US5383340A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Two-phase cooling system for laptop computers
Assignee: Aavid Laboratories Inc
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Filing: 1994-03-24
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Granted: 1995-01-24
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Expires: 2014-03-24
Abstract
Abstract A two-phase cooling system for a portable computer which in one embodiment consists of an evaporator which is positioned within the base of the computer and a condenser which is positioned within or attached to the lid of the computer. The evaporator and the condenser are connected by flexible tubing. The tubing may run externally from the lid to the base or it may extend through one or more of the hinges that connect the base and the lid. In an alternative embodiment, both the evaporator and the condenser of the two-phase system are incorporated into either the base or the lid of the computer.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph I. Larson
- 👤 Richard L. Phillips
- 👤 Alan F. Beane
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:48
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W40/00; H10W40/70; H10W40/73; F; F28; F28D; F28D15/00; F28D15/02; F28D15/0266; G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/20; G06F1/203; G06F2200/00; G06F2200/20; G06F2200/201
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A laptop computer including: A. case with a lid for housing a screen and a base for housing a keyboard and heat producing electronic circuitry; B. a two-phase cooling system with an evaporator and a condenser connected by tubing, wherein the evaporator is enclosed in the base and the condenser is attached to an external wall of the lid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
A laptop computer including: A. case with a lid for housing a screen and a base for housing a keyboard and heat producing electronic circuitry; B. a two-phase cooling system with an evaporator and a condenser connected by tubing, wherein the evaporator is enclosed in the base and the condenser is attached to an external wall of the lid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the condenser includes a back wall and a front wall and further includes heat fins on at least one of the front wall and the back wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the tubing extends from the evaporator, through the base and runs externally to the condenser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the lid includes a top wall for covering a rear face of the screen, and the condenser attaches to the top wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The laptop computer of claim 4, wherein system further includes a bracket for attaching the condenser to the top wall of the lid, the bracket including open ends to direct air past the condenser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the lid and base are rotatably connected by hinges and the tubing extends through the hinges.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
A laptop computer including: A. a case with a lid for housing a screen and a base for housing a keyboard and heat producing electronic circuitry; B. a two-phase cooling system with an evaporator and a condenser connected by tubing, wherein the evaporator is enclosed within the base and the condenser is enclosed within the lid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
A laptop computer including: A. a case with a lid for housing a screen and a base for housing a keyboard and heat producing electronic circuitry; B. a two-phase cooling system with an evaporator and a condenser connected by tubing, wherein the evaporator is enclosed within the base and the condenser is enclosed within the lid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The laptop computer of claim 7, wherein the condenser includes a back wall and a front wall and further includes heat fins on at least one of the front wall and the back wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The laptop computer of claim 8, wherein the front wall of the condenser is proximate to the screen, and the condenser includes internal wicking that draws liquid coolant along the front wall, to absorb heat from the screen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The laptop computer of claim 9, wherein the lid houses heat producing circuitry and the condenser is positioned relative to the heat producing circuitry to absorb heat therefrom.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laptop computer of claim 9, wherein the condenser includes the heat fins on the back wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laptop computer of claim 7, wherein the lid and base are rotatably connected by hinges and the tubing extends through the hinges.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The laptop computer of claim 7, wherein the tubing extends through a wall of the base and runs externally to a wall of the lid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
110 words
A laptop computer including: A. a case with i. a lid for housing a screen with a front face and a rear face, the lid including a top wall that covers the rear face of the screen, and ii. a base for housing a keyboard and heat producing circuitry; and B. a two-phase cooling system with i. an evaporator, ii. a condenser with a front wall and a back wall, and iii. tubing connecting the evaporator and the condenser, wherein the evaporator is enclosed within the base and the condenser is enclosed within the lid, the back wall of the condenser being integral with the top wall of the lid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
110 words
