Handle arrangement with integrated heat pipe

• US 7,508,662 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2006
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chang, Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US11/398,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20070235166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 361/681, 361/683, 361/687, 361/699, 361/700, 361/707, 165/80.3, 165/80.4, 165/104.33, 165/104.21, 165/185, 622/592, 463/19, 161/141, 164/45, 164/43, 164/44, 164/46, 164/30, 164/31
• US Class Current: 361/679.52
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0266 with separate evaporating and condensing chambers connected by at least one conduit; Loop-type heat pipes; with multiple or common evaporating or condensing chambers F28D15/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/427 Cooling by change of state, e.g. use of heat pipes by liquefied gas H01L23/445
• 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

Handle arrangements having an integrated heat pipe for use with a portable electronic device are presented including: a heat pipe, the heat pipe configured with a heat receiving portion, a heat conducting portion, and a heat dissipating portion; a handle disposed along an edge of the portable electronic device, the handle including a handle surface configured to enclose at least the heat dissipating portion, wherein the handle surface is vented to allow air flow across at least the heat dissipating portion; an attachment housing for attaching the handle with the portable electronic device, the attachment housing configured to enclose the heat conducting portion; and a processing unit having a contact surface, the contact surface in thermal communication with the heat receiving portion wherein the portable electronic device is configured to enclose the heat receiving portion.

Claims

1. A handle arrangement with an integrated heat pipe for use with a portable electronic device, the arrangement comprising:

a heat pipe, the heat pipe configured with a heat receiving portion, a heat conducting portion, and a heat dissipating portion;

a handle disposed along an edge of the portable electronic device, the handle including a handle surface configured to enclose at least the heat dissipating portion, wherein the handle surface is vented to allow air flow across at least the heat dissipating portion;

a texture layer bonded to the handle surface for providing a gripping surface, the texture layer configured to enclose at least a portion of the heat dissipating portion; and

at least one attachment housing for attaching the handle with the portable electronic device, the at least one attachment housing configured to enclose at least the heat conducting portion.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the venting includes at least one of perforated venting, drilled venting, punched venting, slotted venting, and louvered venting.

3. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the heat receiving portion is configured to contact at least a first processing unit of the portable electronic device through a first thermal transfer compound.

4. The arrangement of claim 3 wherein the heat receiving portion is further configured to contact at least a second processing unit of the portable electronic device through a second thermal transfer compound.

5. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the at least one attachment housing is rotatably connected with the handle and the portable electronic device such that the portable electronic device may be tilted from a planar surface by the handle.

6. The arrangement of claim 5 further comprising a heat sink configured to rotatably receive the heat receiving portion, the heat pipe in thermal contact with the heat receiving portion and the contact surface.

7. The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a thermal transfer compound, wherein the heat receiving portion is configured to contact a processing unit of the portable electronic device through the thermal transfer compound.

8. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the edge is selected from the group consisting of:

a front edge, a side edge, and back edge.

9. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the portable electronic device is a computing device.

10. A handle arrangement with an integrated heat pipe for use with a portable electronic device, the arrangement comprising:

heat pipe means, the heat pipe means configured with a heat receiving portion, a heat conducting portion, and a heat dissipating portion;

handle means disposed along an edge of the portable electronic device, the handle means including a handle surface configured to enclose at least the heat dissipating portion, wherein the handle surface is vented to allow air flow across at least the heat dissipating portion;

a texture layer bonded to the handle surface for providing a gripping surface, the texture layer configured to enclose at least a portion of the heat dissipating portion; and

attachment housing means for attaching the handle with the portable electronic device, the attachment housing means configured to enclose at least the heat conducting portion.

11. The arrangement of claim 10 wherein the attachment housing means is rotatably connected with the handle and the portable electronic device such that the portable electronic device may be tilted from a planar surface by the handle.

12. The arrangement of claim 10 further comprising a thermal transfer compound, wherein the heat receiving portion is configured to contact a processing unit of the portable electronic device through the thermal transfer compound.

13. The arrangement of claim 10 wherein the edge is selected from the group consisting of:

a front edge, a side edge, and back edge.

14. The arrangement of claim 10 wherein the portable electronic device is a computing device.

15. A cooling system for use with a portable computing system, the cooling system comprising:

a heat pipe, the heat pipe configured with a heat receiving portion, a heat conducting portion, and a heat dissipating portion;

a heat sink configured to rotatably receive the heat receiving portion, the heat pipe in thermal contact with the heat receiving portion;

an articulating handle disposed along an edge of the portable electronic device, the articulating handle including a handle surface configured to enclose at least the heat dissipating portion, wherein the handle surface is configured to tilt the portable computing system from a planar surface; and

a texture layer bonded to the handle surface for providing a gripping surface, the texture layer configured to enclose at least a portion of the heat dissipating portion.

16. The cooling system of claim 15 wherein the heat receiving portion is configured to contact at least a first processing unit of the portable electronic device through a first thermal transfer compound.

17. The cooling system of claim 16 wherein the heat receiving portion is further configured to contact at least a second processing unit of the portable electronic device through a second thermal transfer compound.

18. The cooling system of claim 17 wherein the first processing unit is disposed on a logic board, and the second processing unit is disposed on the logic board.

19. The cooling system of claim 15 wherein the edge is selected from the group consisting of:

a front edge, a side edge, and back edge.

20. The arrangement of claim 15 further comprising a fin slack disposed at the heat dissipating portion for increasing heat dissipation efficiency, wherein the texture layer is configured to enclose at least a portion of the fin stack.