Heat sink and electronic device employing the same

Abstract

A fan-motor-incorporated heat sink effectively supplies cooling air flow in a thin electronic device having limited space above the heat sink. The heat sink enables air intake above the heat sink by positioning a fan, the fins of a heat sink substrate and the side wall of the substrate lower than the fan driving unit. The heat sink substrate and the fins are formed such that air is exhausted only in one direction. A cover is provided on the side of the heat sink substrate on which the fan driving unit is mounted and to which air is taken in to prevent exhausted air from being taken in. The structure of the electronic device is positioned close to the upper surface of the fan driving unit on the heat sink. Thus, the heat sink can be installed on a thin electronic device while improving the cooling of a heat emitting element.

1. A heat sink comprising:
 a substrate having a floor and a vertical side wall open in one direction;    a plurality of fins vertically projecting from said floor of said substrate;    driving means at least a part of which is supported by said floor of said substrate; and    a fan rotated by said driving means wherein: 
 a height of an upper surface of said side wall is lower than that of an upper surface of said driving means relative to said floor of said substrate.  
   
     
     
       2. A heat sink according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the fan has a shape of an axial fan. 
     
     
       3. A heat sink according to  claim 1 , wherein said driving means has a housing and said height of said upper surface of said side wall is lower than the height of an upper surface of said housing of said driving means relative to said floor of said substrate. 
     
     
       4. A heat sink comprising:
 a substrate having a floor and a vertical side wall open in one direction;    a plurality of fins vertically projecting from said floor of said substrate;    driving means at least a part of which is supported by said substrate;    a fan rotated by said driving means; and    a plate mounted to an upper surface of said side wall and having an opening, wherein: 
 a height of said upper surface on said side wall and a height of an upper surface of said plate are lower than that of an upper surface of said driving means relative to said floor of said substrate.  
   
     
     
       5. A heat sink according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the opening of the plate is so large as to allow the driving means to penetrate the plate through said opening but smaller in diameter than the fan. 
     
     
       6. A heat sink according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the fan has a shape of an axial fan. 
     
     
       7. A heat sink according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the fan has a shape of an axial fan. 
     
     
       8. A heat sink comprising:
 a substrate having a floor;    a plurality of fins vertically projecting from said floor of said substrate;    driving means at least a part of which is supported by said substrate;    a fan rotated by said driving means;    a plate having an opening; and    a vertical side wall structure disposed between said substrate and said plate, said vertical side wall structure being open in one direction, said plate being positioned at an upper surface of said side wall structure, said plate and said side wall structure forming a frame having a height which is lower than a height of an upper surface of said driving means relative to said floor of said substrate.    
     
     
       9. A heat sink according to  claim 8 , wherein said opening of said plate is sufficiently large to allow said driving means to penetrate said plate but smaller in diameter than said fan. 
     
     
       10. A heat sink according to  claim 8 , wherein said fan has the shape of an axial face. 
     
     
       11. A heat sink according to  claim 9 , wherein said fan has the shape of an axial fan. 
     
     
       12. A heat sink apparatus comprising:
   a heat sink apparatus substrate for being attached to a heat emitting element, and having a bottom portion with a standing wall mounted thereto;        a driving device supported by said substrate;        an axial fan mounted on said driving device;        a plurality of fins provided substantially in parallel to an air flow direction that exists at an end portion of said standing wall; and        a cover mounted on said standing wall, wherein said driving device protrudes through an opening formed on said cover and a height of an upper surface of said fan and a height of an upper surface of said cover are lower than that of an upper surface of said driving device relative to said bottom portion.      
     
     
       13. A heat sink apparatus comprising:
   a heat sink apparatus substrate for being attached to a heat emitting element, and having a bottom portion with a standing wall mounted thereon, said standing wall defining an air outlet,        a driving device supported by said substrate;        an axial fan mounted on said driving device;        a plurality of fins provided substantially in parallel to said standing wall at said air outlet; and        a cover mounted on said standing wall, wherein said driving device protrudes through an opening formed on said cover and a height of an upper surface of said fan and a height of an upper surface of said cover are lower than that of an upper surface of said driving device relative to said bottom portion.