Notebook metal hinge as heat sink element

摘要

A computing device can include a base portion housing a central processing unit, a heat exhaust element disposed within the base portion and operable to move air past the central processing unit, a display portion configured to display information to a user, and a metal hinge portion operably coupling the base portion to the display portion and being operable to couple the base portion to the display portion between an open and a closed configuration. The hinge portion can include a hollow cavity extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the metal hinge and a longitudinal slot in a wall of the metal hinge and parallel to the longitudinal axis, where the longitudinal slot is positioned relative to the heat exhaust element so as to receive air moved by the heat exhaust element through the slot and into the hollow cavity.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a base portion; a heat generating element disposed within the base portion; a metal hinge portion operably coupling the base portion to the display portion and operable to couple the base portion to the display portion between an open and a closed configuration; a heat exhaust element disposed within the base portion and operable to generate airflow over the heat generating element and toward the metal hinge portion to transfer heat away from the heat generating element and toward the metal hinge portion; and a display portion configured to display information to a user, wherein the hinge portion is disposed relative to the heat exhaust element such that when the heat exhaust element is operated to generate the airflow at least some of the heat transferred by the airflow over the heat generating device is exhausted away from the heat generating element to the hinge portion to heat the hinge portion as a result of the airflow being directed from the heat generating element toward the hinge portion and impinging on the hinge portion after flowing over the heat generating portion.