Media content device with customized panel

摘要

A media device, which may take the form of a set top box (STB), includes a housing or chassis that incorporates an interface panel having selectively configured regions that cooperate with components mounted on a printed circuit board. The selectively configured regions of the interface panel may advantageously provide desired clearance or contact between the interface panel and one or more of the components. In addition, the selectively configured regions of the interface panel may be arranged to provide structural support to a top panel of the chassis while providing specific heat transfer pathways between the components and the chassis. In this manner, the interface panel may be controllably designed with a desired thermal mass and/or a desired thermal conductivity in specific regions of the interface panel by varying properties of the interface panel which may include, but are not limited to, the panel thickness and material.

主权项

1. A media device comprising:
a thermally conductive chassis having a thermally conductive top panel with an external surface exposed to an environment in which an environment temperature is lower than an internal chassis temperature and an underside surface opposing the external surface of the top panel; a circuit board located within the chassis, the circuit board having a mounting surface; a plurality of components mounted onto the mounting surface of the circuit board, each of the components having a component height relative to the mounting surface of the circuit board; and a thermally conductive interface panel with at least one opening or cutout extending therethrough, the interface panel comprising:
an upper surface in direct thermal contact with and bonded to the underside surface of the top panel;a plurality of recessed portions; anda plurality of rib portions, wherein the least one opening or cutout surrounds a majority of at least a first one of the plurality of components, wherein each of the recessed portions of the interface panel have a thickness that selectively varies corresponding to the component height of an associated at least one of a plurality of second ones of the components, wherein the rib portions extend farther from the upper surface of the interface panel than the recessed portions, wherein at least one of the recessed portions is in direct thermal contact with at least one heat-generating component of the second ones of the plurality of components to provide a thermal conductive path from the at least one heat-generating component through the interface panel and into the top panel, and wherein the bonded upper surface of the interface panel corresponding to the rib portions provide supplemental structural reinforcement to the chassis.