Variable Blade Area Cooling Fan for Miniature PC Heat Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Miniature notebook PCs face challenges in heat dissipation due to limited fan size, leading to insufficient airflow and increased noise when trying to enhance cooling through higher fan speeds.
Innovation Solution
A fan module design that adjusts fan blade size by sliding a second pivot portion within a first containing cavity, allowing for increased airflow during high power consumption modes without increasing fan speed, thus maintaining a compact form factor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If fan size is increased to provide sufficient airflow for heat dissipation, then heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but device size becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
The fan module employs a dynamic blade configuration where the second fan's pivot portion can slide relative to the first fan's pivot portion. This allows the effective blade area to be dynamically adjusted - expanding when high heat dissipation is needed and contracting when compact size is required - thus resolving the contradiction between heat dissipation efficiency and device size
Solution Approach 2:
The second fan is nested within the first fan structure, with its pivot portion slidably disposed in the first pivot portion's containing cavity. This nesting arrangement allows the second fan to be stored compactly within the first fan when not in use, and deployed when needed, effectively solving the space constraint problem
2Temperature
If fan speed is increased to provide sufficient airflow for heat dissipation, then heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but noise level increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two fans in a nested configuration where the second fan can be deployed alongside the first fan. This merging of fan surfaces effectively doubles the blade area without increasing rotational speed, achieving improved heat dissipation efficiency while avoiding the noise penalty associated with higher fan speeds
3Productivity
If fan blade size is increased to improve heat dissipation, then airflow is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second fan's pivot portion is designed to slide automatically or be easily actuated within the first pivot portion's containing cavity. This self-contained sliding mechanism allows the complex dual-fan configuration to be managed through a simple linear motion, minimizing the added complexity while enabling the airflow improvement
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
Improves heat dissipation efficiency without noise disturbance by dynamically expanding fan blade size during high heat generation and returning to a compact configuration during low heat modes, meeting the needs of miniature electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
The actuator is coupled to the first pivot portion and drives the first fan to rotate around the axis
Implementation Method 2
The first fan drives the second fan to rotate around the axis
Data Source
AI summary
A fan module including a first fan, a second fan and an actuator is provided. The first fan has a first pivot portion and a plurality of first fan blades. Each first fan blade has a first blade face. The second fan has a second pivot portion and a plurality of second fan blades corresponding to the first fan blades. Each second fan blade has a second blade face. The second pivot portion is slidably disposed at a containing cavity of the first pivot portion. The actuator is adapted to drive the first fan to rotate. The first fan is adapted to drive the second fan to rotate. When the second pivot portion protrudes out of the containing cavity, a part of each of the second blade faces does not overlap with the corresponding first blade face along a direction perpendicular to the corresponding first blade face.