Electronic system having electronic apparatus with built-in heat generating component and cooling apparatus to cool the electronic apparatus

• US 6,687,123 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2001
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kitahara, Chihei
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, GREGORY D
• Application Number:
  US10/020,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20020105783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 165/80.3, 165/121, 165/185, 361/686-687, 361/694-697, 361/715, 454/184, 710/101-103, 710/304
• US Class Current: 361/695
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00

Abstract

A cooling apparatus includes a cooling module having an electrically-driven cooling device. The cooling module is adapted to couple with a portable electronic apparatus having a heat generating component and a first connector to supply power. A second connector is provided to be electrically connected to the cooling device. The second connector is connected to the first connector when it is coupled with the portable electronic apparatus to supply the cooling device with the power received from the first connector.

Claims

1. An expansion apparatus detachably capable of being connected to a portable electronic apparatus having a built-in heat generating component and a first expansion connector for function expansion, said expansion apparatus comprising:

a base having an exhaust port and a rest section on which the portable electronic apparatus is placed;

a least one functional component housed in the base to expand function of the portable electronic apparatus;

a cooling module housed in the base, including a heat sink having a cooling air passage and a heat receiving section exposed to the rest section, and an electric fan to supply cooling air to the cooling air passage, the heat receiving section of the heat sink being thermally connected to the heat generating component when the portable electronic apparatus is placed on the rest section; and

a second expansion connector placed in the rest section of the base, the second expansion connector being electrically connected to the functional component and the electric fan, and the second expansion connector being connected to the first expansion connector when the portable electronic apparatus is placed in the rest section, whereby the second expansion connector receives power from the first expansion connector to supply the power to the electric fan.

2. The expansion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the second expansion connector is connected to the first expansion connector, the electric fan receives a signal from the portable electronic apparatus for controlling the number of rotations.

3. The expansion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat sink is movable between a first position where the heat receiving portion is projected over the rest section and a second position below the first position where the heat receiving portion rests toward the rest section.

4. The expansion apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the heat sink is elastically urged toward the first position via springs.