Soundproof Structure for Electronic Device Cooling Fan
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Solution Overview
Problem
As electronic devices become thinner, the cooling fans used for heat dissipation must operate at higher speeds, leading to increased noise generation, particularly sharper noise in the high-frequency band, which can be unpleasant for users and affect device usability.
Innovation Solution
A soundproof structure is implemented by incorporating a sound absorbing member around the cooling fan, which absorbs the sharper noise without obstructing the air flow, thereby reducing noise levels and maintaining heat dissipation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cooling fan operates at high rotation speed to maintain heat dissipation performance in thinner devices, then heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but noise generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful noise generated by the cooling fan and removes it from the device interior by directing it through a dedicated noise discharge hole to the external environment, while maintaining the fan's high-speed operation for effective heat dissipation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a noise discharge hole as an intermediary pathway that allows noise to be separately vented from the device, decoupling the noise discharge function from the air circulation function, thereby enabling high-speed fan operation without compromising user comfort
2Productivity
If the cooling fan operates at high rotation speed, then heat dissipation performance is maintained, but sharper noise in high-frequency band increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifically extracts the harmful sharper noise components generated by high-speed fan operation and directs them through the noise discharge hole to the external environment, separating this harmful high-frequency noise from the device interior while maintaining effective heat dissipation
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a sound absorbing member is added around the cooling fan, then noise is reduced, but air flow may be obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the air flow path into two separate channels: one for cooling air intake and circulation, and another for noise discharge. This segmentation allows the sound absorbing member to be positioned without obstructing the cooling air flow, while still effectively reducing noise
Solution Approach 2:
The noise discharge hole acts as an intermediary pathway that separates noise discharge from air circulation, allowing the sound absorbing member to reduce noise without interfering with the cooling function
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 soundproof structure effectively reduces noise sharpness from 2.27 acum to 2.06 acum, enhancing user experience while maintaining the cooling fan's heat dissipation performance without altering its rotation speed or affecting the heat-emitting components' performance.
Implementation Method 1
a sound absorbing member 520, and a noise discharge hole 560. The sound absorbing member 520 may be disposed around the cooling fan 511 in a direction not to obstruct the air-flow created by the cooling fan 511
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
An electronic device having a soundproof structure is provided. The electronic device includes a housing including an internal space, an inlet and an outlet formed on one side of the housing, a cooling fan disposed in the internal space, and configured to create an air-flow introduced from the inlet which is discharged to the outlet, and a sound absorbing member disposed to surround, at least in part, a peripheral area of the cooling fan in a direction to not obstruct the air-flow.