Apparatus and method for conductive cooling of an information handling system

1. An apparatus for cooling an information handling system, the apparatus comprising:

a panel having a first surface and a second surface;

a vent area formed in the panel, the vent area including a perimeter, an interior section and a plurality of ribs that extend across the interior section, the vent area further including a plurality of openings defined by lateral spacing between the ribs, the openings extending through the panel from the first to the second surface, the openings configured to receive cooling airflow into the openings and to discharge cooling air flow from the openings;

a conductive heat sink layer physically attached to the first surface of the panel, the conductive heat sink layer covering a perimeter area surrounding the vent area, with strips of the conductive heat sink layer also covering the ribs, while leaving the openings between the ribs uncovered such that the strips of the conductive heat sink layer function to conduct additional heat away from the vent area along the rib; and

a mounting layer disposed between the panel and the conductive heat sink layer, wherein the mounting layer comprises a support sheet disposed between a first adhesive layer and a second adhesive layer to securely attach the conductive heat sink layer to the vent area of the panel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the conductive heat sink layer is formed from a mixture of graphene and graphite.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the mixture comprises 30 to 80 weight percent graphene and a remaining weight percent of graphite.

4. An information handling system having at least one component to be cooled, the information handling system comprising:

a panel for the information handling system, the panel having a first surface and a second surface;

a vent area formed in the panel, the vent area including a perimeter, an interior section and a plurality of ribs that extend across the interior section, the vent area further including a plurality of openings defined by lateral spacing between the ribs, the openings extending through the panel from the first to the second surface, the openings configured to receive cooling airflow into the openings and to discharge cooling air flow from the openings;

a conductive heat sink layer physically attached to the first surface of the panel, the conductive heat sink layer covering a perimeter area surrounding the vent area, with strips of the conductive heat sink layer also covering the ribs, while leaving the openings between the ribs uncovered such that the strips of the conductive heat sink layer function to conduct additional heat away from the vent area along the ribs; and

a mounting layer disposed between the panel and the conductive heat sink layer, wherein the mounting layer comprises a support sheet disposed between a first adhesive layer and a second adhesive layer to securely attach the conductive heat sink layer to the vent area of the panel.

5. The information handling system of claim 4 , wherein the conductive heat sink layer is formed from a mixture of graphene and graphite.

6. The information handling system of claim 5 , wherein the mixture comprises 30 to 80 weight percent graphene and a remaining weight percent of graphite.

7. A method of cooling an information handling system, the method comprising:

providing a panel for the information handling system, the panel having a first surface and a second surface;

forming a vent area in the panel, the vent area including a perimeter, an interior section and a plurality of ribs that extend across the interior section, the vent area further including a plurality of openings defined by lateral spacing between the ribs, the openings extending through the panel from the first to the second surface, the openings configured to receive cooling airflow into the openings and to discharge cooling air flow from the openings;

attaching a conductive heat sink layer to the first surface of the panel, the conductive heat sink layer covering a perimeter area surrounding the vent area, with strips of the conductive heat sink layer also covering the ribs, while leaving the openings between the ribs uncovered such that the strips of the conductive heat sink layer function to conduct additional heat away from the vent area along the ribs; and

attaching a mounting layer disposed between the panel and the conductive heat sink, wherein the mounting layer comprises a support sheet disposed between a first adhesive layer and a second adhesive layer to securely attach the conductive heat sink layer to the vent area of the panel.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the conductive heat sink layer is formed from a mixture of graphene and graphite.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the mixture comprises 30 to 80 weight percent graphene and a remaining weight percent of graphite.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising: cutting the mounting layer and the conductive heat sink layer to a pre-determined shape; laminating the mounting layer to the conductive heat sink layer; attaching the mounting layer and the conductive heat sink layer to the panel over the vent area; and forming the openings in the mounting layer and the conductive heat sink layer.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

placing the panel, the mounting layer and the conductive heat sink layer in an oven; and

heating the panel, the mounting layer and the conductive heat sink layer in the oven such that the heat conductive sheet, the mounting sheet and the panel bond.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the openings are formed by heat stamping.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the openings are formed by thermoforming.

14. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

spraying a heat conductive composition over the vent area such that the heat conductive composition covers the vent area and the ribs; and

curing the first heat conductive composition wherein, the cured heat conductive composition forms the conductive heat sink layer.