Active cooling system for cradle of portable electronic devices
AssigneeItronix Corporation
InventorsWilliam F. Erler, Timothy P. O'Hagan, Keith D. Grzelak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved cradle assembly has a base with a mounting surface configured to removably receive a portable electronic device. The cradle assembly also has a cooler supported by the base to facilitate use of the portable electronic device in warm, or harsh, thermal environments. The cooler is positioned in thermally conductive relation with a portable electronic device that is received on the mounting surface. The cooler is operable to dissipate heat from the portable electronic device. In an alternative construction, a heat generator is substituted for the cooler to provide thermal heating of the portable electronic device in order to facilitate use of the device in cold, or harsh, thermal environments.
Claims29
An improved cradle assembly, comprising:
- a base having a mounting surface configured to removably receive a portable electronic device;
- and
- a cooler supported by the base and positioned in thermally conductive relation with a portable electronic device that is received on the mounting surface, the cooler being operable to dissipate heat from the portable electronic device.
An improved cradle assembly, comprising:
- a base having a mounting surface configured to removably receive a portable electronic device;
- and
- a heat rejector supported by the base in thermally conductive relation with the portable electronic device when received on the mounting surface, the heat rejector being operable to dissipate heat from the portable electronic device.
An improved cradle assembly, comprising:
- a base having a mounting surface configured to removably receive a portable electronic device;
- a thermoelectric cooler supported by the base in thermally conductive relation with the portable electronic device when received on the mounting surface, the thermoelectric cooler in operation having a warm side and a cool side, the thermoelectric cooler being operable to dissipate heat from the portable electronic device;
- and
- a fluid cooler carried by the base in proximate relation to the warm side of the thermoelectric cooler, the fluid cooler being configured to reject heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric cooler.
A computer docking station, comprising:
- a cradle configured to receive a computer;
- a heat transfer device carried by the cradle and configured in thermally conductive relation with a heat conducting portion of the computer when received on the cradle, the heat transfer device being operable to transfer heat between the computer and the heat transfer device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.