# US 11,899,509 B2 · Computer housing

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- Number: US 11,899,509 B2
- Document ID: US11899509B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/648,653
- Filed: 2022-01-21
- Published: 2022-05-12
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2013-06-07
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Eugene A Whang; Christopher J. Stringer; Brett W. Degner; David H. Narajowski; Patrick Kessler; Eric R. Prather; Caitlin Elizabeth Kalinowski; Adam T. Stagnaro; Daniel L. McBroom; Matthew P. Casebolt; Michael D. McBroom
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11899509B2

## CPC

- G06F 1/181: {Enclosures (for portable computers G06F1/1613)}
- G02B 6/0001: {specially adapted for lighting devices or systems (lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00)}
- G02B 6/0008: {the light being emitted at the end of the fibre}
- G02B 6/001: {the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre}
- G06F 1/182: {with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]}
- G06F 1/183: Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for supporting printed circuit boards
- G06F 1/185: Mounting of expansion boards
- G06F 1/188: Mounting of power supply units
- G06F 1/20: Cooling means
- G06F 1/206: {comprising thermal management}
- G06F 3/00: Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G08B 5/36: using visible light sources
- G08B 21/18: Status alarms (G08B21/02 takes precedence)
- H04R 1/02: Casings; Cabinets {; Supports therefor;} Mountings therein (H04R1/28 takes precedence {; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075})
- H05K 1/0203: {Cooling of mounted components (H05K1/0272 takes precedence)}
- H05K 5/03: Covers
- H05K 7/20009: {using a gaseous coolant in electronic enclosures (in cabinets of standardized dimensions H05K7/20536; in server cabinets H05K7/20709; in vehicle electronic casings H05K7/20845; in power control electronics H05K7/2089; in displays H05K7/20954)}
- H05K 7/20136: {Forced ventilation, e.g. by fans (H05K7/202 takes precedence)}
- H05K 7/20145: {Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides}
- H05K 7/20154: {Heat dissipaters coupled to components}
- H05K 7/20163: {the components being isolated from air flow, e.g. hollow heat sinks, wind tunnels or funnels}
- H05K 7/20172: {Fan mounting or fan specifications}
- H05K 7/20209: {Thermal management, e.g. fan control}
- H05K 7/2039: {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)}
- H05K 7/2049: {Pressing means used to urge contact, e.g. springs}
- H10W 40/641: {Snap-on arrangements, e.g. clips}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10

## Abstract

A desktop computing system having at least a central core surrounded by housing having a shape that defines a volume in which the central core resides is described. The housing includes a first opening and a second opening axially displaced from the first opening. The first opening having a size and shape in accordance with an amount of airflow used as a heat transfer medium for cooling internal components, the second opening defined by a lip that engages a portion of the airflow in such a way that at least some of the heat transferred to the air flow from the internal components is passed to the housing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A desktop electronic device, comprising:
an enclosure having a longitudinal axis, the enclosure having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape including the longitudinal axis, the enclosure defining an opening having a first diameter and allowing passage of an acoustic output;
the enclosure defining an internal volume;
a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising an active surface including an electronic component mounted on the active surface;
a speaker having a second diameter substantially the same as the first diameter, the speaker disposed in the internal volume to produce the acoustic output, the speaker positioned directly adjacent to the opening and directly adjacent to the electronic component, the speaker occupying substantially all of the opening; and
a heat sink contacting the active surface and including a major dimension extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The desktop electronic device of claim 1, wherein the acoustic output is controlled by the electronic component.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The desktop electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a base portion removably connected to the enclosure.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The desktop electronic device of claim 3, wherein the base portion supports the enclosure on a horizontal surface such that the longitudinal axis has a vertical orientation.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The desktop electronic device of claim 3, wherein the base portion is centered about the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the opening is a first opening located at a first wall of the enclosure and the desktop electronic device further comprises a second opening located at a second wall of the enclosure.

### Claim 7

An electronic device, comprising:
an enclosure having a longitudinal axis, the enclosure having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape along the longitudinal axis, the enclosure defining an opening having a first diameter and allowing passage of an acoustic output;
the enclosure defining an exterior surface and an internal volume;
a printed circuit board (PCB) defining a major PCB plane and having an electronic component mounted on the PCB;
a speaker having a second diameter substantially the same as the first diameter, the speaker disposed in the internal volume to produce the acoustic output, the speaker defining a major speaker plane disposed parallel to longitudinal axis and positioned directly adjacent to the electronic component and directly adjacent to the opening, the speaker substantially occluding the opening; and
a heat sink contacting the PCB and including a major dimension extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure, the heat sink spanning more than halfway across a width of the PCB.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the electronic component comprises a memory device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the memory device is configured to store media data.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the media data comprises audio tracks.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the electronic component comprises a wireless transceiver to couple the desktop electronic device to an accessory device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the electronic component comprises an audio sensor.

### Claim 13

A desktop electronic device, comprising:
an enclosure defining an opening having a first diameter, the enclosure defining a shape extending along a longitudinal axis, the enclosure having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape including the longitudinal axis;
a speaker having a second diameter substantially the same as the first diameter, the speaker disposed in an internal volume defined by the enclosure, the speaker positioned directly adjacent to the opening and substantially occluding the opening, the speaker configured to move air in a direction towards the opening and produce an acoustic output;
a computing engine in communication with the speaker, the computing engine disposed in the internal volume, the computing engine comprising;
a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising an active surface oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis and perpendicular to the direction, the speaker aligned directly opposite and parallel to the PCB;
an electronic component disposed on the active surface and directly adjacent the speaker; and
a heat sink in thermal communication with the computing engine, the heat sink disposed within the internal volume of the enclosure, the heat sink including a major dimension extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure, the heat sink spanning more than halfway across a width of the PCB.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The desktop electronic device of claim 13, further comprising a wireless transceiver disposed on the active surface and configured to wirelessly transfer media data between a memory device and an accessory device through a data link.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The desktop electronic device of claim 13, wherein the electronic component comprises a memory device.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The desktop electronic device of claim 13, wherein the opening is a first opening and the enclosure defines a second opening, a geometry of the second opening controllably modulates a characteristic of the acoustic output.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The desktop electronic device of claim 16, further comprising a base portion removably coupled to the enclosure, the base portion occluding the first opening and supporting the enclosure when the base portion is disposed on a surface.