Personal computer with tandem air flow dual fans and baffle directed air cooling

• US 5,136,465 A
• Filed: 10/29/1990
• Issued: 08/04/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Miller, Michael S., Mansuria, Mohanlal S., Musa, Richard D., Trumbo, Brian A., Benck, Jeffrey W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US07/605,051
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 165/122, 361/383, 361/384, 361/415, 361/380, 361/390-395, 361/399, 174/16.1, 364/708
• US Class Current: 361/679.31
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means

Abstract

This invention relates to personal computers in which provision is made for effective cooling of components capable of generating significant heat during operation, such as certain high performance microprocessors. The personal computer has an enclosure for enclosing operating components, a printed circuit board mounted within the enclosure for supporting and interconnecting operating components of the personal computer, heat generating components mounted on the printed circuit board for performing operating functions for the personal computer, a fan for inducing air to flow into the enclosure, a fan for expelling air from the enclosure, and an air flow directing baffle mounted within the enclosure in the path of air flow from one fan toward the other fan and adjacent the heat generating components for directing the flow of air through the enclosure to pass over and cool the heat generating components.

Claims

1. A personal computer comprising:

an enclosure for enclosing operating components of the personal computer,

a printed circuit board mounted within said enclosure for supporting and interconnecting operating components of the personal computer,

heat generating components mounted on said printed circuit board for performing operating functions for the personal computer,

a fan mounted within said enclosure for inducing air to flow into said enclosure,

a fan mounted within said enclosure for expelling air from said enclosure,

a bracket mounted within said enclosure for mounting said printed circuit board within said enclosure and in predetermined relationship to the one of said fans which is nearest said printed circuit board, and

an air flow directing baffle mounted within said enclosure in the path of air flow between said one fan and the other of said fans and adjacent said heat generating components for directing the flow of air through said enclosure to pass over and cool said heat generating components, said baffle engaging said bracket and said printed circuit board and being held in position by such engagement with said bracket and said printed circuit board.

2. A personal computer according to claim 1 wherein said heat generating components comprise a microprocessor.

3. A personal computer according to claim 1 wherein said heat generating components comprise cache memory.

4. A personal computer comprising:

an enclosure for enclosing operating components of the personal computer,

a printed circuit board mounted within said enclosure for supporting and interconnecting operating components of the personal computer,

heat generating components mounted on said printed circuit board for performing operating functions for the personal computer,

a fan mounted within said enclosure for inducing air to flow into said enclosure,

a fan mounted within said enclosure for expelling air from said enclosure,

a bracket mounted within said enclosure for mounting said printed circuit board within said enclosure and in predetermined relationship to the one of said fans which is nearest said printed circuit board,

said one fan being mounted on said bracket, and

an air flow directing baffle mounted within said enclosure in the path of air flow between said one fan and the other of said fans and adjacent said heat generating components for directing the flow of air through said enclosure to pass over and cool said heat generating components, said baffle engaging said bracket and said printed circuit board and being held in position by such engagement with said bracket and said printed circuit board.

6. A personal computer system having a high speed system processor compatible with application programs and operating system software designed to execute on slower speed system processors, said personal computer system comprising:

an enclosure for enclosing operating components of the personal computer,

a high speed microprocessor mounted within said enclosure and having a real and protected mode of operation coupled to a high speed data bus,

non-volatile memory mounted within said enclosure and electrically coupled to a slower speed data bus,

a bus controller mounted within said enclosure for providing communications between the high speed data bus and the slower speed data bus,

volatile memory mounted within said enclosure and electrically coupled to the high speed data bus,

a memory controller mounted within said enclosure and electrically coupled to said volatile memory and said non-volatile memory, said memory controller regulating communications between said volatile memory and said high speed microprocessor,

a printed circuit board mounted within said enclosure for supporting said microprocessor and interconnecting operating components of the personal computer,

a first fan mounted within said enclosure for inducing air to flow into said enclosure,

a second fan mounted within said enclosure for expelling air from said enclosure,

an air flow directing baffle mounted within said enclosure in the path of air flow from said first fan toward said second fan and adjacent said microprocessor for directing the flow of air through said enclosure to pass over and cool said microprocessor, and

a bracket mounted within said enclosure for mounting said printed circuit board within said enclosure and in predetermined relationship to said first fan and said baffle,

said baffle engaging said bracket and said printed circuit board and being held in position by such engagement with said bracket and said board.

7. A personal computer system having a high speed system processor compatible with application programs and operating system software designed to execute on slower speed system processors, said personal computer system comprising:

an enclosure for enclosing operating components of the personal computer,

a high speed microprocessor mounted within said enclosure and having a real and protected mode of operation and being coupled to a high speed data bus,

non-volatile memory mounted within said enclosure and electrically coupled to a slower speed data bus,

a bus controller mounted within said enclosure for providing communications between the high speed data bus and the slower speed data bus,

volatile memory mounted within said enclosure and electrically coupled to the high speed data bus,

a memory controller mounted within said enclosure and electrically coupled to said volatile memory and said non-volatile memory, said memory controller regulating communications between said volatile memory and said high speed microprocessor,

a printed circuit board mounted within said enclosure for supporting said microprocessor and interconnecting operating components of the personal computer,

a first fan mounted within said enclosure for inducing air to flow into said enclosure,

a second fan mounted within said enclosure for expelling air from said enclosure,

an air flow directing baffle mounted within said enclosure in the path of air flow from said first fan toward said second fan and adjacent said microprocessor for directing the flow of air through said enclosure to pass over and cool said microprocessor, and

a bracket mounted within said enclosure for mounting said printed circuit board within said enclosure and in predetermined relationship to said first fan and said baffle, said first fan being mounted on said bracket,

said baffle engaging said bracket and said printed circuit board and being held in position by such engagement with said bracket and said board.

8. A kit for a personal computer having an enclosure for enclosing operating components of the personal computer, a printed circuit board mounted within the enclosure for supporting and interconnecting operating components of the personal computer, a microprocessor components mounted on the printed circuit board for performing operating functions for the personal computer and which generates heat, a bracket mounted within the enclosure for mounting the printed circuit board, and a fan for moving air through the enclosure, the kit comprising:

a printed circuit board adapted to be substituted for the first mentioned circuit board,

an upgraded microprocessor mounted on said last mentioned printed circuit board and which generates heat and is adapted to be substituted for the first mentioned microprocessor, and

an air flow directing baffle for mounting within the enclosure in conjunction with substitution of said last mentioned printed circuit board and in the path of air flow through the enclosure and adjacent said upgraded microprocessor mounted on said last mentioned printed circuit board for directing the flow of air through said enclosure to pass over and cool said upgraded microprocessor, said baffle when mounted within the enclosure engaging the bracket and said last mentioned printed circuit board and being held in position by such engagement with the bracket and said last mentioned printed circuit board.

9. A personal computer comprising:

an enclosure for enclosing operating components of the personal computer,

a system planar circuit board mounted within said enclosure for supporting and interconnecting operating components of the personal computer,

a removable processor card circuit board mounted within said enclosure for supporting and interconnecting operating components of the personal computer,

heat generating components mounted on said printed circuit boards for performing operating functions for the personal computer, said heat generating components including an upgraded microprocessor mounted on said processor card circuit board,

a fan mounted within said enclosure for inducing air to flow into said enclosure,

a fan mounted within said enclosure for expelling air from said enclosure,

a bracket mounted within said enclosure for mounting said processor card circuit board within said enclosure and in predetermined relationship to the one of said fans which is nearest said processor card circuit board,

an air flow directing baffle mounted within said enclosure in the path of air flow from one of said fans toward the other of said fans and adjacent said upgraded microprocessor for directing the flow of air through said enclosure to pass over and cool said upgraded microprocessor, said baffle engaging said bracket and said processor card circuit board and being held in position by such engagement with the bracket and said processor card circuit board.

10. A personal computer system having a high speed system processor compatible with application programs and operating system software designed to execute on slower speed system processors, said personal computer system comprising:

an enclosure for enclosing operating components of the personal computer,

a system planar circuit board mounted within said enclosure for supporting and interconnecting operating components of the personal computer,

a removable processor card circuit board mounted within said enclosure for supporting and interconnecting operating components of the personal computer,

a high speed microprocessor mounted on said processor card circuit board and having a real and protected mode of operation coupled to a high speed data bus,

non-volatile memory mounted on said system planar circuit board and electrically coupled to a slower speed data bus,

a bus controller mounted on said system planar circuit board for providing communications between the high speed data bus and the slower speed data bus,

volatile memory mounted on said system planar circuit board and electrically coupled to the high speed data bus,

a memory controller mounted on said system planar circuit board and electrically coupled to said volatile memory and said non-volatile memory, said memory controller regulating communications between said volatile memory and said high speed microprocessor,

a fan mounted within said enclosure for inducing air to flow into said enclosure,

a fan mounted within said enclosure for expelling air from said enclosure,

a bracket mounted within said enclosure mounting said processor card circuit board within said enclosure and in predetermined relationship to the one of said fans which is nearest said processor card circuit board, and

an air flow directing baffle mounted within said enclosure in the path of air flow from said first fan toward said second fan and adjacent said microprocessor for directing the flow of air through said enclosure to pass over and cool said microprocessor, said baffle engaging said bracket and said processor card circuit board and being held in position by such engagement with the bracket and said processor card circuit board.

