Fan Mount Damping and Airflow Control for Vibration Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fans in electronic devices cause vibrations and noise, which can be pronounced at higher acoustic levels, affecting the chassis and keyboard, and existing solutions do not effectively mitigate these issues without impacting airflow or temperature.
Innovation Solution
The use of viscoelastic dampeners, check valves, and conical springs to isolate fan-induced vibrations by converting mechanical energy into thermal energy, and redirecting airflow to minimize collision-induced vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If fan speed is increased to improve cooling performance, then heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but vibration and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
A dampener is introduced as an intermediary component between the fan and the chassis to absorb and reduce vibrations. The dampener acts as a mediator that allows the fan to operate at high speeds for effective cooling while preventing the transmission of vibration and noise to the chassis, thus resolving the contradiction between cooling performance and vibration reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration and noise generated by the fan at high speeds are converted into a beneficial effect by using the dampener to absorb these harmful vibrations and dissipate them as minimal thermal energy, thereby transforming the harmful byproduct of high-speed operation into an acceptable level that does not compromise user comfort.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If dampeners are added to reduce vibration, then vibration and noise are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dampener is designed as a thin, flexible component that can be easily integrated into the existing fan assembly structure. This flexible film-like structure provides effective vibration damping without adding significant complexity to the device, as it can be installed between the fan mounting points and the chassis without requiring complex mechanical assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The dampener is implemented as a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily replaced if needed. This approach reduces the overall complexity of the device by using a simple, low-cost solution rather than a complex, expensive vibration control system, making the device easier to manufacture and maintain.
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
Effectively reduces fan-induced vibrations and noise without affecting airflow or skin temperature, providing a balanced load distribution and improved user experience.
Implementation Method 1
Some examples include dampeners such as viscoelastic dampeners to mount fan housing
Implementation Method 2
The dampener is to convert mechanical energy into thermal energy during operation of the fan
Implementation Method 3
The dampener may include a conical spring
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
Systems, apparatus, articles of manufacture, and methods to reduce fan-induced vibration in electronic devices are disclosed. An example electronic device includes a mainboard; a fan; a chassis including a first cover and a second cover; and at least two of: (a) a fastener to couple the fan to the chassis; and a first dampener positioned between both (1) the fan and the fastener and (2) the fan and the chassis; (b) a plurality of check valves orientated in a first direction; and a plurality of inversed check valves oriented in a second direction different than the first direction, the inverse check valves to change a flow rate of air exhausted from the fan; or (c) a first plurality of second dampeners coupled between the mainboard and the first cover; and a second plurality of second dampeners coupled between the mainboard and the second cover.