Electronic device

Abstract

To provide an electronic apparatus capable of efficiently cooling the inside of a housing.SOLUTION: An electronic device according to an embodiment includes a housing having a box shape, a duct provided inside the housing and extending in a first direction, a first fan provided inside the housing, a part of the first fan facing an opening of one end of the duct in the first direction, a second fan provided inside the housing and provided side by side with the first fan in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and a region which is located inside the housing and on one side of the duct in the second direction and in which an expansion card is provided. First cooling air from the first fan flows inside the duct, and a part of the first cooling air collides with an outer surface of the duct in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, and a part of the collided first cooling air flows into a region where the expansion card is provided.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD An embodiment of the present invention relates to an electronic device. [Background technology]

[0002] Industrial electronic devices, such as industrial computers, are designed to operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so they require minimal maintenance. Therefore, components with short lifespans are placed in locations inside the housing where they can be easily replaced. For example, fans that cool components that generate heat, such as the central processing unit (CPU) and expansion cards, have shorter lifespans than other components, so they are often located near the side walls inside the housing to facilitate replacement. In some cases, a fan is installed to cool the CPU, which generates heat, and another fan is installed to cool the area where components that generate heat, such as expansion cards, are installed.

[0003] In this case, in order to efficiently deliver cooling air to the CPU, which generates a large amount of heat and is located away from the side wall of the housing, a duct is provided between the CPU and the fan that cools the CPU. On the other hand, cooling air is blown directly from a fan provided near the side wall of the housing to a relatively large area where expansion cards and the like are installed.

[0004] Generally, a blowing-type axial fan is used as the cooling fan. The cooling air blown by the axial fan flows primarily in a straight line while swirling along the central axis of rotation of the motor. Therefore, if the axial fan blows the cooling air directly into the area where the expansion card or other device is installed, the amount of cooling air reaching the area may be uneven, resulting in inefficient cooling. Therefore, there has been a demand for the development of electronic devices that can efficiently cool the inside of their housings. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-80033 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an electronic device capable of efficiently cooling the inside of a housing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to an embodiment, an electronic device includes a box-shaped housing, a duct provided inside the housing and extending in a first direction, a first fan provided inside the housing and a portion of which faces an opening at one end of the duct in the first direction, a second fan provided inside the housing and arranged side by side with the first fan in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and an area inside the housing, located on one side of the duct in the second direction, in which an expansion card is provided. A first cooling airflow from the first fan flows inside the duct and a portion of the first cooling airflow collides with an outer surface of the duct in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, and a portion of the colliding first cooling airflow flows into the area in which the expansion card is provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the rear panel side. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the electronic device as seen from the ceiling panel side. [Figure 3] 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic device in FIG. 2 taken along line AA. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be illustrated with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, like components are designated by like reference numerals and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted where appropriate.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an electronic device 1 according to the present embodiment as viewed from the rear panel 2d side. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the electronic device 1 as viewed from the ceiling panel 2e side. In FIG. 2, the ceiling panel 2e is not shown. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic device 1 in FIG. 2 taken along the line AA.

[0011] Furthermore, arrows X, Y, and Y in each figure represent three mutually orthogonal directions. For example, the X direction (corresponding to an example of a first direction) can be the depth direction (front-to-back direction) of the electronic device 1. For example, the Y direction (corresponding to an example of a second direction) can be the width direction (left-to-right direction) of the electronic device 1. For example, the Z direction (corresponding to an example of a third direction) can be the height direction (up-down direction) of the electronic device 1.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the electronic device 1 includes, for example, a housing 2, a power supply 3, a storage unit 4, a processing unit 5, a duct 6, an expansion card 7, and a fan 8. The electronic device 1 is, for example, a rack-mounted industrial computer. However, the electronic device 1 may be any device that includes a housing 2, a processing unit 5, a duct 6, an expansion card 7, and a fan 8. For example, the electronic device 1 may be a desktop personal computer, a video display device, a television receiver, a game console, a video display control device, an information storage device, or the like.

[0013] The housing 2 is box-shaped and has space inside to house the power supply 3, memory unit 4, processing unit 5, duct 6, expansion card 7, and fan 8. The exterior of the housing 2 can be, for example, a roughly rectangular parallelepiped with the dimension in the Z direction smaller than the dimensions in the X and Y directions.

[0014] The housing 2 has, for example, a bottom panel 2a, side panels 2b, a front panel 2c, a rear panel 2d, and a ceiling panel 2e. The bottom panel 2a, side panels 2b, front panel 2c, and rear panel 2d may be joined using fastening members such as screws or rivets, or may be integrally formed by welding or bending. The ceiling panel 2e can be detachably attached to the side panels 2b, front panel 2c, and rear panel 2d using fastening members such as screws.

