Heat Dissipation Structure for a Personal Computer Including Two Heat Dissipation Block Assemblies and Two Heat Dissipation Plates

Field of the Invention and Description of Related Art

The present invention relates to a heat dissipation structure for electronic equipment mounted with current consuming devices.

Electronic equipment such as a personal computer or a word processing machine employs current consuming devices in its information processing section or power supply section. These devices consume current and locally generate heat in the equipment. The generated heat damages not only the devices themselves but also other elements of the equipment.

Thus, as described in JP-A-4-48797, JP-A-55-125699, JP-A-63-125699, JP-A-3-255697, and JP-U-5-29153, a metal plate is interposed between the device and a housing to dissipate heat generated by the device through the metal plate outside the housing.

Recently, a personal computer employs a dual board system to seek for a higher expandability, instead of a conventional single board system in which all elements are mounted on a single board. That is, many elements are mounted on a primary board or so-called motherboard, and a processing unit (MPU) is mounted on a separate secondary board or so-called daughter board. The daughter board is removably attached to the motherboard. Thus, the performance of the equipment can be easily enhanced by replacing the daughter board. However, since two boards are used, it is difficult to dissipate heat generated by the processing unit.

Object of the Invention and Summary of the Invention

The present invention is intended to provide a heat dissipation structure for electronic equipment using a dual board system, which can offer a sufficient heat dissipation effect.

To this end, the present invention provides a heat dissipation structure for electronic equipment comprising a first heat dissipation plate, a first board disposed apart from the first heat dissipation plate by a predetermined distance, a second board disposed in such a manner that the first board is positioned between the first heat dissipation plate and the second board and mounted with a current consuming device thereon, and a heat dissipation block assembly extending from the first heat dissipation plate through the first board and abutting a surface of the device on the second board.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a personal computer to which a heat dissipation structure according to the present invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the inside of the personal computer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a motherboard shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views showing a daughter board shown in FIG. 2, respectively;

FIGS. 5 to 12 are fragmentary sectional views each showing the heat dissipation structure according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the heat dissipation structure according to another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the structure of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 13.

Referring to FIG. 1, a personal computer 10 comprises a molded resin bottomed case 11, a top cover 12 for covering the bottomed case 11, a keyboard 13, a cover 14 tiltably held by the bottomed case 11, and an LCD panel 15 mounted on the cover 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bottomed case 11 contains a motherboard 19 therein. A daughter board 20 on which a central processing unit (CPU) 21 is mounted is coupled and mounted onto the motherboard 19 through a connector described later. The motherboard 19 also has a memory module 22 and a connector 23 mounted thereon.

As shown in FIG. 3, the motherboard 19 is formed with a circular through hole 24 at a portion thereof facing to the daughter board 20. Two connectors 25 and 26 are fixedly soldered adjacent the hole 24.

The daughter board 20 is mounted with only the central processing unit 21 as shown in FIG. 4A, or the central processing unit 21 and cache memories 29, 30 as shown in FIG. 4B. The daughter board 20 has connectors 27 and 28 fixed thereon. The connectors 24 and 25 of the motherboard 19 are mated to the connectors 27 and 28 of the daughter board 20 to couple the motherboard 19 and the daughter board 20, and to electrically connect the elements on both boards together.

The heat dissipation structure of the present invention is explained hereinunder with referring to FIG. 5. A heat dissipation plate 51 made of a material with high heat conductivity such as aluminum or copper is installed on an inner floor of the bottomed case 11. The motherboard 19 is held so that it is separated from the heat dissipation plate 51 with a predetermined distance.

The daughter board 20 is positioned between the motherboard 19 and the keyboard 13 so that the central processing unit 21 is disposed between the daughter board 20 and the motherboard 19 when the connectors 25 and 26 are mated to the connectors 27 and 28.

A heat dissipation block 52 is mounted on the heat dissipation plate 51 integrally, or through an adhesive heat conductive tape 53. The heat dissipation block 52 extends from the treat dissipation plate 51 through the hole 24 formed in the motherboard 19.

The daughter board 20 is provided with an electrically insulating frame 54 surrounding the central processing unit 21. The frame 54 supports a metal plate 55. A flexible heat conductive coupler 56 is interposed between the metal plate 55 and a surface of the central processing unit 21 in such a manner that the coupler 56 abuts them. Moreover, a flexible heat conductive coupler 57 is provided between the metal plate 55 and the heat dissipation block 52. These heat conductive couplers 56 and 57 are made of Si rubber containing aluminum oxide filler or of gel Si resin, for example.

