Miniaturizing power supply system for portable computers by improving heat dissipation therein

• US 6,081,425 A
• Filed: 01/02/1999
• Issued: 06/27/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Cheng, Bruce C. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US09/223,832
• Time in Patent Office: 542 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/687, 361/601, 361/695, 361/704-707, 361/679, 361/720, 361/736, 361/748, 361/690, 361/814, 361/818, 361/801, 361/816, 361/691-697, 361/709-711 , 361/714-718, 361/727, 361/724, 336/61, 174/35 GC, 174/35 R, 174/17 R, 174/17 VA, 174/16.3, 174/16.1, 220/4.02, 220/4.28, 248/632, 218/105, 218/106, 218/109, 307/150
• US Class Current: 361/704
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/202 Air circulating in closed loop within enclosure wherein heat is removed through heat-exchangers

Abstract

The present invention discloses a power supply for providing power from an external power source to a portable electronic device. The portable power supply system includes electronic circuits including an AC-to-DC converter for converting the power from the external power source for the portable electronic device. The portable power supply system further includes a printed circuit board for supporting the electronic circuits thereon. The portable power supply system further includes an inner enclosure for enclosing and protecting the electronic circuits supported on the printed circuit board wherein the inner enclosure composed of heat conductive materials. The portable power supply system further includes an external container for containing and protecting the portable power supply system wherein the external container further includes a plurality of air vents for allowing heat dissipation therefrom.

Claims

1. A portable power supply system for providing power from an external power source to a portable electronic device comprising:

electronic circuits including an AC-to-DC converter for converting said power from said external power source for said portable electronic device;

a printed circuit board for supporting said electronic circuits thereon;

an inner enclosure for enclosing and protecting said electronic circuits supported on said printed circuit board wherein said inner enclosure composed of heat conductive materials;

an external container for containing and protecting said portable power supply system wherein said external container further includes a plurality of opened air vents; and

an air space between said external container and said inner enclosure for insulating said inner enclosure from said external container and for heat convection through said air space and said plurality of opened air vents.

2. The portable power supply system of claim 1 wherein:

said inner heat conductive enclosure comprising a metal enclosure enclosing and protecting said electronic circuits supported on said printed circuit board and for conducting heat from said printed circuit board to said air space for heat convention through said air space and said plurality of opened air vents.

3. The portable power supply system of claim 2 wherein:

said metal enclosure comprising a copper inner case for enclosing and protecting said electronic circuits supported on said printed circuit board while providing heat conductivity therefrom to said air space for heat convention through said air space and said plurality of opened air vents.

4. The portable power supply system of claim 2 wherein:

said metal enclosure comprising an aluminum inner case for enclosing and protecting said electronic circuits supported on said printed circuit board while providing heat conductivity therefrom to said air space for heat convention through said air space and said plurality of opened air vents.

5. The portable power supply system of claim 2 wherein:

said metal enclosure comprising a heat-conductive metallic-alloy inner case for enclosing and protecting said electronic circuits supported on said printed circuit board while providing heat conductivity therefrom to said air space for heat convention through said air space and said plurality of opened air vents.

8. The portable power supply system of claim 1 wherein:

said plurality of opened air vents disposed on said external container comprising opened air vents of elongated through-holes opened in said external container of size ranging from 0.3 to 2.5 centimeters in length and 0.5 to 1.4 centimeters in width.

9. The portable power supply system of claim 1 wherein:

said external container for containing and protecting said portable power supply system further includes a miniaturized cooling fan for increasing heat dissipation through an air flow in said air space flowing out from said plurality of opened air vents disposed thereon.

6. The portable power supply system of claim wherein:

said inner heat conductive enclosure comprising a heat conductive coating overlaying said printed circuit board for enclosing and protecting said electronic circuits supported on said printed circuit board and for conducting heat from said printed circuit board to said air space for heat convention through said air space and said plurality of opened air vents.

7. The portable power supply system of claim 6 wherein:

said heat conductive coating comprising a thin film coating for enclosing and protecting said electronic circuits supported on said printed circuit board while providing heat conductivity therefrom to said air space for heat convention through said air space and said plurality of opened air vents.

