Heat dissipating lid hinge structure with laterally offset heat pipe end portions
First Claim
1. Electronic apparatus comprising:
- a housing having first and second portions;
a heat generating component carried in said first housing portion;
a first heat pipe carried within said first housing portion and having a first end thermally coupled to said heat generating component, and a second end;
a second heat pipe carried within said second housing portion and having a first end thermally coupled to said second housing portion, and a second end; and
a hinge structure interconnecting said first and second housing portions for pivotal movement relative to one another, said hinge structure including;
a heat conductive first hinge section anchored to one of said first and second housing portions and connected to the second end of one of said first and second heat pipes in a heat exchange relationship therewith, anda heat conductive second hinge section defined by the second end of the other of said first and second heat pipes and journaled within said first hinge section, in a heat exchange relationship therewith, and thereby forming an integral portion of said hinge structure.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A notebook computer display housing is pivotally connected to its associated CPU housing by a heat dissipating hinge structure having telescoped, relatively rotatable first and second sections respectively anchored to the CPU and display housings. The heat absorbing evaporation end of a first thermosyphoning heat pipe is conductively connected to a heat generating electronic component within the CPU housing, with the heat rejecting condensing end of the heat pipe defining the first hinge structure section. During computer operation, heat from the electronic component is sequentially transferred through the heat pipe and the second hinge structure section, in which the first hinge section is journaled, to the display housing for dissipation therefrom to ambient. Heat transfer from the second hinge structure section to the display housing is representatively facilitated by a second thermosyphoning heat pipe having an evaporator end received in an opening in the second hinge structure section, and laterally offset from the condensing end of the first heat pipe, and a condensing end thermally communicated with the display housing.
86 Citations
21 Claims
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1. Electronic apparatus comprising:
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a housing having first and second portions; a heat generating component carried in said first housing portion; a first heat pipe carried within said first housing portion and having a first end thermally coupled to said heat generating component, and a second end; a second heat pipe carried within said second housing portion and having a first end thermally coupled to said second housing portion, and a second end; and a hinge structure interconnecting said first and second housing portions for pivotal movement relative to one another, said hinge structure including; a heat conductive first hinge section anchored to one of said first and second housing portions and connected to the second end of one of said first and second heat pipes in a heat exchange relationship therewith, and a heat conductive second hinge section defined by the second end of the other of said first and second heat pipes and journaled within said first hinge section, in a heat exchange relationship therewith, and thereby forming an integral portion of said hinge structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A heat dissipating hinge structure comprising:
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a first heat pipe having an end portion extending along an axis and defining a first hinge structure section; a second hinge structure section formed of a heat conductive material, said second hinge structure section rotatably receiving said first hinge structure section and being in a heat conductive relationship therewith; and a second heat pipe having an end portion secured to said second hinge structure section at a location laterally offset from said axis, in a heat conductive relationship therewith, for rotation with said second hinge structure section relative to said first hinge structure section about said axis. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A portable computer comprising:
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a CPU housing; a heat generating component in said CPU housing; a display housing; a hinge section secured to said display housing in a heat transfer relationship therewith; a first heat pipe operative to transfer heat from said component to said hinge section and thus to said display housing for dissipation therefrom, said first heat pipe having an evaporating end portion thermally communicated with said component to receive operating heat therefrom, and a condensing end portion journaled in said hinge section to permit said display housing to pivot about said condensing end portion relative to said CPU housing; and a second heat pipe having an evaporating end portion in heat transfer communication with said hinge section, and a condensing end portion in heat transfer communication with said display housing, said hinge section having a first generally cylindrical passage therein which receives said condensing end portion of said first heat pipe, and a second generally cylindrical passage therein which receives said evaporating end of said second heat pipe. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification