Cooling apparatus, electronic apparatus, and blower apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed is a cooling apparatus including a heat sink, a blower mechanism, an opening member, and a movement mechanism. The blower mechanism has a blower opening that has a predetermined area and is opposed to the heat sink. The opening member has a first opening that has an area smaller than the area of the blower opening. The movement mechanism moves the opening member so that switching between a first state and a second state is performed. The first state is a state in which the first opening is disposed between the blower opening and the heat sink, and the second state is a state in which the first opening is removed from between the blower opening and the heat sink.

1 . A cooling apparatus, comprising:
 a heat sink;   a blower mechanism having a blower opening that has a predetermined area and is opposed to the heat sink;   an opening member having a first opening that has an area smaller than the area of the blower opening; and   a movement mechanism to move the opening member to perform switching between a first state and a second state, the first state being a state in which the first opening is disposed between the blower opening and the heat sink, the second state being a state in which the first opening is removed from between the blower opening and the heat sink.   
   
   
       2 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the opening member further has a second opening having an area equal to the area of the blower opening, and   wherein the second state is a state in which the second opening is opposed to the blower opening.   
   
   
       3 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the opening member is a band-like member having a longitudinal direction,   wherein the first opening and the second opening are formed in the band-like member in a line along the longitudinal direction of the band-like member, and   wherein the movement mechanism moves the band-like member along the blower opening in the longitudinal direction.   
   
   
       4 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the movement mechanism includes   a first shaft connected to an end portion of the band-like member and capable of rolling up and rolling out the band-like member,   a second shaft disposed so that the first shaft and the second shaft sandwich the blower opening, connected to another end portion of the band-like member, and capable of rolling up and rolling out the band-like member, and   a drive source to rotate and drive the first shaft and the second shaft.   
   
   
       5 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the band-like member is annular, and   wherein the movement mechanism includes   a plurality of shafts to support the band-like member while rotating the band-like member around the blower mechanism with the plurality of shafts being provided around the blower mechanism, and   a drive source to rotate and drive at least one of the plurality of shafts.   
   
   
       6 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the opening member is a plate-like member having a longitudinal direction, and   wherein the movement mechanism moves the plate-like member along the blower opening in the longitudinal direction.   
   
   
       7 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the plate-like member includes a rack gear in the longitudinal direction, and   wherein the movement mechanism includes   a pinion engaged with the rack gear, and   a drive source to rotate and drive the pinion.   
   
   
       8 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a control means for controlling a movement of the opening member by the movement mechanism so that the second state is periodically switched to the first state.   
   
   
       9 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the blower mechanism further includes a blade member that generates airflow flown out from the blower opening by rotation thereof, and   wherein the control means controls the movement of the opening member so that the second state is switched to the first state when one of start and stop of the rotation of the blade member is performed.   
   
   
       10 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the blower mechanism further includes the blade member that generates airflow flown out from the blower opening by rotation thereof,   the cooling apparatus further comprising:   a rotation counting means for counting a number of rotations of the blade member; and   a rotation count judging means for judging whether the number of rotations counted reaches a specified count, and   wherein the control means controls the movement of the opening member so that the second state is switched to the first state when the number of rotations reaches the specified count.   
   
   
       11 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a time counting means for counting a time period that elapses from when the first state is switched to the second state; and   a time judging means for judging whether the time period counted reaches a specified time period,   wherein the control means controls the movement of the opening member so that the second state is switched to the first state when the time period reaches the specified time period.   
   
   
       12 . A cooling apparatus, comprising:
 a heat sink;   a blower mechanism having a blower opening that has a predetermined area and is opposed to the heat sink;   a rotary member including a shield portion that limits the area of the blower opening, the rotary member being rotatable and disposed between the heat sink and the blower opening; and   a rotary mechanism to rotate the rotary member to perform switching between a first state and a second state, the first state being a state in which the area of the blower opening is limited by the shield portion, the second state being a state in which the area of the blower opening is free of being limited by the shield portion.   
   
   
       13 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the blower opening has a longitudinal direction, and   wherein the rotary member is rotatable about a shaft extended along the longitudinal direction.   
   
   
       14 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the rotary member includes a first rotary member and a second rotary member that are disposed while the blower opening being disposed therebetween.   
   
   
       15 . An electronic apparatus, comprising:
 a heat generation source; and   a cooling apparatus including a heat sink that radiates heat transferred from the heat generation source, a blower mechanism having a blower opening that has a predetermined area and is opposed to the heat sink, an opening member having a first opening that has an area smaller than the area of the blower opening, and a movement mechanism to move the opening member to perform switching between a first state and a second state, the first state being a state in which the first opening is disposed between the blower opening and the heat sink, the second state being a state in which the first opening is removed from between the blower opening and the heat sink.   
   
   
       16 . An electronic apparatus, comprising:
 a heat generation source; and   a cooling apparatus including a heat sink that radiates heat transferred from the heat generation source, a blower mechanism having a blower opening that has a predetermined area and is opposed to the heat sink, a rotary member that includes a shield portion to limit the area of the blower opening and is rotatable and disposed between the heat sink and the blower opening, and a rotary mechanism to rotate the rotary member to perform switching between a first state and a second state, the first state being a state in which the area of the blower opening is limited by the shield portion, the second state being a state in which the area of the blower opening is free of being limited by the shield portion.   
   
   
       17 . A blower apparatus, comprising:
 a blower mechanism having a blower opening that has a predetermined area;   an opening member having a first opening that has an area smaller than the area of the blower opening; and   a movement mechanism to move the opening member to perform switching between a first state and a second state, the first state being a state in which the first opening is disposed in front of the blower opening, the second state being a state in which the first opening is removed from the front of the blower opening.   
   
   
       18 . A blower apparatus, comprising:
 a blower mechanism having a blower opening that has a predetermined area;   a rotary member including a shield portion that limits the area of the blower opening, the rotary member being rotatable and disposed in front of the blower opening; and   a rotary mechanism to rotate the rotary member to perform switching between a first state and a second state, the first state being a state in which the area of the blower opening is limited by the shield portion, the second state being a state in which the area of the blower opening is free of being limited by the shield portion.   
   
   
       19 . A cooling apparatus, comprising:
 a heat sink having a surface to which airflow is directed;   a blade member to generate the airflow to the surface;   a flow path member to form a flow path through which the airflow is guided from the blade member to the heat sink;   a limiting member capable of limiting the flow path; and   a drive mechanism to drive the limiting member so that switching between a first state and a second state is performed, the first state being a state in which the flow path is free of being limited by the limiting member, the second state being a state in which the flow path is limited by the limiting member to generate a vortex so that the vortex is contacted with the surface.   
   
   
       20 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a control means for controlling the drive mechanism so that the first state is periodically switched to the second state.   
   
   
       21 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 20 ,
 wherein the blade member generates the airflow by rotation thereof, and   wherein the control means controls the drive mechanism so that the first state is switched to the second state when the rotation of the blade member is started.   
   
   
       22 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 20 ,
 wherein the blade member generates the airflow by rotation thereof, and   wherein the control means controls the drive mechanism so that the first state is switched to the second state when the rotation of the blade member is stopped.   
   
   
       23 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 20 ,
 wherein the blade member generates the airflow by rotation thereof,   the cooling apparatus further comprising:   a rotation counting means for counting a number of rotations of the blade member; and   a rotation count judging means for judging whether the number of rotations counted reaches a specified count, and   wherein the control means controls the drive mechanism so that the first state is switched to the second state when the number of rotations reaches the specified count.   
   
   
       24 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a time counting means for counting a time period that elapses from when the second state is switched to the first state; and   a time judging means for judging whether the time period counted reaches a specified time period,   wherein the control means controls the drive mechanism so that the first state is switched to the second state when the time period reaches the specified time period.   
   
   
       25 . An electronic apparatus, comprising:
 a heat generation source; and   a cooling apparatus including a heat sink that has a surface to which airflow is directed and radiates heat transferred from the heat generation source, a blade member to generate the airflow to the surface, a flow path member to form a flow path through which the airflow is guided from the blade member to the heat sink, a limiting member capable of limiting the flow path, and a drive mechanism to drive the limiting member so that switching between a first state and a second state is performed, the first state being a state in which the flow path is free of being limited by the limiting member, the second state being a state in which the flow path is limited by the limiting member to generate a vortex so that the vortex is contacted with the surface.   
   
   
       26 . A blower apparatus, comprising:
 a blade member to generate airflow to a surface of a heat sink, the heat sink having the surface to which the airflow is directed;   a flow path member to form a flow path through which the airflow is guided from the blade member to the heat sink;   a limiting member capable of limiting the flow path; and   a drive mechanism to drive the limiting member so that switching between a first state and a second state is performed, the first state being a state in which the flow path is free of being limited by the limiting member, the second state being a state in which the flow path is limited by the limiting member to generate a vortex so that the vortex is contacted with the surface.