10. A portable power supply system for providing power from an external power source to a portable electronic device comprising:

electronic circuits including an AC-to-DC converter for converting said power from said external power source for said portable electronic device;

a printed circuit board for supporting said electronic circuits thereon;

a metallic inner case for enclosing and protecting said electronic circuits supported on said printed circuit board wherein said metallic inner enclosure composed of heat conductive metallic materials;

an external container for containing and protecting said portable power supply system wherein said external container further includes a plurality of opened air vents;

an air space between said external container and said inner enclosure for insulating said inner enclosure from said external container and for heat convection through said air space and said plurality of opened air vents; and

said external container further includes a miniaturized cooling fan for increasing heat dissipation through an air flow in said air space flowing out from said plurality of opened air vents disposed thereon.

11. A portable power supply system for providing power from an external power source to a portable electronic device comprising:

electronic circuits including an AC-to-DC converter for converting said power from said external power source for said portable electronic device;

a printed circuit board for supporting said electronic circuits thereon;

a heat conductive coating overlaying said printed circuit board for enclosing and protecting said electronic circuits supported on said printed circuit board wherein said heat conductive coating composed of electrical insulation materials;

an external container for containing and protecting said portable power supply system wherein said external container further includes a plurality of opened air vents;

an air space between said external container and said inner enclosure for insulating said inner enclosure from said external container and for heat convection through said air space and said plurality of air vents; and

said external container further includes a miniaturized cooling fan for increasing heat dissipation through an air flow in said air space flowing out from said plurality of opened air vents disposed thereon.

12. A portable power supply system for including AC-to-DC conversion electronic circuits contained in an external container comprising:

an inner enclosure for enclosing and protecting said electronic circuits wherein said inner enclosure composed of heat conductive materials;

a printed circuit board for supporting said electronic circuits thereon; and

an external container for containing and protecting said portable power supply system wherein said external container further includes a plurality of opened air vents; and

an air space between said external container and said inner enclosure for insulating said inner enclosure from said external container and for heat convection through said air space and said plurality of opened air vents.

13. The portable power supply system of claim 12 wherein:

said inner heat conductive enclosure includes a metal enclosure enclosing and protecting said electronic circuits supported on said printed circuit board and for conducting heat from said printed circuit board to said air space for heat convention through said air space and said plurality of opened air vents.

14. The portable power supply system of claim 13 wherein:

said metal enclosure comprising a copper inner case for enclosing and protecting said electronic circuits supported on said printed circuit board while providing heat conductivity therefrom to said air space for heat convention through said air space and said plurality of opened air vents.

15. The portable power supply system of claim 13 wherein:

said metal enclosure comprising an aluminum inner case for enclosing and protecting said electronic circuits supported on said printed circuit board while providing heat conductivity therefrom to said air space for heat convention through said air space and said plurality of opened air vents.

16. The portable power supply system of claim 13 wherein:

said metal enclosure comprising a heat-conductive metallic-alloy inner case for enclosing and protecting said electronic circuits supported on said printed circuit board while providing heat conductivity therefrom to said air space for heat convention through said air space and said plurality of opened air vents.

17. The portable power supply system of claim 12 wherein:

said inner heat conductive enclosure comprising a heat conductive coating overlaying said printed circuit board for enclosing and protecting said electronic circuits supported on said printed circuit board and for conducting heat from said printed circuit board to said air space for heat convention through said air space and said plurality of opened air vents.

18. The portable power supply system of claim 17 wherein:

said heat conductive coating comprising a thin film coating for enclosing and protecting said electronic circuits supported on said printed circuit board while providing heat conductivity therefrom to said air space for heat convention through said air space and said plurality of opened air vents.

19. The portable power supply system of claim 12 wherein:

said plurality of opened air vents disposed on said external container comprising air vents of elongated through-holes opened in said external container of size ranging from 0.3 to 2.5 centimeters in length and 0.5 to 1.4 centimeters in width.

20. The portable power supply system of claim 12 wherein:

said external container for containing and protecting said portable power supply system further includes a miniaturized cooling fan for increasing heat dissipation through an air flow in said air space flowing out from said plurality of opened air vents disposed thereon.