Mobile computing device dock station with headset jack heat pipe interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9268376-B2
Application number	US-201313737388-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 9, 2013
Priority date	Jan 9, 2013
Publication date	Feb 23, 2016
Grant date	Feb 23, 2016

Abstract

An improved electronic communications system 100 features a holder assembly 104 such as a mobile computing device dock station 106 and dock heat exchanger providing an external heat sink 162 which when coupled with a user-friendly heat transfer device 164 such as a heat pipe can transfer heat from internal electronic components 146, 148 and 154 and an internal heat sink 157 of an electronic communications device 102 , such as a cellular phone or mobile computing device, via a special headset jack-heat pipe interface 167 to help cool the electronic communications device 102 . The electronic communications device 102 can also include one or more thermal couplings 158 - 160 for coupling and providing a thermal pathway(s) from at least one of the internal electronic components 146, 148 and 154 to the internal heat sink 157.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a modified headset jack connector; and
an electronic communications device,
the modified headset jack connector comprising:
a heat pipe-receiving opening extending through the modified headset jack connector; and
a heat pipe housed by the modified jack connector via the heat pipe-receiving opening,

the electronic communications device comprising:
one or more electrical components that generate heat when in operation;
a device heat sink internal to the electronic communications device and thermally connected to the one or more electrical components effective to transfer the heat, generated by the one or more electrical components when in operation, to the device heat sink; and
a headphone jack port thermally coupled to the device heat sink, the headphone jack port structurally configured to:
receive the modified headset jack connector;
enable the heat pipe to thermally connect to the device heat sink internal to the electronic communications device effective to provide a first thermal pathway to a holder heat sink external to the electronic communications device;
enable external transfer of at least some of the heat generated by the electronic communications device through the first thermal pathway; and
transfer one or more electrical signals from the electronic communication device to the modified headset jack connector via one or more electrical contacts.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the one or more electric components thermally connected to the device heat sink internal to the electronic communications device comprise at least one of:
a processor;
a printed circuit board (PCB);
an integrated circuit (IC) chip; or
a battery.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the electronic communications device comprises a mobile phone.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the headphone jack port is configured to transfer audio output via the one or more electrical contacts.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the device heat sink internal to the electronic communications device is thermally connected to a thermal metal charger-shield to provide a second thermal pathway between the device heat sink and a power charger associated with the electronic communications device.

6. The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the headphone jack port comprises a socket configured to receive the heat pipe.

7. The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the device heat sink internal to the electronic communications device comprises:
an aluminum heat sink;
a copper heat sink;
a composite heat sink; or
a graphite heat sink.

8. The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the headphone jack port is thermally coupled to the device heat sink through:
a copper thermal coupler;
a copper alloy thermal coupler;
a carbon based thermal coupler;
an aluminum thermal coupler; or
a thermal coupler with a conductive coating.

9. The system in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising at least one antenna associated with wireless communications.

10. The system in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising an adapter operatively coupled to a battery internal to the electronic communications device effective to enable charging the battery using an external source via the adapter.

11. A system for transferring heat generated by an electronic device, the system comprising:
a holder assembly for receiving and holding the electronic device;
a heat sink comprising an interface configured to enable the electronic device to make a thermal connection to the heat sink, the heat sink configured to provide a heat collector for collecting and dissipating at least some of the heat generated by the electronic device; and
a heat transfer device comprising:
a heat pipe for transferring the at least some of the heat generated by the electronic device to the heat sink;
a first end configured to connect with the electronic device via a headset jack socket interface; and
a second end for connection to the heat sink via the interface effective to provide a thermal pathway between the electronic device and the heat sink using the heat pipe.

12. The system in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the heat pipe comprises:
a copper heat pipe;
a copper alloy heat pipe;
an aluminum heat pipe;
an aluminum alloy heat pipe;
a carbon based heat pipe;
a carbon fiber heat pipe;
a metal pipe;
a thermal conduit;
a thermal conductor;
a tubular heat conductor;
a metal conductor;
a solid conductor;
an elongated rod;
a metal rod;
a carbon fiber rod;
a carbon fiber tube; or
a metal tube.

13. The system in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the interface comprises a sleeve configured to receive the second end of the heat transfer device.

14. The system in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the holder assembly comprises:
a dock;
a car dock;
a deck dock;
a lap dock;
a dock station;
a mobile computing dock station;
a docking station;
a cradle; or
an electronics communications device-receiving case.

15. The system in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the holder assembly is configured to receive and hold:
a mobile phone;
a portable networking device; or
an electronic reading device.

16. A system for transferring heat generated by an electronic device, the system comprising:
an electronic device-receiving holder assembly comprising a holder for receiving and holding the electronic device, the electronic device-receiving holder assembly comprising a heat sink comprising an interface configured to enable the electronic device to make a thermal connection to the heat sink, the heat sink configured to provide a heat collector for collecting and dissipating at least some of the heat generated by the electronic device using the interface; and
a heat transfer device comprising:
an elongated heat pipe for transferring the at least some of the heat generated by the electronic device to the heat sink via the interface; and
a modified headset jack connector configured to:
house the elongated heat pipe effective to connect a first end of the elongated heat pipe to the heat sink via the interface and connect a second end of the elongated heat pipe to the electronic device via a headset jack socket effective to provide a thermal pathway between the electronic device and the heat sink; and
connect with the headset jack socket effective to transfer electronic signals from the electronic device effective to play audio associated with the electronic signals using an audible device.

17. The system in accordance with claim 16 , wherein the modified headset jack connector comprises a heat pipe-receiving opening extending through the modified headset jack connector for providing the thermal pathway between the electronic device and the heat sink.

18. The system in accordance with claim 16 , wherein the elongated heat pipe comprises:
a copper heat pipe;
a copper alloy heat pipe;
an aluminum heat pipe;
an aluminum alloy heat pipe;
a carbon based heat pipe; or
a conductor.

19. The system in accordance with claim 16 , wherein the electronic device-receiving holder comprises:
a dock station;
a cradle; or
an electronics communications device-receiving case.

20. The system in accordance with claim 16 , wherein the heat sink comprises:
an aluminum external heat sink;
a copper external heat sink;
a composite external heat sink;
a graphite external heat sink;
a metal exte

Assignees

• Google Technology Holdings LLC

Inventors

• Winkler David A
• Bowers Morris B
• Sehmbey Maninder S

Classifications

• H05K7/20336

  Heat pipes, e.g. wicks or capillary pumps · CPC title

• G06F1/1632

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title

• G06F1/203 Primary

  for portable computers, e.g. for laptops · CPC title