PED Case Back Vents and Sealing for Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional portable electronic device (PED) cases often compromise between protection and heat dissipation, as they may act as heat insulators and obstruct peripheral functionality, while lacking adequate protection against environmental hazards and rough handling.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates back vents and sealing/cushioning members that allow for passive heat dissipation and peripheral access, using materials like plastic, rubber, or thermoplastic polyurethane to create a case that aligns heat-generating components with vents and protects peripherals, while sealing members prevent environmental damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the case is made with solid sealing material to protect against environmental hazards, then protection reliability is improved, but heat dissipation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The case is divided into sealed portions and vented portions, with back vents created through the interior backplane. This segmentation allows different regions to serve different functions: sealed areas protect against environmental hazards while vented areas enable heat dissipation from heat-generating components.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the case have different sealing properties. The sealing members are positioned to seal specific areas while leaving vent openings in other areas. This allows the case to have both protective sealed regions and heat-dissipating vented regions, addressing both protection and thermal management needs.
2Temperature
If the case includes vent openings for heat dissipation, then heat dissipation capability is improved, but protection against environmental hazards deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Vent openings are extracted or removed from the interior backplane of the case, creating dedicated pathways for heat dissipation. These vents are strategically positioned to allow thermal airflow while the surrounding sealed portions maintain environmental protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent openings act as intermediaries that facilitate heat transfer from the PED to the external environment. The vents are positioned to align with heat-generating components, creating a thermal pathway that does not compromise the overall sealed structure.
3Reliability
If the case covers peripherals to protect them, then protection reliability is improved, but peripheral functionality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The case is designed with differentiated regions: sealed portions that protect vulnerable areas and vented portions that expose peripherals needing functionality. This allows the case to selectively protect or expose different parts of the PED based on their functional requirements.
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
This design effectively dissipates heat, maintains peripheral functionality, and provides protection against environmental hazards and handling stresses, balancing the need for protection and heat management in PED cases.
Implementation Method 1
The case includes one or more back vents and sealing/cushioning members that allow for passive heat dissipation
Implementation Method 2
aligns heat-generating components with vents
Data Source
AI summary
A case for a portable electronic device (PED) is disclosed. The case includes a body having an interior surface configured to accept a PED and an exterior surface to be exposed to outside forces. A back vent that permits the transfer heat away from the PED and to the environment presents through the body of the case. A cushioning member is placed at or near the back vent on the interior surface of the case and may substantially or completely surround the back vent. When a PED is placed within the case, the fit of the PED and the case causes the cushioning member to press against the PED in order to create a cushion for the PED in the event of an outside force being applied to the case. The case may include a screen protector within a frame that attaches to the body.