Magnetic convection cooling for handheld device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10122836-B2
Application number	US-201615279145-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2016
Priority date	Sep 28, 2016
Publication date	Nov 6, 2018
Grant date	Nov 6, 2018

Abstract

A handheld device may include a magnetic convection cooling system, which may include a fluid chamber that is in thermal communication with electronic circuitry of the handheld device. The fluid chamber may be closed and may contain a substantially non-gaseous first fluid and a substantially non-gaseous second fluid, wherein first fluid may include a magnetic property different from a magnetic property of second fluid. At least one electromagnet may be selectively activated to move the first and second fluids within the fluid chamber to provide convective cooling of the electronic circuitry.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A handheld device, comprising:
a first fluid and a second fluid that are substantially non-gaseous and within a fluid chamber that is in thermal communication with electronic circuitry, wherein the first fluid includes a magnetic property different from the second fluid;
a first electromagnet positioned at a first side of the fluid chamber;
a second electromagnet positioned at a second side of the fluid chamber;
a temperature sensor that is in thermal communication with a component of the electronic circuitry; and
control circuitry in communication with the temperature sensor, wherein the control circuitry is to:
determine whether a temperature of the component exceeds a threshold temperature; and
alternate activation of the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet in response to determination that the temperature of the component exceeds the threshold temperature, wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are to change locations based on the alternate activation.

2. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the control circuitry is to selectively activate the first electromagnet to position the first fluid in the fluid chamber toward the first electromagnet.

3. The handheld device of claim 1 further wherein the second electromagnet is positioned at the second side of the fluid chamber in opposition to the first side and wherein the control circuitry is further to selectively activate the second electromagnet to position the first fluid in the fluid chamber relative to the second electromagnet.

4. The handheld device of claim 3 wherein the control circuitry is to alternately activate the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet to position the first fluid in the fluid chamber toward the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet, respectively.

5. The handheld device of claim 3 wherein the fluid chamber includes at least a first channel guide and a second channel guide that channelize the first fluid and the second fluid between the first side and the second side of the fluid chamber.

6. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the first fluid and the second fluid include respective a first liquid and a second liquid.

7. The handheld device of claim 6 wherein the first liquid and the second liquid are immiscible.

8. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the control circuitry is to selectively activate the first electromagnet in response to the temperature of the component.

9. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are thermally conductive.

10. The handheld device of claim 1 in which the handheld device includes a mobile telephone.

11. The handheld device of claim 1 , wherein the component is a central processing integrated circuit (IC) component.

12. A handheld device, comprising:
electronic circuitry;
a fluid chamber in thermal communication with the electronic circuitry;
a means for determining a temperature of a component of the electronic circuitry;
a means for cooling a portion of the handheld device, wherein the means for cooling includes a first substantially non-gaseous fluid and a second substantially non-gaseous fluid contained within the fluid chamber;
a means for positioning the means for cooling within the fluid chamber, wherein the means for positioning includes a first electromagnet positioned at a first side of the fluid chamber and a second electromagnet positioned at a second side of the fluid chamber; and
a means for activating the means for positioning, wherein the means for activating is to:
determine whether the temperature of the component exceeds a threshold temperature based on an output of the means for determining; and
alternatively activate the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet to reposition the means for cooling in response to determination that the temperature of the component exceeds the threshold temperature, wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are to change locations based on alternate activation of the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet.

13. The handheld device of claim 12 wherein the means for activating includes control circuitry to alternatively activate the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet in response to the determination that the temperature of the component exceeds the threshold temperature.

14. The handheld device of claim 12 wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are immiscible, and wherein at least one of the first fluid and the second fluid is magnetic.

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Lai Min-Tih

Classifications

• H05K7/20145

  Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides · CPC title

• H05K7/20136 Primary

  Forced ventilation, e.g. by fans (H05K7/202 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04M1/0202 Primary

  Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets (constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03) · CPC title

• F28F23/00

  Features relating to the use of intermediate heat-exchange materials, e.g. selection of compositions (heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials C09K5/00) · CPC title

• F28F13/125

  by stirring · CPC title