Acoustic convection apparatus

Abstract

A convective cooling apparatus cools an electronic device including at least one heat-generating component and enclosed in a case having cooling medium such as air or fluid therein. The convective cooling apparatus neither attempts to increase the velocity of flow in the cooling medium nor replaces the cooling medium with other material as prior art cooling apparatus did. Instead, it utilizes the instability which is inherent in the flow of the cooling medium. In the convective cooling apparatus, by using a driver for generating a signal tuned to the characteristic frequency of the flow, a an acoustic vibrator is driven to provide acoustic waves. The acoustic waves induce resonance of flow, which renders the cooling medium vigorously mixed, which, in turn, enhances the heat dissipation from the device.

1. An apparatus for promoting the cooling of an electronic device enclosing at least one heat-generating component, comprising:
 a signal detector for receiving a flow signal of a cooling medium inside the electronic device;  
 a driver, in response to the flow signal from the signal detector, for providing a driving signal whose frequency is synchronized with a characteristic frequency of the flow of the cooling medium, wherein said characteristic frequency is a dominant frequency among analyzed frequency components of a flow signal of the heat-absorbing medium; and  
 a vibrator, in response to the driving signal, for generating an acoustic wave to an interior of the electronic device,  
 wherein the driver includes: 
 a frequency analyzer for detecting the characteristic frequency of the flow of the cooling medium based on the flow signal;  
 a frequency synchronizer for providing a frequency signal which represents the detected characteristic frequency;  
 a signal generator, in response to the frequency signal from the frequency synchronizer, for providing the driving signal; and  
 an amplifier for amplifying the driving signal to a predefined level.  
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the signal detector includes at least one of velocity, temperature, pressure, and density sensing means with respect to the cooling medium. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus to promote the cooling of a convection device enclosing at least one heat- generating component and a heat - absorbing medium, comprising:      a signal detector to receive a flow signal of the heat - absorbing medium;        a driver, in response to the flow signal from the signal detector, to provide a driving signal having a predetermined frequency synchronized in accordance with a characteristic frequency of a flow of the heat - absorbing medium, and including an amplifier to amplify the driving signal to a predefined level; and        a vibrator to generate and apply an acoustic wave to the heat - absorbing medium contained in an interior of the convection device in response to the amplified driving signal,        wherein the convection device comprises a heat dissipating opening formed therein to dissipate heat generated by the at least one heat - generating component to ambient atmosphere according to the acoustic wave generated by the vibrator and the driving signal of the driver.     
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the predetermined frequency is determined in accordance with at least one of a size and a shape of the convection device. 
     
     
       5. A temperature control apparatus to control temperature within a convection device having a case and a heat- absorbing medium within the case, the temperature control apparatus comprising:      a signal detector that detects a flow signal of the heat - absorbing medium;        a driver to generate a driving signal with a predetermined frequency in response to the flow signal detected, the predetermined frequency being determined in accordance with a characteristic frequency of the flow signal of the heat - absorbing medium, and including an amplifier to amplify the driving signal when necessary;        a heat dissipating opening provided through a wall of the case; and        an acoustic vibrator that generates acoustic waves and applies the acoustic waves to the heat - absorbing medium using the generated driving signal of the driver to activate heat transfer from the heat - absorbing medium to ambient atmosphere through the heat dissipating opening.     
     
     
       6. The temperature control apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the signal detector detects at least one of velocity, temperature, pressure and density of air. 
     
     
       7. The temperature control apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the driver comprises:
   a frequency analyzer that analyzes the flow signal detected and determines a characteristic frequency of the flow signal detected by the signal detector;        a frequency synchronizer that provides a frequency signal representing a characteristic frequency determined in the frequency analyzer;        a signal generator that generates the drive signal in response to the frequency signal; and        the amplifier that amplifies the drive signal to a predetermined level.     
     
