Computer internal architecture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9974206-B2
Application number	US-201615263222-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2016
Priority date	Jun 7, 2013
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

An internal component and external interface arrangement for a cylindrical compact computing system is described that includes at least a structural heat sink having triangular shape disposed within a cylindrical volume defined by a cylindrical housing. A computing engine having a generally triangular shape is described having internal components that include a graphics processing unit (GPU) board, a central processing unit (CPU) board, an input/output (I/O) interface board, an interconnect board, and a power supply unit (PSU).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A desktop consumer electronic product, comprising:
a multi-part cylindrically shaped body having a first part and a second part that are separable from each other and that define, respectively, a first internal volume and a second internal volume each of which has a cross section that is circular and centered at a common longitudinal axis, and wherein the first part has a first opening and wherein the second part includes a circular base capable of supporting at least the second part in a vertical orientation on a horizontal surface during operation and comprising an annular arrangement of openings at a circumference that allow passage of air and acoustic energy; and
a computing engine comprising interconnected electronic components at least some of which are symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis, the computing engine comprising:
a first circular printed circuit board (cPCB) centered at and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and located in the first internal volume and in proximity to the first opening and having a first active surface that includes (i) a first board to board (B2B) connector and (ii) an RF circuit that is coupled to an RF antenna that is operable to form a communication channel using a wireless protocol,
a second cPCB that is centered at and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and located in the second internal volume and having a second active surface (i) that faces the first active surface and (ii) that includes a second B2B connector, and
a flexible connector having a first end that connects to the first B2B connector and a second end that connects to the second B2B connector.

2. The desktop consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first part has a second opening that accommodates an input mechanism suitable for providing an input signal to the computing engine.

3. The desktop consumer electronic product as recited in claim 2 , wherein a light indicator is visible through the second opening.

4. The desktop consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second cPCB includes a component capable of providing a signal that is used to provide the acoustic energy.

5. The desktop consumer electronic product as recited in claim 4 , wherein the component is a audio circuit.

6. The desktop consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1 , wherein the annular arrangement of openings are aligned radially outward from the common longitudinal axis.

7. The desktop consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second cPCB includes a power supply circuit capable of processing power received from an external power supply.

8. The desktop consumer electronic product as recited in claim 7 , wherein the processed power is passed from the power supply circuit to the first cPCB by way of the flexible connector.

9. A desktop consumer electronic device, comprising:
a cylindrically shaped body that is symmetrically disposed about a longitudinal axis and having at least a first part and a second part separably joined together at a junction and wherein the first part defines a first internal volume having a first circular cross section that is centered at and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the second part defines a second internal volume having a second circular cross section that is centered at and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
a first circular printed circuit board (cPCB) centered at and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and located within the first internal volume, the first cPCB having a first active surface that includes first operational components and a first board to board (B2B) connector;
a second cPCB centered at and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and located within the second internal volume, the second cPCB having a second active surface that includes second operational components and a second B2B connector, wherein the first active surface and the second active surface directly face each other; and
a flexible connector that electrically connects the first cPCB and the second cPCB and having a first contact electrically connected to the first B2B connector and a second contact electrically connected to the second B2B connector.

10. The desktop consumer electronic device, as recited in claim 9 , wherein the first cPCB comprises a radio frequency (RF) circuit electrically coupled with a RF antenna capable of transmitting/receiving a wireless communication using a wireless protocol.

11. The desktop consumer electronic device as recited in claim 9 , wherein the second cPCB comprises a power supply unit that is operable to provide power received from an external power supply to the first cPCB.

12. The desktop consumer electronic device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the second part includes a first opening, and wherein the second cPCB includes a data port, accessible through the first opening, and that enables passing data between the second cPCB and an external circuit.

13. The desktop consumer electronic device as recited in claim 12 , wherein the second part includes a second opening, and wherein the power supply unit includes a power supply port, accessible through the second opening, and capable of receiving externally supplied power.

14. The desktop consumer electronic device as recited in claim 12 , wherein the second part includes a third opening, and wherein the second cPCB includes a light element that, when illuminated, passes visible light through the third opening indicating a current operational status.

15. A desktop consumer electronic device comprising:
a cylindrical housing comprising:
a first cylindrical part that defines a first internal volume that is characterized (i) as being symmetric about a longitudinal axis, and (ii) as having a circular cross section that is centered at and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and having a first areal value; and
a second cylindrical part that is separable from the first cylindrical part and that defines a second internal volume that is characterized as being centered at and symmetric about the longitudinal axis, the second part comprising:
a circular base centered at and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and characterized as having a second areal value that is less than the first areal value, and capable of vertically supporting the cylindrical housing on a horizontal surface, the circular base having an annular ring shaped portion at a circumference having openings that allow a passage of air or acoustic energy between an environment external to the housing and at least the second internal volume.

16. The desktop consumer electronic device, as recited in claim 15 , further comprising:
a first circular printed circuit board (cPCB) carried by the first cylindrical part within the first internal volume, the first cPCB centered at and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and having a first active surface comprising first electronic components mounted thereto, at least one of which is a radio frequency (RF) circuit coupled to a RF antenna for transmitting and receiving RF signals generated by the RF circuit;
a second cPCB carried by the second cylindrical part within the second internal volume, the second cPCB centered at and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the second cPCB having a second active surface comprising second electronic components at least one of which is a power supply unit capable of receiving external power; and
a flexible connector that electrically couples the first and second cPCBs and is capable of passing power from the power supply unit to the first cPCB

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Degner Brett W
• Kalinowski Caitlin Elizabeth
• Kosoglow Richard D
• Banko Joshua D
• Narajowski David H
• Berk Jonathan L
• Leclerc Michael E
• Mcbroom Michael D
• Iqbal Asif
• Michelsen Paul S
• Sin Mark K
• Baker Paul A
• Sontag Harold L
• Yuen Wai Ching
• Casebolt Matthew P
• Fetterman Kevin S
• Calkins Alexander C
• Mcbroom Daniel L

Classifications

• H10W40/641

  Snap-on arrangements, e.g. clips · CPC title

• G06F1/183

  Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for supporting printed circuit boards · CPC title

• G06F1/188

  Mounting of power supply units · CPC title

• H05K7/20163 Primary

  the components being isolated from air flow, e.g. hollow heat sinks, wind tunnels or funnels · CPC title

• H05K7/2039

  characterised by the heat transfer by conduction from the heat generating element to a dissipating body (arrangements for increasing/decreasing heat-transfer, e.g. fins details, F28F13/00) · CPC title