[0015] The bottom panel 2a may be, for example, plate-shaped and made of metal. A plurality of support portions 2a1 each having a convex shape may be provided on the surface of the bottom panel 2a that faces the outside of the housing 2. If a plurality of support portions 2a1 are provided, a predetermined space can be provided between the electronic device 1 and the installation location when the electronic device 1 is placed on a shelf, desk, stand, or other installation location.

[0016] The side panel 2b may be, for example, plate-shaped and made of metal. A pair of the side panels 2b may be provided facing each other in the Y direction. In the X direction, the side panel 2b is provided between the front panel 2c and the rear panel 2d. In the Z direction, the side panel 2b is provided between the bottom panel 2a and the ceiling panel 2e.

[0017] The front panel 2c has, for example, a box shape with one end open in the X direction. The front panel 2c can be made of, for example, metal. In the X direction, the front panel 2c is provided on one end side of the bottom panel 2a, the side panels 2b, and the ceiling panel 2e. In the Z direction, the front panel 2c is provided between the bottom panel 2a and the ceiling panel 2e.

[0018] The front panel 2c may be provided with a plurality of air intakes and holes for exposing the ends of the storage unit 4. The front panel 2c may also be provided with electrical components such as indicators and a power switch.

[0019] The rear panel 2d is, for example, plate-shaped and can be made of metal. In the X direction, the rear panel 2d faces the front panel 2c. In the Z direction, the rear panel 2d is provided between the bottom panel 2a and the ceiling panel 2e.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the rear panel 2d can be provided with a plurality of exhaust ports 2d1, holes 2d2 for exposing the exhaust port 3a and connector 3b of the cooling fan provided in the power supply 3, and holes 2d3 for making electrical connections to an expansion card 7, etc.

[0021] The ceiling panel 2e may be, for example, plate-shaped and made of metal. Both ends of the ceiling panel 2e in the Y direction may be bent toward the bottom panel 2a.

[0022] The power supply 3 is provided inside the housing 2 and supplies power to the storage unit 4, the processing unit 5, the expansion card 7, and the fan 8. The power supply 3 can be provided near the rear panel 2d and one of the side panels 2b. For example, the power supply 3 can be provided inside the housing 2, in a corner in the Y direction on the rear panel 2d side.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, an exhaust port 3a for a cooling fan provided inside the power supply 3, a connector 3b, and the like can be provided at the end of the power supply 3 on the rear panel 2d side. As shown in FIG. 2, connectors 3c for electrically connecting the storage unit 4, the processing unit 5, the expansion card 7, and the fan 8 can be provided at the end of the power supply 3 on the front panel 2c side.

[0024] The storage unit 4 is provided inside the housing 2 and includes, for example, at least one of an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), and an external storage device such as an optical disk drive (ODD). At least one auxiliary storage device and one external storage device may be provided. The electronic device 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided with five HDDs 4a arranged in the Y direction.

[0025] The storage unit 4 can be provided near the front panel 2c and one of the side panels 2b. For example, it can be provided inside the housing 2, at a corner in the Y direction on the front panel 2c side. The storage unit 4 faces the power supply 3 with a gap in the X direction. The storage unit 4 can be attached to the front panel 2c, for example.

[0026] The calculation unit 5 is provided inside the housing 2. In the Y direction, the calculation unit 5 is provided between the power supply 3 and the storage unit 4 and the expansion card 7. 3, the computing unit 5 includes, for example, an electronic component 5a such as a CPU mounted on a board, and a heat sink 5b provided on the electronic component 5a. The electronic component 5a and the heat sink 5b are provided between the fan 8a (which corresponds to an example of a first fan) and the rear panel 2d, and between the duct 6 and the bottom panel 2a.

[0027] The duct 6 is provided inside the housing 2. The duct 6 may be, for example, cylindrical and made of metal. The duct 6 extends in the X direction. For example, the duct 6 guides a portion of the cooling air 100 (corresponding to an example of the first cooling air) from the fan 8a and a portion of the cooling air 101 (corresponding to an example of the second cooling air) from the fan 8b (corresponding to an example of the second fan) to the heat sink 5b. Both ends of the duct 6 are open in the X direction. The opening of the duct 6 on the rear panel 2d side faces a plurality of exhaust ports 2d1 provided in the rear panel 2d.