11. A kit for a personal computer having an enclosure for enclosing operating components of the personal computer, a printed circuit board mounted within the enclosure for supporting and interconnecting operating components of the personal computer, a microprocessor mounted on the printed circuit board for performing operating functions for the personal computer and which generates heat, a bracket mounted within the enclosure for mounting the printed circuit board, and a fan for moving air through the enclosure, the kit comprising:

a printed circuit board adapted to be substituted for the first mentioned circuit board,

an upgraded microprocessor mounted on said last mentioned printed circuit board and which generates heat and is adapted to be substituted for the first mentioned microprocessor,

a fan for mounting within the enclosure in conjunction with substitution of said last mentioned printed circuit board and for inducing air to flow through the enclosure to pass over and cool said upgraded microprocessor, and

an air flow directing baffle for mounting within the enclosure in conjunction with substitution of said last mentioned printed circuit board and in the path of air flow through the enclosure and adjacent said upgraded microprocessor mounted on said last mentioned printed circuit board for directing the flow of air through said enclosure to pass over and cool said upgraded microprocessor, said baffle when mounted within the enclosure engaging the bracket and said last mentioned printed circuit board and being held in position by such engagement with the bracket and said last mentioned printed circuit board.

12. A kit for a personal computer having an enclosure for enclosing operating components of the personal computer, a printed circuit board mounted within the enclosure for supporting and interconnecting operating components of the personal computer, operating components mounted on the printed circuit board for performing operating functions for the personal computer and which generate heat, a bracket mounted within the enclosure for mounting the printed circuit board, and a fan for moving a flow of air along a path of air flow through the enclosure, the kit comprising:

a fan mountable within the enclosure for inducing a flow of air along the path of air flow through the enclosure, and

an air flow directing baffle mountable within the enclosure in the path of air flow between said last mentioned fan and the first mentioned fan and adjacent the operating components for directing the flow of air through the enclosure to pass over and cool the operating components, said baffle when mounted within the enclosure engaging the bracket and the printed circuit board and being held in position by such engagement with the bracket and the printed circuit board.

13. A kit for a personal computer having an enclosure for enclosing operating components of the personal computer, a printed circuit board mounted within the enclosure for supporting and interconnecting operating components of the personal computer, operating components mounted on the printed circuit board for performing operating functions for the personal computer and which generate heat, a bracket mounted within the enclosure for mounting the printed circuit board, and a fan for moving a flow of air along a path of air flow through the enclosure, the kit comprising:

a printed circuit board adapted to be substituted for the first mentioned circuit board,

operating components mounted on said last mentioned printed circuit board and which generate heat,

a fan for mounting within the enclosure in conjunction with substitution of said last mentioned printed circuit board and for inducing a flow of air along the path of air flow through the enclosure, and

an air flow directing baffle for mounting within the enclosure in conjunction with substitution of said last mentioned printed circuit board and in the path of air flow between said last mentioned fan and the first mentioned fan and adjacent said operating components mounted on said last mentioned printed circuit board for directing the flow of air through the enclosure to pass over and cool said last mentioned operating components, said baffle when mounted within the enclosure engaging the bracket and said last mentioned printed circuit board and being held in position by such engagement with the bracket and said last mentioned printed circuit board.

14. A kit for a personal computer having an enclosure for enclosing operating components of the personal computer, a printed circuit board mounted within the enclosure for supporting and interconnecting operating components of the personal computer, operating components mounted on the printed circuit board for performing operating functions for the personal computer and which generate heat, a bracket mounted within the enclosure for mounting the printed circuit board, and a fan for moving a flow of air along a path of air flow through the enclosure, the kit comprising:

a printed circuit board adapted to be substituted for the first mentioned circuit board,

operating components mounted on said last mentioned printed circuit board and which generate heat, and

an air flow directing baffle for mounting within the enclosure in conjunction with substitution of said last mentioned printed circuit board and in the path of air flow through the enclosure and adjacent said operating components mounted on said last mentioned printed circuit board for directing the flow of air through said enclosure to pass over and cool said last mentioned operating components, said baffle when mounted within the enclosure engaging the bracket and said last mentioned printed circuit board and being held in position by such engagement with the bracket and said last mentioned printed circuit board.

5. A personal computer according to claim 14 wherein said first fan is mounted on said bracket.