Casing Structure Thermal Management via Segmented Heat Spreaders

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional thermal management solutions for electronic devices, such as laptops, often lead to reduced heat dissipation efficiency and potential user discomfort due to high surface temperatures, as thermal isolation designs hinder air ventilation and heat dissipation.

Innovation Solution

A casing structure incorporating a low thermal conductivity medium and heat spreaders to control heat transfer, allowing for effective thermal radiation and dissipation of heat away from the casing member, thereby maintaining a safe outer surface temperature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a thermal isolation plate is disposed on the base cover to protect user's thighs from scalding, then user comfort is improved, but heat dissipation efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser comfortVSAvoidheat dissipation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The base cover is divided into two functional layers: a thermal isolation layer (first plate) facing the user's thighs to prevent scalding, and a heat dissipation layer (second plate) with air vents to exhaust heat. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction between user comfort and heat dissipation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A thermal isolation plate is introduced as an intermediary element between the heat-generating components (CPU, GPU) and the user's thighs. This intermediary protects the user from heat while allowing the heat to continue dissipating through the base cover's air vents, thus maintaining both user comfort and heat dissipation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If the base cover is provided with air vents to exhaust heat flow, then heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but user comfort deteriorates due to high surface temperature

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipation efficiencyVSAvoiduser comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The base cover is segmented into a thermal isolation layer and a heat dissipation layer. The heat dissipation layer with air vents efficiently exhausts heat, while the thermal isolation layer prevents this heat from reaching the user's thighs, thus maintaining both heat dissipation efficiency and user comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the base cover are assigned different thermal properties: the area facing the user's thighs is designed with thermal isolation characteristics to protect the user, while other areas are designed with heat dissipation characteristics (air vents) to exhaust heat efficiently. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between heat dissipation and user comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The proposed solution ensures efficient heat dissipation and prevents user discomfort by maintaining a controlled outer surface temperature, even during high operating loads, while maintaining effective thermal management of heat sources like CPUs and GPUs.

Implementation Method 1

heat generated from a heat source like CPU or GPU is thermally transferred to the second heat spreader via the first heat spreader

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the low thermal conductivity medium is able to control heat transfer of heat transferring paths from the heat source to the casing member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 3

the heat is dissipated away from the casing member to air due to the outstanding thermal radiation ability of the casing member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS11925002B2Casing structure with functionality of effective thermal management

Publication Date: 2024.03.05 ALMI MATERIALS TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A casing structure with functionality of effective thermal management is disclosed, which consists of a casing member, a low thermal conductivity medium, a second heat spreader, and a first heat spreader. When a user operates the electronic device, heat generated from CPU and/or GPU is transferred to the second heat spreader via the first heat spreader, and then is two-dimensionally spread in the second heat spreader. Consequently, the heat is dissipated away from the casing member to air due to the outstanding thermal radiation ability of the casing member. The low thermal conductivity medium is adopted for controlling a heat transfer of heat transferring paths from the heat source and ends to the casing member. By applying the casing structure in an electronic device by a form of a top casing and/or a back casing, an outer surface temperature of the casing member can be well controlled.