[0028] 1 and 2, in the Y direction, the dimension of the opening of the duct 6 on the front panel 2c side is larger than the dimension of the opening of the duct 6 on the rear panel 2d side. As shown in Fig. 3, in the Z direction, the dimension of the opening of the duct 6 on the front panel 2c side is larger than the dimension of the opening of the duct 6 on the rear panel 2d side.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the duct 6 has, for example, a top plate 6a, a side plate 6b, a side plate 6c, a bottom plate 6d, and an air direction plate 6e. The top panel 6a is plate-shaped and extends in the X direction substantially parallel to the bottom panel 2a. The side of the top panel 6a on the side of the power supply 3 and the storage unit 4 extends linearly in the X direction. The side of the top panel 6a on the side of the expansion card 7 extends in the X direction and is inclined toward the fan 8b near the end on the front panel 2c side.

[0030] The side plate 6b is plate-shaped and extends in the X direction along the edge of the top plate 6a on the side of the power supply 3 and the storage unit 4. In the Z direction, the dimension of the side plate 6b on the front panel 2c side is larger than the dimension of the side plate 6b on the rear panel 2d side. The edge of the side plate 6b between the vicinity of the end of the side plate 6b on the front panel 2c side and the part of the side plate 6b facing the heat sink 5b (electronic component 5a) is inclined.

[0031] The side plate 6c is plate-shaped and faces the side plate 6b. The side plate 6c extends in the X direction along the edge of the top plate 6a on the expansion card 7 side. In the Z direction, the dimension of the side plate 6c on the front panel 2c side is larger than the dimension of the side plate 6c on the rear panel 2d side. The edge of the side plate 6c between the vicinity of the end of the side plate 6c on the front panel 2c side and the portion of the side plate 6c facing the heat sink 5b (electronic component 5a) is inclined.

[0032] 3, the bottom plate 6d is plate-shaped and faces the top plate 6a. The bottom plate 6d is provided near the end of the duct 6 on the front panel 2c side. The bottom plate 6d is not provided in the portion of the duct 6 that faces the heat sink 5b (electronic component 5a). In other words, the portion of the duct 6 that faces the heat sink 5b (electronic component 5a) is open.

[0033] The bottom plate 6d extends in the X direction along the sides of the side plates 6b and 6c on the bottom panel 2a side, and therefore has an inclined surface that slopes toward the top plate 6a side.

[0034] 3, the airflow direction vane 6e is plate-shaped and is provided inside the duct 6. The airflow direction vane 6e is provided on the surface of the top panel 6a facing the bottom panel 2a. The area near the end of the airflow direction vane 6e is inclined in a direction approaching the heat sink 5b (electronic component 5a).

[0035] As will be described later, a portion of the cooling air 100 from fan 8a and a portion of the cooling air 101 from fan 8b are introduced into the duct 6 through an opening on the front panel 2c side of the duct 6. The cooling air 100, 101 introduced into the duct 6 are directed toward the top panel 6a by the inclined surface of the bottom plate 6d. The cooling air 100, 101 flowing inside the duct 6 is redirected toward the heat sink 5b (electronic components 5a) by the inclined surface of the airflow direction plate 6e. This allows the cooling air 100, 101 to be efficiently supplied to the heat sink 5b (electronic components 5a), thereby efficiently cooling the electronic components 5a.

[0036] Area 9 is located inside the housing 2 on one side of the duct 6 in the Y direction. Expansion cards 7 and the like are provided in area 9. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, area 9 can be the area inside the housing 2 between the duct 6 and the side panel 2b.

[0037] A substrate 9a can be provided in the area 9. The substrate 9a can be provided on the bottom panel 2a of the housing 2. The substrate 9a can be provided with a plurality of expansion slots 9b. The plurality of expansion slots 9b can be provided, for example, lined up at predetermined intervals in the Y direction. Furthermore, electronic components such as a PCH (Platform Controller Hub) 9c can be mounted on the substrate 9a.

[0038] 1 and 2, the expansion card 7 is provided in the area 9. The expansion card 7 is inserted into an expansion slot 9b provided in the board 9a. The expansion card 7 is, for example, a RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) card.

[0039] The size of the expansion card 7 may be any of full size, short size, and low profile according to the PCI standard or PCIe standard. The size of the expansion card 7 illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 is full size. Also, although Figures 1 and 2 show an example in which one full-size RAID card is provided, the size, number, and functions of the expansion card 7 can be changed as needed.

