# US 12,016,151 B2 · Controlling airflow through a compact electronic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,016,151 B2 - Document ID: US12016151B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/859,549 - Filed: 2022-07-07 - Published: 2024-01-11 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2022-07-07 - Assignees: Plume Design, Inc. - Applicants: Plume Design, Inc. - Inventors: Ming-Tsung Su; Isaac Wang; William McFarland - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12016151B2 ## CPC - H05K 7/20136: {Forced ventilation, e.g. by fans (H05K7/202 takes precedence)} - H04B 1/036: Cooling arrangements - H05K 5/0213: {Venting apertures; Constructional details thereof} - H04W 88/08: Access point devices - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Compact electronic devices, such as Access Points (APs), having airflow and cooling features are provided. According to one implementation, a compact electronic device includes an outer plastic housing and an inner casing arranged inside the outer plastic housing. The inner casing has a high-voltage section configured to support one or more high-voltage electrical components and a low-voltage section configured to support one or more low-voltage electrical components. The compact electronic device further includes a single fan that is configured to draw air from outside the outer plastic housing, move the air through the high-voltage and low-voltage sections, and exhaust the air through one or more exhaust vents in the outer plastic housing. Also, the inner casing is configured to isolate the one or more high-voltage electrical components from metal portions of the low-voltage section by at least a certain separation to meet clearance and creepage safety standards. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A compact electronic device comprising: an outer plastic housing; an inner casing arranged inside the outer plastic housing, the inner casing having a high-voltage section and a low-voltage section, the high-voltage section configured to support one or more high-voltage electrical components, the low-voltage section configured to support one or more low-voltage electrical components; and a single fan configured to draw air from outside the outer plastic housing, move the air through the high-voltage section and low-voltage section, and exhaust the air through one or more exhaust vents in the outer plastic housing; wherein the inner casing is configured to isolate the one or more high-voltage electrical components from metal portions of the low-voltage section by at least a certain separation to meet clearance and creepage safety standards. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The compact electronic device of claim 1, wherein the low-voltage section is configured to support at least a fan module that includes at least the single fan, and wherein the high-voltage section is configured to support an electrical plug that can be inserted into an AC outlet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The compact electronic device of claim 2, wherein the AC electrical plug is configured to be connected to an AC electrical outlet that provides AC power to the compact electronic device and physically keeps the compact electronic device substantially in place when plugged into the AC electrical outlet. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The compact electronic device of claim 2, wherein the high-voltage section includes a plastic chamber within the inner casing for protecting the one or more high-voltage electrical components from electromagnetic interference, wherein the plastic chamber includes one or more side windows allowing air to flow from bottom vents in the outer plastic housing, through one or more openings in the inner casing, through the one or more side windows into the plastic chamber, and through an air passage that connects the high-voltage section to the low-voltage section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The compact electronic device of claim 4, wherein each of the one or more side windows includes a lip configured to increase electromagnetic separation between the high-voltage section and the low-voltage section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The compact electronic device of claim 1, wherein the low-voltage section is configured to support at least a PCB and a CPU module mounted on the PCB, the CPU module including at least a CPU die and a conductive shield, the conductive shield having an opening in a top portion thereof, the opening having dimensions that are larger than the CPU die itself, the opening allowing air to flow into the CPU module and around the CPU die. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The compact electronic device of claim 6, wherein the CPU module further includes a plurality of fingers extending at an angle from the top surface of the conductive shield, and wherein a spring end of the fingers is configured to contact a heat sink that covers the CPU module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The compact electronic device of claim 6, wherein the low-voltage section further includes spring clips attached to a top surface of the PCB, wherein the conductive shield includes edges extending downward from the top portion thereof to give the CPU module a low profile, wherein the edges are configured to be supported by the spring clips, and wherein the edges include relatively large side openings therein to allow greater air flow around the CPU die within the CPU module. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The compact electronic device of claim 1, wherein the outer plastic housing includes a top cover removably attached to a base portion, whereby, when the top cover is attached to the base portion, the outer plastic housing forms slit vents having a predetermined gap between an underside surface of the top cover and an upper edge of the base portion, wherein the top cover includes a wall that extends downward from the underside surface, the wall having a height greater than the predetermined gap to thereby hide the inner casing from a viewpoint outside the outer plastic housing, and wherein the slit vents allow air to flow into an interior of the outer plastic housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The compact electronic device of claim 9, further comprising an insert having a top surface, side surface, and a slanted bottom surface, the top surface of the insert configured to be attached to the underside surface of the top cover, the side surface configured to be arranged next to the wall, and the slanted bottom surface configured to direct air flow away from the wall to reduce turbulence and eddies. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The compact electronic device of claim 10, wherein portions of the insert are configured to be placed in gaps formed by a plurality of connection elements configured to connect the top cover to the base portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The compact electronic device of claim 10, wherein the insert is attached to the underside surface of the top cover using two-sided tape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The compact electronic device of claim 9, wherein the base portion includes a plurality of sides and a bottom section, wherein the slit vents include multiple intake air vents and one exhaust air vent, and wherein the bottom section includes one or more intake air vents. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The compact electronic device of claim 9, wherein the inner surfaces of the outer casing are substantially smoothed to reduce turbulence in airflow. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The compact electronic device of claim 9, wherein the wall that extends from the top cover is rounded or smoothed to reduce turbulence in the airflow in the slit vents. ### Claim 16 A wireless Access Point (AP) comprising: an outer plastic housing; an inner casing arranged inside the outer plastic housing, the inner casing having a high-voltage section and a low-voltage section, the high-voltage section configured to support one or more high-voltage electrical components, the low-voltage section configured to support one or more low-voltage electrical components; and a single fan configured to draw air from outside the outer plastic housing, move the air through the high-voltage section and low-voltage section, and exhaust the air through one or more exhaust vents in the outer plastic housing; wherein the inner casing is configured to isolate the one or more high-voltage electrical components from metal portions of the low-voltage section by at least a certain separation to meet clearance and creepage safety standards. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The wireless AP of claim 16, wherein the low-voltage section is configured to support at least a fan module that includes at least the single fan, and wherein the high-voltage section is configured to support at least a transformer electrically connected to an AC electrical plug. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The wireless AP of claim 17, wherein the high-voltage section includes a plastic chamber within the inner casing for protecting the one or more high-voltage electrical components from electromagnetic interference, wherein the plastic chamber includes one or more side windows allowing air to flow from bottom vents in the outer plastic housing, through one or more openings in the inner casing, through the one or more side windows into the plastic chamber, and through an air passage that connects the high-voltage section to the low-voltage section. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The wireless AP of claim 16, wherein the low-voltage section is configured to support at least a PCB and a CPU module mounted on the PCB, the CPU module including at least a CPU die and a conductive shield, the conductive shield having an opening in a top portion thereof, the opening having dimensions that are larger than the CPU die itself, the opening allowing air to flow into the CPU module and around the CPU die. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The wireless AP of claim 19, wherein the CPU module further includes a plurality of fingers extending at an angle from the top surface of the conductive shield, and wherein a spring end of the fingers is configured to contact a heat sink that covers the CPU module.