WO2006121229A1

WO2006121229A1 - Cooling apparatus for a notebook computer

Info

Publication number: WO2006121229A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/001820
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kang-Young Lee
Original assignee: Jium Co., Ltd
Priority date: 2005-05-13
Filing date: 2005-06-15
Publication date: 2006-11-16
Also published as: KR20060117807A; KR100648085B1

Abstract

Disclosed is a cooling apparatus for a notebook computer. The cooling apparatus comprises: a body having an opening provided at a top portion thereof; a baseplate provided in the opening of the body, and having an installation hole provided in a central portion thereof and suction holes provided at both ends thereof about the installation hole; a cooling plate housed in the installation hole of the baseplate, for closely contacting an underside of the notebook computer; a tension module provided under the cooling plate so that the cooling plate is moved up and down for a predetermined distance; a cooling source provided under the cooling plate to transfer coolness to the cooling plate, and having a heat dissipating part; and a set of blowers provided within the body to suck air from between the baseplate and the underside of the notebook computer through the suction holes.

Description

COOLING APPARATUS FOR A NOTEBOOK COMPUTER

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a cooling apparatus for a notebook computer.

Background Art

[2] In notebook computers as a kind of portable electronic devices, general trend is to reduce their thickness so that they can be easily carried. In order to keep pace with this trend, a motherboard and, for example, a mountable/detachable battery are integrally assembled to a body housing of a notebook computer when they are internally mounted thereon. According to this arrangement, heat generated from a CPU mounted on the motherboard is concentrated to a bottom plate of the body housing to which the motherboard and the battery are assembled. In particular, the notebook computer has come to generate more heat than before owing to raised concentricity of an internal circuit according to reduced thickness of the body housing of the notebook computer as well as raised CPU signal processing rate and hard disk rotating rate.

[3] Thus, a conventional notebook computer is equipped with at least one heat dissipating fan therein to forcibly discharge internal heat to the outside. In this case, a forced ventilation path in the form of a plurality of holes for such a heat dissipating fan is formed generally at a lateral portion of a body housing.

[4] However, heat dissipation of a notebook computer carried out by such a heat dissipating fan has insufficient heat dissipating effects so that the internal temperature of the notebook computer sharply rises owing to heat generated from a CPU and so on in sultry summer days. Then, this creates problems in that chips mounted on a motherboard are damaged or the lifetime of a batter is shortened.

[5] In order to solve the above problems, a cooling apparatus for a notebook computer is disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0298318. According to this document, a cooler made of Al equipped with a thermoelectric element and a cooling fan is coupled with a notebook computer in order to cool heat generated from the operation of the notebook computer by a dual fashion. The cooling apparatus disclosed in the previously registered utility model includes a thermoelectric element attached to a cooling plate in contact with the underside of the notebook computer to cool the underside of the notebook computer and a cooling fan closely mounted on a vent hole formed in a rear side of the cooling apparatus to outwardly dissipate heat transferred from the underside of the notebook computer and heat exhausted from the heat dissipating part of the thermoelectric element.

[6] However, according to the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0298318, since the cooling plate in contact with the underside of the notebook computer is formed flat and the thermoelectric element as the cooling source is attached to the cooling plate, cooling efficiency is lowered and the underside of the notebook computer is not uniformly cooled. That is, air flow between the underside of the notebook computer and the cooling plate is not efficient since the flat cooling plate is closely contacted with the underside of the notebook computer to execute cooling operation simply through face-to-face contact. This as a result degrades cooling efficiency. Furthermore, in the previously registered utility model, the thermoelectric element (cooling source) attached to the cooling plate is positioned in the central region of the cooling plate. Cool air or coolness generated by the thermoelectric element does not spread across the entire area of the cooling plate, and cools only a limited region without cooling the entire underside area of the notebook computer.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[7] The present invention has been made to solve the foregoing problems of the prior art.

[8] It is therefore a technical object of the present invention to provide a cooling apparatus for a notebook computer having an air flow passage provided between the underside of the notebook computer and a cooling plate so that coolness generated by a cooling source can efficiently communicate via the air flow passage so as to uniformly cool the entire underside area of the notebook computer.