[0040] 1 to 3, a holder 9d can be provided in the area 9. The holder 9d can be provided, for example, on the front panel 2c of the housing 2. The holder 9d can be, for example, plate-shaped and made of metal. The rear panel 2d side of the holder 9d is bent toward the bottom panel 2a. A bent surface 9d1 of the holder 9d faces, for example, the rear panel 2d. A plurality of grooves 9d2 can be provided on the bent surface 9d1. The plurality of grooves 9d2 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the Y direction. The pitch dimension and number of the plurality of grooves 9d2 can be the same as the pitch dimension and number of the plurality of expansion slots 9b, for example.

[0041] When a full-size expansion card 7 is inserted into the expansion slot 9b, the end of the expansion card 7 is inserted into the groove 9d2, so that the full-size expansion card 7 is supported by the holder 9d.

[0042] The fan 8 introduces the air in the atmosphere in which the electronic device 1 is installed into the housing 2. The fan 8 may be, for example, a blowing-type axial flow fan. A plurality of fans 8 may be provided inside the housing 2.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, electronic device 1 is provided with fans 8a and 8b. Fans 8a and 8b are provided near front panel 2c inside housing 2. Fan 8b can be provided alongside fan 8a in the Y direction. As described above, front panel 2c is provided with multiple air intakes. Therefore, fans 8a and 8b can introduce air into housing 2 through the multiple air intakes provided in front panel 2c. The air flows introduced into housing 2 by fans 8a and 8b become cooling air 100 and cooling air 101.

[0044] A portion of the fan 8a faces an opening at the end of the duct 6 on the front panel 2c side. The fan 8a mainly introduces air into the duct 6. The fan 8a mainly cools the calculation unit 5 (electronic components 5a, heat sink 5b) through the duct 6.

[0045] The fan 8b faces the area 9. The fan 8b mainly introduces air into the area 9. The fan 8b mainly cools electronic components such as the expansion card 7 and the PCH 9c provided in the area 9.

[0046] Here, the cooling airflows 100, 101 sent by the fans 8a, 8b, which are blowing type axial fans, flow mainly in a straight line while swirling in a direction along the central axis of rotation of the motor. As mentioned above, since the air deflector 6e is provided inside the duct 6, even if the cooling air 100 that flows linearly while swirling from the fan 8a is introduced into the inside of the duct 6, the cooling air 100 flowing inside the duct 6 can be efficiently guided to the heat sink 5b (electronic component 5a) by the air deflector 6e.

[0047] In contrast, when cooling air 101 that flows linearly while swirling is introduced into region 9 from fan 8b, cooling air 101 can be supplied to expansion cards 7 and electronic components such as PCH 9c that are arranged in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the motor, but cooling air 101 is less likely to be supplied to expansion cards 7 and electronic components that are offset in the Y direction from the direction parallel to the rotational axis of the motor. For example, cooling air 101 from fan 8b is less likely to be supplied to the vicinity of side panel 2b in region 9. As a result, the amount of cooling air 101 that reaches region 9 is uneven, which may prevent efficient cooling in region 9 and, ultimately, efficient cooling of the interior of housing 2.

[0048] Therefore, in the electronic device 1 according to this embodiment, a portion of the cooling air 100 blown from the fan 8a flows into the region 9 from a direction intersecting the direction along the central axis of rotation of the motor of the fan 8b.

[0049] 1 and 3, the end of fan 8a in the Z direction is located closer to the ceiling panel 2e of the housing 2 than the top plate 6a of duct 6. In other words, fan 8a faces the opening at one end of duct 6 in the X direction and protrudes from the top plate 6a of duct 6 toward the ceiling panel 2e of the housing 2.

[0050] In this way, cooling air 100 from fan 8a flows inside duct 6, and as shown in Fig. 1, part of the cooling air 100 collides with the outer surface (top plate 6a) of duct 6 in the Z direction. The air pressure increases in the area of ​​the outer surface of duct 6 where part of the cooling air 100 collides. Therefore, part of the colliding cooling air 100 flows out from the collision area and becomes cooling air 100a that flows into area 9 where expansion cards 7 and the like are installed.

[0051] 3, if the top panel 6a of the duct 6 is closer to the bottom panel 2a than the end of the holder 9d on the ceiling panel 2e side in the Z direction, it becomes easier for the cooling air 100a flowing into the area 9 to reach the expansion card 7. This makes it easier to cool the expansion card 7 with the cooling air 100a.

[0052] 1, cooling air 100a flows into region 9 from a direction intersecting the direction of fan 8b along the central axis of rotation of the motor (for example, the X direction). Therefore, cooling air 100a can be supplied to regions where cooling air 101 from fan 8b is difficult to be supplied. If cooling air 100a is supplied to regions where cooling air 101 is difficult to be supplied, it is possible to prevent the amount of cooling air reaching region 9 from becoming uneven. Therefore, efficient cooling in region 9, and therefore efficient cooling of the inside of housing 2, can be achieved.

