Portable data routing device and method of use
First Claim
1. A data communications device, comprising:
- an environmentally sealed housing having a card chassis and at least one end cap coupled to the card chassis, the housing configured to provide a barrier between an inner space defined by the housing and an outer space;
a plurality of circuit boards disposed within the inner space of the housing, at least one of the plurality of circuit boards being configured to receive data from a source and direct data to a destination; and
a thermal transfer assembly adapted to thermally couple at least one circuit board component of the plurality of circuit boards to the housing, the thermal transfer assembly comprising;
a plate coupled to the at least one circuit board,a thermal conductor disposed between the plate and the at least one circuit board, the thermal conductor being configured to provide thermal communication between a circuit board component of the at least one circuit board and the plate, anda coupling element operable to thermally couple the plate to the housing;
wherein;
the card chassis defines a slot configured to support the conductive plate coupled to the at least one circuit board; and
the coupling element comprises a primary compression element and a secondary compression element, the secondary compression element of the coupling element is configured to move relative to the primary compression element of the coupling element to thermally couple the plate to the housing.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data communications device, such as a router, is configured for use in an outdoor environment. The router includes wireless communications circuit boards mounted within an environmentally sealed housing. The housing protects the circuit boards from exposure to extreme environmental conditions such as relatively high temperatures, rain, or snow to maintain the operability of the router. The router also includes a thermal transfer assembly disposed within the sealed housing that conducts heat away from the router'"'"'s circuit board components. Because the thermal transfer assembly operates using conduction rather than convection, the data communications device does not require the use of a fan assembly to remove heat from the circuit board components. This minimizes the overall size and weight of the data communications device, allowing the device to be deployed in a variety of outdoor locations, such as traffic signal poles, curb side cabinets, or vehicles.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A data communications device, comprising:
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an environmentally sealed housing having a card chassis and at least one end cap coupled to the card chassis, the housing configured to provide a barrier between an inner space defined by the housing and an outer space; a plurality of circuit boards disposed within the inner space of the housing, at least one of the plurality of circuit boards being configured to receive data from a source and direct data to a destination; and a thermal transfer assembly adapted to thermally couple at least one circuit board component of the plurality of circuit boards to the housing, the thermal transfer assembly comprising; a plate coupled to the at least one circuit board, a thermal conductor disposed between the plate and the at least one circuit board, the thermal conductor being configured to provide thermal communication between a circuit board component of the at least one circuit board and the plate, and a coupling element operable to thermally couple the plate to the housing; wherein; the card chassis defines a slot configured to support the conductive plate coupled to the at least one circuit board; and the coupling element comprises a primary compression element and a secondary compression element, the secondary compression element of the coupling element is configured to move relative to the primary compression element of the coupling element to thermally couple the plate to the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 19, 20, 21)
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11. A data communications device, comprising:
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an environmentally sealed housing having a card chassis and at least one end cap coupled to the card chassis, the housing configured to provide a barrier between an inner space defined by the housing and an outer space; a plurality of circuit boards disposed within the housing, at least one of the plurality of circuit boards being configured to receive data from a source and direct data to a destination; and a thermal transfer assembly adapted to thermally couple a circuit board component of at least one circuit board of the plurality of circuit boards to the housing to transfer heat from a circuit board component to the housing via conduction; wherein the thermal transfer assembly comprises; a plate coupled to the at least one circuit board; a compliant thermal conductor disposed between the plate and the at least one circuit board, the compliant thermal conductor being configured to thermally couple the circuit board component of the at least one circuit board to the plate; and a coupling element operable to thermally couple the plate to the housing; wherein the plate comprises a first plate and a second plate, the at least one circuit board disposed between the first plate and the second plate;
wherein;the card chassis defines a slot configured to support the conductive plate coupled to the at least one circuit board; and the coupling element comprises a primary compression element and a secondary compression element, the secondary compression element of the coupling element is configured to move relative to the primary compression element of the coupling element to thermally couple the plate to the housing. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for assembling a data communications device, comprising:
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thermally coupling a circuit board to a thermally conductive plate, the thermally conductive plate having a compliant thermally conductive material in thermal communication with the thermally conductive plate and at least one circuit board component of the circuit board; inserting the circuit board and thermally conductive plate within a slot of a card chassis of a data communications device housing; and expanding a thermal coupling element within the slot to thermally couple the thermally conductive plate to the housing; wherein expanding a thermal coupling element within the slot to thermally couple the thermally conductive plate to the housing comprises; actuating at least one compression adjustment mechanism of the thermal coupling element; and positioning at least one secondary compression element relative to a primary compression element carried by the thermally conductive plate between a first position to allow insertion of the plate into the slot defined by the card chassis and a second position to secure and thermally couple the thermally conductive plate to the housing. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification