Circuit module fan assembly

Claim 2

In combination an electronic circuit module fan assembly for an electronic system comprising: (a) a receiving means for receivably mounting a circuit module in the electronic system; (b) the circuit module including (i) a printed circuit board, (ii) circuitry and (iii) circuit module mounting means for mounting the circuit module on the receiving means in the electronic system; (c) a fan module mounted in the electronic system and having, (i) fan module mounting means for mounting the fan module on the receiving means in the electronic system interchangeably with the circuit module; (ii) at least one electric fan unit, the fan unit being mounted on the fan module so that there is space between the fan unit and the circuit module; (iii) a driving circuit electrically connected to the at least one fan unit for selectively activating the fan unit; and (iv) means for reducing an initial power surge of the electronic system; the fan unit creating air turbulence near the circuit module to cool the circuitry when the driving circuit is activated.

Claim 3

In combination an electronic circuit module fan assembly for an electronic system, the fan assembly comprising: (a) a circuit module housing having a receiving means for receivably mounting printed circuit board modules; (b) a printed circuit board module having circuitry and a circuit module mounting means for mounting the circuit module on the receiving means of the circuit module housing; and (c) a fan module mounted on the receiving means of the housing and having, (i) a planar mounting structure; (ii) fan module mounting means for mounting the fan module on the receiving means interchangeably with the circuit board module; (iii) at least one electric fan unit mounted on the planar mounting structure, the fan unit being mounted on the mounting structure so that there is space between the fan unit and the circuit board module; (iv) a driving circuit electrically connected to the at least one fan unit for selectively activating the fan unit; and (v) means for reducing an initial power surge of the electronic system; the fan unit creating air turbulence in the housing to cool the circuitry of the circuit board module when the driving circuit is activated.

Claim 4

In combination an electronic circuit module fan assembly for an electronic system, the fan assembly comprising: (a) a circuit module housing having a receiving means for receivably mounting printed circuit board modules; (b) a printed circuit board module having circuitry and a circuit module mounting means for mounting the circuit module on the receiving means of the circuit module housing; and (c) a fan module mounted on the receiving means of the housing and having, (i) a planar mounting structure; (ii) fan module mounting means for mounting the fan module on the receiving means interchangeably with the circuit board module; (iii) at least one electric fan unit mounted on the planar mounting structure, the fan unit being mounted on the mounting structure so that there is space between the fan unit and the circuit board module; (iv) a driving circuit electrically connected to the at least one fan unit for selectively activating the fan unit; and (v) means for reducing an initial power surge of the electronic system; the fan unit creating air turbulence in the housing to cool the circuitry of the circuit board module when the driving circuit is activated.

Claim 5

Apparatus as in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the driving circuit receives power from the same electronic power source as the circuit module.

Claim 6

Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the driving circuit has a time delay means for delaying the time between powering up the electronic system and activating the at least one fan module so that the fan unit does not contribute to an initial power surge of the electronic system upon powering the electronic system.

Claim 7

Apparatus as in claim 1 or claim 2 further including a mechanical switch electrically connected to the driving circuit for manually selectively activating the fan unit independently of the electronic system.

Claim 8

Apparatus as in claim 3 further including a light-indicator device for indicating that the electronic system power is on.

Claim 9

Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the driving circuit includes a noise filter for filtering power transients on the driving circuit.

Claim 10

Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the mounting structure is a rectangular base board and the at least one fan unit does not protrude beyond rectangular edges of the base board.

Claim 11

Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the fan module further includes circuitry mounted on the mounting structure.

Claim 12

Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the at least one fan unit is removable and replaceable with modular integrated circuitry.

Claim 13

In combination a fan module for an electronic system having printed circuit board modules and receiving means for receivably mounting the circuit board modules, the fan module comprising: (a) a planar mounting structure; (b) fan module mounting means for mounting the fan module on the receiving means in the electronic system interchangeably with at least one of the circuit board modules and receiving means for receivably mounting the circuit modules, the circuit modules including printed circuit boards; (c) at least one electric fan unit mounted on the planar mounting structure and having a depth such that there is space between the fan module and the circuit modules; (d) a driving circuit electrically connected to the at least one fan unit for selectively activating the fan unit; and (e) means for reducer an initial power surge of the electronic system; the fan unit creating air turbulence near the circuit board modules to cool the circuitry of the circuit modules when the driving circuit is activated.

Claim 14

In combination a fan module for an electronic system having printed circuit board modules and receiving means for receivably mounting the circuit board modules, the fan module comprising: (a) a planar mounting structure; (b) fan module mounting means for mounting the fan module on the receiving means in the electronic system interchangeably with at least one of the circuit board modules and receiving means for receivably mounting the circuit modules, the circuit modules including printed circuit boards; (c) at least one electric fan unit mounted on the planar mounting structure and having a depth such that there is space between the fan module and the circuit modules; (d) a driving circuit electrically connected to the at least one fan unit for selectively activating the fan unit; and (e) means for reducer an initial power surge of the electronic system; the fan unit creating air turbulence near the circuit board modules to cool the circuitry of the circuit modules when the driving circuit is activated.

