Electronic Device Housing Projected Portion Ventilation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic device housings face challenges in downsizing due to the need for legs to prevent vent hole blockage, which increases the installation area and inhibits further size reduction despite the use of cooling fans for heat dissipation.

Innovation Solution

An electronic-device housing with a first surface having at least one opening for heat release and a projected portion that, when installed, creates a self-sustaining balance preventing the opening from being blocked, allowing for effective ventilation without increasing the device's thickness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If legs are provided in side surfaces and other surfaces of the housing to prevent vent hole blockage, then the vent holes are prevented from being blocked, but the installation area of the entire electronic device increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevent hole blockage preventionVSAvoidinstallation area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the blockage prevention function from separate legs and integrates it into the housing structure itself through projected portions that extend from the housing body. This eliminates the need for additional leg structures while maintaining the same functional effect of preventing vent hole blockage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the housing structure with the support/positioning function by integrating projected portions directly into the housing. This combines the enclosures function of the housing with the blockage prevention function, reducing the overall installation area compared to separate leg structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Length of moving object

If the electronic device is designed to be thinner to promote downsizing, then the electronic device size is reduced, but the legs required for uprightness stability make the device thicker

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice thicknessVSAvoiduprightness stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from using legs extending in one dimension (perpendicular to the vent hole surface) to using projected portions that extend in multiple directions from the housing body. This dimensional change allows the support structure to be integrated within the housing thickness rather than adding to it.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The projected portions are designed to provide stability only when the device is in the correct orientation with vent holes facing upward. When properly positioned, the projected portions contact the installation surface to prevent blockage, but do not compromise the thin profile of the device in its normal operating state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If legs are attached to the housing to assure cooling performance, then cooling performance is maintained, but the downsizing of the electronic device is inhibited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling performanceVSAvoiddevice volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The projected portions serve multiple functions: they provide structural support, prevent vent hole blockage, and maintain cooling performance simultaneously. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling assurance mechanisms that would increase device volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing structure itself provides the blockage prevention function through its integrated projected portions, rather than requiring external legs or supports. This self-service approach maintains cooling performance while avoiding additional components that would increase device volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 solution enables effective heat dissipation and prevents vent hole blockage, promoting downsizing while maintaining cooling performance, thus enhancing the applicability and stability of electronic devices.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling fan is used for the cooling inside the housing... This allows suction or exhaust through the vent hole to be performed, so that outer air circulates inside the housing to thereby cool the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

a rotation moment acting on a gravity center of the electronic-device housing acts in a direction where the rotation moment causes the first surface to move away from the installation surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS8995122B2Electronic device and electronic-device housing

Publication Date: 2015.03.31 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic-device housing stores an electronic circuit and a cooling fan. The electronic-device housing includes a first surface having at least one opening to release heat outside. At least one projected portion projects toward an outside of the electronic-device housing, and when the electronic-device housing is installed on an installation surface so that the first surface is opposed to the installation surface and the projected portion comes into contact with the installation surface, a rotation moment acting on a gravity center of the electronic-device housing acts in a direction where the rotation moment causes the first surface to move away from the installation surface.