Fan and storage device mounting assembly for elecronic device

• US 7,965,503 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2007
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magnolia Licensing LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Scally, Brian Michael, Yoder, Mark Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US12/451,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20100103615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.33, 361/679.36, 36167946- 5, 361690-695, 165/80.3, 165/104.33, 165/121, 165/126, 165/185, 312/223.2, 312/223.3, 174/16.3, 174/252
• US Class Current: 361/692
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/12 Disposition of constructional parts in the apparatus, e.g. of power supply, of modules
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/142 by air cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20172 Fan mounting or fan specifications

Abstract

A fan [36] and storage device [37] mounting assembly [1] for an electronic device comprises a base [2] having opposing front [4] and rear [5] walls. The rear wall [5] has a plurality of ventilation openings [11] provided therein. A support [16] has a fan [36] mount [32] arranged adjacent to the front wall [4] and substantially perpendicular thereto and a storage device [37] receiving opening [20] arranged between the fan mount [32] and the ventilation openings [11].

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a base having opposing front and rear walls, the rear wall having a plurality of ventilation openings provided therein; and

a support having a fan mount arranged adjacent to the front wall and substantially perpendicular thereto and a storage device receiving opening arranged between the fan mount and the ventilation openings.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the support is made from an injection molded plastic material.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the fan mount includes a fan receiving pocket, the fan receiving pocket being lined with a fan damper.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the fan damper is a foam material.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the support includes a first support wall that forms a substantially continuous plane with a front surface of the fan mount, the first support wall dividing the fan and storage device mounting assembly into a low pressure side and a high pressure side.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the first support wall divides the fan and storage device mounting assembly into a low pressure side and a high pressure side in an approximate center of the base.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the storage device receiving opening is defined by a bottom support wall and opposing first and second support walls.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein a damper is provided in the storage device receiving opening.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein storage device mounting apertures extend from an outside surface of the base into the storage device receiving opening and receive attachment members for mounting a storage device to the base.

10. A storage device mounting assembly comprising:

a rectangular frame having opposing front and rear walls and opposing first and second walls, the walls extending vertically from a bottom wall;

a vertical support plate, the plate extending from the rear wall toward the front wall;

a fan being supported by the plate, parallel therewith, and positioned closer to the front wall than the rear wall, wherein the fan and plate create a low pressure side between the first wall and the plate and create a high pressure side between the second wall and the plate;

an electronic device in the low pressure side positioned toward the rear wall such that the fan is not directly facing any portion of the electronic device; and

,

a plurality of ventilation openings in the high pressure side, wherein each of the openings in the high pressure side being nearer to the second wall than the plate, each of the openings in the high pressure side being nearer the rear wall than the front wall, and each of the openings in the high pressure side positioned toward the rear wall such that the fan is not directly facing any of the openings in the high pressure side.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

an enclosure having exterior walls defining an interior space;

at least one interior wall dividing said interior space into first and second compartments, said first compartment having mounted therein a heat generating device requiring active cooling during operation;

a fan assembly forming a part of said at least one interior wall;

at least one of said exterior walls bounding said first compartment having a first set of apertures;

at least one of said exterior walls bounding said second compartment having a second set of apertures spaced from said fan assembly;

said first and second sets of apertures and said fan assembly defining an air flow path inside said enclosure and through said at least one interior wall for cooling said heat generating device; and

,

said heat generating device being disposed between said first set of apertures and said fan assembly, said fan assembly being spaced from both said first and second sets of apertures, wherein said apparatus further comprising;

a third compartment disposed at one end of said first compartment and bounded in part by portions of said exterior walls and said fan assembly; and

, said portions of said exterior walls bounding said third compartment preventing air moving along said flow path from entering or leaving said enclosure.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said fan assembly is adjacent to one end of said heat generating device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said first compartment is disposed at a first end of said enclosure and said second set of apertures is disposed adjacent a second end of said enclosure opposite said first end.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said first compartment is disposed at a first end of said enclosure and said second set of apertures is disposed adjacent a second end of said enclosure opposite said first end.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said third compartment is further disposed at one interior corner of said enclosure.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the third compartment is formed by:

portions of at least four of said exterior walls bounding said first compartment;

said fan assembly; and

,

said one end of said heat generating device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said third compartment is further disposed at one interior corner of said enclosure.