IP Library Granted Patent US 12684687
Granted Patent B2
US 12684687 · App. 17/946,808 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Circuit apparatus for electronic devices

Inventors: Jeff Ku (Taipei, TW); Min Suet Lim (Penang, MY); Tin Poay Chuah (Bayan Baru, MY); Yew San Lim (Penang, MY); Twan Sing Loo (Penang, MY)
Assignee: Intel Corporation
H05K1/0272G06F1/203H05K1/0201H05K7/20136
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12684687
App. No.
17/946,808
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Circuit apparatus are disclosed. An example circuit apparatus includes a body including a plurality of first traces formed on the body, and a plurality of openings formed through the body and located between respective ones of the first traces. The openings provide airflow to a fan module of an electronic device through the body of the circuit apparatus.

Claims (30)

1 . A circuit apparatus comprising:

a body including:

a plurality of first traces on the body; and

a plurality of openings through the body and located between respective ones of the first traces, the openings to provide an airflow passageway to a fan module of an electronic device through the body of the circuit apparatus.

2 . The circuit apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body includes an area that includes the plurality of openings.

3 . The circuit apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the area has a rectangular shape.

4 . The circuit apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body and the openings form a mesh pattern.

5 . The circuit apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the openings are slots.

6 . The circuit apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the openings have at least one of hexagonal or circular shapes.

7 . The circuit apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first traces have a zig-zag shape.

8 . The circuit apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first row of openings is between a first one of the first traces and a second one of the first traces.

9 . The circuit apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first row of openings includes at least five openings.

10 . The circuit apparatus of claim 1 , further including a plurality of second traces provided about perimeters of the respective openings.

11 . The circuit apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the second traces have at least one of hexagonal or circular shapes.

12 . An electronic device comprising:

a housing including air vents;

a fan module located in the housing; and

a circuit apparatus located in the housing and extending at least partially across the fan module, the circuit apparatus including one or more passageways formed therethrough to allow airflow from the air vents in the housing to the fan module.

13 . The electronic device as defined in claim 12 , wherein the circuit apparatus includes a plurality of traces, wherein a first set of the traces and a second set of the traces spaced from the first set of the traces.

14 . The electronic device as defined in claim 12 , wherein the passageways are in an area of the circuit apparatus, the passageways being in rows and columns in a grid-like pattern.

15 . The electronic device as defined in claim 14 , wherein the area has a rectangular shape.

16 . The electronic device as defined in claim 14 , wherein the passageways extend only across a fan inlet of the fan module.

17 . The electronic device as defined in claim 14 , wherein the circuit apparatus is attached to the housing such that the passageways of the circuit apparatus align with respective inlet vents of the housing.

18 . The electronic device as defined in claim 14 , wherein the circuit apparatus is attached to a fan housing of the fan module.

19 . An electronic device comprising:

a first circuit board;

a second circuit board;

a fan module between the first circuit board and the second circuit board; and

a flexible circuit board between the first circuit board and the second circuit board and extending across the fan module, the flexible circuit board including a plurality of perforations between traces on the flexible circuit board, the perforations to enable airflow from outside of a housing of the electronic device, through the flexible circuit board and to a fan inlet of the fan module.

20 . The electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the perforations are in a honeycomb pattern.