Cooling system for mobile electronic devices
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsFletcher Rothkopf, Teodor Dabov, David Kumka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cooling system for a mobile computing device configured to drive two devices, a fan and an alert device. The fan cools components of the mobile computing device by exchanging air between an inner cavity of the mobile computing device and an outer environment surrounding the mobile computing device. The alert device produces an alert, e.g., a vibration, for the mobile computing device. The cooling system includes a motor operably connected to a first device (either the fan or the alert device) and operably connected via a clutch to a second device (either the fan or the alert device). The clutch allows the second device to be selectively activated depending on a speed or rotational direction of a drive shaft of the motor.
Claims20
A mobile computing device, comprising:
- a processor;
- an enclosure at least partially surrounding the processor;
- a motor in electrical communication with the processor;
- a receiving port defining a channel through the enclosure;
- a cooling element selectively operably connected to the motor, the cooling element in fluid communication with the receiving port;
- and
- a secondary device selectively operably connected to the motor;
- wherein
- at least one of the cooling element and secondary device are configured to be activated independently of the other.
A portable electronic device comprising:
- an enclosure defining a cavity;
- a receiving port adjacent the enclosure, the receiving port defining a passage between an enclosure interior and enclosure exterior, and configured to receive a portion of an external device;
- a cooling system connected to the enclosure, comprising:
- a motor;
- and
- a fan mechanically activated by the motor and in fluid communication with the receiving port;
- and
- an alert device mechanically activated by the motor.
A cellular phone, comprising:
- an enclosure defining a cavity;
- a processor operably connected to an inner surface of the enclosure;
- a port adapted to receive a portion of input or output device operably connected to the enclosure and configured to provide an air pathway between the cavity and an outer environment of the enclosure;
- and
- a cooling system operably connected to the inner surface of the enclosure, wherein the cooling system is configured to exchange air between the cavity and the outer environment via the port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.