     
       8. A convection apparatus to enhance a convective flow of a heat- absorbing medium in a housing thereof, the convection apparatus comprising:      a heat - generating component disposed in the housing;        a signal detector that detects a flow signal within the heat - absorbing medium;        a heat dissipating opening provided through a portion of a wall of the housing to dissipate heat therein; and        a driver to generate a driving signal having a frequency signal synchronized with a characteristic frequency of the flow signal of the heat - absorbing medium based on the flow signal, to generate a driving signal in response to the generated frequency signal, the driving signal being synchronized with the characteristic frequency detected, and including an amplifier to amplify the driving signal and to drive an acoustic member using the amplified driving signal; and        an acoustic vibrator to provide acoustic waves to the heat - absorbing medium within the housing in response to the drive signal to the driver to induce a uniform distribution of heat generated by the heat - generating component to the heat - absorbing medium, the acoustic waves activating heat transfer from the heat - absorbing medium to ambient atmosphere through the heat dissipating opening.     
     
     
       9. The convection apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the signal detector detects at least one of velocity, temperature, pressure and density of air. 
     
     
       10. The convection apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the driver comprises:
   a frequency analyzer that analyzes the detected characteristic of the heat - absorbing medium and determines a characteristic frequency of the heat - absorbing medium;        a frequency synchronizer that provides a frequency signal representing the characteristic frequency determined by the frequency analyzer; and        a signal generator that generates the drive signal in response to the frequency signal from the frequency synchronizer; and        the amplifier that amplifies the drive signal to a predetermined level.     
     
     
       11. An acoustic convection apparatus having a heat- generating component to heat a heat - absorbing medium within a housing of the acoustic convection apparatus, the acoustic convection apparatus comprising:      a heat dissipating opening in a wall of the housing;        a signal detector that detects a flow signal of the heat - absorbing medium;        a driver to generate a driving signal having a frequency synchronized with a characteristic frequency of the flow signal of the heat - absorbing medium in accordance with the characteristic frequency of the flow signal and a characteristic of the heat dissipating opening, and including an amplifier to amplify the driving signal; and        a vibrator, in response to the driving signal, to apply acoustic waves to the heat - absorbing medium within the housing,        wherein the heat - generating component, the acoustic vibrator, and the heat dissipating opening are spaced - apart from each other by a predetermined distance to maximize the heat transfer.     
     
     
       12. The acoustic convection apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the driver comprises:
   an analyzer that analyzes the flow signal detected and determines a characteristic of the flow signal detected by the signal detector;        a synchronizer that provides a signal representing a characteristic determined in the analyzer;        a signal generator that generates the drive signal in response to the signal provided from the synchronizer; and        the amplifier that amplifies the drive signal to a predetermined level.     
     
     
       13. A temperature control apparatus to enhance a convection flow of a heat- absorbing medium in a housing thereof, the temperature control apparatus comprising:      a heat - generating component;        a heat dissipating opening provided through a wall of the housing;        a signal detector to receive a flow signal of a heat - absorbing medium of the housing;        a driver to generate a frequency signal synchronized with a characteristic frequency of the heat - absorbing medium, to generate a driving signal with a predetermined frequency corresponding to the generated frequency signal and a characteristic of the heat dissipating opening, and including an amplifier to amplify the driving signal; and        an acoustic vibrator that provides acoustic waves to the heat - absorbing medium in response to the amplified driving signal of the driver, the acoustic waves activating heat transfer from the heat - generating component to the heat - absorbing medium and to ambient atmosphere through the heat dissipating opening.     
     
     
       14. The temperature control apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined signal represents at least one of velocity, temperature, pressure and density of a medium disposed in the case. 
     
     
       15. The temperature control apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the driver comprises:
   a frequency synchronizer that provides the frequency signal representing a characteristic frequency according to the predetermined signal;        a signal generator that generates the drive signal in response to the frequency signal; and        the amplifier that amplifies the drive signal to a predetermined level.     
     
     
       16. The temperature control apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined signal represents at least one of a size and a type of the case. 
     
     
       17. The temperature control apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined signal represents a temperature corresponding to heat generated by the heat- generating component.   
     