[9] It is another technical object of the invention to provide a cooling apparatus for a notebook computer capable of cooling a heat dissipating part of a cooling source by using cool air existing in an air flow passage between the underside of a notebook computer and a cooling plate in order to achieve dual cooling effect.

[10] According to a specific means for realizing the above-described objects of the invention, the invention provides a cooling apparatus for a notebook computer, comprising: a body having an opening provided at a top portion thereof; a baseplate provided in the opening of the body, and having an installation hole provided in a central portion thereof and suction holes provided at both ends thereof about the installation hole; a cooling plate housed in the installation hole of the baseplate, for closely contacting an underside of the notebook computer; a tension module provided under the cooling plate so that the cooling plate is moved up and down for a predetermined distance; a cooling source provided under the cooling plate to transfer coolness to the cooling plate, and having a heat dissipating part; and a set of blowers provided within the body to suck air from between the baseplate and the underside of the notebook computer through the suction holes.

[11] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, both walls of the body have at least one ventilation hole perforated therein.

[12] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the cooling source is attached to an underside of the cooling plate, and the cooling source comprises a thermoelectric element having a heat dissipating part configured as a heat sink.

[13] According to further another preferred embodiment of the invention, the tension module is fixed to the underside of the cooling plate, and includes a support frame having at least one stopper and at least one guide rod, a guide member provided in the body to receive the guide rod and a spring wrapped around the guide member and received by the guide member.

[14] According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the blowers has a suction hole facing one of the suction holes of the baseplate and an exhaust hole facing the heat dissipating part.

[15] According to another specific means for realizing the above-described objects of the invention, the invention provides a cooling apparatus for a notebook computer, comprising: a cooling plate for closely contacting an underside of a notebook computer; a cooling source having a heat dissipating part, and installed in the cooling plate to transfer coolness to the cooling plate; a suction fan provided adjacent to the heat dissipating part of the cooling source to dissipate heat generated from the heat dissipating part; and a guide intermediating the cooling plate and the cooling source.

[16] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cooling plate has a number of air flow grooves formed on an upper portion thereof and a number of suction holes perforated in a central portion thereof.

[17] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the cooling source is attached to an underside of the cooling plate, and the cooling source comprises a thermoelectric element having a heat dissipating part configured as a heat sink.

[18] According to further another preferred embodiment of the invention, the cooling source comprises a coolant cooler having at least one cooling piece for being attached to an underside of the cooling plate and a heat dissipating part for dissipating heat from coolant when the coolant is expanded to a low temperature and low pressure state.

[19] According to other preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide integrally includes a suction port formed in an underside of the cooling plate to receive air from air flow grooves through the suction hole and an exhaust port extended from the suction port and positioned adjacent to the heat dissipating part.

[20] According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the exhaust port of the guide is branched into first and second exhaust ports about the suction port. Brief Description of the Drawings

[21] FIG. 1 is a conceptual view for illustrating a cooling principle of a cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to a first embodiment of the invention; [22] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view for illustrating specific components of the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the first embodiment of the invention; [23] FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the first embodiment of the invention; [24] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along A-A' line in FIG. 3;

[25] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of important parts for illustrating the operation of a tension module in the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the first embodiment of the invention; [26] FIG. 6 is a plan view for illustrating the operation of blowers in the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the first embodiment of the invention; [27] FIG. 7 is a conceptual view for illustrating a general structure of a cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to a second embodiment of the invention; [28] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view for illustrating the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the second embodiment of the invention; [29] FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a cooling plate in the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the second embodiment of the invention; [30] FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view for illustrating another example of a cooling plate in the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the second embodiment of the invention; [31] FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a guide in the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the second embodiment of the invention; [32] FIG. 12 is a view for illustrating air flow in the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the second embodiment of the invention; [33] FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view for illustrating another example of a heat dissipating part in the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the second embodiment of the invention; [34] FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view for illustrating the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the second embodiment of the invention, in which a coolant cooler is applied as a cooling source; and [35] FIG. 15 is an assembled perspective view for illustrating the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the second embodiment of the invention, in which a coolant cooler is applied as a cooling source. [36] Major Reference Signs of the Drawings

[37] 100 : cooling apparatus

[38] 100a : body

[39] 110 : cooling plate

[40] 120 : baseplate

[41] 130 : blower

[42] 140 : cooling source

[43] 150 : heat dissipating unit

[44] L : notebook computer

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[45] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Mode for the Invention

[46] First Embodiment

[47] FIG. 1 is a conceptual view for illustrating a cooling principle of a cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[48] Referring to FIG. 1, a cooling apparatus 100 of the invention is installed in a body

100a of a notebook computer L, and includes a heat dissipating plate 110 closely contacting a bottom of the notebook computer L, a cooling source 140 having a heat dissipating part 150 and a blower 130.

[49] The cooling source 140 is attached by its cooling part to the cooling plate 110 to cool the cooling plate 110 or to transfer coolness to the cooling plate 110. The cooling source 140 accompanies a kind of heating operation in order to cool the cooling plate 110, in which cooling efficiency may degrade if accompanied heat is not sufficiently controlled. Therefore, it is preferred that the cooling source 140 includes the heat dissipating part 150, which is preferably made of a heat sink type that can ensure maximum contact area with external air. The cooling source 140 can utilize fusion heat, sublimation heat, vaporization heat, coolant and Peltier effect. According to the first embodiment of the invention, a thermoelectric element as an example of Peltier effect is applied to the cooling source.

[50] The cooling plate 110 in close contact with the cooling part of the cooling source

140 acts to transfer coolness from the cooling source 140 to the bottom of the notebook computer L. Preferably, the cooling plate 110 is under a desired level of tension that gives upward and downward movement so that the cooling plate 110 can stably maintain close contact independent of the shape of the bottom of the notebook computer L.

[51] The blower 130 forcibly sucks and blows air from between the body 100a and the bottom of the notebook computer L to the heat dissipating part 150. For the purpose of this, the body 100a is preferably provided with a suction hole functioning as a suction passage for air and a vent hole functioning to exhaust air to the outside when air is blown from the blower 130 through the heat dissipating part 150.

[52] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view for illustrating specific components of the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the first embodiment of the invention.

[53] Referring to FIG. 2, the cooling apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the invention includes a baseplate 120 in which the cooling plate 110 is installed, a thermoelectric element 140a equipped with the a dissipating part 150a, a pair of blowers 130 and a tension module 160, which are installed in the body 100a.

[54] The body 100a is made of a rectangular box corresponding to a bottom of a notebook computer. A top face of the body 100a is slanted so that the notebook computer can be seated in a slanted position thereon. For this purpose, a lateral section of the body 100a is gradually narrowed in width from to top to bottom. In addition, an opening 100b is provided in a top portion of the body 100a, and vent holes 100c are perforated at both sides of the body 100a corresponding to the opening 100b.

[55] The baseplate 120 is of a rectangular plate corresponding to the opening 100b. The baseplate 120 has an installation hole 120a perforated in a central portion thereof and suction holes 120b formed at both ends thereof, opposed to each other about the installation hole 120a.

[56] The cooling plate 110 is made of a rectangular plate so that it can be housed in the installation hole 120a of the baseplate 120. The cooling plate 110 is preferably made of metal such as Cu and Al having high heat conductivity in order to enhance heat transfer efficiency via face-to-face contact.

[57] The thermoelectric element 140a is bonded to the underside of the cooling plate

110. The thermoelectric element 140a acting as a cooling source according to the first embodiment of the invention includes the heat dissipating part 150a. At least one of such a thermoelectric element 140a is installed in a top portion of the heat dissipating part 150a. The thermoelectric element 140a is preferably provided with supply voltage from the notebook computer or an external power source. Besides, an on/off switch lOOd is preferably provided in a specific part of the body 100a in order to operate the thermoelectric element 140a. In addition, the heat dissipating part 150a is configured as a common heat sink having a number of heat dissipating fins projected from a face of a base panel to dissipate heat via natural convection or forced convection. The heat dissipating part 150a as the heat sink is preferably opposed to exhaust holes 130a of the blowers 130 to execute heat dissipation via air supplied from the blowers 130 to be described later. According to this arrangement, the thermoelectric element 140a outwardly dissipates heat produced during coolness generation by a heat generating region of the thermoelectric element 140a in contact with the heat dissipating part 150a.