Heat generated by the central processing unit 21 is dissipated outside of the case through the heat conductive coupler 56, the metal plate 55, the treat conductive coupler 57, the heat dissipation block 52, (the heat conductive tape 53), the heat dissipation plate 51, and the case 11.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the central processing unit 21 is thermally connected to the heat dissipation block 52 only through the flexible heat conductive coupler 58. A cross-sectional area of the treat dissipation block 55 is larger than that of the coupler 58, so that heat of the central processing unit 21 radially outwardly dissipates and conducts to the heat dissipation plate 51.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the central processing unit 21 is mounted on the daughter hoard 20 so that the central processing unit 21 is disposed between the daughter board 20 and the keyboard 13. A part of a surface of the daughter board 20 opposite to a surface thereof on which the central processing unit 21 is mounted, which part corresponds with the central processing unit 21, is called a "corresponding portion" of the daughter board 20 hereinunder. The corresponding portion and the heat dissipation block 52 are connected each other through an electrically insulating heat conductive sheet 61, a metal plate 62, and a flexible head conductive coupler 63.

Heat of the central processing unit 21 conducts to the metal plate 62 through the daughter board 20, and is diffused in a planar direction. In addition, after the heat conducts to the heat dissipation block 52, it is diffused in the heat dissipation plate 51 and dissipated outside through the case 11.

In the above embodiments, the heat dissipation is performed on one side of the central processing unit. On Lhe contrary, in the following several embodiments, heat is dissipated at both sides of the central processing unit.

The heat dissipation structure of the present invention shown in FIG. 8 will be explained. A heat dissipation plate 51 made of a material with high heat conductivity such as aluminum or copper is installed on an inner floor of the bottomed case 11. The motherboard 19 is held so that it is separated from the treat dissipation plate 51 with a predetermined distance.

The daughter board 20 is mounted on the motherboard 19 by mating the connectors 25 and 26 to the connectors 27 and 28.

The heat dissipation block 52 is integral with the heat dissipation plate 51. The heat dissipation block 52 extends from the treat dissipation plate 51 through the hole 24 formed in the motherboard 19.

The central processing unit 21 on the daughter board 20 is thermally connected to the heat dissipation block 52 through a flexible heat conductive coupler 64, a metal plate 65, and a flexible heat conductive coupler 66. A metal plate 68 is thermally connected to the corresponding portion of the daughter board 20 through an electrically insulating heat conductive sheet 67. The metal plates 65 and 68 are clamped together by nuts and bolts or rods 69 which are made of metal with high heat conductivity such as aluminum or copper, and extend through the daughter board 20.

A part of heat generated by the central processing unit 21 conducts to the metal plate 68 through the daughter board 20 and the heat conductive sheet 67, and is dissipated in a planar direction in the metal plate 68. In addition, it conducts to the metal plate 65 through the bolts 69. Another part of the heat generated by the central processing unit 21 conducts to the metal plate 65 through the coupler 64. Thus, the heat generated by the central processing unit 21 is conducted to the heat dissipation block 52 from both sides of the central processing unit 21 through the metal plate 65 and the coupler 66.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, a metal frame 54 is fixed on the daughter board 20 by an electrically insulating double coated adhesive tape so as to surround the central processing unit 21. The frame 59 supports a metal plate 55. A flexible heat conductive coupler 56 is interposed between the metal plate 55 and a surface of the central processing unit 21 in such a manner that the coupler 56 abuts them. In addition, a flexible heat conductive coupler 57 is provided between the metal plate 55 and the heat dissipation block 52. A metal plate 68 is thermally connected to the corresponding portion of the daughter board 20 through an electrically insulating heat conductive sheet 67.

A part of heat generated by the central processing unit 21 is conducted from the frame 59 to the metal plate 55 through the heat conductive sheet 67, the metal plate 68, and the daughter board 20. Another part of the heat is conducted to the metal plate 55 through the coupler 56. The heat is dissipated outside the case 11 through the treat conductive coupler 56, the heat dissipation block 52, and the heat dissipation plate 51.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, similar to the above embodiment, the daughter board 20 is mounted above the motherboard 19 through the connectors 25, 26, 27 and 28. The motherboard 19 is provided with a plurality of through holes 241 with small diameter, instead of the through hole 29 with large diameter for the heat dissipation block 52. Metal rods 71 extend from the heat dissipation plate 51 through these through holes 291. A metal plate 72 is held on the metal rods 71 with screws 73. A flexible heat conductive coupler 74 is interposed between the metal plate 72 and the central processing unit 21.

Heat of the central processing unit 21 is conducted to the metal plate 72 through the heat conductive coupler 74, and dissipated in a planar direction. The heat is dissipated outside through the metal rods 71, the heat dissipation plate 51, and the case 11.

The arrangement of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 is similar to that of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10. However, they are different from each other in whether the central processing unit 21 is displaced between the motherboard 19 and the daughter board 20. A metal plate 72 is thermally connected to the corresponding portion of the daughter board 20 through a flexible heat conductive coupler 75, a metal plate 76, and an electrically insulating heat conductive sheet 77.

