Optimized vent walls in electronic devices
The disclosed embodiments related to a component for use in a portable electronic device. The component includes a wall of the portable electronic device, containing an intake zone that includes a set of intake vents directed at a first angle toward one or more heat-generating components of the portable electronic device. The wall also includes an exhaust zone containing a set of exhaust vents directed at a second angle out of the portable electronic device.
1. A component in a portable electronic device, comprising:
a wall of the portable electronic device, comprising:
an intake zone comprising a set of intake vents directed at a first angle toward one or more heat-generating components of the portable electronic device;
an exhaust zone comprising a set of exhaust vents directed at a second angle out of the portable electronic device; and
one or more obstructed vents between the intake zone and the exhaust zone.
2. The component of claim 1 , wherein material adjacent to an exhaust vent from the exhaust vents is removed to reduce a temperature of a hot spot in the material during the transfer of exhaust out of the portable electronic device.
3. The component of claim 2 , wherein the temperature of the hot spot is further reduced by maintaining a thickness of the material between the exhaust vent and one or more of the intake vents.
4. The component of claim 2 , wherein the material is removed using a T-cut.
5. The component of claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device is a laptop computer.
6. The component of claim 4 , wherein the wall corresponds to a rear wall that is integrated into a top case of the laptop computer.
7. The component of claim 4 , wherein the second angle directs exhaust out of the laptop computer to avoid a display of the laptop computer.
8. A method for facilitating heat transfer in a portable electronic device, comprising:
providing a wall of the portable electronic device, wherein the wall comprises:
an intake zone comprising a set of intake vents directed at a first angle toward one or more heat-generating components of the portable electronic device; and
an exhaust zone comprising a set of exhaust vents directed at a second angle out of the portable electronic device; and
obstructing one or more vents between the intake zone and the exhaust zone.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising removing material adjacent to an exhaust vent from the exhaust vents to reduce a temperature of a hot spot in the material during the transfer of exhaust out of the portable electronic device.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising further reducing the temperature of the hot spot by maintaining a thickness of the material between the exhaust vent and one or more of the intake vents.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the material is removed using a T-cut.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the portable electronic device is a laptop computer.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the wall corresponds to a rear wall that is integrated into a top case of the laptop computer.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second angle directs exhaust out of the laptop computer to avoid a display of the laptop computer.
15. A portable electronic device, comprising:
one or more heat-generating components including a processor and a memory; and
a wall of the portable electronic device, comprising:
an intake zone comprising a set of intake vents directed at a first angle toward the one or more heat-generating components;
an exhaust zone comprising a set of exhaust vents directed at a second angle out of the portable electronic device; and
one or more obstructed vents between the intake zone and the exhaust zone.
16. The portable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein material adjacent to an exhaust vent from the exhaust vents is removed to reduce a temperature of a hot spot in the material during the transfer of exhaust out of the portable electronic device.
17. The portable electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the temperature of the hot spot is further reduced by maintaining a thickness of the material between the exhaust vent and one or more of the intake vents.
18. The portable electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the material is removed using a T-cut.
19. The portable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the portable electronic device is a laptop computer.
20. The portable electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the wall corresponds to a rear wall that is integrated into a top case of the laptop computer.
21. The portable electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the second angle directs exhaust out of the laptop computer to avoid a display of the laptop computer.