[58] The tension module 160 is installed under the cooling plate 110. The tension module 160 includes a support frame 160a, guide members 160a and springs 160. The support frame 160a is fixed to the underside of the cooling plate 110 in a pin-coupling fashion. In addition, at least one stopper s is protruded horizontally from side walls of the support frame 160a and at least one guide rod g is protruded from the underside of the support frame 160a. The guide members 160a are provided within the body 110, in positions corresponding to the guide rod g, and have a hole for receiving the guide rod g. Each of the springs 160c utilizes a common tension spring, and is received in each of the guide members 160b as fixedly wrapped around the guide rod g.

[59] The blowers 130 are installed within the body 100a. In the blowers 130, suction ports are installed to face the suction holes 120b of the baseplate 120 and the exhaust holes 130a are installed to face the heat dissipating part 150a. Preferably, the blowers 130 are powered from the notebook computer or the outside, and selectively operated by the on/off switch 10Od.

[60] FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the first embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross- sectional view taken along A-A' line in FIG. 3.

[61] Referring to FIG. 3, the baseplate 120 is fixedly installed in the top portion of the body 100a, and the cooling plate 110 is assembled into the installation hole 120a of the baseplate 120 as protruded therefrom. The cooling plate 110 is protruded from the installation hole 120a by the support frame 160a of the tension module 160 coupled with the underside of the cooling plate 110 as shown in FIG. 4. In addition, the heat dissipating part 150a of the thermoelectric element 140a coupled with the underside of the cooling plate 110 is assembled in a floating position without contacting the inside bottom of the body 100a by the elasticity of the springs 160c wrapped around the guide rods g of the tension module 160.

[62] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of important parts for illustrating the operation of the tension module in the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the first embodiment of the invention.

[63] Referring to FIG. 5, when a notebook computer L is seated on the top of the body

100, that is, the top of the cooling plate 110, the cooling plate 110 is moved downward under weight transferred from the underside of the notebook computer L and securely and closely contacted. In other words, when notebook computers of different underside shapes are seated on the top of the cooling plate 110, the cooling plate 110 is moved downward and closely and correspondingly contacts the underside of the notebook computer by the tension module 160. Thereafter, as securely and closely contacting the underside of the notebook computer L, the cooling plate 110 receives coolness from the thermoelectric element 140a to cool the underside of the notebook computer L. In addition, a gap for allowing air flow is formed between the underside of the notebook computer L and the baseplate 120 so that external air can be forcibly introduced through the gap in order to implement more efficient cooling. Furthermore, when the notebook computer is separated from the body 100a, the cooling plate 110 returns to the original position by the springs 160c, and the stopper s provided to the support frame 160a is caught by the installation hole 120a of the baseplate so as to stop the cooling plate 110.

[64] FIG. 6 is a plan view for illustrating the operation of the blowers in the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the first embodiment of the invention.

[65] Referring to FIG. 6, the blowers 130 installed adjacent to both sides of the heat dissipating part 150a of the thermoelectric element 140a act to cool again the heat dissipating part 150a by sucking air existing between the underside of the notebook computer and the baseplate 120, which is cooled down through the cooling operation of the cooling plate 110, through the suction holes 120b and blowing the cooled air toward heat dissipating fins of the heat dissipating part 150a. Then, after being exhausted through the exhaust holes 130a of the blowers and cooling the heat dissipating part 150a, the air is exhausted to the outside through the vent holes 100c of the body 100a. As a result, the blowers 130 can prevent the heat dissipating part 150a of the thermoelectric element 140a from overheating as well as suck the cooled air to cool again the heat dissipating part 150a thereby obtaining dual cooling effect.

[66] Second Embodiment

[67] FIG. 7 is a conceptual view for illustrating a general structure of a cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[68] Referring to FIG. 7, a cooling apparatus 200 of the invention includes a cooling plate 210 closely contacting the underside of a notebook computer L, a cooling source 240 having a heat dissipating part 250 and a suction fan 230. The cooling apparatus 200 further includes a guide 220 intermediating between the cooling plate 210 and the cooling source 240.

[69] As closely contacted with a cooling part of the cooling source 240, the cooling plate

210 acts to transfer coolness from the cooling source 240 to the underside of the notebook computer L. Preferably, the cooling plate 210 is so made that external air can be introduced into a close contact region when the cooling plate 210 is closely contacted with the underside of the notebook computer L.

[70] The cooling source 240 is attached by its cooling part to the cooling plate 210 to cool the cooling plate 210 or transfer coolness to the cooling plate 210. The cooling source 240 accompanies a kind of heating operation in order to cool the cooling plate 210, in which cooling efficiency may degrade if accompanied heat is not sufficiently controlled. Therefore, it is preferred that the cooling source 240 includes the heat dissipating part 250, which is preferably made of a heat sink type that can ensure maximum contact area with external air. The cooling source 240 can utilize fusion heat, sublimation heat, vaporization heat, coolant and Peltier effect. According to the second embodiment of the invention, a thermoelectric element as an example of Peltier effect is applied to the cooling source or a coolant cooler utilizing coolant is applied to the cooling source.

[71] The guide 220 acts to forcibly introduce external air into between the underside of the notebook computer 200 and the cooling plate 210 as well as blow the introduced external air to the heat dissipating part 250 of the cooling source 240. For the purpose of this, the guide 220 is provided with means for communicating with the cooling plate 210 and a suction fan 230 to forcibly introduce and blow external air to the heat dissipating part 250.

[72] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view for illustrating the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the second embodiment of the invention.

[73] Referring to FIG. 8, the cooling apparatus 300 according to the second embodiment of the invention includes a cooling plate 310, a thermoelectric element 340 having a heat dissipating part 350 and a guide 320 having a pair of suction fans 330, which are installed in a body 300a.

[74] The body 100a is made of a rectangular box corresponding to a bottom of a notebook computer. A top face of the body 300a is slanted so that the notebook computer can be seated in a slanted position thereon. For this purpose, a lateral section of the body 300a is gradually narrowed in width from to top to bottom. In addition, an opening 300b is provided in a top portion of the body 300a, and vent holes 300c are perforated at both sides of the body 300a corresponding to the opening 300b.

[75] The thermoelectric element 340 acting as a cooling source according to the second embodiment of the invention includes the heat dissipating part 350a. At least one of such a thermoelectric element 340 is installed in a top portion of the heat dissipating part 350a, at a certain distance from one another. Thermoelectric element 340 is preferably provided with supply voltage from the notebook computer or an external power source. Besides, an on/off switch 300d is preferably provided in a specific part of the body 300a in order to operate the thermoelectric element 340. In addition, the heat dissipating part 350 is configured as a common heat sink having a number of heat dissipating fins projected from a face of a base panel to dissipate heat via natural convection or forced convection. According to this arrangement, the thermoelectric element 140a outwardly dissipates heat produced during coolness generation by a heat generating region of the thermoelectric element 140a in contact with the heat dissipating part 150a.

[76] The cooling plate 310 is configured as a rectangular plate corresponding to at least the underside size of the notebook computer L so that the cooling plate 310 can closely contact the underside of the notebook computer L.

[77] FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a cooling plate in the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the second embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view for illustrating another example of a cooling plate in the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the second embodiment of the invention.

[78] Referring to FIG. 9, a plurality of air flow grooves 420 are formed and arranged in a top face of the cooling plate 310, and a plurality of suction holes 410 are perforated in a central portion of the cooling plate 310. The cooling plate 310 is preferably made of metal such as Cu and Al having high heat conductivity in order to enhance heat transfer efficiency via face-to-face contact. The air flow grooves 420 can be formed in number corresponding to that of the suction holes 410 and arranged in parallel at a desired interval. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, inlet sides of the air flow grooves 920 for receiving external air can be so arranged to concentrate at a region which the thermoelectric element 930 closely contacts. Besides, the suction holes 410 or 910 can be perforated in various positions corresponding to those of the thermoelectric elements 340 or 930. When cooling is generated at both sides of the cooling plate 310 by the two thermoelectric elements 340 or 930 as in the second embodiment of the invention, the suction holes 410 or 910 are preferably perforated in a central portion of the cooling plate 310.

[79] According to this arrangement, the cooling plate 310 can introduce external air through the air flow grooves 420 even when the cooling plate 310 is closely contacting the underside of the notebook computer L. In addition, the cooling plate 310 can uniformly transfer coolness from the thermoelectric element to the whole underside area of the notebook computer L by using the introduced external air as well as exhaust the introduced external air through the suction holes 410.

[80] FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a guide in the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the second embodiment of the invention.

[81] Referring to FIG. 11, the guide 320 includes a suction port 510 formed under the cooling plate 310 to receive external air through the suction hole 410 of the cooling plate 310 and first and second exhaust ports 520 integrally branched and extended from the suction port 510. The exhaust ports 520 are positioned adjacent to the heat dissipating part 350 and provided with suction fans 330, respectively. The guide 320 is preferably made of a material having a low heat conductivity in order to minimize the coolness of the cooling plate 310 cooled by the thermoelectric element 340 from transferring to the guide 320. The suction port 510 is preferably installed in the underside of the cooling plate 310 where the suction hole 410 is placed.

[82] In this case, the suction fans 330 installed in the first and second exhaust ports 520 act to forcibly suck and blow cool air transferred from the thermoelectric element 340 through air passages provided by the guide 320 toward the heat dissipating part 350. Accordingly, the suction fans 330 are preferably installed in a hermetic fashion in the first and second exhaust ports 520 in order to prevent external air from entrance. The suction fans 330 are preferably provided with supply voltage from the notebook computer L or an external power source, and selectively operated by the on/off switch 300d. In addition, the suction fans 330 are preferably arranged to face the heat dissipating part 350 of the thermoelectric element 340 in order to carry out concentrated heat dissipation to specific regions of the heat dissipating part 350 which are heated by heating parts of the thermoelectric element 340.

[83] Then, the operation of the cooling apparatus having the above structure according to the second embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIG. 12, which is a view for illustrating air flow in the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the second embodiment of the invention.

[84] Referring to FIG. 12, when the suction fans 330 provided in the guide 320 are operated, external air is forcibly introduced through the air flow holes of the cooling plate and then cooled by the thermoelectric element to cool the underside of the notebook computer. When the cooling operation is accomplished like this, external air is supplied to the suction port 510 of the guide 320 through the suction holes of the cooling plate, and then exhausted to the heat dissipating part of the thermoelectric element through the first and second exhaust ports 520.

[85] Accordingly, the cooling apparatus 300 of the invention can transfer coolness generated by the thermoelectric element 340 to the cooling plate 310 to cool the underside of the notebook computer L in face-to-face contact as well as uniformly cool the underside area of the notebook computer L by using external air introduced to the air flow grooves 420 of the cooling plate 310. In addition, cooled external air is blown by the suction fans 330 to the heat dissipating part 350 of the thermoelectric element 340 to cool again the heat dissipating part 350 thereby obtaining dual cooling effect.

[86] In the meantime, the heat dissipating fins of the heat dissipating part 350 can be modified with their structure in order to spread cool external air exhausted by the suction fans 330 into various directions. FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view for illustrating another example of a heat dissipating part in the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the second embodiment of the invention.

[87] Referring to FIG. 13, the heat dissipating fins of the heat dissipating part 350' are saw tooth- shaped to uniformly spread external air flow, which is transferred to the heat dissipating part, through the entire heat dissipating part in order to improve cooling efficiency.

[88] FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view for illustrating the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the second embodiment of the invention, in which a coolant cooler is applied as a cooling source, and FIG. 14 is an assembled perspective view for illustrating the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to the second embodiment of the invention, in which a coolant cooler is applied as a cooling source.

[89] Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, a coolant cooler 840 acts to rapidly expand coolant from a hot and pressed liquid state into a low temperature and low pressure gas state by using a compressor (not shown), a condenser (not shown), an expansion valve (not shown) and an evaporator (not shown) provided therein in order to absorb heat from the surrounding. The coolant cooler 840 has a cooling piece 840a, which serves to transfer coolness to the cooling plate 310 (absorb heat therefrom) through close contact therewith. The coolant cooler 840 is also provided with a heat dissipating part 840b, which serves to outwardly dissipate heat from coolant that is expanded to the low temperature and low pressure gas state.

[90] A structure the same as that of the cooling plate shown in FIG. 9 or 10 can be applied to the cooling plate 810. The cooling plate 810 is screwed into an opening 800b of a body 800a, and closely contacted by its underside with the cooling piece 840a of the coolant cooler 840 so that coolness can transfer from the coolant cooler 840 to the cooling plate 810.

[91] A guide 820 is of a hollow configuration, and provides a predetermined air passage to supply cool external air cooled by the coolant cooler 840 to the heat dissipating part 840b. The guide 820 has a single suction hole 820a and a single exhaust hole formed therein, and also applies a single suction fan 830 that is installed in the exhaust hole.

[92] Accordingly, the cooling apparatus 800 of the invention adopting the coolant cooler

840 can transfer coolness generated by the coolant cooler 840 to the cooling plate 310 in order to cool the underside of the notebook computer in face-to-face contact as well as uniformly cool the entire underside area of the notebook computer by using external air introduced through the air flow hole of the cooling plate 810. In addition, cooled external air can be blown by the suction fan 830 toward the heat dissipating part 840b of the coolant cooler 840 to cool again the heat dissipating part 840b thereby obtaining dual cooling effect as in the first embodiment.

[93] While FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate that the guide 820 is supplied with external air through one suction hole from the cooling plate 810, the guide 820 can be supplied with external air through a plurality of such a suction hole according to the size and cooling performance of the coolant cooler 840. In addition, the suction fan 830 can be also provided in various numbers according to the size and cooling performance of the coolant cooler 840.

[94]

Industrial Applicability

[95] As described hereinbefore, the cooling apparatus for a notebook computer of the invention provides the air flow passage between the underside of the notebook computer and the cooling plate so that coolness generated by the cooling source can efficiently communicate via the air flow passage so as to uniformly cool the entire underside area of the notebook computer. In addition, the cooling apparatus can cool the heat dissipating part of the cooling source by using cool air existing in the air flow passage between the underside of the notebook computer and the cooling plate in order to achieve dual cooling effect.

Claims

[1] A cooling apparatus for a notebook computer, comprising: a body having an opening provided at a top portion thereof; a baseplate provided in the opening of the body, and having an installation hole provided in a central portion thereof and suction holes provided at both ends thereof about the installation hole; a cooling plate housed in the installation hole of the baseplate, for closely contacting an underside of the notebook computer; a tension module provided under the cooling plate so that the cooling plate is moved up and down for a predetermined distance; a cooling source provided under the cooling plate to transfer coolness to the cooling plate, and having a heat dissipating part; and a set of blowers provided within the body to suck air from between the baseplate and the underside of the notebook computer through the suction holes.

[2] The cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to claim 1, wherein both walls of the body have at least one ventilation hole perforated therein.

[3] The cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the cooling source is attached to an underside of the cooling plate, and the cooling source comprises a thermoelectric element having a heat dissipating part configured as a heat sink.

[4] The cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to claim 1, wherein the tension module is fixed to the underside of the cooling plate, and includes a support frame having at least one stopper and at least one guide rod, a guide member provided in the body to receive the guide rod and a spring wrapped around the guide member and received by the guide member.

[5] The cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to claim 1, wherein each of the blowers has a suction hole facing one of the suction holes of the baseplate and an exhaust hole facing the heat dissipating part.

[6] A cooling apparatus for a notebook computer, comprising: a cooling plate for closely contacting an underside of a notebook computer; a cooling source having a heat dissipating part, and installed in the cooling plate to transfer coolness to the cooling plate; a suction fan provided adjacent to the heat dissipating part of the cooling source to dissipate heat generated from the heat dissipating part; and a guide intermediating the cooling plate and the cooling source.

[7] The cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to claim 6, wherein the cooling plate has a number of air flow grooves formed on an upper portion thereof and a number of suction holes perforated in a central portion thereof.

[8] The cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the cooling source is attached to an underside of the cooling plate, and the cooling source comprises a thermoelectric element having a heat dissipating part configured as a heat sink.

[9] The cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to claim 6, wherein the cooling source comprises a coolant cooler having at least one cooling piece for being attached to an underside of the cooling plate and a heat dissipating part for dissipating heat from coolant when the coolant is expanded to a low temperature and low pressure state.

[10] The cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to claim 6, wherein the guide integrally includes a suction port formed in an underside of the cooling plate to receive air from air flow grooves through the suction hole and an exhaust port extended from the suction port and positioned adjacent to the heat dissipating part.

[11] The cooling apparatus for a notebook computer according to claim 10, wherein the exhaust port of the guide is branched into first and second exhaust ports about the suction port.