초록 ▼

A portable computer docking base has incorporated therein a thermoelectric cooling system used to provide auxiliary operating heat dissipation for a portable notebook computer operatively docked to the base. The cooling system includes a thermoelectric (Peltier effect) heat pump unit disposed within

A portable computer docking base has incorporated therein a thermoelectric cooling system used to provide auxiliary operating heat dissipation for a portable notebook computer operatively docked to the base. The cooling system includes a thermoelectric (Peltier effect) heat pump unit disposed within the docking base housing and having opposite hot and cold sides. A finned heat sink member is secured to the hot side of the assembly and positioned in the path of fan-generated cooling air, and a heat slug member is secured to the cold side of the assembly and projects outwardly through an exterior wall of the docking base housing into its computer receiving area. When the computer is placed in the receiving area and docked, the is cooling system heat slug member is brought into heat conductive contact with a similar heat slug member carried within the computer and thermally coupled to its microprocessor. Operating heat from the microprocessor is transferred through the contacting heat slugs, passes through the thermoelectric heat pump assembly to its hot side heat sink, and is dissipated from the heat sink to the cooling air flow within the docking base.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A portable computer docking base comprising:a housing having a receiving area through which a portable computer may be moved through a linear docking path into an operatively docked position relative to said housing,said housing having an interface configured to couple sa

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A portable computer docking base comprising:a housing having a receiving area through which a portable computer may be moved through a linear docking path into an operatively docked position relative to said housing,said housing having an interface configured to couple said portable computer to a peripheral device when disposed in the operatively docked position, said interface comprising;a first guide member to direct sliding movement of sad portable computer linearly into said housing:a first electrical connector; anda second guide member confirmed to guide a second electrical connector on said portable computer into mating engagement with said first electrical connector; anda thermoelectric cooling system associated with said housing and being operative to dissipate operating heat from the docked portable computer, said thermoelectric cooling system having a fixed cold side portion positioned to contact and receive heat from a beat dissipation portion of the portable computer when the portable computer is moved linearly into the operatively docked position.