Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-03
2001-08-07
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S689000, C361S717000, C361S724000, C165S104260, C165S104330, C174S016100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272012
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to computers, and more particularly relates to cooling systems and methods for use in personal computers, and even more particularly relates to a system and method for controlling airflow over compact PCI cards in a computer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the past, designers of computing systems have endeavored to provide systems with increased reliability. One successful approach has been to include fans in the PC chassis to move air across the circuit cards therein. It has been a common practice in the industry to respond to higher heat-producing circuit cards by including higher powered fans which are capable of moving a larger overall volume of air through the chassis.
While these systems and methods have many advantages, they also have significant drawbacks.
First of all, the use of high-power fans often results in an undesirable increase in ambient sound levels, especially when numerous computers are in close proximity to each other, such as in a rack.
Secondly, high-powered fans typically consume valuable space inside the computer; this is especially troublesome when a compact computer design is desired.
Thirdly, larger and larger electric motors to drive the high-powered fans often generate an increased level of electrical noise on the computer's power bus, such that additional remedial measures are required.
Consequently, there exists a need for improvement in systems and methods for controlling airflow over circuit boards in personal computers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide enhanced reliability of personal computers.
It is a feature of the present invention to include a relatively small cooling fan in association with airflow-controlling members in the personal computer.
It is an advantage of the present invention to eliminate the undesirable requirement that larger cooling fans are needed to effectively cool a personal computer, which has at least one high density and high heat-generating circuit card therein.
The present invention is an apparatus and method for controlling airflow through a personal computer, which is designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out with a “large fan-less” system, in a sense that the requirement for an increased volume of cooling air when a computer includes at least one higher heat-generating circuit board therein, is greatly reduced.
Accordingly, the present invention is a system and method for controlling airflow over circuit boards in a personal computer by including a parallel array of airflow-restricting plates beneath the circuit cards.
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Bodensteiner John
Medin David T.
Crystal Group Inc.
Datskovsky Michael
Picard Leo P.
Simmons Perrine Albright & Ellwood PLC
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