Fanless computer with integrated display

• US 7,072,179 B1
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micro Industries Corporation
• Original Assignee: Micro Industries Corporation
• Inventors: Curran, Michael A., Hogan, James, Peck, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US10/937,976
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 361690-695, 361679-687, 361724-727, 165/122, 165/126, 165/104.32, 257718-719, 174/15.2, 622/592
• US Class Current: 361/679.21
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1631 Panel PC, e.g. single housing hosting PC and display panel

Abstract

The present invention is a fanless computer with an integrated display. Passive cooling design features, including a heat sink, are incorporated into the device so that it is fanless. The heat sink supports the entire computer enclosure and causes heat in the device to dissipate through vents. The PCB assembly may be attached directly to the heat sink to facilitate thermal transfer characteristics so that components are cooled without the need for a fan. A pressure plate may be attached to the back of the PCB provides a tight coupling between the processor and heat sink. The computer is fanless, silent, and compact and therefore, suitable for many applications, including for use in locations where the availability of space is a concern. For example, the computer may be mounted on a retail store shelf to provide product information to consumers shopping at the retail establishment.

Claims

1. A fanless computer comprising:

a front component assembly comprising a front bezel and a touch screen;

a rear component assembly comprising a rear bezel, an EMI box, and a PCB assembly, said rear bezel comprising vents for dissipating heat; and

a heat sink comprising an indentation to accommodate a processor on said PCB assembly, a plurality of attachment points for directly attaching said PCB assembly to said heat sink, and a plurality of channels for dissipating heat, said heat sink for dissipating through said channels and through said vents of said rear bezel heat caused by heat sources in said front and rear component assemblies and for supporting said PCB assembly.

2. The fanless computer of claim 1 wherein said heat sink is an aluminum extrusion.

3. The fanless computer of claim 1 wherein said channels for dissipating heat are formed by a series of parallel partitions.

4. The fanless computer of claim 1 wherein said heat sink comprises a plurality of holes for accommodating standoffs to attach said heat sink directly to said PCB assembly.

5. The fanless computer of claim 1 wherein said heat sink is further attached to said rear bezel.

6. The fanless computer of claim 1 further comprising a pressure plate attached to the back of said PCB assembly and to said heat sink.

7. The fanless computer of claim 6 further comprising a thermal pad between said pressure plate and the back of said PCB assembly for seeding said processor on said PCB assembly to said heat sink.

8. The fanless computer of claim 7 wherein said thermal pad is a compressible hard rubber pad.

9. The fanless computer of claim 8 wherein said pressure plate and thermal pad are the same size as said processor on said PCB assembly.

10. A heat sink for use in a computer with an integrated display, said heat sink comprising:

a plurality of channels formed by a series of parallel partitions;

an indentation for accommodating a processor on a PCB assembly, said processor and a plurality of components arranged on said PCB assembly in a manner that allows said PCB assembly to be tightly coupled to said heat sink; and

a plurality of holes for accommodating standoffs to attach said heat sink directly to said PCB assembly in said computer,

wherein said heat sink transfers heat from said PCB assembly through said plurality of channels to vents on a rear bezel and supports said PCB assembly.

11. The heat sink of claim 10 wherein said heat sink is an aluminum extrusion.

12. The heat sink of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of holes for attaching said heat sink to a rear bezel of said computer.

13. The heat sink of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of connection points for accommodating a pressure plate attached to the back of said PCB assembly in said computer.

14. A method for constructing a fanless computer comprising:

constructing a front component assembly comprising a front bezel and a touch screen;

constructing rear component assembly comprising a rear bezel, an EMI box, and a PCB assembly, said rear bezel comprising vents for dissipating heat; and

attaching a heat sink with an indentation to accommodate said PCB assembly, said heat sink attached said PCB assembly using attachment points on said heat sink to dissipate heat from PCB assembly through said vents in said rear bezel; and

connecting said front component assembly and said rear component assembly.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said heat sink is an aluminum extrusion.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said heat sink comprises a plurality of channels formed by a series of parallel partitions.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising attaching a pressure plate to the back of said PCB assembly and to said heat sink.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising inserting a thermal pad between said pressure plate and the back of said PCB assembly for seeding a processor on said PCB assembly to said heat sink.