Shape-memory heat absorbers
AssigneeLenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
InventorsBouziane Yebka, Joseph Anthony Holung, Tin-Lup Wong, Philip John Jakes
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Abstract
In one aspect, a device may include a housing, at least one processor within the housing, storage accessible to the at least one processor and within the housing, and plural heat absorbers within the housing that may be spherical. Each heat absorber may include an outer shell and inner material. The outer shell may include a shape-memory material. The inner material may include phase-change material different from the shape-memory material. The melting point of the phase-change material may be lower than the melting point of the shape-memory material. The heat absorbers may be juxtaposed with one or more other components of the device to absorb heat from the one or more other components.
Claims20
A device, comprising:
- a housing;
- at least one processor within the housing;
- storage accessible to the at least one processor and within the housing;
- and
- plural spherical heat absorbers within the housing, each spherical heat absorber comprising an outer shell and inner material, the outer shell comprising a first shape-memory material, the inner material comprising first phase-change material different from the first shape-memory material;
- wherein the first shape-memory material changes shape under thermal influence;
- wherein each spherical heat absorber comprises a second shape-memory material that absorbs the first phase-change material, the second shape-memory material comprising one of:
- a sponge, a foam, a fabric;
- and
- wherein the outer shell is spherical, and wherein the second shape-memory material in remembered shape has a smaller radius than the radius of the outer shell.
A method, comprising:
- providing a device comprising a housing;
- and
- providing plural heat absorbers within the housing, the heat absorbers juxtaposed with one or more other components of the device to absorb heat from the one or more other components, each heat absorber comprising an outer shell and inner material, the outer shell comprising a first shape-memory material that changes shape under thermal influence, the inner material comprising first phase-change material different from the first shape-memory material;
- wherein each heat absorber comprises a second shape-memory material that absorbs the first phase-change material, the second shape-memory material comprising one of:
- a sponge, a foam, a fabric;
- and
- wherein the outer shell is spherical, and wherein the second shape-memory material in remembered shape has a smaller radius than the radius of the outer shell.
A heat absorber element, comprising:
- an outer shell comprising a first shape-memory material that changes shape under thermal influence;
- and
- inner material housed within the outer shell, the inner material comprising first phase-change material different from the first shape-memory material, the melting point of the first phase-change material being lower than the melting point of the first shape-memory material, the inner material further comprising a second shape-memory material that absorbs the first phase-change material, the second shape-memory material comprising one of:
- a sponge, a foam, a fabric;
- wherein the outer shell is spherical, and wherein the second shape-memory material in remembered shape has a smaller radius than the radius of the outer shell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.