A laptop computer including: A. a case with i. a lid for housing a screen with a front face and a rear face, the lid including a top wall that covers the rear face of the screen, and ii. a base for housing a keyboard and heat producing circuitry; and B. a two-phase cooling system with i. an evaporator, ii. a condenser with a front wall and a back wall, and iii. tubing connecting the evaporator and the condenser, wherein the evaporator is enclosed within the base and the condenser is enclosed within the lid, the back wall of the condenser being integral with the top wall of the lid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The laptop computer of claim 14, wherein the lid and the base are rotatably connected by hinges and the tubing extends through the hinges.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laptop computer of claim 14, wherein the top wall of the lid includes heat fins.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laptop computer of claim 16, wherein the front wall of the condenser includes heat fins.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
The laptop computer of claim 16, wherein the front wall of the condenser is proximate to the rear face of the screen, the condenser including internal wicking that draws liquid coolant along the front wall of the condenser, to cool the screen.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The laptop computer of claim 18, wherein the lid includes heat producing circuitry and the condenser is positioned relative to the heat producing circuitry to absorb heat therefrom.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
79 words
A two-phase cooling system for a laptop computer with a lid that houses a screen and a base that houses a keyboard and heat producing circuitry, the cooling system including: A. an evaporator shaped to fit within the base and proximate to the heat producing circuitry; B. a condenser with a front wall and a back wall; C. a bracket for attaching to the lid, the bracket holding the condenser; and D. tubing connecting the evaporator and the condenser.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
79 words
A two-phase cooling system for a laptop computer with a lid that houses a screen and a base that houses a keyboard and heat producing circuitry, the cooling system including: A. an evaporator shaped to fit within the base and proximate to the heat producing circuitry; B. a condenser with a front wall and a back wall; C. a bracket for attaching to the lid, the bracket holding the condenser; and D. tubing connecting the evaporator and the condenser.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
The two-phase cooling system of claim 20, wherein the lid includes a top wall that covers a rear face of the screen and the bracket attaches internally to the top wall and the condenser is enclosed within the lid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The two-phase cooling system of claim 20, wherein the condenser includes heat fins on at least one of the front wall and the back wall.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The two-phase cooling system of claim 22, wherein a back wall of the condenser includes heat fins and a front wall includes internal wicking that draws coolant past the rear face of the screen.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The two-phase cooling system of claim 20 wherein the bracket attaches externally to the lid.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
57 words
A laptop computer including: A. a case with a lid for housing a screen and a base for housing a keyboard and heat producing electronic circuitry; and B. a two-phase cooling system with an interconnected evaporator and condenser, the evaporator residing in close proximity to the heat producing circuitry and the condenser being supported by the lid.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
57 words
A laptop computer including: A. a case with a lid for housing a screen and a base for housing a keyboard and heat producing electronic circuitry; and B. a two-phase cooling system with an interconnected evaporator and condenser, the evaporator residing in close proximity to the heat producing circuitry and the condenser being supported by the lid.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laptop computer of claim 25 wherein the condenser is attached to an external wall of the lid.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The laptop computer of claim 25 wherein the condenser is enclosed within the lid.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
48 words
The laptop computer of claim 27 wherein the condenser includes a front wall and a back wall and the front wall of the condenser is proximate to the screen, the condenser including internal wicking that draws liquid coolant along the front wall, to absorb heat from the screen.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
The laptop computer of claim 26 wherein the lid and the base are rotatably connected by hinges and a means for interconnecting the evaporator and the condenser extends through the hinges.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
39 words
The laptop computer of claim 25 wherein the condenser includes a front wall and a back wall, the condenser being enclosed within the lid and the back wall of the condenser being integral with a wall of the lid.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
43 words
The laptop computer of claim 30 wherein the front wall of the condenser is proximate to a rear face of the screen and the condenser includes internal wicking that draws liquid coolant along the front wall of the condenser, to cool the screen.
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) | 1998-01-23 | 1998-07-25 | 1999-01-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-01-23 | 2002-07-25 | 2003-01-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-01-23 | 2006-07-25 | 2007-01-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |