Vehicle with vibration isolated electronics
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorJonathan Barak Flowers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can include a heat-generating electronic device coupled with a heat exhaust element by a vibration isolating thermal connector. The thermal connector includes a first heat-conducting element configured to draw heat from the electronic device, a second heat-conducting element separated from the first heat-conducting element, and a flexible seal connected with the first and second heat-conducting elements and defining an enclosed cavity between the elements. The enclosed cavity contains a heat conducting liquid, and allows limited movement of the first and second heat conducting elements with respect to each other while maintaining thermal connection.
Claims21
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
- a frame coupled with a plurality of thrust elements;
- a heat exhaust element coupled with the frame and having a first heat conducting element;
- a control element comprising a heat generating electronic element comprising an electronics board and an integrated chip mounted to the electronics board;
- and
- a second heat conducting element integral to or coupled with the integrated chip to draw heat from the integrated chip, the second heat conducting element of the heat generating electronic element being thermally coupled with the first heat conducting element of the heat exhaust element by a thermally conductive vibration isolating connector comprising a flexible seal that encloses a thermally conductive liquid medium, the thermally conductive liquid medium separating the first and second heat conducting elements, wherein the thermally conductive vibration isolating connector supports the heat generating electronic element relative to the heat exhaust element, physically separates the heat generating electronic element from the frame, and accommodates relative movement of the heat generating electronic element relative to the frame and the heat exhaust element.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a frame;
- a heat exhaust element mounted to the frame and having a first heat conductive element;
- and
- a heat generating electronic device comprising an electronics board, an integrated chip mounted to the electronics board, and a second heat conductive element integral to or connected to the integrated chip, wherein the first and second heat conductive elements are mechanically and thermally coupled by a thermally conductive vibration isolating connector comprising a flexible seal that encloses a thermally conductive liquid medium separating the first and second heat conducting elements such that the thermally conductive vibration isolating connector supports the heat generating electronic device relative to the heat exhaust element, physically separates the heat generating electronic device from the frame, and accommodates relative movement of the heat generating electronic device relative to the frame and the heat exhaust element.
A method of assembling a heat generating electronic device with a vehicle, the method comprising:
- connecting a heat exhaust assembly with a frame of the vehicle;
- and
- connecting the heat generating electronic device with the heat exhaust assembly by a thermally conductive vibration isolating connector, the thermally conductive vibration isolating connector comprising a first heat conducting element and a second heat conducting element separated by a nonzero distance, the first and second heat conducting elements connected by a flexible seal that encloses a thermally conductive liquid medium separating the first and second heat conducting elements, wherein:
- the first heat conducting element is thermally connected with the heat exhaust assembly and the second heat conducting element is thermally connected with the heat generating electronic device, and
- the thermally conductive vibration isolating connector supports the heat generating electronic device relative to the heat exhaust assembly, physically separates the heat generating electronic device from the frame, and accommodates relative movement of the heat generating electronic device relative to the frame and the heat exhaust assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.