Claim 15

In combination a fan module for an electronic system having at least one circuit module and a housing with a receiving means for receivably mounting circuit modules, the fan module comprising: (a) a planar mounting structure; (b) a fan module mounting means for mounting the fan module on the receiving means interchangeably with the circuit module, the circuit module including a printed circuit board; (c) at least one electric fan unit mounted to the mounting structure, the fan unit having a depth such that there is space between the fan module and the circuit module mounted on the receiving means of the housing adjacent to the fan module; (d) a driving circuit electrically connected to the at least one fan unit for selectively activating the fan unit; and optionally (d) means for reducing an initial power surge of the electronic system; the fan unit creating air turbulence in the housing to cool circuitry of the circuit module when the driving circuit is activated.

Claim 16

In combination a fan module for an electronic system having at least one circuit module and a housing with a receiving means for receivably mounting circuit modules, the fan module comprising: (a) a planar mounting structure; (b) a fan module mounting means for mounting the fan module on the receiving means interchangeably with the circuit module, the circuit module including a printed circuit board; (c) at least one electric fan unit mounted to the mounting structure, the fan unit having a depth such that there is space between the fan module and the circuit module mounted on the receiving means of the housing adjacent to the fan module; (d) a driving circuit electrically connected to the at least one fan unit for selectively activating the fan unit; and optionally (d) means for reducing an initial power surge of the electronic system; the fan unit creating air turbulence in the housing to cool circuitry of the circuit module when the driving circuit is activated.

Claim 17

Apparatus as in claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the driving circuit receives power from the same electronic power source as the circuit module.

Claim 18

Apparatus as in claim 11 or claim 12 further including a mechanical switch electrically connected to the driving circuit for manually selectively activating the fan unit independently of the electronic system.

Claim 19

Apparatus as in claim 13 further including a light-indicator device for indicating that the electronic system power is on.

Claim 20

Apparatus as in claim 13 wherein the driving circuit includes a noise filter for filtering power transients on the driving circuit.

Claim 21

Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein the mounting structure includes a base board.

Claim 22

Apparatus as in claim 17 wherein the fan module further includes modular integrated circuitry mounted to the base board.

Claim 23

Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein the fan unit is selectively mountable on first and second planar surfaces of the mounting structure.

Claim 24

Apparatus as in claim 17 wherein the fan module mounting means includes a board connector and the receiving means includes a receiving connector.

Claim 25

In combination a fan module for an electronic system having a housing with a receiving means for receivably mounting circuit modules, the fan module comprising: (a) a base board including first and second planar surfaces; (b) fan module mounting means for mounting the fan module on the receiving means interchangeably with the circuit modules; (c) at least one electric fan unit mounted to at least one of the planar surfaces of the base board, the fan unit having a depth such that there is space between the fan module and a circuit module mounted on the receiving means of the housing adjacent to the fan module; and (d) a driving circuit electrically connected to the at least one fan unit and the electronic system for activating the fan unit when the electronic system is powered on, the driving circuit having means for reducing an initial power surge of the electronic system.

Claim 26

In combination a fan module for an electronic system having a housing with a receiving means for receivably mounting circuit modules, the fan module comprising: (a) a base board including first and second planar surfaces; (b) fan module mounting means for mounting the fan module on the receiving means interchangeably with the circuit modules; (c) at least one electric fan unit mounted to at least one of the planar surfaces of the base board, the fan unit having a depth such that there is space between the fan module and a circuit module mounted on the receiving means of the housing adjacent to the fan module; and (d) a driving circuit electrically connected to the at least one fan unit and the electronic system for activating the fan unit when the electronic system is powered on, the driving circuit having means for reducing an initial power surge of the electronic system.

Claim 27

Apparatus as in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the fan module includes a plurality of fan units.

Claim 28

Apparatus as in any one of claims 11, 12, or 21 wherein the fan module includes a plurality of fan units.

Claim 29

Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the receiving means includes a housing side wall.

Claim 30

Apparatus as in claim 12 or claim 21 wherein the receiving means includes a housing side wall.

Claim 31

Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the receiving means includes a receiving connector.

Claim 32

Apparatus as in claim 12 or claim 21 wherein the receiving means includes a receiving connector.

Claim 33

Apparatus as in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the at least one fan unit is removable from the fan module.

Claim 34

Apparatus as in claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the at least one fan unit is removable from the fan module.

Claim 35

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the fan unit is interchangeable with a panel having modular integrated circuitry.

Claim 36

Apparatus as in any one of claims 11, 12 or 21 wherein the fan unit is interchangeable with a panel having module integrated circuitry.

Claim 37

Apparatus as in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the fan unit is slidable on the fan module so that the fan unit can be selectively positioned to cool various portions of the circuitry.

Claim 38

Apparatus as in any one of claims 11, 12, or 21 wherein the fan unit is slidable on the fan module so that the fan unit can be selectively positioned to cool various portions of the circuitry.

Claim 39

Apparatus as in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the fan module mounting means comprises an electrical board connector and the receiving means comprises an electrical receiving connector.

Claim 40

Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the fan module mounting means comprises an electrical board connector and the receiving means comprises an electrical receiving connector.

Claim 41

Apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein the means for reducing the power surge includes: (a) a time delay means for delaying the time when the at least one fan unit is activated, so that the fan unit does not contribute to an initial power surge of the electronic system upon powering the electronic system; and (b) a noise filter for filtering power transients on the driving circuit.

Claim 42

Apparatus as claimed in claim 21 including a light-indicator device for indicating that electronic system power is on.