Portable Computer Decorative Cover Thermal Tray Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable computers with decorative covers face cooling system deterioration due to blocked fresh air inlets and exhaust outlets, which increases production costs and affects aesthetic appeal.
Innovation Solution
A portable computer design featuring a main housing with openable and closable display side housing, apertures for forced air cooling on the bottom and side, and a decorative cover with a thermal tray and spacers that maintain airflow passages, allowing outside air to pass through while keeping the decorative cover attached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a decorative cover is provided to cover the entire housing, then aesthetic appearance and protection are improved, but the fresh air inlets and exhaust outlets are blocked, deteriorating cooling capability
Solution Approach 1:
The decorative cover is segmented into multiple parts: a main body portion covering the housing, and a separate tray portion with aperture portions. This segmentation allows the cover to provide aesthetic protection while the aperture portions maintain airflow paths for cooling, resolving the contradiction between appearance and cooling functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray with aperture portions acts as an intermediary component between the decorative cover and the housing. It provides a structured pathway for air flow while maintaining the aesthetic coverage, mediating between the need for complete coverage and the need for ventilation openings.
2Reliability
If apertures are provided on the decorative cover corresponding to fresh air inlets and exhaust outlets, then cooling capability is maintained, but production cost increases and aesthetic appeal is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing apertures directly on the decorative cover, the invention segments the ventilation function into separate tray portions with aperture portions. This allows the main decorative cover to remain aesthetically pleasing and intact, while the segmented tray portions provide the necessary airflow paths, avoiding the need for costly and aesthetically compromising apertures in the main cover.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray portions with aperture portions serve as functional copies or substitutes for the ventilation openings, providing the necessary airflow capability without requiring actual apertures in the decorative cover itself. This copying approach maintains aesthetics while achieving the ventilation function.
3Ease of manufacture
If a decorative cover is permanently attached to the housing, then the housing surface finishing process is simplified, but airflow passages are blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The decorative cover is segmented into a main body portion that can be permanently attached to provide aesthetic coverage, and separate tray portions with aperture portions that are detachably attached. This segmentation allows the main cover to simplify the finishing process through permanent attachment, while the detachable tray portions maintain airflow passages for cooling functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment method is made dynamic: the main decorative cover portion is permanently attached for simplified manufacturing, while the tray portions with apertures are detachably attached to allow airflow. This dynamic attachment strategy resolves the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and cooling capability.
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 ensures effective cooling performance even with a decorative cover, maintaining equivalent cooling capability and surface temperature control, thus addressing the issue of blocked vents without increasing production costs or compromising aesthetics.
Implementation Method 1
a forced air cooling method via a cooling fan is typically employed to cool down the inside of the portable computer
Implementation Method 2
The spacer is configured to secure a predetermined space between the flat plate member and the bottom of the main housing to form an air flow passage for allowing outside air to pass through the apertures
Data Source
AI summary
A portable computer having a decorative cover is disclosed. The portable computer includes a main housing and a display side housing. The display side housing is openably and closably attached to the main housing. Several apertures for forced air cooling are formed in a bottom and a side of the main housing. The decorative cover is configured to cover surfaces of the display side housing and the main housing. A tray having a flat plate member and a spacer are attached to the bottom of the main housing. The spacer is configured to secure a predetermined space between the flat plate member and the bottom of the main housing to form an air flow passage for allowing outside air to pass through the apertures. The spacer is arranged between the decorative cover and the bottom of the main housing.