Computer component protection

• US 20060120035A1
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: DiFonzo, John, Merz, Nick, Prichard, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,301,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.340
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/02 in which the medium condenses and evaporates, e.g. heat pipes heat pipes used in solar heat collectors F24S10/95; in radiators F28D1/0226; in nuclear reactors G21C15/257
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0275 Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/02 Elements or assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with recesses, with corrugations F28F3/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/503 Arrangements improving the resistance to shock
• 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1658 related to the mounting of internal components, e.g. disc drive or any other functional module
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• 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 1/184 Mounting of motherboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/187 Mounting of fixed and removable disk drives
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/08 Insulation or absorption of undesired vibrations or sounds
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/1426 by cooling plates, e.g. fins
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/367 Cooling facilitated by shape of device H01L23/38, H01L23/40, H01L23/42, H01L23/44, H01L23/46 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/427 Cooling by change of state, e.g. use of heat pipes by liquefied gas H01L23/445
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 : Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 : Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20336 : Heat pipes, e.g. wicks or capillary pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4935 : Heat exchanger or boiler making

Abstract

A computing device is disclosed. The computing device includes a shock mount assembly that is configured to provide impact absorption to sensitive components such as a display and an optical disk drive. The computing device also includes an enclosureless optical disk drive that is housed by an enclosure and other structures of the computing device. The computing device further includes a heat transfer system that removes heat from a heat producing element of the computing device. The heat transfer system is configured to thermally couple the heat producing element to a structural member of the computing device so as to sink heat through the structural member, which generally has a large surface area for dissipating the heat.

Claims

1. A computing device, comprising:

an LCD display;

an LCD housing configured to cover at least a portion of the LCD display;

a shock mount assembly configured to reduce impacts to the LCD display, and to position the LCD display relative to the LCD housing, the shock mount assembly including a plurality of shock mounts, which are attached to the LCD display, and which rest in a portion of the LCD housing.

2. The computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the LCD housing includes a plurality of mounting holes, and wherein each of the plurality of shock mounts includes a resilient member having a first segment and a second segment, the first segment being larger than the second segment, the first segment being disposed between the LCD display and the LCD housing and the second segment being disposed inside one of the mounting holes.

3. The computing device as recited in claim 2 wherein the first segment fills a gap formed between the LCD display and LCD housing, and wherein the second segment fills the mounting hole of the LCD housing.

4. The computing device as recited in claim 3 wherein a distal end of the first segment abuts to a side of the LCD display, a proximal end of the first segment abuts to a side of the LCD housing, and an outer periphery of the second segment abuts to an inner periphery of the mounting hole of the LCD housing.

5. The computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein a first set of shock mounts are attached to a first side of the LCD display, and wherein a second set of shock mounts are attached to a second side of the LCD display, the second side being opposite the first side.

6. The computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the shock mount assembly holds the LCD display in the X, Y and Z directions.

7. The computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the LCD display includes an LCD panel and an LCD frame, the LCD frame being attached to the LCD panel and defining the side of the LCD display, and wherein the LCD housing includes a wall that is positioned substantially next to the side of the LCD display so as to form a gap therebetween.

8. The computing device as recited in claim 7 wherein the LCD housing wall includes a plurality of mounting holes, and wherein each of the plurality of shock mounts includes a resilient member having a first segment and a second segment, the first segment being larger than the second segment, the first segment being disposed between the LCD display and the LCD housing and the second segment being disposed inside one of the mounting holes.

9. The computing device as recited in claim 8 wherein a distal end of the first segment abuts to a side of the LCD frame, a proximal end of the first segment abuts to a side of the wall of the LCD housing, and an outer periphery of the second segment abuts to an inner periphery of the mounting hole of the wall of the LCD housing.

10. The computing device as recited in claim 9 wherein the shock mounts include a fastener for attaching the resilient member to the LCD frame.

11. The computing device as recited in claim 10 wherein the fastener is a screw.

13. The portable computer as recited in claim 1 wherein the structural member includes a plurality of mounting holes, and wherein each of the plurality of shock mounts includes a resilient member having a first segment and a second segment, the first segment being larger than the second segment, the first segment being disposed between the structural component of the optical disk drive and the structural member and the second segment being disposed inside one of the mounting holes.

14. The portable computer as recited in claim 13 wherein the first segment fills a gap formed between the structural component of the optical disk drive and the structural member, and wherein the second segment fills the mounting hole of the structural member.

15. The portable computer as recited in claim 14 wherein a distal end of the first segment abuts to a side of the structural component of the optical disk drive, a proximal end of the first segment abuts to a side of the structural member, and an outer periphery of the second segment abuts to an inner periphery of the mounting hole of the structural member.

12. A portable computer, comprising:

a structural member configured to support the portable computer;

an optical disk drive including drive components and structural components configured to support the drive components;

a shock mount assembly configured to reduce impacts to the optical disk drive, and to position the optical disk drive relative to the structural member, the shock mount assembly including a plurality of shock mounts, which are attached to the structural components of the optical disk drive, and which rest in a portion of the structural member.

16. The portable computer as recited in claim 12 wherein a first set of shock mounts are attached to a first side of the structural component of the optical disk drive, and wherein a second set of shock mounts are attached to a second side of the structural component of the optical disk drive, the second side being opposite the first side.

17. The portable computer as recited in claim 12 wherein the shock mount assembly holds the optical disk drive in the X, Y and Z directions.

18. The portable computer as recited in claim 12 wherein the structural member is a portion of a computer enclosure that houses the internal components of the portable computer and a portion of a computer chassis used to support the computer enclosure, and wherein the structural component of the optical disk drive includes a plurality of tabs that are positioned substantially next to a side of the computer enclosure and/or the computer chassis so as to form a gap therebetween.

19. The portable computer as recited in claim 18 wherein the computer enclosure and/or computer chassis includes a plurality of mounting holes, and wherein each of the plurality of shock mounts includes a resilient member having a first segment and a second segment, the first segment being larger than the second segment, the first segment being disposed between the tab of the structural component and the side of the computer enclosure or computer chassis and the second segment being disposed inside one of the mounting holes of the computer enclosure or computer chassis.

20. The portable computer as recited in claim 19 wherein a distal end of the first segment abuts to a side of the tab, a proximal end of the first segment abuts to a side of the computer enclosure or computer chassis, and an outer periphery of the second segment abuts to an inner periphery of the mounting hole of the computer enclosure or computer chassis.

21. The portable computer as recited in claim 20 wherein the shock mounts include a fastener for attaching the resilient member to the tab.

22. The portable computer as recited in claim 21 wherein the fastener is a screw.

23. The portable computer as recited in claim 12 wherein the optical disk drive is a CD/DVD drive.

24. The portable computer as recited in claim 23 wherein the CD/DVD drive is a slot loaded CD/DVD drive.