US5287244A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer housing with low noise cooling system
Assignee: Sun Microsystems Inc
•
Filing: 1992-05-19
•
Granted: 1994-02-15
•
Expires: 2012-05-19
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a computer housing with a low noise cooling system. The computer housing is comprised of two principal members, a cover and a base. Both a left surface and a right surface of the cover are perforated with vents to allowing the passage of air through the housing. The base additionally incorporates two air intake holes with a power source for the computer disposed over these air intake holes. The passage of air through the housing is facilitated through the use of three fans. These three fans are attached directly to the power source, and each of these fans operates at a different fan speed. The fan speeds are additionally adjusted in response to the outside ambient temperature. In operation, air enters the computer housing of the present invention through the vent array on the left surface of the cover, and the air intake holes in the base. The air is then channeled under the power source, dissipating the heat generated by the power source, blown across the components in the housing, and passed out of the housing through the vent array disposed on the left surface of the cover. The flow of air from one of the fans is advantageously deflected and channeled with a deflector.
Inventors
- 👤 Vincent P. Hileman
- 👤 Robert J. Lajara
- 👤 Thomas E. J. Stewart
- 👤 Nagaraj P. R. Mitty
- 👤 Joseph A. Tombari
- 👤 William L. Grouell
- 👤 Clifford B. Willis
- 👤 Steven J. Furuta
- 👤 Lawrence E. Piercey
- 👤 Loren R. Davidson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:19
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/20; G06F1/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A computer housing with a low noise cooling system comprising: a base, said base having disposed upon it intake hole means for intaking air; a cover coupled to said base, said cover having a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, a fourth surface, and a fifth surface, wherein said first surface is perforated with a first plurality of vents and said second surface is perforated with a second plurality of vents; a power source for providing power, said power source coupled to said base, said power source having a first side and a second side, wherein said second side is physically disposed over said intake hole means; a plurality of computer components disposed upon said base; a plurality of fans linearly disposed upon said first side of said power source such that said plurality of fans, when operating, cause air to flow through said intake hole means and said first plurality of vents, channeled under said power source, across said second side of said power source, then blow across said plurality of computer components, and output through said second plurality of vents.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A computer housing with a low noise cooling system comprising: a base, said base having disposed upon it intake hole means for intaking air; a cover coupled to said base, said cover having a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, a fourth surface, and a fifth surface, wherein said first surface is perforated with a first plurality of vents and said second surface is perforated with a second plurality of vents; a power source for providing power, said power source coupled to said base, said power source having a first side and a second side, wherein said second side is physically disposed over said intake hole means; a plurality of computer components disposed upon said base; a plurality of fans linearly disposed upon said first side of said power source such that said plurality of fans, when operating, cause air to flow through said intake hole means and said first plurality of vents, channeled under said power source, across said second side of said power source, then blow across said plurality of computer components, and output through said second plurality of vents.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The computer housing with a low noise cooling system as provided in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of fans simultaneously operates at a different fan speed such that an undesirable summation of noise from each one of said plurality of fans is avoided and an overall low noise level is achieved.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer housing with a low noise cooling system as provided in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of heat sinking fins, said heat sinking fins disposed upon said bottom side of said power source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The computer housing with a low noise cooling system as provided in claim 3, wherein each of said plurality of heat sinking fins has a front surface, a back surface, and a top surface, and each of said surfaces is rounded to reduce noise caused by the passage of air across said fins.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The computer housing with a low noise cooling system as provided in claim 4, further comprising ambient temperature sensing means, wherein said ambient temperature sensing means senses a temperature and adjusts the turning speed for each of said plurality of fans in response to said temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The computer housing with a low noise cooling system as provided in claim 5 wherein said plurality of fans comprises three fans, each of said three fans simultaneously operating at a different fan speed such that an undesirable summation of noise from each one of said plurality of fans is avoided and an overall low noise level is achieved.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer housing with a low noise cooling system as provided in claim 6, wherein said first plurality of vents comprises a first plurality of rectangular shaped vents.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer housing with a low noise cooling system as provided in claim 7, wherein said second plurality of vents comprises a second plurality of rectangular shaped vents.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The computer housing with a low noise cooling system as provided in claim 8, further comprising a deflector means for deflecting the flow of air within said housing, said deflector means disposed upon said fifth surface of said cover wherein the flow of air from one of said three fans is deflected by said deflector means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
The computer housing with a low noise cooling system as provided in claim 9, further comprising means for passing air through said power source, and wherein said three fans, when operating, cause air to flow through said means for passing air through said power source, across said plurality of computer components, and out through said second plurality of vents.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for cooling a plurality of computer components and a power source within a computer housing comprising the steps of: utilizing a plurality of fans disposed upon said power source, each one of said plurality of fans simultaneously operating at a different fan speed such that noise is reduced, to accomplish the following steps in the following order; causing air to be taken from outside of said computer housing into said computer housing through a first plurality of vents; channeling said air under said power source; blowing said air across said plurality of computer components; passing said air out of said computer housing though a second plurality of vents.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for cooling a plurality of computer components and a power source within a computer housing comprising the steps of: utilizing a plurality of fans disposed upon said power source, each one of said plurality of fans simultaneously operating at a different fan speed such that noise is reduced, to accomplish the following steps in the following order; causing air to be taken from outside of said computer housing into said computer housing through a first plurality of vents; channeling said air under said power source; blowing said air across said plurality of computer components; passing said air out of said computer housing though a second plurality of vents.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method for cooling a plurality of computer components and a power source within a computer housing as provided in claim 11, wherein said channeling of air under said power source is routed across a plurality of heat sinking fins disposed on an underside of said power source.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method for cooling a plurality of computer components and a power source within a computer housing as provided in claim 12, further comprising the step of: adjusting the speed for each one of said plurality of fans in response to the ambient temperature outside of said computer housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method for cooling a plurality of computer components and a power source within a computer housing as provided in claim 13, further comprising the step of: deflecting the flow of air blown across said plurality of computer components, thereby dividing the air blown across said plurality of computer components.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method for cooling a plurality of computer components and a power source within a computer housing as provided in claim 14, wherein said first plurality of vents comprises a first plurality of rectangular shaped vents and said second plurality of vents comprises a second plurality of rectangular shaped vents.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
233 words
A computer housing with a low noise cooling system comprising: a base, said base having disposed upon it intake hole means for intaking air; a cover coupled to said base, said cover having a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, a fourth surface, and a fifth surface, wherein said first surface is perforated with a first plurality of vents rectangular in shape and said second surface is perforated with a second plurality of vents rectangular in shape; a power source for providing power, said power source coupled to said base, said power source having a first side and a second side, wherein said second side is physically disposed over said intake hole means; a plurality of computer components disposed upon said base; a first fan disposed upon said first side of said power source, a second fan disposed upon said first side of said power source, a third fan disposed upon said first side of said power source, wherein said first, second and third fans, are linearly disposed upon said first side of said power source adjacent to one another, such that said first, second, and third fans, when operating, cause air to flow through said intake hole means and said first plurality of vents, under said power source, across said second side of said power source, across said plurality of computer components, and out through said second plurality of vents.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
233 words
A computer housing with a low noise cooling system comprising: a base, said base having disposed upon it intake hole means for intaking air; a cover coupled to said base, said cover having a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, a fourth surface, and a fifth surface, wherein said first surface is perforated with a first plurality of vents rectangular in shape and said second surface is perforated with a second plurality of vents rectangular in shape; a power source for providing power, said power source coupled to said base, said power source having a first side and a second side, wherein said second side is physically disposed over said intake hole means; a plurality of computer components disposed upon said base; a first fan disposed upon said first side of said power source, a second fan disposed upon said first side of said power source, a third fan disposed upon said first side of said power source, wherein said first, second and third fans, are linearly disposed upon said first side of said power source adjacent to one another, such that said first, second, and third fans, when operating, cause air to flow through said intake hole means and said first plurality of vents, under said power source, across said second side of said power source, across said plurality of computer components, and out through said second plurality of vents.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
The computer housing with a low noise cooling system as provided in claim 16, wherein said first fan, said second fan, and said third fan each operate simultaneously at a different fan speed such that an undersirable summation of noise from each one of these fans is avoided and an overall low noise level is achieved.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
94 words
The computer housing with a low noise cooling system as provided in claim 17, wherein said plurality of computer components includes a motherboard, a memory module, and a disk drive module disposed upon said base such that said first fan turns at a first fan speed and blows air across said motherboard, said second fan turns at a second speed, slower than said first speed, and blows air across said memory module, and said third fan turns at a third speed, slower than said second speed, and blows air across said disk drive module.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-02-14 | 1997-08-16 | 1998-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-02-14 | 2001-08-16 | 2002-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-02-14 | 2005-08-16 | 2006-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |