US6259601B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for providing docking station assisted cooling of a portable computer
Assignee: Dell USA LP
•
Filing: 1999-09-30
•
Granted: 2001-07-10
•
Expires: 2019-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A docking device for a portable computer including an enclosure having a support surface for supporting a portable computer thereon. An orifice plate is attached to the enclosure adjacent to the support surface. The orifice plate includes a plurality of orifices formed therethrough and the orifice plate is recessed with respect to the support surface. An air duct including an outlet portion is attached to an interior portion of the enclosure adjacent to the orifice plate. A blower is attached to an inlet portion of the air duct. The blower is operable to pressurize the air duct such that air is expelled through the orifices. The embodiments of the present disclosure reduce the skin temperature of the computer and the operating temperature of heat generating internal components. In addition, the processor can be operated at higher speeds for longer periods of time.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher Michael Jaggers
- 👤 Cassius Joseph Mullen
- 👤 David William Grunow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:29
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1632; G06F1/20; G06F1/203
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A cooling apparatus for a computer docking device, comprising: a docking device; an orifice plate connected to the docking device including a plurality of orifices formed therethrough; a support for supporting a portable computer at an offset distance with respect to a first side of the orifice plate; an air duct including an inlet portion and an outlet portion positioned adjacent to a second side of the orifice plate; a blower attached to the inlet portion of the air duct, the blower being operable to pressurize the air duct such that air is expelled from the outlet portion of the air duct through the orifices; and wherein the orifice plate includes a plurality of orifice regions, a first orifice region having a different orifice density than a second orifice region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A cooling apparatus for a computer docking device, comprising: a docking device; an orifice plate connected to the docking device including a plurality of orifices formed therethrough; a support for supporting a portable computer at an offset distance with respect to a first side of the orifice plate; an air duct including an inlet portion and an outlet portion positioned adjacent to a second side of the orifice plate; a blower attached to the inlet portion of the air duct, the blower being operable to pressurize the air duct such that air is expelled from the outlet portion of the air duct through the orifices; and wherein the orifice plate includes a plurality of orifice regions, a first orifice region having a different orifice density than a second orifice region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
133 words
A cooling apparatus for a computer docking device, comprising: a docking device; an orifice plate connected to the docking device including a plurality of orifices formed therethrough; a support for supporting a portable computer at an offset distance with respect to a first side of the orifice plate; an air duct including an inlet portion and an outlet portion positioned adjacent to a second side of the orifice plate; a blower attached to the inlet portion of the air duct, the blower being operable to pressurize the air duct such that air is expelled from the outlet portion of the air duct through the orifices; and wherein the orifice plate includes a plurality of orifice regions, a first orifice region having a different orifice area than the orifices of a second orifice region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
133 words
A cooling apparatus for a computer docking device, comprising: a docking device; an orifice plate connected to the docking device including a plurality of orifices formed therethrough; a support for supporting a portable computer at an offset distance with respect to a first side of the orifice plate; an air duct including an inlet portion and an outlet portion positioned adjacent to a second side of the orifice plate; a blower attached to the inlet portion of the air duct, the blower being operable to pressurize the air duct such that air is expelled from the outlet portion of the air duct through the orifices; and wherein the orifice plate includes a plurality of orifice regions, a first orifice region having a different orifice area than the orifices of a second orifice region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cooling apparatus of claim 2 further comprising an enclosure, the orifice plate, air duct and blower being attached to the enclosure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cooling apparatus of claim 3 wherein the orifice plate and the enclosure are integrally formed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cooling apparatus of claim 3 wherein the support includes a plurality of support members attached to the enclosure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cooling apparatus of claim 5 wherein the support members extend above a top portion of the enclosure by an offset distance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cooling apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of openings between the support members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
166 words
A cooling apparatus for a computer docking device, comprising: a docking device; an orifice plate connected to the docking device including a plurality of orifices formed therethrough; a support for supporting a portable computer at an offset distance with respect to a first side of the orifice plate; an air duct including an inlet portion and an outlet portion positioned adjacent to a second side of the orifice plate; a blower attached to the inlet portion of the air duct, the blower being operable to pressurize the air duct such that air is expelled from the outlet portion of the air duct through the orifices; an enclosure, the orifice plate, air duct and blower being attached to the enclosure; wherein the support includes a plurality of support members attached to the enclosure; a plurality of openings between the support members; and wherein the enclosure includes a rear portion and side portions, the openings being positioned adjacent to a respective rear and side portion of the enclosure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
166 words
