Unlock instant, AI-driven research and patent intelligence for your innovation.

Compact fan assembly with thrust bearing

A technology of thrust bearings and assemblies, which is applied to bearings, electric components, shafts and bearings, and can solve problems such as temperature rise inside the equipment

Inactive Publication Date: 2012-10-24
APPLE INC
View PDF3 Cites 2 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Heat generated by internal components can cause the internal temperature of the device to rise

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Compact fan assembly with thrust bearing
  • Compact fan assembly with thrust bearing
  • Compact fan assembly with thrust bearing

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0021] In the following, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the concepts underpinning the described embodiments. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the described embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring basic concepts.

[0022] A centrifugal fan assembly is described. The fan assembly can be used as part of a thermal regulation system in a computing device, such as a laptop computer. The fan assembly can be compact and efficient, enabling its use in laptop computers with relatively thin casings. The fan assembly may include an impeller coupled with a thrust bearing. Thrust bearings can be used to improve the magnetic alignment between the impeller and the motor so that the motor can transfer rotational energy to the impeller more efficiently and the contact fric...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

No PUM Login to View More

Abstract

A fan assembly for a computing device is disclosed. The device can include an impeller having a number of blades and a motor for turning the blades. The motor can turn the blades via a magnetic interaction between the impeller and the motor. A thrust bearing can be used to control a position of the impeller relative to the motor. In particular, the impeller can be configured to rotate around an axis and the thrust bearing can be used to control movement of the impeller in a direction aligned with the axis. In one embodiment, the impeller can be configured to generate aerodynamic forces, such as lift, and the parameters associated with the thrust bearing can be selected to counteract the aerodynamic forces so that the impeller remains within a desired positional range relative to the motor.

Description

technical field [0001] The described embodiments generally relate to computing devices such as desktop computers, laptop computers, and the like. More particularly, a thermal regulation system including a fan for a computing device is described. Background technique [0002] Computing devices, such as laptop computers, include internal components that generate heat, such as processors. Heat generated by internal components can cause the internal temperature of the device to rise. Typically, thermal regulation systems may be included to protect against over-temperature conditions in a computing device that could damage or shorten its operating life. In some examples, thermal regulation systems may employ fans to affect internal airflow and thus internal temperature distribution in the device. [0003] Current computing devices, such as laptops, can be very compact, with a very limited amount of space to package the various device components. Thus, what is desired is the s...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
Patent Type & Authority Applications(China)
IPC IPC(8): G06F1/20F04D25/08F04D29/28F04D29/05
CPCF04D29/30F04D29/0513H02K5/1675G06F1/203F16C17/107F04D25/062F04D29/281Y10T29/49245
Inventor J·T·蒂本科C·P·谭B·W·德格纳C·R·杜科F·F·梁C·D·法纳小T·W·维尔森K·J·汉德恩
Owner APPLE INC