     
       18. An acoustic convection apparatus to enhance a convective flow of a heat- absorbing medium in an enclosed space of a housing, the acoustic convection apparatus comprising:      an opening provided in a first wall of the enclosed space;        a signal detector to detect a flow signal of a heat - absorbing medium;        a driver to generate a frequency signal synchronized with a characteristic frequency of the flow signal of the heat - absorbing medium, to generate a driving signal with a predetermined frequency in response to the frequency signal, and including an amplifier to amplify the drive signal; and        a vibrator to generate acoustic waves to the heat - absorbing medium within the enclosed space according to the driving signal, the acoustic waves activating heat transfer from the heat - generating component through the heat - absorbing medium and to ambient atmosphere through the opening,        wherein:      the housing encloses the heat - generating component and the heat - absorbing medium,        the characteristic frequency is a dominant frequency among analyzed frequency components of the flow signal of the heat - absorbing medium to substantially encourage heat transfer from the at least one heat - generating component to the heat - absorbing medium and dissipate the transferred heat to the ambient atmosphere through the opening,        the vibrator is provided between and spaced apart from the heat - generating component and the opening, and        the acoustic waves activate heat transfer from the heat - generating component to the ambient atmosphere through the opening.       
     
     
       19. The acoustic convection apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the driver comprises:
   a synchronizer that provides the frequency signal according to the predetermined signal; and        a signal generator that generates the drive signal in response to the frequency signal; and        the amplifier that amplifies the drive signal to a predetermined level.     
     
     
       20. The acoustic convection apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the predetermined signal represents at least one of velocity, temperature, pressure and density of a medium disposed in the acoustic convection apparatus. 
     
     
       21. The acoustic convection apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the predetermined signal represents at least one of a size and a type of the case. 
     
     
       22. The acoustic convection apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the predetermined signal represents a temperature corresponding to heat generated by the heat- generating component.   
     
     
       23. The acoustic convection apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising:
   second and third walls to form the enclosed space with the first wall,        wherein the heat - generating component is disposed on the second wall, and the vibrator is disposed on the third wall.     
     
     
       24. The acoustic convection apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the third wall is disposed between the wall and the second wall. 
     
     
       25. The acoustic convection apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the first wall comprises a second opening through which heat is transferred to the enclosed space from the heat- generating component.   
     
     
       26. The acoustic convection apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the vibrator generates the acoustic waves toward the heat- absorbing medium disposed between the heat - generating component and the opening to reduce a temperature difference of the heat - absorbing medium within the enclosed space.   
     
     
       27. An apparatus to promote the cooling of an electronic device enclosing at least one heat- generating component, comprising:      a signal detector to receive a flow signal of a cooling medium inside the electronic device;        a driver, in response to the flow signal from the signal detector, to provide a driving signal whose frequently is synchronized with a characteristic frequency of the flow of the cooling medium, wherein said characteristic frequency is a dominant frequency among analyzed frequency components of the flow signal of the cooling medium; and        a vibrator, in response to the driving signal, to generate an acoustic wave to an interior of the electronic device,        wherein the driver includes one or more of the following: a frequency analyzer to detect the characteristic frequency of the flow of the cooling medium based on the flow signal; a frequency synchronizer to provide a frequency signal which represents the detected characteristic frequency; a signal generator, in response to the frequency signal from the frequency synchronizer, to provide the driving signal; and an amplifier to amplify the driving signal to a predefined level.     
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 27 , further comprising:
   a heat dissipating opening formed to dissipate heat generated by the at least one heat - generating component to ambient atmosphere according to the acoustic wave generated by the vibrator.     
     
     
       29. An apparatus to promote the cooling of an electronic device enclosing at least one heat- generating component, comprising:      a signal detector to receive a flow signal of a cooling medium inside the electronic device;        a driver, in response to the flow signal from the signal detector, to provide a driving signal whose frequently is synchronized with a characteristic frequency of the flow of the cooling medium, wherein said characteristic frequency is a dominant frequency among analyzed frequency components of the flow signal of the cooling medium; and        a vibrator, in response to the driving signal, to generate an acoustic wave to an interior of the electronic device,        wherein the driver includes a frequency synchronizer to provide a frequency signal which represents the detected characteristic frequency as the driving signal.     
     
     
       30. An apparatus to promote the cooling of an electronic device enclosing at least one heat- generating component, comprising:      a signal detector to receive a flow signal of a cooling medium inside the electronic device;        a driver, in response to the flow signal from the signal detector, to provide a driving signal whose frequently is synchronized with a characteristic frequency of the flow of the cooling medium, wherein said characteristic frequency is a dominant frequency among analyzed frequency components of the flow signal of the cooling medium; and        a vibrator, in response to the driving signal, to generate an acoustic wave to an interior of the electronic device,        wherein the driver includes a signal generator to generate the driving signal in response to a frequency signal representing the characteristic frequency.