Keyboard-Edge Air Intake Venting for Low-Impedance Notebook Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional notebook computers face high airflow impedance in intake vents due to narrow gaps between the bottom cover and the surface they rest on, leading to inefficient cooling and potential damage from liquid spills when airflow vents are placed on the horizontal surface.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an airflow intake vent proximate to the upper edge of the keyboard, utilizing a sidewall with openings to facilitate airflow entry, eliminating the need for waterproof membranes and reducing airflow impedance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If airflow intake vents are placed on the bottom cover of the housing, then the cooling function is provided, but high airflow impedance occurs due to narrow gaps between the bottom cover and the surface the notebook computer rests upon
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the airflow intake vent from the bottom cover (horizontal dimension) to the sidewall (vertical dimension), changing the spatial dimension of airflow entry. This allows air to enter through the vertical sidewall rather than the horizontal bottom cover, eliminating the impedance caused by narrow gaps between the bottom cover and supporting surfaces.
2Temperature
If airflow intake vents are placed on the bottom cover, then cooling is provided, but the notebook computer becomes susceptible to damage from liquid spills
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the airflow intake vent from the bottom cover location and relocates it to the sidewall. This separation removes the vulnerability to liquid spills that occurs when vents are positioned on the horizontal bottom cover, while preserving the cooling function through the vertically positioned sidewall vent.
3Reliability
If waterproof membranes are added to protect against liquid spills, then liquid spill damage is prevented, but airflow impedance increases
Solution Approach 1:
By relocating the airflow intake vent to the sidewall, the patent eliminates the need for waterproof membranes that would be required on the bottom cover. This extraction of the vent from the bottom cover position removes the conflicting requirement for both liquid protection and airflow maintenance.
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
Enhances cooling efficiency by providing a horizontal airflow path, minimizing skin temperature of the top cover, and preventing damage from liquid spills while maintaining effective airflow.
Implementation Method 1
when air pressure inside the housing is lower than that outside the housing, air flows from outside the housing, then through the opening, then through the airflow intake vent
Data Source
AI summary
An information handling system may include an information handling resource, an air mover, and a housing configured to house the keyboard and the air mover. The housing may include a cover with an opening formed therein through which an information handling resource is accessible to a user of the information handling system, a support tray for mechanically supporting the information handling resource and positioning the information handling resource within the opening and relative to the cover, and a sidewall mechanically interfaced between the cover and the support tray, the sidewall having an airflow intake vent formed through the sidewall such that at least a portion of airflow driven by the air mover flows from outside the housing, then through the opening, then through the airflow intake vent.