Heat management apparatus for an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9600041-B2
Application number	US-201414444084-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2014
Priority date	Jul 28, 2014
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

A heat management apparatus for an electronic device that includes a heat spreader. The heat spreader has a top surface and a bottom surface. A first portion is coupled to the electronic device. A second portion extends away from the electronic device. The heat spreader has a heat conductivity of at least approximately 100 Watts per meter Kelvin (W/mK). In some configurations the heat spreader may comprise a woven graphite material or a graphene material with a heat conductivity of at least approximately 1000 W/mK.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heat management apparatus for an electronic device comprising:
a heat spreader having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and including a first portion coupled to the electronic device and a second portion comprising a planar configuration extending away from the electronic device, wherein the second portion of the heat spreader is flexible and configured to extend over adjoining surfaces of an outer body of the electronic device,
wherein the heat spreader has a heat conductivity of at least approximately 100 Watts per meter Kelvin (W/mK); and
wherein the first portion of the heat spreader is positioned within the electronic device, with the electronic device having a body opening through which the heat spreader extends to the second portion comprising the planar configuration thereof.

2. The heat management apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second portion of the heat spreader being selectively positionable in a plurality of orientations, at least one of which orientations extends the second portion over a top surface of the electronic device.

3. The heat management apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second portion of the heat spreader further includes at least one feature of separate utility.

4. The heat management apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heat spreader is positioned in close proximity to an inner heat generating element.

5. The heat management apparatus of claim 4 further comprising one of a heat conductive pad and a heat conductive paste extending between an inner heat generating element and the first portion of the heat spreader.

6. The heat management apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first portion of heat spreader and the second portion of the heat spreader are releasably attachable to each other at a coupling.

7. The heat management apparatus of claim 6 wherein the coupling comprises a magnetic coupling.

8. The heat management apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heat spreader has a heat conductivity of at least approximately 1000 Watts per meter Kelvin (W/mK).

9. The heat management apparatus of claim 8 wherein the heat spreader comprises one of a woven carbon fiber material and a graphene material.

10. The heat management apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a protective coating extending over at least a part of the second portion of the heat spreader.

11. A combination electronic device and heat management apparatus, the electronic device comprising:
an outer body and at least one inner heat generating element;
the heat management apparatus further comprising:
a heat spreader having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and including a first portion coupled to the electronic device and a second portion comprising a planar configuration extending away from the electronic device, wherein the second portion of the heat spreader is flexible and configured to extend over adjoining surfaces of an outer body of the electronic device,
wherein the heat spreader has a heat conductivity of at least approximately 100 Watts per meter Kelvin (W/mK); and
wherein the first portion of the heat spreader extends into the outer body of the electronic device and is positioned in close proximity to the at least one inner heat generating element, with the electronic device further including a body opening through which the heat spreader extends to the second portion comprising the planar configuration.

12. A heat management apparatus for an electronic device comprising:
a heat spreader having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and including a first portion coupled to the electronic device and a second portion comprising a planar configuration extending away from the electronic device,
wherein the heat spreader has a heat conductivity of at least approximately 100 Watts per meter Kelvin (W/mK);
wherein the first portion of the heat spreader is positioned within the electronic device, with the electronic device having a body opening through which the heat spreader extends to the second portion comprising the planar configuration thereof;
wherein the second portion of the heat spreader further includes at least one feature of separate utility; and
wherein the at least one feature of separate utility is selected from the group consisting of a slot, a loop configured to receive a stylus or writing implement, and an input device.

13. A heat management apparatus for an electronic device comprising:
a heat spreader having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and including a first portion coupled to the electronic device and a second portion comprising a planar configuration extending away from the electronic device,
wherein the heat spreader has a heat conductivity of at least approximately 100 Watts per meter Kelvin (W/mK);
wherein the first portion of the heat spreader is positioned within the electronic device, with the electronic device having a body opening through which the heat spreader extends to the second portion comprising the planar configuration thereof;
wherein the second portion of the heat spreader further includes at least one feature of separate utility; and
wherein the at least one feature of separate utility includes a plurality of fold lines positioned on the second portion of the heat spreader, the plurality of fold lines cooperating with the second portion of the heat spreader to form a stand for the electronic device.

Assignees

• Google Technology Holdings LLC

Inventors

• Ady Roger W
• Cavallaro Alberto R
• Lim David Kyungtag

Classifications

• G06F1/203 Primary

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