Modular Electronic Casing With Air-Cooled Board Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic casings for complex devices like residential gateways require complex disassembly and reassembly during repairs due to integrated components, hindering repairability and modularity.
Innovation Solution
A modular electronic casing design with two distinct parts forming a box, each housing an electronic board, connected via conduits that form air circulation channels and ensure equipotentiality through conductive connectors, allowing for independent functionality and easy separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If components are integrated on the same board or common dissipater, then thermal management is simplified, but repairability and modularity deteriorate due to complex disassembly operations
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic casing is divided into two separate parts, each housing a distinct electronic board. This segmentation allows each board to be independently accessed, removed, or replaced without affecting the other board, thereby improving repairability while maintaining thermal management through separate dissipaters for each part.
2Adaptability or versatility
If electronic boards are separated into distinct parts, then modularity and repairability are improved, but structural complexity increases due to multiple connectors and conduits
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit serving to connect the two parts of the box is designed to fulfill multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical connection between parts, establishes electrical equipotentiality through conductive material, and creates an air circulation channel for thermal management. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining modularity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector zones are integrated directly into the conduit structure, merging the connection function with the structural and thermal management functions. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate connection components, reducing overall structural complexity while preserving modular adaptability.
3Reliability
If connectors are made electrically conductive to ensure equipotentiality, then electrical stability is improved, but thermal conduction between parts increases potentially affecting thermal isolation
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit is designed with localized conductive zones specifically at the connector areas where electrical contact occurs. The rest of the conduit maintains lower thermal conductivity, allowing electrical equipotentiality to be established at connection points while preserving thermal isolation between the two parts through the majority of the conduit 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 facilitates easy assembly and disassembly, maintains equipotentiality, and enhances cooling efficiency through natural air circulation, supporting independent evolution of electronic boards with different functionalities.
Implementation Method 1
the circulation of air between the two parts of the box... favour the cooling of the two box parts... natural, thanks to the circulation of air
Implementation Method 2
at least one zone of the first connector in contact with the second connector being made of an electrically conductive material... make the electronic casing more easily modular... electronic boards can advantageously remain equipotential, thanks to the contacts of their connectors
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic casing includes a box including a first part and a second part, each part forming a distinct container, such that a first electronic board is housed in the first part and such that a second electronic board is housed in the second part, the two parts being integral with one another by a conduit shaped to form an air circulation channel, the casing comprising at least one first connector linked to the first electronic board and at least one second connector linked to the second electronic board, the two connectors being in contact with one another through the conduit.