Method and apparatus for cooling a portable computer

1. An apparatus comprising a portable computer which includes:

a housing;

circuitry disposed within said housing and having a component; and

a temperature adjusting arrangement thermally coupled to said component, said temperature adjusting arrangement including:

a thermally conductive section having a side which faces in a direction approximately parallel to an axis, and which is thermally coupled to said component;

a plenum having an lower opening and an upper opening, the lower opening being aligned with and having generally the same size and shape as an outer periphery of the thermally conductive section; and

a fan that is aligned with the upper opening and having a slightly smaller size than the upper opening in order to move freely therein;

wherein the plenum is disposed on a side of said thermally conductive section opposite from said component and operable to direct a fluid flow along said axis toward said thermally conductive section, said thermally conductive section causing said fluid flow to split into a plurality of flow portions which each flow through said thermally conductive section in a direction approximately parallel to a plane perpendicular to said axis.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lower opening of the plenum is generally square in shape.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive section includes a tab that is coupled to a heat pipe and in thermal communication therewith.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a top plate that is sandwiched in between the thermally conductive section and the lower opening of the plenum.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive section comprises a plurality of fins that are formed from one piece of sheet metal.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive section comprises a plurality of fins that are integrally formed from a thermally conductive molding material.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising a top plate that is sandwiched in between the thermally conductive section and the lower opening of the plenum, the thermally conductive section being integrally formed with the top plate.

8. A method of cooling a portable computer which includes a housing having therein circuitry with a component, comprising the acts of:

thermally coupling to said component a temperature adjusting arrangement, said temperature adjusting arrangement including a thermally conductive section having a side which faces in a direction approximately parallel to an axis and which is thermally coupled to said component; and

directing a fluid flow along said axis toward a side of said thermally conductive section opposite from said component via a plenum, said thermally conductive section causing said fluid flow to split into a plurality of flow portions which each flow through said thermally conductive section in a direction approximately parallel to a plane perpendicular to said axis.

9. A method according to claim 8 , including the acts of:

configuring said thermally conductive section to have a base portion with opposing first and second sides that are perpendicular to said axis, said first side is thermally coupled to said component; and

configuring said thermally conductive section to have a plurality of fins which project outwardly from said second side.

10. A method according to claim 8 , including the act of forming said fins from one piece of sheet metal.

11. A method according to claim 8 , including the act of integrally forming said fins and said base portion and a top plate from a thermally conductive molding material.

12. A method according to claim 8 , including the act of directing the fluid flow through an intake port disposed in a top wall of said housing.

13. An apparatus comprising a portable computer which includes:

a housing;

circuitry disposed within said housing and having a component; and

a temperature adjusting arrangement thermally coupled to said component, said temperature adjusting arrangement including:

a plurality of fins that are thermally coupled to a base portion having a side which faces in a direction approximately parallel to an axis, and which is thermally coupled to said component;

a plenum having an lower opening and an upper opening, the lower opening that is aligned with and has generally the same size and shape as an outer periphery of the thermally conductive section; and

a fan that is aligned with the upper opening and having a slightly smaller size than the upper opening in order to move freely therein;

wherein the plenum is disposed on a side of said thermally conductive section opposite from said component and operable to direct a fluid flow along said axis toward said thermally conductive section, said thermally conductive section causing said fluid flow to split into a plurality of flow portions which each flow through said thermally conductive section in a direction approximately parallel to a plane perpendicular to said axis.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of fins are formed from one piece of sheet metal.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of fins and base portion are integrally formed from a thermally conductive molding material.

16. An apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the upper opening in said plenum is in fluid communication with an intake port, wherein said intake port comprises at least one aperture in a top wall of the housing.