Heat of the central processing unit 21 is conducted to the metal plate 72 through the daughter board 20, the treat conductive sheet 72, the metal plate 76 and the coupler 75, and dissipated there in a planar direction. The heat is dissipated outside through the metal rods 71, the heat dissipation plate 51, and the case 11.

For heat dissipation from an electronic equipment in which the daughter board 20 is mounted on an edge portion of the motherboard 19, a heat dissipation structure shown in FIG. 12 can be applied. The daughter board 20 is mounted on the motherboard 19 through connectors 25, 26, 27 and 28 so that the central processing unit 21 is disposed between the motherboard 19 and the daughter board 20. One end portion of a metal plate 81 is thermally coupled to the corresponding portion of the daughter board 20 through a flexible heat conductive coupler 82, a metal plate 83, and an electrically insulating heat conductive sheet 84. The other end portion of the metal plate 81 is fixed to a heat dissipation block 52. The heat dissipation block 52 extends from the heat dissipation plate 51 outside the motherboard 19 and the daughter board 20.

Heat of the central processing unit 21 is conducted to the metal plate 781 through the daughter board 20, the heat conductive sheet 84, the metal plate 83 and the coupler 82, and dissipated there in planar direction. The heat is dissipated outside through the heat dissipation block 52, the heat dissipation plate 51, and the case 11.

Now, description is given to an embodiment where treat is dissipated through not only the case but also the keyboard.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13-14, a heat dissipation plate 51 made of a material with high heat conductivity such as aluminum or copper is installed on an inner floor of a bottomed case 11. A motherboard 19 is held so that it is separated from a heat dissipation plate 51 by a predetermined distance.

A daughter board 20 is positioned between the motherboard 19 and a keyboard 13 so that a central processing unit 21 is disposed between the daughter board 20 and the motherboard 19 when connectors 25 and 26 are mated to connectors 27 and 28.

A heat dissipation block 52 is provided on the heat dissipation plate 51 through an adhesive heat conductive tape 53. The heat dissipation block 52 extends from the heat dissipation plate 51 through a through hole 24 formed in the motherboard 19.

The daughter board 20 is provided with an electrically insulating frame 54 surrounding the central processing unit 21. The frame 54 supports a metal plate 55. A flexible heat conductive coupler 56 is interposed between the metal plate 55 and a surface of the central processing unit 21 in such a manner that the coupler 56 abuts against them. Moreover, a flexible heat conductive coupler 57 is provided between the metal plate 55 and the heat dissipation block 52.

The keyboard 13 is supported by a keyboard frame 16.

Another heat dissipation block 91 is fixed on the corresponding portion of the daughter board 20 through a heat conductive tape 92. When the keyboard frame 16 is mounted on the bottomed case 11 together with another heat dissipation plate 93, the heat dissipation plate 93 and the heat dissipation block 91 are thermally coupled together through a heat conductive coupler 94 made of heat conductive elastomer. That is, when the keyboard frame 16 is assembled to the bottomed case 11, the treat conductive coupler 94 is compressed by the assembling force. The reaction force of the coupler 94 causes the heat dissipation block 91 to closely contact the corresponding portion of the daughter board 20 through the heat conductive tape 92, and the heat dissipation plate 93 to closely contact the keyboard frame 16. This establishes a thermal path between the corresponding portion of the daughter board 20 and the keyboard 13. When the keyboard frame 16 and the heat dissipation plate 93 are removed, and the connectors 27 and 28 are detached from the connectors 25 and 26, the daughter board or the central processing unit can be freely exchanged.

Heat of the central processing unit 21 is conducted as indicated by arrows in FIG. 15. That is, a part of heat of the central processing unit 21 is conducted to the heat dissipation plate 51 through the coupler 56, the metal plate 55, the coupler 57, the heat dissipation block 52 and the tape 53. The heat diverges in the heat dissipation plate 51 in a planar direction, and dissipates outside through the case 11. Another part of heat of the central processing unit 21 is conducted to the heat dissipation plate 93 through the daughter board 20, the tape 92, the heat dissipation block 91 and the coupler 94. The heat dissipates in the heat dissipation plate 93 in a planar direction, and is dissipated outside through the keyboard frame 16 and the keyboard 13.

As shown in FIG. 16, a groove is formed in the heat dissipation plate 51, and a heat pipe 58 extends along the groove. One end of the heat pipe 58 is fixed to a portion corresponding to the heat dissipation block 52 by a metal holding plate 59. The holding plate 59 is flush with the heat dissipation plate 51. The heat dissipation block 52 is mounted on the holding plate 59 through the tape 53. Another end of the heat pipe 58 extends to an edge portion of the heat dissipation plate 51 remote from the daughter board 20. This arrangement provides more efficient heat dissipation.

Examples which are applied to a personal computer have been described in the above. However, it will be easily appreciated by those skilled in the art that the heat dissipation structure according to the present invention may be applied not only electronic equipment such as an information processing device using a central processing unit, but also to an electronic equipment for power supply.