, (ii) a first wall having a first opening suitable for passing audible sound, and (iii) a second wall opposite the first wall, the second wall having a second opening;

a base centered at and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the base is separably coupled to the tubular shaped enclosure at a second end, opposite the first end, and that is capable of supporting the tubular shaped enclosure on a horizontal surface in a vertical orientation; and

components that are accessible by way of the second opening, the components including;

a printed circuit board (PCB) that is positioned within the internal volume such that the PCB is offset from and parallel to the longitudinal axis, the PCB having an active surface on which are mounted electronic circuits such that the electronic circuits are electrically accessible by way of the second opening and that are facing the first opening and that the electronic circuits include a main logic board having a major dimension that is larger than a minor dimension and wherein the main logic board is mounted to the active surface of the PCB such that the major dimension is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and

an air moving component controllable by one or more of the electronic circuits, the air moving component being capable of moving air in a controlled manner as directed by the controlling electronic circuit towards the first opening, wherein the moving air provides an acoustic output that corresponds to the audible sound.

16. The desktop electronic device as recited in claim 15, wherein a shape of the first wall at the first opening modulates acoustic characteristics of the air moving through the first opening.

17. The desktop electronic device as recited in claim 15, wherein the acoustic output of the air moving component is controlled by at least one of the electronic circuits.

18. The desktop electronic device as recited in claim 17, wherein the modulation of the acoustic characteristics of the air moving through the first opening is discernable outside of the tubular shaped enclosure.