A cooling apparatus for a computer docking device, comprising: a docking device; an orifice plate connected to the docking device including a plurality of orifices formed therethrough; a support for supporting a portable computer at an offset distance with respect to a first side of the orifice plate; an air duct including an inlet portion and an outlet portion positioned adjacent to a second side of the orifice plate; a blower attached to the inlet portion of the air duct, the blower being operable to pressurize the air duct such that air is expelled from the outlet portion of the air duct through the orifices; an enclosure, the orifice plate, air duct and blower being attached to the enclosure; wherein the support includes a plurality of support members attached to the enclosure; a plurality of openings between the support members; and wherein the enclosure includes a rear portion and side portions, the openings being positioned adjacent to a respective rear and side portion of the enclosure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cooling apparatus of claim 8 wherein a first portion of the openings has a first width and a second portion of the openings has a second width.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The cooling apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first portion of openings is adjacent to a first orifice region of the orifice plate and the second portion of openings is adjacent to a second orifice region of the orifice plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cooling apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a sealing member disposed between the blower and the air duct.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
128 words
A cooling apparatus for a computer docking device, comprising: a docking device; an orifice plate connected to the docking device including a plurality of orifices formed therethrough; a support for supporting a portable computer at an offset distance with respect to a first side of the orifice plate; an air duct including an inlet portion and an outlet portion positioned adjacent to a second side of the orifice plate; a blower attached to the inlet portion of the air duct, the blower being operable to pressurize the air duct such that air is expelled from the outlet portion of the air duct through the orifices; and wherein each one of the orifices has an inlet and outlet, the outlet having a smaller cross sectional area than the inlet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
128 words
A cooling apparatus for a computer docking device, comprising: a docking device; an orifice plate connected to the docking device including a plurality of orifices formed therethrough; a support for supporting a portable computer at an offset distance with respect to a first side of the orifice plate; an air duct including an inlet portion and an outlet portion positioned adjacent to a second side of the orifice plate; a blower attached to the inlet portion of the air duct, the blower being operable to pressurize the air duct such that air is expelled from the outlet portion of the air duct through the orifices; and wherein each one of the orifices has an inlet and outlet, the outlet having a smaller cross sectional area than the inlet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
125 words
A cooling apparatus for a computer docking device, comprising: a docking device: an orifice plate connected to the docking device including a plurality of orifices formed therethrough; a support for supporting a portable computer at an offset distance with respect to a first side of the orifice plate; an air duct including an inlet portion and an outlet portion positioned adjacent to a second side of the orifice plate; a blower attached to the inlet portion of the air duct, the blower being operable to pressurize the air duct such that air is expelled from the outlet portion of the air duct through the orifices: and wherein each one of the orifices has an inlet and outlet, the outlet having a non-circular cross sectional profile.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
125 words
A cooling apparatus for a computer docking device, comprising: a docking device: an orifice plate connected to the docking device including a plurality of orifices formed therethrough; a support for supporting a portable computer at an offset distance with respect to a first side of the orifice plate; an air duct including an inlet portion and an outlet portion positioned adjacent to a second side of the orifice plate; a blower attached to the inlet portion of the air duct, the blower being operable to pressurize the air duct such that air is expelled from the outlet portion of the air duct through the orifices: and wherein each one of the orifices has an inlet and outlet, the outlet having a non-circular cross sectional profile.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
137 words
A cooling apparatus for a computer docking device, comprising: a docking device; an orifice plate connected to the docking device including a plurality of orifices formed therethrough; a support for supporting a portable computer at an offset distance with respect to a first side of the orifice plate; an air duct including an inlet portion and an outlet portion positioned adjacent to a second side of the orifice plate; a blower attached to the inlet portion of the air duct, the blower being operable to pressurize the air duct such that air is expelled from the outlet portion of the air duct through the orifices; and wherein each one of the orifices has an inlet, an outlet and an orifice wall extending between the inlet and the outlet, the orifice wall having a contoured cross sectional profile.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
137 words
A cooling apparatus for a computer docking device, comprising: a docking device; an orifice plate connected to the docking device including a plurality of orifices formed therethrough; a support for supporting a portable computer at an offset distance with respect to a first side of the orifice plate; an air duct including an inlet portion and an outlet portion positioned adjacent to a second side of the orifice plate; a blower attached to the inlet portion of the air duct, the blower being operable to pressurize the air duct such that air is expelled from the outlet portion of the air duct through the orifices; and wherein each one of the orifices has an inlet, an outlet and an orifice wall extending between the inlet and the outlet, the orifice wall having a contoured cross sectional profile.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
133 words
A docking device for a portable computer, comprising: an enclosure including a support surface for supporting a portable computer thereon; an orifice plate attached to the enclosure adjacent to the support surface, the orifice plate including a plurality of orifices formed therethrough and being recessed with respect to the support surface; an air duct including an inlet portion and an outlet portion attached to an interior portion of the enclosure adjacent to the orifice plate; a blower attached to the inlet portion of the air duct, the blower being operable to pressurize the air duct such that air is expelled through the orifices; and wherein the orifice plate includes a plurality of orifice regions, a first orifice region having orifices of a different orifice area than the orifices of a second orifice region.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
133 words
A docking device for a portable computer, comprising: an enclosure including a support surface for supporting a portable computer thereon; an orifice plate attached to the enclosure adjacent to the support surface, the orifice plate including a plurality of orifices formed therethrough and being recessed with respect to the support surface; an air duct including an inlet portion and an outlet portion attached to an interior portion of the enclosure adjacent to the orifice plate; a blower attached to the inlet portion of the air duct, the blower being operable to pressurize the air duct such that air is expelled through the orifices; and wherein the orifice plate includes a plurality of orifice regions, a first orifice region having orifices of a different orifice area than the orifices of a second orifice region.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
178 words
A computer system, comprising; an enclosure; a computer including a microprocessor, an input coupled to provide input to the microprocessor, a mass storage coupled to the microprocessor and memory coupled to the microprocessor to provide storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by the microprocessor, the computer being supported by the enclosure; an orifice plate attached to the enclosure adjacent to the computer, the orifice plate including a plurality of orifices formed therethrough and being spaced apart from the computer by an offset distance; an air duct including an inlet portion and an outlet portion attached to an interior surface of the enclosure adjacent to the orifice plate; a blower attached to the inlet portion of the air duct, the blower being operable to pressurize the air duct such that air is expelled through the orifices; and wherein the orifice plate includes a plurality of orifice regions, a first orifice region having an orifice density greater than a second orifice region, the orifices of the first orifice region being directed at a heat generating region of the computer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
178 words
A computer system, comprising; an enclosure; a computer including a microprocessor, an input coupled to provide input to the microprocessor, a mass storage coupled to the microprocessor and memory coupled to the microprocessor to provide storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by the microprocessor, the computer being supported by the enclosure; an orifice plate attached to the enclosure adjacent to the computer, the orifice plate including a plurality of orifices formed therethrough and being spaced apart from the computer by an offset distance; an air duct including an inlet portion and an outlet portion attached to an interior surface of the enclosure adjacent to the orifice plate; a blower attached to the inlet portion of the air duct, the blower being operable to pressurize the air duct such that air is expelled through the orifices; and wherein the orifice plate includes a plurality of orifice regions, a first orifice region having an orifice density greater than a second orifice region, the orifices of the first orifice region being directed at a heat generating region of the computer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
179 words
A computer system, comprising; an enclosure; a computer including a microprocessor, an input coupled to provide input to the microprocessor, a mass storage coupled to the microprocessor and memory coupled to the microprocessor to provide storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by the microprocessor, the computer being supported by the enclosure; an orifice plate attached to the enclosure adjacent to the computer, the orifice plate including a plurality of orifices formed therethrough and being spaced apart from the computer by an offset distance; an air duct including an inlet portion and an outlet portion attached to an interior surface of the enclosure adjacent to the orifice plate; a blower attached to the inlet portion of the air duct, the blower being operable to pressurize the air duct such that air is expelled through the orifices; and wherein the orifice plate includes a plurality of orifice regions, a first orifice region having a total orifice area greater than a second orifice region, the orifices of the first orifice region being directed at a heat generating region of the computer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
179 words
A computer system, comprising; an enclosure; a computer including a microprocessor, an input coupled to provide input to the microprocessor, a mass storage coupled to the microprocessor and memory coupled to the microprocessor to provide storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by the microprocessor, the computer being supported by the enclosure; an orifice plate attached to the enclosure adjacent to the computer, the orifice plate including a plurality of orifices formed therethrough and being spaced apart from the computer by an offset distance; an air duct including an inlet portion and an outlet portion attached to an interior surface of the enclosure adjacent to the orifice plate; a blower attached to the inlet portion of the air duct, the blower being operable to pressurize the air duct such that air is expelled through the orifices; and wherein the orifice plate includes a plurality of orifice regions, a first orifice region having a total orifice area greater than a second orifice region, the orifices of the first orifice region being directed at a heat generating region of the computer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system of claim 16 wherein the air duct and the enclosure are integrally formed.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system of claim 16 wherein the orifice plate and the enclosure are integrally formed.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer system of claim 18 further comprising a plurality of support members attached to the enclosure, the computer being supported on the support members.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer system of claim 20 wherein the support members extend above a top portion of the enclosure by the offset distance.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system of claim 20 further comprising a plurality of openings between the support members.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer system of claim 22 wherein the enclosure includes a rear portion and side portions of the enclosure, the openings being positioned adjacent to the rear and side portion of the enclosure.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer system of claim 23 wherein a first portion of the openings have a first width and a second portion have a second width.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer system of claim 24 wherein the first portion of openings is adjacent to a first orifice region of the orifice plate and the second portion of openings is adjacent to a second orifice region of the orifice plate.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer system of claim 18 further comprising a sealing member disposed between the blower and the air duct.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5119270A
Cited
US5456632A
Cited
US5664118A
Cited
US5757615A
Cited
US5694292A
Cited
US5768101A
Cited
US5884049A
Cited
US5959836A
Cited
US5974556A
Cited
US6094347A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-07-09 | 2005-01-08 | 2005-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-09 | 2009-01-08 | 2009-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-09 | 2013-01-08 | 2013-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |