Speaker grill-air vent combinations for a portable computer

• US 20050185376A1
• Filed: 02/24/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sawyer, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,230,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.90
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/923 Tilting

Abstract

A system comprising a portable computer chassis having an internal speaker; openings in the chassis from which sound from the speaker can emanate, wherein the openings allow heat generated by the system to escape is provided. In one embodiment, the internal speaker is located at least a minimum distance away from the openings. By utilizing speaker grills as ventilation openings in this manner, ventilation openings on the bottom side of notebook computers can be eliminated and user comfort can be increased when the system is placed on the lap. Additionally, system reliability is improved as ventilation is also increased.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a portable computer chassis having an internal speaker; and

openings in the chassis from which sound from the speaker can emanate, wherein the openings allow heat generated by the system to escape.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the internal speaker is located at least a minimum distance away from the openings.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the minimum distance is within the range of 5 to 20 mm.

4. The system of claim 1 comprising two internal speakers and openings proximate to each speaker.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the openings are located on a front side surface of the portable computer.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the openings are located on a top surface of the portable computer.

7. The system of claim 2 further comprising separate air intake vents located on the chassis.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the air intake vents are located on one or more side surfaces of the chassis.

9. The system of claim 7 further comprising one or more ventilation fans located between the air intake vents and heat cooling components located inside the chassis.

10. The system of claim 4 further comprising one or more external speakers connectable to the chassis.

27. The method of claim 2 wherein said openings are located on at least one side surface of the portable computer.

11. A portable computer system comprising:

a portable computer chassis having an internal speaker;

a heat generating device disposed within the chassis;

a first opening in the chassis spaced apart from the internal speaker, wherein the opening facilitates emanation of sound outside the computer chassis, and wherein the first opening further facilitates flow of air between the internal speaker and the first opening; and

a second opening in the chassis positioned to facilitate airflow between the second opening along a path past heat generated by the heat generating device within the chassis and the first opening to remove heat from within the computer chassis.

12. The portable computer system of claim 11 wherein the first opening is positioned on the chassis to minimize interference with airflow during common use of the portable computer system.

13. The portable computer system of claim 11 wherein the first opening comprises a grill.

14. The portable computer system of claim 11 and further comprising a third opening and a further speaker positioned proximate the third opening to promote airflow between the third opening and further speaker.

15. An electronic device comprising:

a notebook computer having a chassis and a lid, the chassis containing at least one surface-mounted speaker grill located at least a minimum distance away from an internal speaker.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 wherein the internal speaker is located in said chassis such that sound from the internal speaker can emanate from the surface-mounted speaker grill and heated air from heat generating components in the portable computer can flow out of the surface-mounted speaker grill.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 wherein the surface-mounted speaker grill is on a front side surface of the notebook computer.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 further comprising a further surface-mounted speaker grills on the front side surface, and a further internal speaker located at least said minimum distance away from said further surface-mounted speaker grill.

19. A method of ventilating a portable computer comprising:

providing a speaker grill on a surface of a portable computer within an airflow exhaust path; and

venting heated air in the airflow exhaust path out through the speaker grill.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the speaker grill is not located on a bottom surface of the portable computer.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the speaker grill is on a front side surface of the portable computer.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the speaker grill is on a side surface or top surface of the portable computer.

23. The method of claim 19 further comprising connecting an internal speaker to the portable computer at least a minimum distance away from the speaker grill.

24. The method of claim 19 comprising two speaker grills, each with a speaker located at least the minimum distance away.

25. The method of claim 19 further comprising an airflow intake path wherein cool air is drawn in through one or more separate air intake vents and directed to heat cooling components and wherein said airflow intake path leads to said airflow exhaust path.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising providing a ventilation fan in the airflow intake path.