Portable electronic device and heat-dissipation method and battery charger thereof

• US 7,375,967 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: High Tech Computer Corp (HTC Corporation)
• Original Assignee: High Tech Computer Corp (HTC Corporation)
• Inventors: Lin, Yao-Chung, Huang, Yi-Chang
• Primary Examiner(s): Datskovskiy; Michael V
• Application Number:
  US11/285,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20060232929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 361/676, 361/679, 361/686, 361/687, 361688-695, 361704-727, 257/718, 257/719, 257/722, 257/727, 174/15.1, 174/15.2, 174/16.3, 165/80.3, 165/104.33, 165/185, 165/104.21, 298/32, 298/41, 298/54, 713/300, 713/322, 320/114, 320/115
• US Class Current: 361/707
• 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

Abstract

A heat-dissipation method comprises providing a heat-transfer module and a heat-dissipation module, wherein the heat-transfer module is disposed in a portable electronic device, and the heat-dissipation module is disposed in a battery charger. The heat-dissipation module then contacts the heat-transfer module to remove heat from the electronic device via conduction. Finally, the heat-dissipation module dissipates heat via conduction or convection.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing, comprising a first opening;

a first circuit board, disposed in the housing; and

a heat-transfer module, comprising a metal sheet disposed on the first circuit board,

wherein the metal sheet comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion contacts the first circuit board, the second portion is an elastic structure located in the first opening, and heat in the portable electronic device is removed via the heat-transfer module.

2. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first circuit board comprises an isolation region, and the heat-transfer module is disposed thereon.

3. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first portion is inserted into the first circuit board.

4. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second portion is U-shaped.

5. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein when a force is applied on the second portion, the second portion is recoverable moved in a first direction parallel to an insertion direction of the first opening.

6. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein when a force is applied on the second portion, the second portion is recoverably moved in a second direction perpendicular to an insertion direction of the first opening.

7. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metal sheet comprises copper.

8. A heat-dissipation method, comprising:

providing a portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1 and a heat-dissipation module;

contacting the heat-dissipation module to the second portion, for removing heat from the portable electronic device; and

dissipating heat through the heat-dissipation module via convection or conduction.

9. A heat-dissipation method, comprising:

providing a portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1 and a battery charger, wherein the battery charger comprises a heat-dissipation module;

contacting the heat-dissipation module to the second portion, for removing heat from the portable electronic device; and

dissipating heat through the heat-dissipation module via convection or conduction.

10. A battery charger for charging a portable electronic device, comprising:

a chamber, comprising a second opening;

a heat-dissipation module, disposed in the second opening of the chamber, comprising a heat-transfer element, a heat pipe and a heat-dissipation element, wherein the heat-transfer clement contacts the heat pipe, and the heat pipe contacts the heat-dissipation element; and

a charger module, disposed in the chamber, wherein the heat-transfer element and the charger module contact the portable electronic device simultaneously.

11. The battery charger as claimed in claim 10, wherein the heat-transfer element is L-shaped.

12. The battery charger as claimed in claim 10, wherein the heat pipe comprises a vaporizing end and a condensing end, the vaporizing end contacts the heat-transfer clement, and the condensing end contacts the heat-dissipation element.

13. The battery charger as claimed in claim 10, wherein the heat-dissipation element is disposed at the bottom of the chamber.

14. The battery charger as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second opening is formed at the bottom of the chamber.

15. The battery charger as claimed in claim 14, further comprising at least one protrusion, disposed at the bottom thereof.

16. The battery charger as claimed in claim 10, wherein the heat-transfer element comprises copper.

17. The battery charger as claimed in claim 10, wherein the heat-dissipation element comprises copper.

18. A heat-dissipation method, comprising:

providing a portable electronic device and a battery charger,

wherein the portable electronic device has a housing, a first circuit board and a heat-transfer module, the housing having a first opening, the first circuit board being disposed in the housing, and the heat-transfer module having a metal sheet disposed on the first circuit hoard, and wherein the metal sheet has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion contacts the first circuit board, the second portion is an elastic structure located in the first opening, and heat in the portable electronic device is removed via the heat-transfer module; and

wherein the battery charger for charging the portable electronic device has a chamber, a heat-dissipation module, and a charger module, the chamber having a second opening, the heat-dissipation module being disposed in the second opening of the chamber and having a heat-transfer element, a heat pipe and a heat-dissipation element, the heat-transfer element contacting the heat pipe and the heat pipe contacting the heat-dissipation element, and the charger module being disposed in the chamber, and wherein the heat-transfer element and the charger module contact the portable electronic device simultaneously;

contacting the heat-dissipation module to the second portion, for removing heat from the portable electronic device; and

dissipating heat through the heat-dissipation module via convection or conduction.

19. The heat-dissipation method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the heat-transfer element is inserted into the first opening.

20. The heat-dissipation method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the second portion abuts the heat-transfer element via gravity.

21. The heat-dissipation method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the second portion abuts the heat-transfer element via elastic force.