Water-resistant electronic enclosure having a heat sink

• US 6,778,388 B1
• Filed: 07/23/2001
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Minelli, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, GREGORY D
• Application Number:
  US09/911,009
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 331/51, 174/50.5, 174/50.51, 174/50.54, 174/52.3, 174/66, 174/67, 165/80.3, 165/185, 361/600, 361/679, 361/688, 361/690, 361/697, 361/703-704, 361/707, 361/710, 361/715, 361/717, 361/722, 361/728, 361/730, 361/752, 361/814, 257/718-719, 257/726-727
• US Class Current: 361/690
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/061 sealed by a gasket held between a removable cover and a body, e.g. O-ring, packing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20418 the radiating structures being additional and fastened onto the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20445 the coupling element being an additional piece, e.g. thermal standoff

Abstract

A device and method for enclosing electronics in a waterproof environment and transferring the heat generated by the electronics to an external environment is provided. The device includes a housing and a heat sink. The housing includes top and bottom pieces that are sealed to one another forming an interior portion. The interior portion houses electronic components. A face plate is coupled to the front of the housing and includes an opening that is sealed with a hinged door. A fastening mechanism securely fastens the heat sink to the housing so that a substantial portion of the heat sink is in contact with the back side of housing. Heat sink includes a base and a plurality of fins that are adapted to transfer heat generated by the electronic components within the interior of the housing to an external environment.

Claims

1. A water-resistant electronic device comprising:

a housing having an interior portion, said housing is adapted to prevent water from entering said interior portion;

electronics mounted within said interior portion;

a fastening member; and

a heat sink, said heat sink adapted to be coupled to said housing by said fastening member, said heat sink comprising a protuberance that extends into said housing and that is coupled to said fastening member, wherein said heat sink is adapted to transfer heat from said interior portion to the external environment.

2. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, further comprising an opening formed in said housing and a door for covering said opening in a sealed manner.

3. The electronic device as recited in claim 2, wherein said door is hinged to said housing.

4. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said heat sink is in contact with said electronics.

5. The electronic device as recited in claim 4, wherein said electronics comprise an audio power amplifier.

6. The electronic device as recited in claim 4, wherein said electronics comprise a regulator.

7. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said heat sink includes a base and a fin.

8. The electronic device as recited in claim 7, wherein a substantial portion of said base is in direct contact with said housing.

9. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said fastening member includes a screw and a clip.

10. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a top and a bottom piece, wherein said top and bottom pieces are sealed to prevent water from entering the interior portion of said housing.

11. The electronic device as recited in claim 10, further comprising a gasket that is used to seal said top and bottom pieces to prevent water from entering the interior portion of said housing.

12. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a Global Positioning System receiver.

13. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a communications device.

14. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a music player.

15. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing is formed of plastic.

16. A water-resistant electronic device comprising:

a housing having an interior portion, said housing is adapted to prevent water from entering said interior portion;

electronics mounted within said interior portion;

a face plate coupled to said housing; and

a heat sink, said heat sink adapted to be coupled to said housing, wherein said heat sink is adapted to transfer heat from said interior portion to the external environment, wherein said face plate has an opening formed therein and a door that is coupled to said face plate and is adapted to cover said opening in a sealed manner.

17. The electronic device as recited in claim 16, said face plate adapted to selectively control said electronics.

18. The electronic device as recited in claim 16, wherein said door is hinged to said face plate.

19. A water-resistant electronic device comprising:

a housing having first and second sections, said first and second sections are adapted to be sealed together to form an interior portion, said interior portion is adapted to prevent water from entering therein;

an electronic component, said electronic component is adapted to be mounted in said interior portion

a fastening mechanism; and

a heat sink comprising a protuberance that extends into said housing and is coupled to said fastening mechanism, said heat sink adapted to be coupled to said housing by said fastening mechanism, said heat sink adapted to be coupled with said electronic component, wherein said heat sink is adapted to transfer the heat that is generated by the electronic device to an external environment.

20. The electronic device as recited in claim 19, further comprising an opening formed in said housing and a door for covering said opening in a sealed manner.

21. The electronic device as recited in claim 20, wherein said door is hinged to said housing.

22. The electronic device as recited in claim 19, wherein said heat sink is in contact with said electronic component.

23. The electronic device as recited in claim 22, wherein said electronic component is a audio power amplifier.

24. The electronic device as recited in claim 22, wherein said electronic component is a regulator.

25. The electronic device as recited in claim 19, wherein said heat sink includes a base and a fin.

26. The electronic device as recited in claim 25, wherein a substantial portion of said base is in direct contact with said housing.

27. The electronic device as recited in claim 19, wherein said fastening mechanism includes a screw and a clip.

28. The electronic device as recited in claim 19, further comprising a gasket that is used to seal said top and bottom pieces to prevent water from entering the interior portion of said housing.

29. The electronic device as recited in claim 19, wherein the electronic device comprises a Global Positioning System receiver.

30. The electronic device as recited in claim 19, wherein the electronic device comprises a communications device.

31. The electronic device as recited in claim 19, wherein said housing is formed of plastic.

32. The electronic device as recited in claim 19, wherein the electronic device comprises a music player.

33. A water-resistant electronic device comprising:

a housing having first and second sections, said first and second sections are adapted to be sealed together to form an interior portion, said interior portion is adapted to prevent water from entering therein;

an electronic component, said electronic component is adapted to be mounted in said interior portion;

a face plate coupled to said housing; and

a heat sink, said heat sink adapted to be coupled to said housing and is adapted to be coupled with said electronic component, wherein said heat sink is adapted to transfer the heat that is generated by the electronic device to an external environment, wherein said face plate includes an opening and a hinged door for covering said opening in a sealed manner.

34. The electronic device as recited in claim 33, wherein said face plate is adapted to selectively control the electronic device.

35. A method for forming a water-resistant enclosure for an electronic device, said device includes a housing, an electronic component and a heat sink coupled to said housing by a fastening member, said heat sink including a protuberance that is in contact with said fastening member, wherein said housing is adapted to seal said electronic component within said housing, wherein said heat sink is adapted to be coupled within said housing and allow for the transfer of heat generated by said electronic component within said housing to the external environment, the method comprising the steps of:

mounting said electronic component in the housing;

sealing the housing in such a way to prevent water from entering the housing; and

coupling the heat sink to said electronic component.

36. The method as recited in claim 35, wherein said housing includes a first and a second section, said first and second sections are adapted to be sealed together to form an interior portion, wherein said interior portion is adapted to allow said electronic component to be mounted therein.

37. The method as recited in claim 35, further comprising a gasket adapted to provide a water-tight seal between said first and second pieces.

38. The method as recited in claim 35, wherein said heat sink includes a base and a fin.

39. The method as recited in claim 38, wherein a substantial portion of the base is in contact with said housing.

40. The electronic device as recited in claim 35, wherein the electronic device comprises a Global Positioning System receiver.

41. The electronic device as recited in claim 35, wherein the electronic device comprises a communications device.

42. The electronic device as recited in claim 35, wherein the electronic device comprises a music player.

43. The electronic device as recited in claim 35, wherein said electronic component is a audio power amplifier.

44. The electronic device as recited in claim 35, wherein said electronic component is a regulator.

45. A water-resistant electronic device comprising:

a housing having an interior portion, said housing is adapted to prevent water from entering said interior portion;

electronics mounted within said interior portion;

a heat sink, said heat sink adapted to be coupled to an exterior of said housing, wherein said heat sink is adapted to transfer heat from said interior portion to the external environment;

a screw;

a clip, said screw and said clip securing said heat sink to said housing; and

a gasket positioned between said heat sink and said housing, said gasket providing a water-tight seal between said heat sink and said interior portion of said housing.

46. The electronic device as recited in claim 45, wherein said gasket is mounted in a rim of an aperture formed in said housing, said heat sink being inserted into said aperture.

47. The electronic device as recited in claim 45, wherein said heat sink is inserted into an aperture formed in said housing.

48. The electronic device as recited in claim 45, wherein said heat sink includes a protuberance that extends into said interior portion of said housing to transfer heat from said electronics.

49. The electronic device as recited in claim 45, wherein said housing includes separate top and bottom pieces, wherein said top and bottom pieces are sealed to one another to prevent water from entering the interior portion of said housing.

50. The electronic device as recited in claim 49, further comprising a gasket that seals said top and bottom pieces together to prevent water from entering said interior portion of said housing.

51. An enclosure for electronic components comprising:

a housing comprising an interior portion and an opening formed in said housing into said interior portion, said housing comprising separate top and bottom pieces, said top and bottom pieces sealed to one another, said housing being adapted to prevent water from entering said ulterior portion;

a door attached to said housing, said door sealably covering said opening and being moveable between open and closed positions; and

a heat sink sealably coupled to an exterior of said housing, wherein said heat sink transfers heat from said interior portion to the external environment.

52. The enclosure as recited in claim 51, wherein said door is hinged to said housing and, when closed, forms a snug engagement with said housing about said opening.

53. The enclosure as recited in claim 52, further comprising a door gasket provided between and forming a compression seal with said door and said housing.