[0053] Furthermore, by moving the position where part of the cooling air 100 collides with the top plate 6a of the duct 6 closer to the region 9, the amount of the cooling air 100a flowing into the region 9 can be increased. Therefore, it is possible to further prevent the amount of cooling air that reaches the region 9 from being unevenly distributed.

[0054] For example, as shown in Fig. 1, when region 9 is located on the right side of duct 6 as viewed from the blowing side of fan 8a, it is preferable to rotate the blades of fan 8a clockwise (right-handed). In this way, the position where part of cooling air 100 collides with top plate 6a of duct 6 can be moved closer to region 9, as shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, the amount of cooling air 100a flowing into region 9 can be increased compared to when the blades of fan 8a rotate counterclockwise (left-handed).

[0055] When region 9 is located on the left side of duct 6 as viewed from the blowing side of fan 8a, it is preferable to rotate the blades of fan 8a counterclockwise (left-handed). In this way, the position where part of cooling air 100 collides with top plate 6a of duct 6 can be brought closer to region 9. Therefore, the amount of cooling air 100a flowing into region 9 can be increased compared to when the blades of fan 8a rotate clockwise (right-handed).

[0056] That is, it is only necessary to select a fan 8a that rotates blades in an appropriate direction depending on the positional relationship between the duct 6 and the area 9 when viewed from the blowing side of the fan 8a.

[0057] Here, if a portion of the cooling air 100 is made to impinge on the top plate 6a of the duct 6, the amount of the cooling air 100 flowing inside the duct 6 is reduced accordingly. If the amount of the cooling air 100 flowing inside the duct 6 is reduced, the amount of the cooling air 100 that reaches the heat sink 5b (electronic components 5a) is reduced, which may reduce the cooling effect of the electronic components 5a.

[0058] Therefore, in the electronic device 1 according to this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the opening of the duct 6 on the front panel 2c side faces a portion of the fan 8a in the Z direction and a portion of the fan 8b in the Y direction.

[0059] In this case, as mentioned above, if the dimensions of the opening of the duct 6 on the front panel 2c side in the Y direction are larger than the dimensions of the opening of the duct 6 on the rear panel 2d side, it will be easy to make the opening of the duct 6 on the front panel 2c side face parts of the fans 8a and 8b in the Y direction.

[0060] If the opening of duct 6 on the front panel 2c side faces a part of fan 8b in the Y direction, it is possible to introduce part of cooling air 101 from fan 8b into duct 6. That is, cooling air 101 from fan 8b flows through region 9, and part of it flows inside duct 6.

[0061] Therefore, the amount of cooling air 100 reduced by causing a portion of cooling air 100 to impinge on top plate 6a of duct 6 can be compensated for by cooling air 101 introduced from fan 8b into duct 6. As a result, even if a portion of cooling air 100 is caused to impinge on top plate 6a of duct 6, a decrease in the cooling effect of electronic component 5a can be suppressed.

[0062] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, etc. can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the claims. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments can be implemented in combination with each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1 electronic device, 2 housing, 2a bottom panel, 2b side panel, 2c front panel, 2d rear panel, 2e top panel, 3 power supply, 4 memory unit, 5 computing unit, 6 duct, 6a top panel, 7 expansion card, 8 fan, 8a fan, 8b fan, 9 area, 9d holder, 100 cooling air, 100a cooling air, 101 cooling air

Claims

1. a box-shaped housing; a duct provided inside the housing and extending in a first direction; a first fan provided inside the housing, a portion of which faces an opening at one end of the duct in the first direction; a second fan provided inside the housing and arranged next to the first fan in a second direction intersecting the first direction; an area inside the housing, the area being located on one side of the duct in the second direction, and in which an expansion card is provided; Equipped with An electronic device in which a first cooling air from the first fan flows inside the duct and a portion of the first cooling air collides with the outer surface of the duct in a third direction that intersects the first direction and the second direction, and a portion of the colliding first cooling air flows into an area where the expansion card is installed.

2. a portion of the second fan faces an opening at one end of the duct in the first direction; 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the second cooling air from the second fan flows through an area where the expansion card is installed, and a part of the second cooling air flows inside the duct.

3. the first fan is a blowing type axial flow fan, The electronic device described in claim 1 or 2, wherein, when viewed from the blowing side of the first fan, if the area where the expansion card is installed is located on the right side of the duct, the rotation direction of the blades of the first fan is clockwise, and when the area where the expansion card is installed is located on the left side of the duct, the rotation direction of the blades of the first fan is counterclockwise.

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