Connector With Integrated Fan For Card Module Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Card modules experience difficulty in plugging and disassembling due to space constraints within computer hosts, and they have inefficient heat dissipation, as conventional connectors do not effectively facilitate easy access or enhance heat removal.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a slot with opposing pillar portions, a cap with protruding portions, and a pivoted bolt, along with a spring mechanism, allows for easy plugging and disassembling of card modules while incorporating a fan for enhanced heat dissipation through forced convection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling fans are disposed on connectors to dissipate heat through forced convection, then heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heat dissipation function with the connector structure by integrating the cooling fan directly into the connector body. The fan is positioned to blow air through the slot where the card module is inserted, creating a unified structure that performs both connection and cooling functions simultaneously, thereby improving heat dissipation without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides the mechanical connection interface for card modules and simultaneously acts as a mounting structure for the cooling fan. The slot in the connector serves dual purposes as both the insertion guide for the card module and the air passage for heat dissipation, embodying the multi-functionality principle.
2Volume of stationary object
If bolts are designed to un-rotate due to space constraints, then space utilization is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the bolt un-rotatable to save space (conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by making the bolt fully rotatable and positioning it away from obstructing elements. The bolt is placed at a location where it can rotate freely without interfering with the CD-ROM drive, hard disk, or cables, thereby restoring ease of operation while maintaining compact space utilization through optimized positioning rather than restricting movement.
3Device complexity
If cooling fans are fixed via protruding portion of the bolt, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fan mounting function from the bolt's primary fastening function. The bolt remains responsible for securing the card module, while a separate cap structure with a hook is introduced specifically for mounting the cooling fan. This cap is disposed on the first pillar portion and provides a dedicated attachment point, thereby ensuring reliable fan fixation without compromising the bolt's card module securing function, while maintaining relatively simple overall structure.
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 design enables effortless card module insertion and removal without twisting and improves heat dissipation by wedging a fan for effective cooling, addressing both accessibility and thermal efficiency issues.
Implementation Method 1
disposing cooling fans on the connectors and producing a forced convection
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device and a connector thereof are provided. The electronic device includes a circuit board and an electronic device and the connector disposed on the circuit board. The connector includes a slot and a cap. The slot is configured for a card module to be plugged in along a plugging direction. A first pillar portion and a second pillar portion are at two opposite sides of the slot. The cap is disposed on a top of the first pillar portion and has a first protruding portion. The first protruding portion protrudes out of a side of the first pillar portion away from the second pillar portion while observing along the plugging direction.