Electronic accessory for game machine

• US 6,312,338 B1
• Filed: 12/20/1999
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Sato, Masaki, Koshiishi, Kazunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim T.
• Application Number:
  US09/466,898
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 463/43, 463/44, 463/45, 463/46, 463/47
• US Class Current: 463/44
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0256 of interchangeable modules or receptacles therefor, e.g. cartridge mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20445 the coupling element being an additional piece, e.g. thermal standoff

Abstract

An electronic accessory for a game machine, adapted to be externally loaded to the game machine into a corresponding connector formed in the game machine body, that includes a housing having slits in a wall thereof for dissipating heat generated by the electronic components of the accessory. To facilitate dissipation of heat within the housing and to the exterior through the slits, a heat radiation frame or assembly is disposed within the housing and includes at least a first heat radiation part disposed between the electronic components and the housing wall. The heat radiation framework of the preferred embodiment is made from a metal material and is generally L-shaped or T-shaped, including a second heat radiation section or part extending generally perpendicular to the first heat radiation part. Heat energy generated by the electronic components of the accessory is transmitted from the electronic components through a thermal sheet to the first heat radiation part from where some heat can be dissipated through the slits in the housing. Additional heat is conducted via the first heat radiation section to the second heat radiation section for dissipation through holes in a protective shield coupled thereto.

Claims

1. An electronic accessory for being loaded into a formed connector defined in a game machine body, the electronic accessory comprising:

a housing;

a board supported in the housing, said board having first and second major surfaces, at least one electronic component being disposed on at least said second surface of said board, and a connector being defined at one longitudinal end of said board for being received in and engaged with corresponding components in the formed connector of the game machine body;

said housing having an aperture defined therein for exposing said connector for connection to the corresponding components of the game machine;

a heat radiation assembly disposed within said housing and including a first heat radiation part disposed in parallel spaced relation to said second surface of said board for conducting heat generated by said electronic components from a vicinity of said electronic components to a region remote from said electronic components, at least a portion of said housing disposed in opposed facing relation to said first heat radiation part having a plurality of apertures defined therein for providing for dissipation of heat to an exterior of said housing, and a second heat radiation part disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane of said first radiation part and disposed in heat transfer relation thereto.

2. An electronic accessory as in claim 1, wherein said first heat radiation part of said heat radiation assembly is formed from a metal material.

3. An electronic accessory as in claim 1, wherein said second heat radiation part defines a substantial L-shape with said first heat radiation part.

4. An electronic accessory as in claim 1, wherein said second radiation part defines a substantial T-shape with said first radiation part.

5. An electronic accessory as in claim 1, wherein said second heat radiation part is integrally formed with said first heat radiation part.

6. An electronic accessory as in claim 1, wherein said housing further comprising a protective shield fixedly secured to said second heat radiation part.

7. An electronic accessory as in claim 6, wherein said protective shield is mechanically secured to said second heat radiation part.

8. An electronic accessory as in claim 7, wherein said protective shield is adhered to said second heat radiation part with a fixing tape.

9. An electronic accessory as in claim 6, wherein said protective shield is formed from a resin material.

10. An electronic accessory as in claim 6, wherein apertures are defined in said protective shield for exposing said second heat radiation part to provide for dissipation of heat.

11. An electronic accessory as in claim 1, further comprising a housing partition plate disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane of said board for substantially closing said housing adjacent said connector, whereby said connector is exposed for connection to the game machine body and a remainder of an interior of said housing is closed by said partition wall.

12. An electronic accessory as in claim 1, further comprising a thermal sheet interposed between said first heat radiation part and said at least one electronic component on said first surface of the board for transmitting heat therebetween.

13. An electronic accessory as in claim 1, wherein said housing is composed of first and second housing parts mechanically secured to one another.

14. An electronic accessory as in claim 1, wherein said first housing part includes a major surface disposed in parallel to said first major surface of said board and said second housing part includes a major surface disposed in parallel to said second major surface of said board.

15. An electronic accessory as in claim 1, further comprising first and second shield components respectively disposed in parallel spaced relation to said first and second major surfaces of said board.

16. An electronic accessory for being loaded into a formed connector defined in a game machine body, the electronic accessory comprising:

a housing composed of first and second housing parts;

a board supported in the housing, said board having first and second major surfaces and a connector defined at one longitudinal end of said board;

said housing having an aperture defined therein for exposing said connector for connection to corresponding components of the game machine;

at least one of said housing parts having a plurality of slits defined therein for providing for dissipation of heat to an exterior of said housing.

17. An electronic accessory as in claim 16, further comprising a protective shield disposed at one end of said housing, and wherein apertures are defined in said protective shield for providing for dissipation of heat to an exterior of said housing.

18. An electronic accessory as in claim 16, further comprising a heat radiation assembly disposed within said housing and including a first heat radiation part disposed in parallel spaced relation to said second surface of said board for conducting heat generated by electronic components disposed thereon from a vicinity of said electronic components to a region remote from said electronic components, at least said housing part having said slits being disposed in opposed facing relation to said first heat radiation part for providing for dissipation of heat from said first heat radiation part to the exterior of said housing.

19. An electronic accessory as in claim 16, further comprising a second heat radiation part disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane of said first radiation part and disposed in heat transfer relation thereto.

20. An electronic assembly as in claim 16, further comprising a plurality of fins, each disposed between adjacent said apertures and projecting from a surface of the at least one housing part.

21. An electronic accessory as in claim 19, further comprising a protective shield fixedly secured to said second heat radiation part.

22. An electronic accessory as in claim 21, wherein said protective shield is formed from a resin material.