Electrical energy-generating heat sink system and method of using same to recharge an energy storage device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electrical energy-generating system comprising:
- a heat transfer device responsive to heat generated by a microprocessor;
a vapor pressurizing device thermally coupled to the heat transfer device; and
an electricity-generating device thermally coupled to the vapor-pressurizing device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical energy-generating heat sink system is described herein that provides a convenient and economical method for continuously recharging an energy storage device in electronic devices.
73 Citations
53 Claims
-
1. An electrical energy-generating system comprising:
-
a heat transfer device responsive to heat generated by a microprocessor;
a vapor pressurizing device thermally coupled to the heat transfer device; and
an electricity-generating device thermally coupled to the vapor-pressurizing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 53)
a chamber contained within the hollow vapor chamber base, the chamber adapted to house the electricity-generating device.
-
-
19. The electrical energy-generating system of claim 18 wherein the electricity generating device is comprised of a compressor and a plurality of turbine generators, further wherein the chamber is substantially triangular.
-
20. The electrical energy-generating system of claim 19 wherein the hollow vapor chamber base houses a plurality of substantially triangular chambers, each sequential chamber oriented in an opposing direction.
-
21. The electrical energy-generating system of claim 20 wherein electricity generated by the electricity generating device is routed to a rechargeable energy storage device.
-
22. The electrical energy-generating system of claim 21 wherein the rechargeable energy storage device is a battery.
-
23. The electrical energy-generating system of claim 1 wherein the vapor-pressurizing device and electricity generating device are micro-electrical mechanical systems (MEMS) devices.
-
53. The method of claim 7 wherein the compressor is selected from the group consisting of turbine compressor, screw compressor, centrifugal compressor and acoustic compressor.
-
24. An electrical energy-generating heat sink system comprising:
-
a vapor chamber heat sink containing a working fluid;
a compressor fluidly coupled to the vapor chamber heat sink; and
a MEMS turbine generator thermally coupled to the compressor and configured to provide electrical energy to a rechargeable battery in an electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
-
-
27. An integrated circuit package comprising:
-
a heat transfer device having an integrated circuit mating surface;
a compressor coupled to the heat transfer device; and
an electricity generating device coupled to the compressor. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. A notebook computer comprising:
-
a rechargeable battery; and
an electrical energy-producing heat sink system coupled to the rechargeable battery. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
-
-
36. A battery charger comprising:
-
means for transferring vapor from a microprocessor to a pressurizing device;
means for converting pressurized vapor from the pressurizing device to mechanical energy;
means for converting mechanical energy to electrical energy; and
means for supplying current to a rechargeable battery having terminals with the electrical energy. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
-
-
41. A battery charger comprising:
-
a vapor-producing device adapted to intake heat from an integrated circuit package and expel vapor to a vapor pressurizing device, the vapor pressurizing device thermally coupled to the vapor producing device;
a mechanical energy-producing device mechanically coupled to the vapor pressurizing device and to an electrical energy-producing device; and
a current supplying device electrically connected to the electrical energy-producing device and to a battery. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
-
-
45. A method for providing electrical energy to a rechargeable energy storage device comprising:
-
vaporizing a working fluid in thermal contact with an integrated circuit package to produce vapor;
pressurizing the vaporized fluid to produce pressurized vapor;
forcing the pressurized vapor through turbine blades to produce mechanical energy; and
converting the mechanical energy to electrical energy. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49)
-
-
50. A method for extending run-time for a battery-operated notebook computer comprising:
-
generating heat with a microprocessor;
transferring the heat through a heat sink to continuously produce electrical energy, the heat sink including a compressor and a turbine generator; and
providing the electrical energy to a battery in the notebook computer to recharge the battery, wherein run-time is extended for the notebook computer. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52)
-
Specification