Electronic device with efficient thermal dissipation
First Claim
1. A portable electronic device comprising:
- an elongated tubular housing having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a sidewall extending from the first end to the second end and defining an interior cavity;
an elongated chassis disposed within the interior cavity of the elongated tubular housing;
a camera assembly disposed at the first end of the elongated tubular housing, the camera assembly comprising;
a camera chassis coupled to the elongated chassis; and
multiple camera modules coupled to the camera chassis, each camera module comprising a camera sensor in thermal contact with the camera chassis;
an integrated circuit communicatively coupled to the multiple camera modules, and thermally coupled to the elongated chassis and spaced a distance from the sidewall of the elongated tubular housing;
a first elongated channel at least partially encircling the elongated chassis and interposed between a first side of the elongated chassis and the elongated tubular housing, the first elongated channel having a generally C-shaped cross section, the first elongated channel including a portion which is tapered in a direction from the first end of the elongated tubular housing toward the second end of the elongated tubular housing; and
a second elongated channel at least partially encircling the elongated chassis and interposed between a second side of the elongated chassis opposite the first side and the elongated tubular housing, the second elongated channel having a generally C-shaped cross section, the second elongated channel including a portion which is tapered in a direction from the second end of the elongated tubular housing toward the first end of the elongated tubular housing,the elongated chassis being in thermal contact with the integrated circuit, the first elongated channel, and the second elongated channel to transmit heat away from the integrated circuit to the first elongated channel and the second elongated channel,the camera chassis being in thermal contact with the elongated chassis to transmit heat away from the camera sensors to the elongated chassis, andthe first elongated channel and the second elongated channel being in thermal contact with the elongated chassis to transmit heat from the elongated chassis toward the sidewall of the elongated tubular housing for dissipation to an exterior of the portable electronic device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic device includes an elongated tubular housing. One or more electronic components are coupled to a chassis disposed in a cavity of the tubular housing. A pair of elongated channels are positioned on opposite sides of the chassis and between the chassis and a sidewall of the tubular housing. The channels are tapered or wedge-shaped along their lengths. During assembly, one of the channels may be slid longitudinally along the other, causing the channels to expand laterally, due to their wedge shape, to secure the chassis in the tubular housing. The chassis and the pair of channels provide a thermally conductive path to dissipate heat. During use, heat generated by the electronic components is transmitted radially outward from the electronic components, through the chassis and the pair of channels, and through the tubular housing to the exterior of the portable electronic device.
21 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A portable electronic device comprising:
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an elongated tubular housing having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a sidewall extending from the first end to the second end and defining an interior cavity; an elongated chassis disposed within the interior cavity of the elongated tubular housing; a camera assembly disposed at the first end of the elongated tubular housing, the camera assembly comprising; a camera chassis coupled to the elongated chassis; and multiple camera modules coupled to the camera chassis, each camera module comprising a camera sensor in thermal contact with the camera chassis; an integrated circuit communicatively coupled to the multiple camera modules, and thermally coupled to the elongated chassis and spaced a distance from the sidewall of the elongated tubular housing; a first elongated channel at least partially encircling the elongated chassis and interposed between a first side of the elongated chassis and the elongated tubular housing, the first elongated channel having a generally C-shaped cross section, the first elongated channel including a portion which is tapered in a direction from the first end of the elongated tubular housing toward the second end of the elongated tubular housing; and a second elongated channel at least partially encircling the elongated chassis and interposed between a second side of the elongated chassis opposite the first side and the elongated tubular housing, the second elongated channel having a generally C-shaped cross section, the second elongated channel including a portion which is tapered in a direction from the second end of the elongated tubular housing toward the first end of the elongated tubular housing, the elongated chassis being in thermal contact with the integrated circuit, the first elongated channel, and the second elongated channel to transmit heat away from the integrated circuit to the first elongated channel and the second elongated channel, the camera chassis being in thermal contact with the elongated chassis to transmit heat away from the camera sensors to the elongated chassis, and the first elongated channel and the second elongated channel being in thermal contact with the elongated chassis to transmit heat from the elongated chassis toward the sidewall of the elongated tubular housing for dissipation to an exterior of the portable electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An electronic device comprising:
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a tubular housing having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a sidewall extending from the first end to the second end and defining an interior cavity; a chassis disposed within the interior cavity of the tubular housing; a heat generating source coupled to the chassis and spaced a distance from the tubular housing; a first channel interposed between a first side of the chassis and the tubular housing, the first channel having a generally C-shaped cross section, the first elongated channel including a portion which is tapered in a direction from the first end of the tubular housing toward the second end of the tubular housing; and a second channel interposed between a second side of the chassis opposite the first side and the tubular housing, the second channel having a generally C-shaped cross section, the second elongated channel including a portion which is tapered in a direction from the second end of the tubular housing toward the first end of the tubular housing, the chassis, the first channel, and the second channel, providing a conductive path to conduct heat away from the heat generating source to the sidewall of the tubular housing for dissipation to an exterior of the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of assembling an electronic device, the method comprising:
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coupling a one or more electronic components to an elongated chassis; positioning a first elongated channel in thermal contact with a first side of the elongated chassis to at least partially surround the elongated chassis, the first elongated channel being wedge-shaped over its length; positioning a second elongated channel in thermal contact with a second side of the elongated chassis opposite the first side to at least partially surround the elongated chassis, the second elongated channel being wedge-shaped over its length and being offset longitudinally from the first elongated channel; sliding a tubular housing over the first elongated channel, the second elongated channel, and the elongated chassis; and sliding the second elongated channel longitudinally and laterally relative to the first elongated channel to substantially align longitudinal ends of the second elongated channel with longitudinal ends of the first elongated channel and to cause the second elongated channel to abut an interior surface of the tubular housing. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification